Where are they, our baptized children?

We sent our children to learn the Sacraments and accept the very meaning of them.  The smiles and pious look as they marched down the aisle to receive Jesus for the first time, in Holy Communion.  

Remember giving up many hours as you had them attend classes for the Sacrament of Confirmation.  Each child had reached, (we hoped) an understanding of the two sacraments of Bptism and Confirmation and how Jesus was ready to send His Holy Spirit within them.  How mature they appeared as the bishop anointed each one with Chrism, as he said, “Receive the Gift of the Holy Spirit “.  My child has become a soldier for Christ (as we were taught in the early days).  Now he/she has grown up and is ready to evangelize, if by nothing more than their outward appearance as a Christian.  Now, they’re ready to tackle the spiritual world around them and prepare for their journey to God and His Plan of sharing His Life and Love with them.  

How many years go by and our child wants to get married in the Church, after no longer attending Holy Mass.  Was it new-age philosophy that enticed them?  Perhaps their peers convinced them that those past things, what were they called; O yes, “Sacraments”; past events when they were children.  Now, at 20 years of age (at times younger) they have grown up and their friends tell them they no longer need what your parents forced you to adhere to.  The empty pews resemble those comments.

Even regular church attendees have seen that with their own children or close relatives.  I knew one classmate whose daughter decided to marry outside of the Church, rejecting her Catholic experience.  It isn’t a problem of many young people in mixed marriages (different religious beliefs) but too many forget their vows to raise their children as Catholic, or even get them to Church on Sundays.  I can’t tell you how often I look at some from my own family who were married in the Church  yet no longer attend Mass.  They are too busy, too involved in worldly attractions and prioritize everything but God.

One of my reflections, “Holy Mass - Too Long or Too Short” covered many of the reasons and needs to take a look at what has happened with the church attendance.  But, I overlooked the fact that the youth (not all) have divorced themselves from the facts we (older generation) have felt are essential to our beliefs.  What did we have growing up and considered important enough to hold on to our faith? 

It frightens me, not just as a deacon, but a father, a Roman Catholic, and a parishioner of a local church that before our eyes a tragedy from lack of Faith of many has become a real part of our society.  Yes, we need to consider the homilies, music, and welcoming atmosphere for everyone.  However, our youth, the future generation of the Church, is in a limbo from misunderstanding and perhaps a feeling of rejection which is nobody’s fault, just a matter of fact that needs addressed.

What a sad waste with all the beautiful structures, our Catholic Tradition, and a Clergy pool (new men entering the priesthood) even though the numbers may appear smaller than hoped for, we can not allow the youth to diminish because we didn’t try.  We, the older generation, must continue to evangelize our children.  Not with threats of "God will punish you", but becoming like Christ and reaching out with love, peaceful advice, and forgiveness for everything and anything that may occur in their fragile lives.