I live for this!

Consolation in a relationship with Jesus

Monday night was our last session of OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) for 2024-2025 here at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish. On the English side of the process we had eleven adults who received their sacraments, three of them were baptized into the Faith, one came into the Catholic Church through profession of faith, and all of them were confirmed and received Holy Eucharist.

Being together for nine months, great relationships have developed, and great growth as Christians has been experienced. As I looked over the group I saw them as they are and compared it to when we first met nine months ago. All praise and glory to Jesus Christ for the great work that he has begun and continues to do in each one of them.

I am so thankful for a faithful group of facilitators who were present each week and walked them through the Creed, the Sacraments, Life in Christ, and Prayer. They were there to answer questions, but also to give a positive witness to the Faith “which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 1:3, RSVCE).

Yesterday I was meeting with a financial advisor from the Knights of Columbus as we continue to ready ourselves for the next chapter of life. One of agents who I had just met asked me about what I did and how I came to Wisconsin. I told him of my recent experience on Monday night and the great joy I have to walk with men and women who are seeking Christ in His Church. I summed it all up by saying, “I live for this!”

I can’t imagine a higher calling than to be an ambassador and witness for Christ and His Church. We can’t take for granted the great gift we have been given. Many are looking for the same joy and meaning in life.

This morning I saw a report on EWTN that there has been an increase of 373% of people searching Google for “how to become Catholic.” There are several reasons for this. Young people are looking for something that makes sense in their lives. The Catholic Church offers them solid answers for life’s complicated questions. The Church has been here for 2000 years and is not going anywhere (Matthew 16:17).

There has also been renewed interest in the Church with the election of Pope Leo XIV. He is encouraging us to “find consolation in a personal relationship with Jesus, and from His (Sacred) Heart, learn to have compassion on the world” (Pope Leo’s prayer intention for June 2025).

I pray that we will grow in love with Jesus and so become his instruments of hope in our world. That’s the bottom line!