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Where do we go from here? by Carol Michelini On Thursday, July 25, three vans carrying 17 parishioners and friends of St. John XXIII parish left for an 11-day pilgrimage to learn about the Civil Rights Movement and ongoing systems of injustice and inequality. We traveled through Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama visiting historic sites and hearing first hand from those who participated in the movement and those who continue today to work with people on the margins. The theme “Many Rivers to Cross to Justice and Equality” emblazoned on the back of our tee shirts said it all. Rivers served as gateways through which the inhuman flow of enslaved people fueled the economy of our country. Ironically rivers also provided a route for those enslaved people to seek freedom. On our trip we crisscrossed many rivers: the Ohio, the Alabama, the Tennessee, and the Cumberland. As we moved from state to state, stopping at historic sites like the National Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta, the Rosa Parks Museum in Montgomery, the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, and the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, we were awed by the personal courage of those who were on the front lines seeking voting rights and fighting Jim Crow laws and domestic terror. It’s easy to think that the civil rights movement had its heyday in the 50s and 60s and while many important issues like voting rights and desegregation were in the spotlight, there is still work to be done. As Dr. Avis Williams said, “We are blessed to be doing ministry, doing what the Lord has called us to do: to serve our brothers and sisters.” Our journey was at times both overwhelming and challenging; energizing and tiring yet we experienced the joy and power of the people in the communities we visited. We look forward to sharing more about it all during a presentation later this year. Stay tuned.
While I experienced so much over those four days in Indianapolis, there are four takeaways from this pilgrimage that I’d like to share with you. 1) The Depth of the Church We saw every kind of Catholic: religious men and women, seminarians, families with young children, youth, lay leaders, charismatic Catholics and contemplative Catholics, deacons, priests, and bishops. We heard praise and worship music and Gregorian chant. We were offered liturgies according to the Byzantine Rite and the Syro-Malabar Qurbana Rite; the Latin Mass according to the 1962 Missal; liturgies in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese; and Mass specifically for youth. We saw young, fresh, and joyful faces. We even saw parents bringing their kids (which honestly made me nervous given the crowds)! We saw youth groups, diocese groups, and parish groups. This congress brought together tens of thousands of individuals from all 50 states and 16 other countries who together spoke 43 languages. We saw a Church in love with Jesus, opening its arms to him as a bride opens her arms to receive the love of her bridegroom. 2) The Hunger for Inspiration and Catechesis Every day, there were impact sessions, breakout sessions, and a multitude of talks to choose to attend. The convention halls were full. The speaker lineup was comprised of theologians, bishops, apologists, and experts in Catholic social teaching and today’s cultural issues; the topics were relevant and catechetical. People wanted to know what the Church teaches on so many issues in today’s world. Even if they struggle or critically disagree with some of the doctrines of the Church, they still wanted to learn and understand. It’s hard to live your faith if you don’t know what your faith teaches about living a life of holiness.
There are Catholics who believe the Church is archaic, puritanical, and resistant to change. At the National Eucharistic Congress, I saw a church alive with hope, vigor, and renewal. In Matthew 28:20, Jesus says, “Teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” The Church is both human and divine, a Church of saints and sinners. Because it has divine origin, it has not only survived many attacks from within and without, but it has grown and developed remarkably in its 2000 years of existence, and it remains one of the oldest institutions in the world. I will close with this: Bishop Robert Barron shared the idea of “Walk with One.” He said that missionary discipleship is not about you converting the masses; it begins with ONE person, someone you will pray for, love completely, and accompany on their journey. And when the opportunity arises to share your faith and the joy you experience in knowing and loving God, then do so. That will have more of an impact than anything else you do. I am honored to serve St. John XXIII Parish, and I keep you all in my prayers. In God’s love, Shelley Please visit the NEC website to learn more. I didn’t even mention the Eucharistic Procession through downtown Indianapolis or the Eucharistic Pilgrimage to Indianapolis from the four corners of the U.S. There is too much to tell! Visit the NEC YouTube page for more recorded videos of the revival sessions.  |
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