March 14, 2004

Telling it like it is

Cardinal George made the first stop in his Lenten series of vicariate evangelization talks March 3, paying a visit to St. Philip Neri on the Southeast Side. Problem is, I’m not sure who did the most evangelizing.

That’s not to say the cardinal didn’t do his part. It’s just that parishioners gave as good as they got. And maybe better.

The occasion was Family Enrichment Night, one of the gatherings during Lent for the twin parishes of St. Philip Neri and Our Lady of Peace, both pastored by Father Larry Duris.

The cardinal’s evangelization visits were in support of the archdiocese’s major effort to renew the faith through the program called Spreading the Holy Fire spearheaded by Franciscan Father Joseph Kruszynski. (Other Lenten visits are planned. See Page 2.)

“Fire” is working with an increasing number of parishes to reinforce the faith among Catholics first, before seeking to evangelize others. That, clearly, is an ultimate goal of the cardinal, responding to Pope John Paul II’s call for a “new evangelization” to proclaim the Gospel.

“How do we share the gifts of the church, proclaim the Gospel and invite people to be loved by Christ?” Cardinal George asked listeners at St. Philip Neri. We do so, he said, “parish by parish, group by group and person by person.” It’s “unacceptable,” the cardinal said, that “62 generations after Christ” only 30 percent of the world knows Jesus.

That’s why, he said, “it’s the mission of the church to share those gifts and to tell people who Jesus is, and invite them” to participate.

The St. Philip Neri/Our Lady of Peace parishioners clearly seemed up to the task. After three powerful witness talks by parishioners, the cardinal listened to a long line of others who came up out of the audience in the church gymnasium. One by one they proclaimed the heart and soul of evangelization, recognizing that the first people in whom the message should be strengthened were themselves, the ordinary people in the pews. People have to be welcomed, challenged and affirmed, they said; they have to be told the Gospel. Then, others are invited, they said.

Their comments were a great witness and a great hope. If the world is to be evangelized, it’s people like those at St. Philip Neri/Our Lady of Peace who are going to accomplish it. The pope, cardinals, bishops and even Catholic newspaper editors can only give them support, encouragement and knowledge.

However, in telling the world who Jesus Christ is, evangelization will run headlong into a culture that wants to live like it doesn’t care. So, in the end, evangelization must challenge that culture.

Here’s a for-instance: One block from Holy Name Cathedral, a huge billboard overlooking a church parking lot proclaims something quite a bit different.

The sign promotes a brand of youth-oriented products called the French Connection-United Kingdom. It uses only the initials, cleverly designed to make you think of something else. (Use your imagination.) The sign proclaims that its products are available—shamelessly—at Water Tower Place, one of America’s merchandising meccas. Great monogram for today, right?

Other Catholic groups have chided the brand’s promoters, with little success; the result is an vulgar billboard which towers over churchgoers. Sounds like more evangelization is needed.

Finally, despite what the church has been saying about efforts to promote same-sex marriage, the movement marches on.

To his credit, Cook County Clerk David Orr has so far refused the intense pressure to issue same-sex marriage licenses as other municipal officials have done around the nation. Even Mayor Daley seems swept up. The church’s objection is based on the fact that the nature of marriage cannot—and should not—be changed by changing laws. The church respects God’s law; Orr rightly respects state law. Good for him—so far.