Pastor's Page

Thus says the LORD the God of hosts: Woe to the complacent.

In our first reading today, we heard from the prophet Amos who admonishes the hypocrisy and injustice of kings, priests, and other leaders. Israel was experiencing a period of prosperity and peace but instead of thanking God for it and using it to help the less fortunate, they were living a lifestyle of indulgence and luxury. Amos warns them that their neglect and self-indulgence will backfire. In reflecting on the prophet’s words, we recognize the political and social challenges of our times. We must also recognize that such complacency has affected the life of the church, especially here in the U.S.

The University of Notre Dame Church Life Journal’s General Social Survey has, for the last 50 years, asked a large, representative sample of Americans a battery of questions, including questions about religion. The data revealed that in the U.S. in 1973, 84% of all those raised Catholic still identified as Catholic when surveyed as adults. In 2002, that figure was 74%.  By 2022, it had dropped to 62%. An additional question asked how many of those raised Catholic still participate in Mass every Sunday. In 1973, about 34% of all those raised Catholic were attending Mass weekly (or more often) when they were surveyed as adults. By 2002, the number had fallen to 20%. By 2022, it had plummeted to 11%. This complacency is not simply about the lack of commitment by Catholic individuals; it reveals the complacency of the whole church. As a church, we have observed but have not understood or responded to the culture effectively.

This week, Pope Leo XIV spoke at the opening of the pastoral year of the Diocese of Rome. He outlined several objectives, one of which was the involvement of the young and families.

“I believe it is urgent to establish a pastoral approach that is supportive, empathic, discreet, non-judgmental, welcoming to all, and offering paths that are as personalized as possible, tailored to the different life situations of those involved.

Since families struggle to transmit faith and may be tempted to shrink from this task, we must try to accompany them without replacing them, becoming companions along the way and offering tools in the search for God.

We must honestly say that this is a pastoral approach that does not repeat the same old things, but offers a new apprenticeship; a pastoral approach that becomes like a school, capable of introducing people to Christian life, accompanying them through the stages of life, weaving meaningful human relationships and, in this way, also having an impact on the social fabric, especially in the service of the poorest and weakest.”

In a parish as large as ours, effective communication is problematic, but it must be a priority. As a parish, we know that family life is overtaxed. It is our responsibility to help others to know and desire Christ. Our liturgies should engage, and our staff and volunteers must be attentive and patient listeners. We who lead and serve in the church need to be authentic witnesses. It is my hope that we create an example of listening. I believe that this will also be a challenge for those who approach the church as a commodity, tailored to their needs. We may have disagreements, but we are less likely to walk away when we know that we are respected and listened to.

SAFETY AND SECURITY – Due to the attack at the Church of the Ascension in Minneapolis, I have been engaged in many conversations about the security of our school and our church. A church building presents challenges that are different from a school. I know that many of our parishioners here at Saint Rose are current or retired law enforcement professionals. I, therefore, would like to tap into that resource, and I am inviting retired and active LEO’s to reach out to me, frgerard@srolchurch.org. I am open to individual conversations as well as a larger group discussion. While we are very grateful for the visible presence of the 7th precinct of the NCPD, we can benefit greatly from the wisdom of those who are actively involved in the life of the parish.

Peace,