Aug. 27, 2014 A lot can happen in forty years. A few days ago in Rouses Point, I joined many of my classmates of the Northeastern Clinton Central Class of 1974 for an evening of reminiscing, dining, and great 1970’s music. It was a wonderful celebration. During our school years, memories are formed that last a lifetime. While in school our teachers give us the lessons and then we take the tests. When we leave the confines of the classroom, life itself administers the tests from which we later learn life’s lessons. Either way, life is about learning. As the 2014-15 school year approaches, it is good that we all recommit ourselves never to become content with what we know, either about our world or our God. To know God is to love God. When we stop learning, we stop loving, we stop living. One of the diocesan priorities that we have established as part of our diocesan envisioning process is to strengthen faith formation in family life—enhancing youth ministry and providing family catechesis for the seven Sacraments. This is a concerted effort to engage all family members in the life-long process of: learning more and more about our God and His teachings; developing an ever closer relationship to Jesus Christ; and giving witness to that relationship in our service to neighbor. As the school doors open for yet another academic year and as we focus our energies on strengthening faith formation in our families here in the North Country, we pray for renewed spirit and determination to learn more about the richness of our faith. Let us give prayerful support to all students, particularly our youth, college students, seminarians, deacon aspirants, and those studying in the Formation for Ministry program. We recommit ourselves to participating in the adult faith formation classes that our parish offers and to sharing our faith with our children and grandchildren. We thank our teachers, catechists and parish staff as they prepare for the new opportunities to help form our sisters and brothers. Every time we gather at Mass, we are attending a reunion of sorts. The Communion of Saints (loved ones who have died) join us in this Mystical Reunion where we listen to our faith story through the Word spoken and reminisce about God’s goodness to us through the generations. We dine at the Lord’s Table and worship in song. It’s all there: reminiscing, dining, and great music - What a wonder-full celebration! Forty years? A lot can happen in an hour! |
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