With A Little Help From Our Friends: Going The Way Of The American Automobile Industry

Luke 10:21-24 says, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.”

Brothers and sisters, He is telling us here that most of us are not doing all we can to help God. God may be all powerful and all knowing, but we are His hands.  We have to do His work right here and right now.  The problem with vision is that not everyone can see what you see.  However, this does not mean that it is not true or it should not be followed. 

Today, we are going to talk about the Church and its rich diversity through the use of an analogy concerning the automobile.  In the 1950’s the automobile and the Church was at a zenith.  America had more priests than ever before, Church attendance at Mass was the highest it had ever been in our history, and American motor companies were turning out the best and widest variety of cars.  Now sixty years later, this is simply not the case.  

Look what happens to the diversity of the American automobile companies, when you do not nurture and protect them in the United States.  They simply do not exist anymore. 

Studebaker 1852-1966

The name "Studebaker" is practically synonymous with automobiles. However, when the company was first founded in 1852 in South Bend, Indiana, by the five Studebaker brothers, they actually made wheelbarrows. By the 1860s, Studebaker was producing wagons for the American Civil War. The first Studebaker automobiles emerged in the late 1890s and used an electric motor rather than gasoline.

Oldsmobile (1897-2004)

Founded in 1897, Oldsmobile produced cars for 123 years before it closed its doors. Close to half of its 35 million cars were built at the Lansing, Michigan, factory until 2004. Oldsmobile was known for making both luxury and mainstream vehicles.

Pontiac 1926-2010

Pontiac was started in 1926 in Pontiac, Michigan. The company was owned by General Motors and sold alongside GM's Oakland automobiles. The Oakland automobiles were eventually replaced by Pontiac, due to the latter's popularity. Whereas Oakland automobiles were more luxury-oriented, Pontiac's cars were usually geared towards high-performance.

Plymouth 1928- 2001

Started in 1928, Plymouth was produced by Chrysler to compete with Chevrolet and Ford, both of which produced lower-priced cars. Headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, Plymouth produced trucks, mini-vans, and sedans. Although more expensive than their rivals, Plymouth offered more features than Ford and Chevrolet.

Mercury 1938-2011

 Mercury was started in 1938 and headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan. It was marketed as a premium brand of the Ford Motor Company. It was meant to fill the price gap between Ford and Lincoln models. The main competitor of Mercury was Chrysler.

Tucker Cars 1944-1950

Tucker Corporation produced a car with many of the same features that modern cars rely on for safety - including a perimeter frame for crash protection, a padded dashboard, and a shatterproof windshield. In addition, the car featured three headlights, one of which moved in the direction of the steering wheel.

American Motors 1954-1988

The American Motor Company (AMC) started by selling small and fuel-efficient cars. AMC was based in Southfield, Michigan, and built a wide range of products other than cars, including home appliances, lawn care products, military vehicles, commercial refrigeration, and buses. AMC is noteworthy for creating the first true crossover in the United States, the AMC Eagle. The company came about following the merger of Hudson Motor Car and Nash-Kelvinator in 1954, and at the time was the largest corporate merger. AMC sold the Jeep brand from 1970 after it purchased Kaiser-Jeep, and also sold the Pacer and Concord under its nameplate. In addition, AMC produced the Rambler, which was named Motor Trend Car of the Year in 1963. In 1968, the company introduced the Javelin to compete in the sports car segment. French automaker Renault owned 46.1% of AMC stock, and in 1987, Chrysler agreed to buy Renault's AMC shares, as well as the remaining stock.

Checker Motors Corp. 1922-1999

 Checker, based in Kalamazoo, Michigan, is famous for its singular cabs, particularly in New York City. The company was founded by Russian immigrant Morris Markin in 1922. Among its particular features were its wide rear doors and spacious rear seats. The vehicles came in black, maroon, and yellow. Markin expanded the company in 1929 when he bought the Yellow Cab Co. The Checker Marathon taxi cab was produced with its signature checkered stripes from 1956 to 1982. Increasing fuel-efficiency requirements hurt the company. The last day for the vehicle in New York City was July 27, 1999.

