Once a month or so we have a meeting with young parents. These are the folk who have asked us to celebrate the Sacrament of Baptism for their children. Sometimes we know the people because they are regularly part of the assembly that gathers, but every month, there are also new faces: new people who themselves need to know that they are welcome.
Each person who walks through our door brings with him- or herself a unique story, and it's rare that upon a first encounter, anyone would know the hidden stories. What has brought these parents to our door? What role does faith play in their lives? Who is really behind their decision to come and to ask for this sacrament? At times it seems that there are more questions than answers, and yet the prevailing attitude (I think) is that we want to welcome them. Unless there is a glaring reason not to baptise the child (and there rarely is), this first encounter should be as warm as possible.
I will often quasi joke with parents that I get paid vast sums to ask some delicate questions from time to time. These are meant to make parents think though about the seriousness of the commitment they are about to undertake, and ultimately the decision is left up to them to continue with the celebration or not. If they do (and I haven't had one yet who has backed away), the responsibility that comes with the celebration must also be weighed and accepted.
Many young people today don't understand much about the Church, and what they do understand often comes from the media. A meeting such as this is often the first point at which some real answers to the questions that are asked can be furnished, and if this encounter goes well, parents will be back because whether they admit it or not, parents always want the best for their children, and if they perceive that the Church has something to offer to their children, parents will bring them, will learn the lessons themselves, and will in turn teach their little ones.
Start then by catechising the un-catechised and trust that the lessons will trickle down.
Each person who walks through our door brings with him- or herself a unique story, and it's rare that upon a first encounter, anyone would know the hidden stories. What has brought these parents to our door? What role does faith play in their lives? Who is really behind their decision to come and to ask for this sacrament? At times it seems that there are more questions than answers, and yet the prevailing attitude (I think) is that we want to welcome them. Unless there is a glaring reason not to baptise the child (and there rarely is), this first encounter should be as warm as possible.
I will often quasi joke with parents that I get paid vast sums to ask some delicate questions from time to time. These are meant to make parents think though about the seriousness of the commitment they are about to undertake, and ultimately the decision is left up to them to continue with the celebration or not. If they do (and I haven't had one yet who has backed away), the responsibility that comes with the celebration must also be weighed and accepted.
Many young people today don't understand much about the Church, and what they do understand often comes from the media. A meeting such as this is often the first point at which some real answers to the questions that are asked can be furnished, and if this encounter goes well, parents will be back because whether they admit it or not, parents always want the best for their children, and if they perceive that the Church has something to offer to their children, parents will bring them, will learn the lessons themselves, and will in turn teach their little ones.
Start then by catechising the un-catechised and trust that the lessons will trickle down.
No comments:
Post a Comment