by Julianne Donlon, Adult Faith Formation Director
“For too long as a Church, I think we have been tired and unimaginative in responding to the reality that is happening around us….We can ignite the faith if we stop fighting one another and put our energy into listening and responding to God’s people, who are as hungry as ever for the gospel.”
Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas
Forward to American Catholics Today
In an age of uncertainty and increasing cynicism the Catholic Church must seize the opportunity to reach out to the marginalized, the searching and the hungry and renew the commitment to catechizing and evangelizing engaging our adults and young adults. This is a time of unparalleled opportunity and possibility. We see in this society a widespread spiritual hunger – a quest for meaning and for a deeply personal experience of God and of community.
“The churches of America, in these opening years of the twenty-first century, face a historic moment of opportunity. Surveys record an unprecedented desire for religious and spiritual growth among people in all walks of life and in every region of the nation. There is an intense searching for spiritual moorings, a hunger for God. It is for churches to seize the moment and to direct this often vague and free-floating spirituality into a solid and lived-out faith.” (Reality Check for 21st Century Churches – Gallup)
The Pew Forum Study of 2007 presents the following statistics which may help us to understand our Catholic population and the changing face of Catholicism in the United States.
Catholics represent 25% of the U.S. population which has remained steady in recent decades due to immigration. Latinos represent 45% of all Catholics 18 – 29 years of age. One in three adult Catholics is Latino.
The church has retained 70% of native-born American Catholics. 10% of Americans are former Catholics. About half of those who have left the Church describe themselves as “unaffiliated”.
44% of U.S. adults have switched religious affiliations. 2.6% of Catholics are converts. Fluidity of religious affiliation is striking.
These statistics are not meant to alarm us but to enkindle in us the fervent desire to minister with energy and vibrancy as we confront the problems of living in a secular world. 2009 marks the 10th Anniversary of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops document “Our Hearts Were Burning” and with it, a renewed commitment to adult faith formation in the Diocese of Green Bay. To celebrate the progress that has been made in our Diocese and to pose solutions to the challenges we face, a booklet called “Hearts on Fire- Shared Wisdom in Adult Faith Formation in the Diocese of Green Bay” has been created by the Department of Education. This booklet represents a kaleidoscope of the diversity of catechesis in our Diocese and includes reflections from Bishop Ricken, Bishop Morneau, Fr. Alfred McBride, Fr. John Girotti, Sister Diane Baumann, Carlos Hernandez, Mary Sedlacek and Carol Wilda among others.
The booklet includes submissions from 22 individuals who have experience in ministering to adults in our Diocese. The authors of the individual articles were asked to reflect upon a facet of adult faith formation that they have personally encountered or have focused upon in their ministry. As such, this booklet reflects the hard work and dedication of those in this Diocese who reach out to our adult community. There are practical tips for ministering to adults, proven strategies that have borne the test of time and new and innovative ways of reaching the adult community within our parishes. It is my hope that this booklet will continue to inspire us to renew the commitment to working with adults in a vibrant and intentional manner.
If you would like an e-copy of this booklet please contact the Department of Education at the Diocese of Green Bay for more information.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Find Jesus and Easter Hope in Hard Times
Let’s face it, these are tough times. During these times we need to remember that we are called to be a sign of the resurrected Christ to the world. Diocesan religious education director Rosie Bartel takes a moment to consider how we can find hope even in hard times. Easter is a time to find hope in the glorious resurrection of Christ. You can find this hope in the midst of bunnies, eggs, jellybeans and Easter baskets.
The key to using these “secular” Easter traditions to understand the hope of Easter is that these traditions are meaningful ways to celebrate the good news that Jesus rose from the dead. These simple traditions can be used to help families understand the hope that Easter brings to all of us.
The Easter Bunny: The Pennsylvania Dutch started the tradition of the Oschter Haws or Easter Hare, who brought colored eggs to children on Easter morning. The bunny was a symbol of celebration and new life in Christ.
