November 30, 2022

Dear Friends in Christ,

When I read the National Synthesis summarizing the archdiocesan synodal listening sessions in the United States this past fall, I was struck – but not necessarily surprised – by one sobering observation – that nearly all the synodal consultations expressed regret in the wake of young people leaving the Catholic Church and viewing that as connected to a need to become a more welcoming church.

It’s a tough time to impart our Catholic faith on young people. Asking a teen to engage in quiet discussion and prayer is a hard sell over the addictive high he or she might get from clicking and scrolling endlessly on the Internet. But our faith, which is certainly a gift from God, is also passed on from parent to child, godmother to godson, catechist to student. It requires the presence, engagement, and example of a trusted adult to an open-minded young person to take root. The Holy Spirit’s guidance certainly helps, too.

As a church, we all want our Catholic faith to be passed on to rising generations. And we want our young people with us in our pews today. Our support of our childrens’, teens’ and young adults’ faith formation, then, cannot stop with the children who you alone have raised – it must continue with the young people of our church who still wish to know God and discover their place at our church. Here at St. Francis, we are reaching out to our young people through our Religious Education Ministry, our growing Youth Ministry, and our soon-to-launch Young Adult Ministry.

Today, I ask you to reflect on whether your gifts could help strengthen the faith of our young people. Perhaps you have an experience or talent, such as faith-based work, social dancing, or guitar playing that you might share with or teach our young adults. Perhaps you are a dynamo at planning social events or hiking trips, which could benefit our Youth Ministry. Youth Minister Travis Tomon, Parochial Vicar Fr. Grzegorz Okulewicz, and Director of Religious Education Susan Anderson would all be happy to speak with you about matching your talents and interests with a volunteer opportunity. Please call them at the Parish Office at (301) 840-1407 to learn more about their ministries.

In the meantime, I want to invite all youth in grades 6-12 to join our Youth Ministry gathering at 6:30 pm Sunday, December 4, in the Parish Center where I and Fr. G will be hearing Confessions. The following Sunday, December 11, all young adults aged 18-40 are invited to attend our Young Adult Potluck Dinner from 6:30-8 pm in the Rectory’s Youth Room. RSVP for the Potluck dinner and please bring a dessert to share with attendees.

Our beautiful church is already one that welcomes all those who enter. Let us now offer our time and talent to the young people who are here and yearn to better know God and our Catholic faith.

I wish you all a blessed start to our Advent season and hope to see you at Eucharistic Adoration at 9:30 am Friday or at any of our virtual prayer opportunities.

Yours in Christ,

Fr. John