A sad silence descended over the room, as
Archbishop William Goh announced that at Confirmation Masses, he feels it
is not a time for celebration but a time to bid farewell. Why? Because from
that day forth, the church will say goodbye to 80% of her Confirmants since only
about 20% will return as active church members.
Deeply saddened and concerned by what
Archbishop Goh said to a group of 200 Catechists at the recent launch of the
Catechetical Year 2014, I felt the need to share this with fellow parents of
our parish. Perhaps this message is somewhat timely for me, as I will be journeying
with my own daughter who will be receiving her Confirmation this May.
I found myself drawn close to tears as he
delivered those heart-wrenching lines and till today, struggle at these words
when I share them in urgency with parents I meet in ministry and at the parish
that was so clearly an outcry for help. Yes, help not for Archbishop Goh or for
the Church, but for our children - your children.
Addressing the group of Catechists,
Archbishop Goh continued to express what changes were needed within ourselves
as Catechists and to take it seriously, even changes to be made in the Diocese
and how critical our role as Christian examples are for the children in order
to help deepen their relationship with God. Seated amongst these Catechists, there
must have been many others, much like myself, called to be Catechists as well
as given the grace of God to be parents. I felt a deep stirring in my soul and
a sense of guilt as I heard the Catechists being given a strong mandate to
check on one’s own prayer life and spiritual well-being for the sake of our
children - my child.
It has been for me a privilege to be both a
parent and Catechist, but to be honest every parent can share in this
privilege, whether we are actively a volunteer Catechist or not, being a parent
by vocation already makes us one. We are the first Catechist and the best
Christian example that our children follow from birth. Think about it, if
Catechists, who spend one hour or so a week with our children have been given
this awakening, how much more we as parents should take heed and partner with
the church in seeking out the God experience that our own child or youth will
look for at different stages of their life.
Clearly this message is directed to us as parent
catechists as well. We have a mission as parents – play it out well. If we want
our children to live a God-centered life, we need to find out if we ourselves have
shown them examples of how to live a God-centered life? Have we ourselves
allowed God into the family daily or only once a week?
Much like the lyrics to the hymn, “By
the waking of our hearts by the stirring of our souls may the spirit of God
abide and bring us together in Christ” – first allow our hearts to
be awakened and our souls stirred so that God can abide in us and I pray that
we will NOT be bidding farewell to our children at Confirmation.
