A Word on Evangelization

6th Sunday, Ordinary Time, February 16, 2025

Deacon Mike Meyer

A Word on Evangelization

  We have recently received from the Archdiocese the results of the October counts from 2024.  A parishioner has generously taken some time to evaluate the numbers carefully and take a closer look at the results from all 57 families of parishes across the Archdiocese.  When considering the fact that all of the masses that happen each week here in Northwest V have really good attendance, we of course feel immediately encouraged and affirmed, but there is a temptation to think that we can get comfortable and complacent when we compare our numbers with those coming out of Cincinnati and other places to the south.  We would like to think that this will guarantee us four assigned priests like we presently have, and that we don’t need to be so concerned about the personal faith, life and spiritual attitudes of our families.

  It actually means the opposite and that we need to be very concerned.  Though faith is a priority here in Northwest V, I think that most people would agree that there is a need for a lot of improvement.  It is so easy to allow faith to take a back seat to the busyness of our lives where the world creeps in everyday, sometimes slowly, and sometimes with a vengeance which leaves us all at once looking back and saying, “How did I get here and what am I doing?”

  Whatever factors have led to the decline of Mass attendance in other places are already present here and are likely growing.  Even families that go to Mass every Sunday have experienced faith being challenged by the attitudes of their peers and their children.  Mass attendance, though absolutely necessary, is not enough.  Prayer must be lived out in our homes every day.  Most families find it challenging to actually gather for an evening meal let along sit down to pray a rosary or to share faith.  If faith is the number one priority in the home it will be talked about, shared, and wrestled with on a daily basis.  We talk about what is close to our hearts and if faith, prayer, and relationship with Jesus is our number one priority, we cannot help but talk about it at home, and when we are out with friends and extended family.

   What the numbers really are screaming at us is that we need to up our game.  We need to do more than ever before to diminish the apathetic, go with flow, attitudes about our Catholic faith, and preach the good news about Jesus Christ and His church with both our voices and our lives.  If we allow ourselves to become complacent, the numbers that are already present in other places in the Archdiocese, will become our numbers.  Our motivation should be that we want everyone and I mean everyone to know Jesus Christ and to recognize their need to receive Him Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity every Sunday in the Sacrament of the Eucharist.  The fruit of our efforts will be Catholic homes where faith is lived and celebrated every day, an increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life, and our churches unable to contain the people who attend Mass every week.  We should be able to grow to the point where we need five or even six priests to lead the parishes in NWV.

  We have been so blessed and have so much to be thankful for!  Thank you, Jesus, for blessing us with churches where families have made faith the number one priority in their lives.  Give and your grace and fill us with your Holy Spirit so that we can go out into the world, share the good news, and evangelize!