Gulf Pine Catholic

Gulf Pine Catholic • May 31, 2019 10 Called…Formed…Sent Missionary Discipleship and its Consequences for Ministry BY BISHOP ROBERT J. BAKER, S.T.D. Bishop of Birmingham, Alabama (Editor’s Note: This is the sec- ond of a five-part series.) Part I: Vocation (We are Called) A fter his hidden life and temp- tation in the desert, Jesus began his ministry by pro- claiming the Kingdom of God. As potential disciples began to gather around, he singled out some by name into a deeper intimacy with himself. Peter and Andrew were fisherman. When Christ first met them, he simply asked to use their boat! Then he invited them to follow him more closely. He did the same with James and John, Matthew the tax collector, and the rest. The message of Missionary Discipleship is a call to discernment of vocation, not a definite, preformulated plan to be imposed on every parish. Pope Francis encourages each particular church “to undertake a reso- lute process of discernment, purification and reform.” 18 In the same way, as Bishop of Birmingham, I do not seek to impose a single evangelistic program on every parish, association, or institute. Instead, following the example of Pope Francis, I want to “allow the flock to strike out on new paths.” My goal is simply to foster a “dynamic, open, missionary communion.” 19 “As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, Jesus saw James, the son of Zebedee and John his brother, mending their nets, and he called them.” Matthew 4:18,21 (cf. also Matthew 9:9 and Luke 6:12-16) Rather than prescribing the precise path, I wish to invite participation, to recall priorities, to identify some pitfalls, and to suggest resources for the development of a vocation in the Church. I also call to attention a few select examples of creative missionary witness in our diocese. My goal is not a comprehensive evaluation of pastoral ministry, but an invitation to “share all good things” that are happening in ministry (Galatians 6:6). The concept of vocation is more profound than that of charism. The Catechism defines vocation as “the calling or destiny we have in this life and hereafter.” Vocation provides the context within and the purpose for which we use our special charisms. The vocation of every Christian is to union with God through holiness. On that path, however, we must each discern our prop- er state of life. Tradition identifies the most perfect vocation, the one most expressive of Christ’s own life, as the conse- crated life. “This means that the consecrated life, pres- ent in the Church from the beginning, can never fail to be one of her essential and characteristic elements, for it expresses her very nature.” 20 Taking up the evangeli- cal counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience, conse- crated religious dedicate themselves to God with spe- cial abandon. No letter on vocation and mission can neglect the role of the consecrated life, for “the sense of mission is at the very heart of every form of consecrated life…. [Consecrated religious] cooperate effectively in the mission of the Lord Jesus and contribute in a particu- larly profound way to the renewal of the world.” 21 We can promote Missionary Discipleship in our diocese most effectively by engaging the ministry of active religious and by constantly referencing the contempla- tives in the Church, even those who live a cloistered life. The holy priesthood is the most sublime vocation to which God calls a man. “The ineffable greatness of the human priest stands forth” in this, that “he has power over the very Body of Jesus Christ, and makes It pres- ent upon our altars. In the name of Christ Himself he offers It as a victim infinitely pleasing to the Divine Majesty. ‘Wondrous things are these,’ justly exclaims St. John Chrysostom, ‘so wonderful, they surpass won- der.’” 22 The priest is the dispenser of the mysteries of God. Most sublime and most necessary is the ministry of the priest. How grateful we are to all in our diocese who help our retired and infirm priests and religious through their visits, prayers, and generous donations to help our St. John Vianney Residence for Retired Priests and the Bishop’s Retirement Fund for Religious. Helping our retired and infirm priests and religious is an important way to promote vocations to the priesthood and reli- gious life. Something as profound as vocational discernment cannot be reduced to a programor seminar. Nevertheless, it must be integral to our presentation of Missionary Discipleship. Furthermore, there are programs that have shown themselves effective in aiding vocational discernment. Many young men have discovered voca- tions to the priesthood by serving as Totus Tuus mis- sionaries. One apostolate promoting the discernment of charisms is the Catherine of Siena Institute. Their pro- gram Called and Gifted teaches Catholics to identify their gifts, to discern what may be hindering their use, and to learn how to employ them for the good of the Church. Fraternus is another apostolate that has been fruit- ful in vocations. For example, in the Diocese of Nashville, twelve men from their relatively young Fraternus chapters have entered the seminary. When you consider that Nashville had nineteen seminarians in 2017, the impact of this ministry should be obvious. Fraternus provides brotherhood and mentorship in masculine virtue, close contact with the sacraments, and practical formation in liturgical spirituality. Happily, our Birmingham chapter continues to grow, and their plans are to begin a new chapter in Huntsville. The faithful must know that sacramental marriage is also an ecclesial state. Not only do spouses bring forth children in marriage to replenish society, but by their love they bear witness to the world of the love of Christ. “By virtue of this sacrament, as spouses fulfill their conjugal and family obligation, they are penetrat- ed with the spirit of Christ, which suffuses their whole lives with faith, hope and charity. Thus they increas- ingly advance the perfection of their own personalities, as well as their mutual sanctification, and hence con- tribute jointly to the glory of God.” 23 Marriage prepara- tion and enrichment should emphasize the missionary quality of marital life and the role of the home in foster- ing vocation. We are grateful to the wonderful Marriage Encounter apostolate in our diocese, which helps make good marriages better. Efforts to foster good marriages should be encour- aged in all our parishes, and where possible, solid Catholic marital and family counseling should be pro- vided, as currently exists on the diocesan level. Dr. David Anders’ book, T he Catholic Church Saved My Marriage: Discovering Hidden Grace in the Sacrament of Matrimony , ( EWTN Publishing , 2018), is a good guide on how a Catholic vision of marriage can bring healing and happiness to married life. Dr. Anders presents in his book a clear discussion of the Church’s teaching on the validity and non-validity of marriages. Our Diocesan Marriage Tribunal assists the bishop in rendering judgment on whether a union between a man and a woman fulfilled the requirements for a valid sacramental marriage. In this regard the Church acts to uphold the dignity and permanence of a sacramental marriage, while bringing healing to cou- ples where such a marriage does not exist. Then there are those committed to following Christ in the single life. Through the grace they receive in the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation, single Catholics receive both a call and a mission to serve Christ in his Church with the special gifts and talents they possess, and they share in the universal call to holiness of life. Jesus’ general invitation to discipleship -- to follow him, is vividly portrayed in his words in Matthew’s Gospel (11:28-30): “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” SEE CALLED...FORMED...SENT, PAGE 12 Bishop Baker