Michael KellyThe Church has an obligation to ask people to reflect on the sacraments
A few weeks ago I wrote about how some priests I talk to experience a sense of demoralisation in ministry. I have received a huge reaction with most people acutely aware of the piercing need for care of priests to be a priority. While the vast majority of priests are happy and fulfilled in their ministry, there are frustrations and challenges that need to be verbalised if they are to be addressed.
One area that can be particularly difficult for priests and the wider faith community in a parish is the celebration of the sacraments. For Catholics, the sacraments are efficacious signs of grace by which we are brought in to the divine life of God. They are an integral part of our Catholic tradition and a precious gift.
How does this translate in our parish communities?
We baptise vast numbers of babies throughout Ireland every year. At the heart of the baptism ceremony is a commitment from the parents to bring up the child in the practise of the Catholic faith. Baptism is seen as a core to a decision by the parents that they want their child to be a central part of the Christian community. This is why, right at the beginning of the ceremony, parents are asked why they have brought their child to the church. “What do you ask of God’s Church?” asks the priest to which the parents reply “baptism”. The parents are then asked if they fully understand what this entails including the duty to bring him or her up as a Catholic.
Discouraging
Time, effort and commitment goes into the baptism ceremonies and the preparation. Many parishes now have baptism teams that work closely with families. However, despite this, the vast majority in many parishes will not return to church until the time comes to make their First Confession and First Holy Communion.
Faith and the celebration of the sacraments mean so much to priests and when they see nothing in return – no attempt to pass on the Faith or genuinely live the sacrament – it can be very discouraging.
When it comes to weddings, couples who rarely – if ever – attend Mass, will often want a nuptial Mass to celebrate their wedding even though a liturgy without the celebration of the Eucharist would be a more appropriate way to seal their love before God and the parish community.
When there is a Mass, guests, some of whom never attend Mass and would even describe themselves as atheists, line up to receive Holy Communion as if the Eucharist is just a friendly gesture of welcome rather than the source and summit of Christian living.
Reflection
There is a similar pattern when it comes to funerals: people who haven’t darkened the door of their parish in many decades have expectations that a priest will be immediately available to them for the duration of the wake, funeral and period of mourning.
Priests put a lot of time and effort in to preparing such ceremonies and trying to make these important moments meaningful religious occasions. This is despite the fact that the priests know that many of the family members will not return to church until the next occasion or tragedy.
When it comes to the sacraments, priests should and do meet people where they are at. But there is a need for reflection. Maybe there should be a pause for thought.
The Church has an obligation to ask people to reflect on what they are saying by wanting to mark the important moments of life sacramentally or with a Catholic ritual. It should be about acknowledging the sincere desire of parents and families in celebrating occasions like Baptisms, First Confession and First Holy Communion while at the same time impressing upon people the importance of these sacraments in the life of the Church and a parish community.
Fr Ronald Rolheiser wrote recently in The Irish Catholic that Christians should not be stingy with God’s mercy, nor should the Church be stingy with the sacraments, but there is need for a discussion about how we balance the felt need that people have with the legitimate expectation that the celebration of the sacraments will be an expression of a lived faith.