The Bishop Writes

(From the March 19, 1998 edition of the Inland Register)

The celebrations this year of the rite of election in St. Patrick Parish in Pasco for the southern part of the diocese and in the Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes in the central area were for me occasions of inspiration and gratitude to God. As the catechumens, candidates, their sponsors and families gathered, there was obvious excitement in anticipation of the Easter Vigil celebration. So often candidates and catechumens display a deep sense of gratitude and appreciation for what they have discovered on their faith journey. Candidates and catechumens also remind us of the importance of sacraments as they yearn to become members of the Church. They look forward with eager desire for the sacraments of initiation -- Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. We need that witness and example because it is so easy for us to take for granted what is special and vitally important.

The restoration of the Easter Vigil celebration since the Second Vatican Council profoundly reminds us in Word, symbol, and celebration of who we are as God’s people. I would hope as part of your Lenten journey that you would commit yourself to be present for the celebration of this wonderful liturgy if you have not done so in the past. The celebration of the Easter Vigil is rich in its message and implications.

We have just concluded for ’97-’98 the seven regional meetings between the secretariat and pastoral ministers in the diocese. One of the issues of discussion at these meetings was the quality of participation in the celebration of the sacraments. Ministers face the challenge in helping parishioners realize the importance of these signs in their lives. The fact that only about 30 percent of parishioners attend Mass on a Sunday indicates the casualness or maybe at times even indifference of approaching the sacraments. (Incidentally, the 30 percent figure is pretty much the same all over the United States.) In addition, other values less important such as times for Mass, sporting events, or a full day of skiing seem to take preference over attendance or commitment to parish community. The faithful attendance at Sunday Eucharist demands effort and sacrifice. For those who do attend regularly, the quality of participation at Mass and participation in the community should constantly be checked so one doesn’t slip into indifference or lack of appreciation and commitment. The celebration of marriage can be a beautiful sacrament, but oftentimes superficial values are layered onto the celebration which cheapen and dull the spiritual aspect of the new beginning of the couple’s life together. The day of marriage is a daunting day indeed, and the successful, challenging journey of a married couple is so dependent upon the three-way relationship between them and God.

There is much discussion about the sacrament of confirmation these days from several different standpoints. The sequence of the reception of the sacraments of initiation impacts the age when the sacrament is celebrated. I heard a call in our regional meetings for a more uniform practice in the diocese about the age of reception. We are sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit when we are confirmed. What a challenge to be in touch with this gift in our hearts! Enthusiasm and joy are two signs of a person’s being touch with the presence of the Holy Spirit.

The sacrament of reconciliation challenges us to face honestly our sinfulness and come to the Church to encounter the merciful Jesus of forgiveness. Our sins are never private. Not only do we impact ourselves in a harmful way through our sinfulness but the body of believers in the Church as well. In our seeking forgiveness for our sins, we reconcile with the Lord and with the community. A loss of guilt and awareness of sin in our society today should remind us that we must not bypass the sacrament of reconciliation on our faith journey. The new Catechism of the Catholic Church says this about the sacraments: "Sacraments are ‘powers that come forth’ from the body of Christ, which is ever living and ever life-giving. They are actions of the Holy Spirit at work in his Body, the Church. They are the ‘masterworks of God’ in the new and everlasting covenant" (1116). I like that phrase -- "masterworks of God."

The catechism also states that "the whole liturgical life of the Church revolves around the Eucharistic sacrifice and the sacraments" (1113). In the celebration of the sacraments, we encounter the Lord Jesus. This Lenten season provides all of us the opportunity to reflect upon the gifts of sacraments in our Church and how gladly and devotedly we meet our Savior in them.

May God bless you with joy and peace.

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