We
Are that Song of the Body of the Christ
Our collaborating members give us so much. Today one of them gave me inspiration to reflect on the recent meeting of the membership, held January in Austin, Texas. In his Song of the Body of Christ, David Haas (GIA Publications) wrote beautifully, “We come to share our story, we come to break the bread, we come to know our rising from the dead.” Those words speak to the heart of who we are as a faith community, and—in my present reality—who we are as the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry.
We Come to Share our Story . . .
In Austin we came together and shared our own stories. Those stories—like the ones we share in our families, dioceses, workplaces, and with friends—were filled with joy and with pain and all were shared with purpose and conviction.
I want to first acknowledge the hard work of the Federation staff for once again successfully allowing the work of the membership to take place. I would also like to recognize Bishop Gregory M. Aymond, Matthew Robaszkiewicz, and his staff and volunteers from the Diocese of Austin for their efforts. We witnessed many fruits of our labor along the banks of Lake Travis, and these people worked hard to help cultivate and harvest those fruits. Thank you.
Of course the work of the Federation is the result of those diocesan leaders and collaborating members who share their stories—their wisdom, their knowledge, their experience—for the good of God’s young church. Thank you to all who took time away from their home dioceses and families to help fulfill the mission of the NFCYM.
The ongoing theme of the recent meeting was the changing face of diocesan youth ministry, and it appears that will remain a reality in the near future. Change has not come without some struggle, and my beloved colleague Terri Telepak led our community in a moving floor discussion on the realities of leading diocesan youth ministry today. She acknowledged the crosses we have taken up in the form of budget and personnel cuts, consolidation, safe environment training, and the list goes on. Terri gave us a great gift when she encouraged us to pause and ask one another, “How are you?” I think I speak on behalf of the entire Federation when I write that Terri’s words that morning in Austin transcended the membership meeting and resonate louder and more clearly with each passing day. Thank you and God bless you, Terri.
We Come to Break the Bread . . .
I am reminded of the beautiful liturgical gathering at Emmaus Catholic Church, presided by Bishop Gregory M. Aymond. As we gathered as a community, I felt inspired that the Eucharist we shared in that amazing worship space was both a summit of our efforts for the week, and a source of strength for the journey that lies ahead. The spirit of Eucharist was alive in our hearts all week as we used our gifts to become one unified body of Christ, collaborating on and celebrating such projects as the National Association of Catholic Youth Ministry Leaders, and the Catholic Youth Sports Center. Those efforts, as well as countless others discussed at dozens of tables, will continue to invite others to share their stories, and to continue to invite others to become part of this body.
We Come to Know our Rising from the Dead . . .
We are indeed living a Paschal Mystery. We are seeing our mission tested to the very core by all of the challenges articulated in Terri’s talk. But as we suffer through our present Good Friday, we are reminded that the resurrection is on the horizon, and that “the one who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’” (Rev. 21:5)
We See Signs of Hope
The approval of the National Association of Catholic Youth Ministry Leaders and the Catholic Youth Sports Center are signs that the Federation as a body has recognized this changing face and is prepared to embrace change and the challenges it brings. Frank Mercandante’s talk on evangelization reminded us that now more than ever is a time to reach out and be Christ to a church in crisis, and to be Christ in the midst of perhaps an even greater crisis: young people who do not know him.
The stories, the Eucharist, and the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic faith we share are all at the heart of who we are, and as we share these gifts that unite us, we are transformed from individuals struggling with our own realities to members of a community supporting one another as a true body of Christ.