The Wideness of God’s Mercy A Pastoral Letter Reflecting on Evangelization

By Mitchell T. Rozanski, Bishop of Springfield Do you believe in a God who loves you? Do you believe in a God who forgives? Are you able to offer forgiveness to those who have hurt you? Are you able to ask forgiveness from them? Pope Francis has been teaching us, through his example, that God looks beyond our faults and failings and loves us just as we are. Can we trust in that love? “You are merciful to all, O Lord, and despise nothing that you have made. You overlook people’s sins, to bring them to repentance, and you spare them, for you are the Lord our God” (Wisdom 11:24, 25, 27). With the above Entrance Antiphon, the Church begins the holy season of Lent. This is a unique time in which we are all called, individually and collectively, to both “repent” and to call to mind our human frailty and our need to trust in the Lord’s love and mercy “and believe in the Gospel.” It’s a time to reground ourselves in and share the Good News of Jesus Christ. Lent is a time for mercy and evangelization. In announcing this Jubilee Year of Mercy, Pope Francis stated, “The Church is commissioned to announce the mercy of God, the beating heart of the Gospel, which in its own way must penetrate the heart and mind of every person. The Spouse of Christ must pattern her behavior after the Son of God who went out to everyone without exception. In the “To you I express my regret this Jubilee Year of Mercy, it is my hope present day, as the Church is charged that working together we can all continue with the task of the new evangelization, ... and my hope that you will to heal, most especially the victims the theme of mercy needs to be proposed find a parish community themselves and their families, from this again and again with new enthusiasm and scourge. We must all continue to be renewed pastoral action. It is absolutely where you feel welcomed vigilant in protecting our young people. essential for the Church and for the and happy ...” Some of the hurt, however, was not the credibility of her message that she herself result of human failure, rather the painful live and testify to mercy. Her language and need to address the reality in which her gestures must transmit mercy, so as to As the Diocese of Springfield, we must our Church must minister. Key among touch the hearts of all people and inspire acknowledge this need for mercy, and ask these was the very real hurt caused by them once more to find the road that leads forgiveness of God and each other for the diocese’s pastoral planning process. to the Father” (Misericordiae Vultus, 12). past sins and offenses. There are many Looking at the demographics of the In order to truly “live and testify to people hurting in our Catholic community Northeast in general and our diocese mercy,” we as members of the Church from the pain caused by our past failings in particular, there is little doubt that a must acknowledge both our need for as a diocese, as well as the grievous process was needed to examine how to God’s mercy as well as our call to be actions of some who ministered in our combine our resources to best serve our instruments of that mercy to others — to Church. The reality of that pain is that it people and the wider community. It is evangelize. still echoes many years later, as was given never easy to make a decision to close witness in our recent diocesan survey. a parish or school, places where there is So, before I ask anything of you, let me so much personal and community history, as your bishop be the first to apologize as well as spiritual traditions. I know that and ask your forgiveness. many people have “lost their spiritual First and foremost, I apologize to home and in some cases, their faith,” as the victims of clergy sexual abuse, one person commented in the survey. their families and friends, and all those There is no doubt that even necessary scandalized by the Church’s failure to decisions, carried out with the best of protect our young people and for any intentions, have caused some very real lack of diligence in responding. As one pain and have been the cause for some person correctly stated in the survey, to distance themselves from our faith “There is no question that the damage community. to the Church that these scandalous To you I express my regret for the pain actions caused will take a long time to caused, as well as my hope that you have, overcome.” I agree, and in the spirit of or soon will find, a parish community where you feel welcomed and happy, opportunity to acknowledge our need as a “people are not just going to walk into the a place in which you can share your diocese for forgiveness and healing from churches and rectories.” presence, gifts, and talents. Having visited past sins and hurts, as well as to look There is much truth to these honest so many parishes already, including many forward to the future in hope. reflections; our communities must be impacted by pastoral planning, I can That is what evangelization is all about, inviting and energetic environments, assure you there is much new growth looking forward to the future with hope, founded both in our traditions but also the taking place within our community. Your sharing our hope which is the Good News reality of everyday life. presence would be most welcomed and a of Jesus Christ with others, regardless the Such efforts are not just the source of continued renewal. path of life they walk. responsibility of some of us but rather Still there are others who have “Evangelizing,” as Blessed Pope Paul all of us: clergy, women and men distanced themselves because they feel VI once said, “means bringing the Good religious, lay faithful … we are all in unwelcomed. The reasons here can vary, News into all the strata of humanity this together; evangelization is, for but key among them are race and cultural … both the personal and collective each and every one of us, our call and differences, a sense of gender inequality consciences of people, the activities responsibility as the baptized. as well as sexual orientation. in which they engage, and the lives We need to evangelize those who are Others have been treated unkindly, and concrete milieu which are theirs” with us each week for Mass, that they, impatiently, or rudely by clergy, religious, (Evangelii Nuntiandi, 18). in turn, may be empowered to become ministers, and staff of parishes — all The Holy Father went on to explain, evangelizers themselves. which is unacceptable. I ask your that “evangelization loses much of its We need to evangelize those who forgiveness. I make my own the words of force and effectiveness if it does not take were once, but are no longer with us: We Pope Francis, and say to you, “Believe into consideration the actual people to need