When I relocated to the Boston area, I was fortunate to witness a moving homily from Fr. Joe, the priest at the parish I attended in Cambridge, MA. On one particular Sunday, Fr. Joe spoke about a woman who came to him asking if he would bless her rosaries. He told her that by the power of her baptism, she also had the ability to ask the Lord to bless her rosaries. She said, “That’s nice, Father, but can you do it?”
He continued his homily by preaching about the importance of having an empowered Church community. With fewer men joining the priesthood and churches closing right and left, he told us that the involvement of laypeople is of utmost importance to the future of the Church.
Churches are not run by priests alone
Fr. Joe frequently speaks with great fervor about the importance of an empowered Church community — and for good reason. As a woman in the Catholic Church, I haven’t always felt very empowered. I grew up believing that priests and deacons were far holier than I could ever be. I certainly did not know that, by the power of my baptism, I could bless a rosary. It wasn’t until I joined the parish and heard Fr. Joe’s homilies that I was reminded of the important role I have as a valued member of the Church community.
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After all, churches are not run by priests alone. Altar servers, Eucharistic Ministers, lectors, administrative assistants, music directors, and parish council members, among others, serve the Lord through the work they do for the Church. God calls us to be in communion with one another. We are never meant to think of the world as “us versus them” or clergy versus laypeople. Each and every member of the Church has the opportunity and privilege to contribute to Christ’s mission.
Laypeople are the future of the Church
With increased obligations and declining numbers, priests are facing burnout and often struggle to keep up with the responsibilities assigned to them. Only a few weeks after Fr. Joe gave this particular homily, he suffered from a terrible flu that left him too weak to celebrate Mass. With a short turnaround time and no other priest at our parish to fill in, the laypeople within the church ultimately stepped in to carry out the Sunday Celebration. Lectors read the Liturgy of the Word, parishioners led prayers, and Eucharistic Ministers distributed communion from consecrated Hosts in the tabernacle. Through the loving work and dedication of these laypeople, parishioners were still able to gather, pray, and receive communion that Sunday morning, even without a priest.
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Sunday Celebration in the absence of a priest may very well be the future of the Church. When clergy are not able to perform their duties, laypeople must be willing and able to step in as needed. For this to happen, laypeople must know they are valued members of the Church and not lesser than the clergy. I am grateful that Fr. Joe has been an incredible representation of how priests can empower laypeople, and it’s my hope that more clergy members will follow suit.
Choosing empowerment instead of abandonment
I must admit that I haven’t found all priests to be as inclusive and forward-thinking as Fr. Joe. At times, I have been frustrated when I hear priests preach about the downfall of young people today. Instead of shaming young people for getting married outside of the Church, or only attending Mass on Easter, I believe young adults need to hear a very different message. They need to be reminded, “You are an important part of the Church community. We rejoice when you serve the Church with your God-given skills and talents.” It’s pivotal that young laypeople in particular are empowered and respected since they are a crucial part of the Church’s future.
Frequently, when I read about Catholicism in the media or even speak about my faith with others, I end up saddened when thinking about the ways in which the Catholic Church has let me down. Sexual abuse, misogyny, and homophobia are present within the Catholic Church. Many times, I have been overwhelmed by sadness and confusion when thinking about why I would want to continue being a part of such a flawed community that has harmed many people. However, I must remind myself that being part of the Church is acknowledging that it is made up of sinners, including myself, who will continue to fall short of doing God’s will. While at times it may seem easier to abandon the Church and leave others to fix the problems, as a Catholic, I feel called to change the Church for the better.
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Instead of abandonment, I choose empowerment. It is in loving the Church that I will strive to make it a more welcoming community that follows God’s will, and I don’t need to be a priest, deacon, or nun to do that. I know that I am an essential member of my parish and of the worldwide Catholic Church.
As a layperson, I know that I am called to be an active member of my parish. I can do that by blessing rosaries, serving as a lector, volunteering at my church’s charity events, and distributing communion. As an empowered Catholic, I know that I can help change the Church for the better by carrying out God’s will in my thoughts, prayers, words, and actions both inside and outside the walls of my parish.
