Reflection on the Year of Faith

Last year, in October 2012, then-Pope Benedict XVI, now Pope Emeritus, proclaimed the Year of Faith, starting on the anniversary year-50 of the commencement of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, lasting until November 24, 2013, the Feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe.  Vatican II unleashed a great deal of new energy into the Roman Catholic Church, changing how we worship and live out our faith.

I look back now upon this Year of Faith, and the experiences I had in my life of faith.

For starters, here are some statistics: Beyond my home parish of Ascension in Oak Park and St. Teresa's in Valparaiso, I attended Mass at six other different parishes:

• St. Mary's Cathedral, the diocesan cathedral in Austin, TX,
• St. Augustine in Winnebago, NE, on the Winnebago Reservation
• St. Cornelius, in the Jefferson Park neighborhood on the Northwest Side of Chicago, where I was baptized
• St. Giles, on the north side of Oak Park, where I participated in their Family Mass community for a few years
• the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, in Washington, DC
• St. Martin de Porres, in the Chicago's West Side neighborhood of Austin
• St. Mary of Celle, in Berwyn, IL, just a few blocks from my home

I also became eligible for three plenary indulgences, two of which came only ten days apart, without even seeking them out.

But beyond the statistics lie some amazing stories of faith coming alive in worship, service, and community.  Here are some brief highlights of some of those memorable experiences:

• Mission/Service Trip to St. Augustine: This was the first time I had been on a trip like this.  I came intimately into the brokenness of the world, man's inhumanity to man.  I also witnessed closely the hope coming from this faith community.  And I thrust myself into serving them with an energy like I had never had before, with an incredible group of people. (Plenary Indulgence #1)
• Transition from Benedict XVI to Francis I: It was quite a shocker to open up my e-mail inbox and see the news of Benedict's abdication.  A month later, I was fortunate enough to be home on Spring Break so that I could stay glued to the proceedings on TV of the election of Francis, unlike Benedict's election, when I was at school.  It was an exhilarating experience, from the moment I saw the white smoke. (Plenary Indulgence #2)
• Teaching RE classes: This has been a dream come true, as I had yearnings to do this for some time.  I'm now teaching students who are at an age when my faith was being profoundly shaped.  Sharing matters of faith has given it a whole new dimension.  The greatest pleasure is when the students show they're really into the material I'm presenting in class and ask good questions that allow me to present great insights.
• Helping out at the Confirmation Retreat: This was an opportunity that came out of my being a catechist, and allowed me to interact with these young people who were confirmed a month later, who are the future of the Roman Catholic Church.  Within the structure of the activities, I was able to engage with them through insights of faith.  After the retreat, I went into the Catechism to refine my understanding of topics they brought up in questions during activities.
• Visit to the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception: This is one of the most beautiful churches I've ever been inside, a true visual feast.  The art is a celebration of faith from places all over the world converging in the United States, at a structure in the important city of Washington, D.C.  I was able to celebrate how I fit in to this whole picture of faith in the United States. (Plenary Indulgence #3)
• Silver Anniversary Celebration at St. Martin de Porres: It was a true joy to join in the celebration of this community and what it has accomplished on the West Side of Chicago as a member of a sharing parish, especially with other Ascension parishioners and Cardinal George.
• One other highlight that functions as a broader category are the opportunities I've had to stand up for what I know is right for society.  I've participated in a number of pro-life demonstrations, and in the Defend Marriage Lobby Day during this year.  These issues are pressing on account of the impact they have on our society, and so I've gone to the frontlines to take a stance for what God desires for our society.

To cap it all off, I had the privilege of serving as the thurifer, swinging around the thurible (incense pot) to create rising smoke as a physical symbol of the prayers we offer as a Church, one of the vestiges to enhance the liturgies on this Christ the King Sunday.  This was the second time I have served as thurifer, the other time being back last May on Ascension Sunday, my home parish's feast day.

What a feeling it is to put on that alb, and walk around in sacred space performing sacred gestures: creating smoke up the main aisle, handing it to the priest to incense the sacred things in blessing, and then incensing the priest and the people before the Eucharistic prayer.  (There's a lot involved in being thurifer, but it came off so well during Mass.)  I love the beauty of the rising incense smoke.  I love just standing in it as a reminder of how our prayers rise to God.  It is an ancient symbol, which continues functioning today in our life of faith.  What a way to enhance our celebration of Christ the King.

To top off the day, I attended an Interfaith Thanksgiving Prayer Service at Oak Park's United Lutheran Church, sponsored by the Oak Park-River Forest Community of Congregations.  This was my fourth time attending this service, and it has meaningful for me each time.  People of diverse denomination and religious communities within the OPRF area come together in shared celebration of our American Thanksgiving holiday.  How beautiful were the collections of prayers and songs acclaiming God's goodness and thanking Him, especially the Jewish prayer.  We were privileged at this gathering to have Chicago Tribune religion reporter Manya Brachear Pashman give the message.  In it, she reflected on a story she wrote about a man named Uncle Pete who gave of himself generously in providing for others on Chicago's West Side, even though he wasn't a wealthy man.  Manya put it well when she said that thanksgiving is something to do all the time, especially in abundance, spiritual or physical.

As I stand here at the end of this liturgical year, I know that I am in the midst of a spiritual abundance, given all the above experiences and more.  Thanks be to God!