you, we need your presence, your me, in spite of its slowness, the infidelity, whom it addresses, if it does not use their gifts and your talents. We need you to the mistakes, and the sins that may have language, their signs and symbols, if it complete our community, to enrich it, to and may still be committed by those who does not answer the questions they ask, make it better and more effective. I would compose the Church, it has no other and if it does not have an impact on their ask you to join with us as a diocese in sense and aim if not to live and witness to concrete life”(EN, 63). rediscovering your spiritual roots. While Jesus: He has been sent by (the Father) This fact came across clearly in acknowledging disagreements or negative ‘to bring good news to the poor … to our diocesan survey. As one person experiences, perhaps we can also reflect proclaim release to the captives and commented, “I believe there is a huge on what it was about the Catholic faith you recovery of sight to the blind, to let the gap between what the priests are doing may have loved, what may have brought oppressed go free, to proclaim the year and what the people need.” you comfort and peace, and what you are of the Lord’s favor.’” (“An open dialogue with Others noted the need for “priests missing through your absence. non-believers” La Repubblica, 9/11/13). of the diocese to get out among the We need to evangelize those who have This Jubilee Year of Mercy allows us an people … where they are at” because yet to hear the Good News or who are unfamiliar with the Catholic Church. We that, “the problem with these outreach aren’t welcome. They don’t want to must reach out to them and share our programs is, you tease people back into espouse another religion; therefore, joy, encouraging them to seek a personal the fold with ‘renewal’ promises and they don’t attend church at all. relationship with God — Father, Son, and eventually people discover nothing has Hopefully, a special outreach could be Holy Spirit — as well as a relationship changed.” done to them.” with a faith community with members who Evangelization is not just another • “In many families due to the economy desire to walk with them in mutual support. program; this is not just our focus for the both parents are working and often “Above all the Gospel must be moment. As we are told at the end of the working more than one job. This proclaimed by witness. Take a Christian or Gospel of Matthew before the Ascension: leaves little time and energy for parish a handful of Christians who, in the midst of “The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to activities; many athletic activities which their own community, show their capacity the mountain to which Jesus had ordered are not parish-sponsored are now for understanding and acceptance, their them. Then Jesus approached and said to scheduled for Sunday mornings. These sharing of life and destiny with other them, ‘All power in heaven and on earth are some of the problems families are people, their solidarity with the efforts of has been given to me. Go, therefore, and facing today.” all for whatever is noble and good. Let • “What is the Church doing to help us suppose that in addition, they radiate those stuck in a cycle of poverty or in an altogether simple and unaffected “People need to feel addiction?” way their faith in values that go beyond • “I would go to church more if there current values, and their hope in something involved ... [they] need to were more ways to be involved.” that is not seen and that one would not feel a connection to God • “At least half the Church is women. dare to imagine. Through this wordless When is the Church going to accept us witness these Christians stir up irresistible and the parish ...” as equals and value our opinion? They questions in the hearts of those who see don’t even ask our opinion nor do they how they live: Why are they like this? Why seem to want it.” do they live in this way? Why or who is it make disciples of all nations, baptizing • “Childcare during Mass and parish that inspires them? Why are they in our them in the name of the Father, and of the activities.” midst? Such a witness is already a silent Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them • “We need to do more social proclamation of the Good News and a very to observe all that I have commanded outreach and have more ecumenical powerful and effective one” (EN, 21). you. And behold, I am with you always, opportunities to focus on our similarities This effort cannot be a one-time effort. until the end of the age” (Mt. 28: 16, 18-20). and not our differences. Get people of As a person commented in our survey As we see that evangelization is the different faiths acting together for the mission of the Church from its beginning same goals.” until the time when Jesus comes again. • “Try connecting more than correcting.” Prayer of Evangelizers It must be the mission and focus of the Church of Springfield going forward. In Understandably this is a daunting task, God of life and love, order to do that, and do that well, we must but one we must challenge ourselves to be open to self-examination and change; undertake. We must make our parish pour forth Your Spirit business as usual will no longer work or communities places where people to inspire me with Your be acceptable. want to worship, meet Jesus, and form I would ask each parish, as part of community. We must put the love of God words of compassion, their evangelization efforts, to study and foremost in all our efforts. We must walk forgiveness and love. examine the needs of their people and beyond our parish boundaries, without local community to determine how they fear, to demonstrate the faith we celebrate Stir in me a desire to renew can provide for them. The diocesan in liturgy takes form in the reality of the my faith and deepen my survey gave us some areas to focus on: world around us. Let us together engage in our world, relationship with • “People need to feel involved. It has to empowered by God’s mercy and love. Jesus, Your son. be more than just repeating the Mass ritual week after week. You need to feel Open my heart to hear a connection to God and the parish. You and live your Gospel message. need to feel that it’s important to be there, that someone notices when you aren’t.” Sincerely in Christ, Strengthen me to be • “I want to come back, but have never a sharer of the Good News been confirmed, nor do I know how to come back, it’s been so long.” in words and witness • “Time became an issue. Working full proclaiming your all-inclusive time, raising children, all seemed to be love, mercy, and grace too much to squeeze in religion.” Mitchell T. Rozanski • “The gay community feels that they Bishop of Springfield in all that I do. Amen.