Advent regeneration
As we approach this new year and the birth of Christ, I use this time to think about the regeneration of the Church and the new life young adults might bring. Right now, I am working toward creating a group in which young people in the area have a safe place to discuss their Catholic dedications alongside their frustrations at the Church. This space allows young adults to express their beliefs and social justice ideas while potentially offering a face for a new Church. While one does not need to be Catholic, it mainly focuses on Catholic beliefs. It provides a counter to many of the neo-conservative, evangelical Catholic groups forming in small but mightily influential pockets throughout the country. My mentor, a Marianist priest, and I are hoping to combine an older lay Marianist community with young adults in a dialogue dinner which would give these generations each a chance to ask questions in a spirit of curiosity. As young people continue to leave, why do they go? What are their perspectives? As older people, still quite liberal in social and political views, stay, how can they stand such an oppressive institution?
While we have not had this dialogue officially yet, my perspective encompasses both viewpoints. Young people leave either because the Church "offers" them nothing in this neoliberal, individualistic consumer culture, or because they have invested so much of their lives in the Church only to be continually disappointed: the indigenous boarding schools, doors slammed on woman ordination, gay marriage completely dismissed, etc. On the other hand, we see the beauty and Tradition for those who stay and have not yet reached a point where we must leave. Our trauma from the Church has not scarred us so much that we no longer see the beauty. I feel called to stay and push boundaries inside, while those hurt can protest by leaving.
As we head into the season and work, in whatever way that might be, even if it is leaving, regenerating the Church, may we continually recite one of the Pope's favorite short prayers: "Come, Lord Jesus." May the Divine be in all that we do.
