PREPARING FOR A FUTURE FULL OF HOPE

Bishop Paul S. Coakley

Advent is a season of expectant hope.  It invites us to “prepare the way” for the Lord who comes to save us.  During this season of joyful hope we experience anew God’s commitment to us; his faithfulness to his promises.  God is not far away and aloof from our problems, joys and sufferings.  He is Emmanuel, which means “God is with us” (Mt 1:23).  By becoming man, God has entered into human history and redeemed us from sin and death, that is, from hopelessness. 

As Pope Benedict writes in his beautiful new encyclical on Christian hope, Spe Salvi, “Here too we see as a distinguishing mark of Christians the fact that they have a future: it is not that they know the details of what awaits them, but they know in general terms that their life will not end in emptiness (2).”  This is not only true for us individually, but as a Church, as God’s People.  Through hope we experience redemption from meaninglessness and fear.

We, the Church in the Diocese of Salina, are being called by God to a renewal of hope.  We are often keenly aware of many challenges, including a declining and aging rural population.  This reality is reflected in our parishes, and in our aging presbyterate.  We are uncertain about the future of our communities, our rural way of life, the viability of some of our parishes.   But God is with us.  Through the prophet Jeremiah he speaks a word of hope that is his pledge to us today: “For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, plans for your welfare, not for woe; plans to give you a future full of hope” (Jer 29:11).

Though we do not know the details of what that future holds for us, we have an opportunity and an obligation to cooperate with the Lord, and “prepare the way” that will lead to such a future.  This Advent we begin a Year of Prayer for Vocations.  We have committed ourselves to fervently ask God to strengthen our faith and bless our diocese with an abundance of vocations to the priesthood and religious life.  This is an important way of preparing for a “future full of hope” which will be characterized by a renewal of vibrant parish life for generations to come.  Other initiatives will follow.

Recently, the Executive Committee for Diocesan Planning, which had been formed in 1993 to oversee the implementation of Pastoral Plan 2000, completed its work.  I am deeply grateful for the dedicated service of all who have served through the years.  In 2008 I will be authorizing a new planning commission to prepare a pastoral plan that will guide us for the next five to ten years.  These years will continue to bring both challenges and opportunities as we pursue our mission of proclaiming Christ as witnesses to the hope that is within us (1Pt 3:15).  Let us pray for the wisdom and prudence to discern God’s presence and providence guiding us toward this future full of hope.

Published The Register, December 14, 2007