Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Almost three years have passed since I received the call from our Papal Nuncio that the Holy Father had appointed me Archbishop of St. Louis. Although I had only visited St. Louis once before I received that call, I have come to feel at home in this Church that has a storied Catholic history dating back over two centuries. Since then, I have come to love so many aspects of life here in St. Louis: the variety of ways in which we celebrate our faith, Cardinal’s baseball, Ted Drewes’ Turtle and so many other wonderful experiences within our archdiocese. Of course, over these past three years, I have had the privilege of visiting so many of our parish communities, shared in great meals and been able to speak about the wonders of our Catholic faith. As bishop, these opportunities bring me great joy.
As a shepherd, I am charged with overseeing the vibrancy of the Catholic Faith in our archdiocese. Like so many other parts of the country, St. Louis has experienced challenges in bringing our faith to new generations. The connections people had with the Church that we had taken for granted for so many decades seem to be deeply affected by our rugged individualism, rampant use of technology and a sense of self-reliance that breeds isolation and loneliness. Not only the Church, but various civic organizations also lament the fact that younger people are not joining in as they have in the past.
This past January, I was privileged to participate in the FOCUS ministries SEEK conference that took place in downtown St. Louis. Over 17,000 young people participated in four days of celebrating our Catholic Faith. The enthusiasm was infectious and greatly heartening. In our world of today, it was a breath of fresh air to see so many young people alive in our Faith. “If I could just bottle up this enthusiasm for the rest of the Church, that would be a great boost,” I thought. Well, then, if they can be on fire for our faith, why can’t all of us?
Since the time I was ordained a priest in 1984, the world has changed immensely. As Pope Francis has said, “we are not facing an age of change, but a change of an age.” In his encyclical The Joy of the Gospel, the Holy Father urges all Catholics to take responsibility for their faith in proclaiming the Gospel message that brings so many remedies to the ills of our era. Our response to this new reality must be bold and rooted in Jesus Christ.
As Catholics, we believe in the salvation that is offered to us in Christ through the teachings and the sacraments of our Church. This is the beauty and joy of the Easter message; that Jesus is indeed risen and offers to us the hope of eternal life forever with our God. This is news that is to be shared with others as we seek to live the fullness of our Catholic Faith.
Over these past months, I have heard from so many of you about living out your faith, being a disciple of Jesus in our own age. I have also heard from many others who feel alienated from our faith, disconnected from a faith community but have a longing in their hearts for the message of Jesus. We have not only good news, but the best news: Jesus is risen and his life makes a difference in each of ours. How do we bring this message to others in our own day?
As a parish priest, I know that there were many advertisements in the Sunday bulletin asking for volunteers for different ministries and works of the church. Yet, the best invitation is personal – asking someone if he or she would like to share their talents with the wider community. The first apostles brought people to Jesus in their personal encounter with them. This past Easter, over five hundred people were initiated into the Church. Why? Because many of them encountered Catholics who are living out their faith and willing to speak about Jesus and the difference He has made in their lives. The dynamic is still the same as it was 2,000 years ago. Pope St. Paul VI said it best: the world does not merely need teachers but witnesses. And who but each one of us!
All Things New is challenging us to think and plan creatively so we are equipped to emulate those first disciples of the Lord Jesus, to live out our faith to its fullest. It does not require a theology degree to be a disciple and witness to Jesus, but a heart that is open to His word and seeks to do His will.
My brothers and sisters, our faith is life-giving and filled with hope! We have so much to share. I invite you to join with me, as your archbishop, with your priests, deacons, women and men religious and fellow parishioners in bringing that Good News to others by the witness of your lives. This is what Jesus calls us to be: His hands, His feet, His presence in our families, communities, workplaces and schools. Let us share our faith with new ardor, new methods, and new expressions so that others may be drawn to Christ in His Church!
