Standing By People
Recently on Instagram one of football’s greatest legends, Ronaldo Nazario, posted a picture of himself being baptised in a Catholic Church in São Paulo. He said,:
‘Today is a very special day. I have been baptised! The Christian faith has always been a fundamental part of my life since I was a child, although I had not yet been baptised. With the sacrament, I feel truly regenerated as a child of God—in a new, more conscious, deeper way.’
He went on to say, ‘I renew my commitment to follow the path of good, free and spontaneous will, believing in the love of Jesus, in the love of charity.’ For Ronaldo, his baptism marked an important stage in his life and his relationship with Jesus and his understanding of being part of the Church.
You might be, or you might know of someone, who has expressed an interest in becoming a Catholic; or you might be someone who has been baptised as a child, but has not celebrated the sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist. We, at St Thomas’, are offering an opportunity to come together in a small group to learn more about our faith. In these sessions we have the opportunity to reflect on our own faith journey, focus on the teachings and experience of Church, and prepare to celebrate the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist during the Easter season. This is known as the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), and is designed to offer guidance and support for a spiritual journey toward a deeper relationship with Jesus and his Church. Coming to the group doesn’t commit you to anything. If you don’t feel that the time is right, or you are not satisfied with the answers you are getting, then you are free to continue your discernment on your own and are always welcomed back at a time that is right for you.
It is important to remember that this ‘way of initiation’ is a responsibility of all the baptised. We all have our part to play in welcoming those who are thinking about becoming Catholic, or who are wanting to complete their initiation as baptised people, celebrating the sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist. The community of the Church, the Body of Christ — is the place where faith is nurtured and new Christians formed.
This Sunday used to be known as Home Mission Sunday. It is now called Evangelii Gaudium Sunday. Evangelii Gaudium is Latin for ‘The Joy of the Gospel’.
Pope Francis wrote a great document with this title, in which he invited the Catholic Church to be joyous in proclaiming our faith – seeking new ways of understanding the faith and reaching out to others. Let our joy spill out and reach those who are seeking to know God more deeply and are drawn to the Catholic Church. In this letter, Pope Francis proposes a culture of encounter and accompaniment, ‘standing by people at every step of the way no matter how difficult or lengthy this may prove to be.’ With ‘patient expectation and apostolic endurance’, the art of accompaniment ‘teaches us to remove our sandals before the sacred ground of the other (cf. Ex 3:5)’ and to show special preference for the ‘poor, despised, and overlooked.’
If you are interested in taking the next step or you know of someone who might be interested in knowing more about what it means to become a Catholic Christian, then there are forms in the entrance of the church. Or speak to any of the priests.
