As a parish employee I try my best to always remember that I never know what people are carrying inside of them and that my mission is to care. I was poignantly reminded of that today when I met with a new family. A mom and her two children met with me to discuss how to proceed for the children to be baptized. The children are in third and sixth grade and are currently enrolled in a Catholic school for the first time. They have lived in the neighborhood “forever,” but this is the first time they have sought us out.
We talked briefly about what they are learning in religion class in school, if they wanted to be baptized, and why. We focused on the idea of community and why it was important. I looked at the mom and she had tears in her eyes and couldn’t look at any of us.
I changed the subject since I didn’t think it was the time to discuss whatever is going on since her children were there. I want to believe the tears were of happiness, but I saw sorrow. My hope is that my response helped ease some of it, though I don’t know what she’s carrying around inside. And really, it makes no difference if I know or not, as long as I respond with the love of Christ.
There is more to this story that I don’t want to tell since it is not my story. In the end, it is our response to people’s needs that helps draw them back to the church or pushes them further away. Since I work in a small parish, I have more latitude in meeting people’s needs when they fall outside the usual schedules or timeframes for receiving the sacraments or registering for classes.
Jesus called his apostles, saying, “Come and follow me,” and they left their lives and followed him. The Holy Spirit prompted lepers, the blind, the lame, the Samaritan Woman, and many more to seek out Jesus. And when they approached him, his response was “yes.” Now, I know I am not Jesus, but I can say yes when people act on the prompting of the Holy Spirit to want to be a part of the Church.
In my humanness I’d like those promptings to fall in line with the schedule, but I am not in charge. I am called to respond with “yes” whenever it is possible, even if it means more work and some creative thinking on my part. If I, who work and minister in a parish, am unwilling to do that, do I really belong there? Treating each person who comes to us with love is the best way to say yes to the people Jesus is calling to himself.
Copyright 2014, Deanna Bartalini
Deanna Bartalini
Deanna G. Bartalini, is a Catholic writer, speaker, and educator. She serves on the retreat team at Our Lady of Florida Spiritual Center. Deanna loves teaching about Catholicism and how it fits into our daily lives. She writes at DeannaBartalini.com, serves as the editor of the NewEvangelizers.com blog, and is a contributor there as well as at AmazingCatechists.com. Deanna contributed to A Catholic Mom's Prayer Companion published by Ave Maris Press. She is the author of “Invite the Holy Spirit into Your Life: Growing in Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control” published by Our Sunday Visitor. Deanna is available to lead retreats and speak at catechist and ministry events.
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