In our
culture today, many people will say that they are spiritual and not
religious. That attending church is
outdated and unnecessary. “I have my
relationship with Jesus and that is enough”, is a common mantra.
The importance of belonging to a
parish community is most evident when you go through tough times. Five years ago, my mother was dying of lung
cancer that had moved to the brain. In
the five short months between diagnosis and her time to move on, there were so
many days of anguish. Especially hard
was the fact that my mom was bitter and angry with God.
At times, I could not quiet myself
enough to pray; yet I felt as if I was floating on the prayers of others. There were days when a peaceful calm came
over me. I attribute the calm to the prayers being said for my mom, for me and
for my family. Without the support of my parish prayer warriors, I would have been lost many of those days.
Recently, the evidence of the
importance of belonging to a faith community was in play at my parish. A 24 years old, who graduated from the parish
grade school and Catholic high school, died a sudden and tragic death. When the news of his passing quietly emanated
throughout the community, hundreds of people came to Adoration to pray for his
soul, for his wife, his daughter and his parents.
At his wake, the line was long to
pray at his casket and greet his parents.
The church was packed for the burial mass. And throughout the time from his death to
burial, hundreds of people prayed Rosaries, Our Father’s, Hail Mary’s,
countless of other prayers. Some have fasted for his soul, others provided
meals for his family and others participated in a crowd funding effort to help
pay for the funeral expenses.
When tragedy strikes, there isn’t a
better place to be but in a faith community.
This is true when the tragedy affects you, but also when you can be the
instrument of prayer and provider of needed assistance for those affected.
Being a member of a faith community
is more than attending church. It means
getting involved at some level in a ministry, helping the poor, volunteering to
read at mass, teaching religious education, participating in a Bible study and
on and on. Becoming more involved will
help you and your family feel that coming to your church/parish is not just coming
to Church, but is coming home. And that
is why “just Jesus and me” is not
enough.
