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The Catholic New World
Observations - by Tom Sheridan, Editor

August 14, 2005

When faith goes public

What happens when faith goes public? That may sound like an odd question in Chicago which numbers, if statistics are to be believed, 2.4 million Catholic souls. However, displays of public faith—crowded Holy Name Society marches around neighborhoods, demonstrations of religion such as the 1926 Eucharistic Congress that packed Soldier Field—are thought of as belonging to an era past.

That’s what made the presence of as many as 8,000-10,000 Catholics marching through downtown Chicago Aug. 5 such a powerful event. The colorful eucharistic procession and Benediction was a vast demonstration of such public faith.

Led by hundreds of Knights of Columbus who had just ended their national convention, the long line of march wound its way from the Hilton Chicago, across Michigan Avenue and down Balbo Drive, through Grant Park to Butler Field in front of the Petrillo Music Shell, where Cardinal George celebrated Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament as part of the Year of the Eucharist proclaimed by Pope John Paul II.

There were bishops, priests and thousands of faithful. It may have been the largest public gathering of Catholics in the Loop in decades.

The Jubilee Year Field of Faith celebration that brought 15,000 of us together in the rain at Soldier Field was a great event. But parading that faith through Grant Park, the city’s recreational jewel, may have been a greater show.

What makes this public display of faith so interesting is the chasm between appearance and reality, between the existence of so many Catholics in this archdiocese and the often-minimal impact we bring to bear on the world around us, especially in how we challenge the secular culture.

Maybe it’s because we seem to be a majority in this “Catholic” area that there’s little incentive to stand up and say so. Sometimes, in fact, we even seem a little embarrassed by our connection. And, no, it’s not the clergy abuse scandal; it has more to do with our discomfort at announcing faith in our very secularized society.

That’s why it was heartening to see thousands of people marching through the city, parish banners unfurled, rosaries dangling, songs singing. It put a sorely needed public face on faith.

So back to the question: What happens when faith goes public?

In his homily, Cardinal George talked about that.

The Eucharist, he said, is transformational. Those who believe are transformed and then, in turn, are challenged to transform the world for Jesus Christ.

But that’s not only for events like the one Aug. 5. It’s an everyday challenge for Catholics to proclaim to the secular world the transforming power of faith.

Archbishop John Foley understands that challenge. For more than two decades the Philadelphia native has been president of the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Social Communications. He was in town for the Knights’ convention and visited with archdiocesan staff to talk about the transforming power of communications.

The funeral of Pope John Paul II, he said, was an opportunity for the church: More than two billion people in 95 countries were estimated to have watched the April event, including places where the church does not have a major presence.

It’s vital for the church to communicate well, he said, praising The Catholic New World as well the Archdiocese of Chicago’s internet, radio and television outreach. Of course, he also plugged the Vatican’s own Web site, www.vatican.va.

“Jesus told us to teach all nations … and the best way to do that is with communications media,” Archbishop Foley said.

Transforming society may begin behind the closed doors of a church, in prayer and in worship. But it only happens when the doors are opened and faith pours out into the public square.

What happens when faith goes public? Let’s try it and see.


Tom Sheridan
Editor and General Manager

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