Nash Motors Co. 1916-1954

 Nash Motors was founded in 1916 by former General Motors president Charles W. Nash who had acquired the Thomas B. Jeffery Co. and changed its name. Jeffery's most well-known car was the Rambler, whose mass production from a plant in Kenosha, Wisconsin began in 1902. Nash cars developed a reputation for sturdiness and value. Even so, the company struggled to compete with Ford, GM, and Chrysler. From 1937 to 1954, Nash Motors was the automotive division of the Nash-Kelvinator Corp. and continued to be innovative. The brand debuted heating and ventilation systems as well as unibody construction. In 1954, Nash-Kelvinator acquired Hudson Motor Car Co., forming the American Motor Co.

All of these companies produced wonderful products and made great cars.  However, America in the 1950’s did not see what was about to happen to the automobile industry. Are we about to do the same thing with our Church today?

“Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.”

In the article, “ Celebrate Catholic Diversity, Unity and Spirituality: What Does It Mean To Be a Catholic In The 21st Century?” We learned about the Eastern Catholic Churches. What we do not learn is that although they make up less than two percent of the Catholic Church population, we see their importance through the eyes of Pope John Paul II. In his 1995 encyclical Ut Unum Sint, Pope St. John Paul II describes the unity of the Church, saying, “The Church must breathe with her two lungs!” Here, he speaks of the mutual interdependence and healthy tension that should exist between the East and West so that the Church, as a whole, fully can benefit and her mission become more effective.

The Eastern Churches must prepare now to help themselves in the future.  They must create, maintain, develop and nurture educational programs that promote growth in both the population and faith.  Without a strong educational foundation the Eastern Church future may go the way of the American Automobile Companies that no longer exist. 

Why?  Exactly the point- diversity why is it important?  Why is it important to save the traditions of the Churches of Antioch?  If the people of these congregations can not answer these questions, then what will happen to those Churches?  When a Church quits becoming a verb- a vibrant place of action, it becomes a noun- a place like a museum. 

This a clarion call to the Eastern Catholic Churches to develop programs to strengthen their educational programs.  They should train their religious education directors and teachers, train their vocations (deacon and subdeacons) and train their laity (Readers, Greeters, Hospitality, Lectors) through a program developed by and made expressly for the Eastern Catholic Churches.  This will promote the ability to have a dynamic and vibrant Eastern Catholic Church now and forever.  If we as Eastern Catholic depend on others to do our work, do not be surprised that that work may not produce the results we need or want.  Plus do not be surprised that Eastern Catholic Churches In The United States will eventually go the way of the American Automobile.  Do you want your Catholic Church Diversity to go the way of the Studebaker, Nash, or Rambler?  

The Eastern Catholic Churches are some of the oldest Churches in existence.  Their countries were some of the first countries to become Christian, and beauty of their Divine Liturgy have remained virtually unchanged -full of incense, bells, and ceremony.  Who will carry on these traditions if there is no Church?  Who will be left to tell their story if they no longer exist?

Brothers and sisters, we can pray for the efforts of some forward thinking theological colleges like Newman College in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.  They are working with the Ukrainian Catholic Churches and are in discussions with other Eastern Catholic Churches to provide training for all Eastern Churches.  Currently they have trained Deacons, religious education directors, Lectors and others with certificates in the Eastern Catholic Church.  Newman College is a Roman Catholic College that recognizes the importance of the Eastern Church.  God bless Newman and all that they are doing.  If you would like to have more information please contact Newman College.  This is the time, this is the place, and this is the way that Catholic Church is promoting its diversity by helping the Eastern Church maintain their traditions.  

By doing this the people at Newman are shining examples of the reading in Luke:

“Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.”

Newman is able to see the vision of the Eastern Catholic Church, through them we can too.  Praise be to God always.