Pastor’s Page – “Go out to all the world and tell the Good News” Part 2

On Long Island, without getting too active in our spreading of the Gospel, we might consider
evangelization on three levels: the lukewarm or turned off Catholic, the divorced and
remarried Catholic, and the person with no religious identity.

The lukewarm Catholic is likely apathetic. Busy about many things, churchgoing is near the
bottom of the list of priorities. Marriage, family activities, concern about children and their
education and recreation, work responsibilities, and the economic pressures of life on Long
Island, make Sunday worship fade in importance. A one to one, warm and personal invitation to
join you and your family at a particular Mass on Sunday is worth a try and may prove
persuasive. You share their worthy concerns and priorities, but for good reasons you have moved
God to your top priority!

The divorced and remarried (without the sacrament) Catholic may feel unwanted and unforgivable. Reassurance about the unconditional love of God may be a good beginning to a caring conversation. Then invite them to discuss their situation with me so that I can help them
move toward a possible annulment of their first marriage in the Catholic Church. A person with no religious identity, and nearly 16 percent of Americans now answer none, no religion, agnostic or atheist to the question, make up the third largest group in our country! 24 percent of Americans are Catholic (the country’s largest religious denomination) and 17 percent Baptists. Although these folks do not identify with a particular religion, they still occasionally attend church services and some are quite open to joining a religion in the future.

Are you prepared to ask? Do you know enough about your Catholic faith to speak intelligently about it?

Dozens of new families move into our parish and neighborhood every year. You know who is selling their home on your street, and you know when the new neighbor has arrived. Welcome them with love and kindness and, let them know about our wonderful parish of Sts. Peter and Paul. Invite them to worship God with you next Sunday!

Peace,
Father Bruce