Last weekend catechumens and candidates from throughout the diocese came to the see city to participate in the Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion with Bishop George J. Lucas. Depending on where they live, they came either on Saturday evening or Sunday afternoon during the first weekend of Lent. Moreover, bishops all over the world were welcoming people in that same ceremony.
These folks are the people you may have noticed at Mass over the past few months. They have come to Sunday Eucharist, have heard the Liturgy of the Word proclaimed and then have left to study and reflect together on those words of Scripture. If you haven't seen them, you have probably read about them in your parish bulletin. You've been asked to pray for them.
By the grace of God, these elect in the Springfield diocese - and all over the world - will be baptized, confirmed and receive their first Eucharist - and the candidates will be received into full communion - during the Easter Vigil at their parish.
Are they coming, any thanks to us? Think about it for a moment. How welcoming are we - many of us cradle Catholics - to people who are looking for a church home? Remember the old song They'll Know We Are Christians? Many baby boomers recall singing that song at Mass during the late 1960s and early 1970s, but how many of us really put our Catholic faith out there for everyone to see?
Consider one more thing. Certainly we are all interested in our own personal salvation. However, we really should be thinking about other people as well. So, what are you doing this Lent to make more people consider becoming Catholics?
How long has it been since you mentioned to someone how important your faith is to you? When was the last time you invited a non-Catholic friend or relative - or perhaps someone who has stopped attending church - to come to Mass with you?
Moreover, how welcoming are you to people in your own parish? Admittedly, many Catholic parishes could do a better job making parishioners feel at home in their churches. It takes more than simply handing a person a bulletin on the way out of Mass to make him or her feel welcome.
When you offer your neighbor the Sign of Peace, act like you mean it. When you are asked to be a greeter at church, take the time to call people by name. Of course, if you belong to a large parish, you can't possibly know everyone. And that's OK. However, maybe if you have the time, you could introduce yourself or at least take time to comment on the day. If you spot a newcomer, make a point to smile and say hello.
Lent is a time to better ourselves. If we all try to be better Catholics, as well as better parishioners, when it comes time for the Easter Vigil, we'll have even more reasons to rejoice in the joy and resurrection of Easter. And wouldn't that be a Lent well spent!