Colored Eggs: Eggs were a pagan symbol of spring. Christians adopted the egg as a symbol of the new life of the Resurrection. During the Middle Ages, dying eggs became popular. Coloring eggs is a great family activity. This year would be a good time to add symbols to our colored eggs that represent the love of God. You can add symbols like a cross or heart with a crayon before you dip it in the dye.
Jellybeans: These popular egg-shaped candies were invented in the 1800s, but they did not become part of the Easter tradition until the 1930s. This was another tough time in the history of our country. Because of their shape, they are considered a symbol of new life and spiritual rebirth. It might be fun to have a jellybean tasting contest with your family.
Easter Basket: This tradition began in Eastern Europe. People would bring the food they would be eating on Easter Sunday to the church on the morning of Holy Saturday for a special blessing. This tradition is practiced in many of our parishes today.
Spring Cleaning: In some cultures, the families give their homes an extra special cleaning on the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of Holy Week. This tradition comes from the Jewish custom of ritual cleaning before Passover. This might be the year to try this tradition. It can be fun to do this cleaning of your home as a family. Then you can celebrate Easter without worrying about cleaning chores.
Easter Lilies: Using white lilies in our churches and homes during the Easter season came into practice during the 1800s. The white flower is a symbol of purity. The trumpet shape of the lily heralds the triumph of Jesus over death. Lilies are inexpensive at this time of the year. It is a great symbol to share with your children. You might decorate the pot with ribbon and the words, “Jesus Lives!” or “Happy Easter!”
Easter Candle: The candle represents the light of Christ, which has overcome darkness. You might want to get a white pillar candle and decorate it with stickers, markers and push pins. It will be your family’s Easter candle. Every time you have a family meal during the Easter season, you would light your Easter candle. This will remind your family of the hope that Easter offers all of us.
It is not too late to bring these Easter traditions and symbols back to life and to celebrate the hope of Christ’s resurrection.
The key to using these “secular” Easter traditions to understand the hope of Easter is that these traditions are meaningful ways to celebrate the good news that Jesus rose from the dead. These simple traditions can be used to help families understand the hope that Easter brings to all of us.
The Easter Bunny: The Pennsylvania Dutch started the tradition of the Oschter Haws or Easter Hare, who brought colored eggs to children on Easter morning. The bunny was a symbol of celebration and new life in Christ.
Colored Eggs: Eggs were a pagan symbol of spring. Christians adopted the egg as a symbol of the new life of the Resurrection. During the Middle Ages, dying eggs became popular. Coloring eggs is a great family activity. This year would be a good time to add symbols to our colored eggs that represent the love of God. You can add symbols like a cross or heart with a crayon before you dip it in the dye.
Jellybeans: These popular egg-shaped candies were invented in the 1800s, but they did not become part of the Easter tradition until the 1930s. This was another tough time in the history of our country. Because of their shape, they are considered a symbol of new life and spiritual rebirth. It might be fun to have a jellybean tasting contest with your family.
Easter Basket: This tradition began in Eastern Europe. People would bring the food they would be eating on Easter Sunday to the church on the morning of Holy Saturday for a special blessing. This tradition is practiced in many of our parishes today.
Spring Cleaning: In some cultures, the families give their homes an extra special cleaning on the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of Holy Week. This tradition comes from the Jewish custom of ritual cleaning before Passover. This might be the year to try this tradition. It can be fun to do this cleaning of your home as a family. Then you can celebrate Easter without worrying about cleaning chores.
Easter Lilies: Using white lilies in our churches and homes during the Easter season came into practice during the 1800s. The white flower is a symbol of purity. The trumpet shape of the lily heralds the triumph of Jesus over death. Lilies are inexpensive at this time of the year. It is a great symbol to share with your children. You might decorate the pot with ribbon and the words, “Jesus Lives!” or “Happy Easter!”
Easter Candle: The candle represents the light of Christ, which has overcome darkness. You might want to get a white pillar candle and decorate it with stickers, markers and push pins. It will be your family’s Easter candle. Every time you have a family meal during the Easter season, you would light your Easter candle. This will remind your family of the hope that Easter offers all of us.
It is not too late to bring these Easter traditions and symbols back to life and to celebrate the hope of Christ’s resurrection.
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