What About Encouraging Someone To Become A Redemptorist?

Rev. Marcel Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Homily for the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

Co-Redemptorist Preaching

St. Mary of Assumption Church, Whittier, CA

November 8, 2015

The US Civics questions has the following as one of the questions: “What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?” The answers given are: “vote, join a political party, help with a campaign, join a civic group, join a community group, give an elected official your opinion on an issue, call senators and representatives, publicly support or oppose an issue or policy, run for office and write to a newspaper.” This tells us that for an American citizen to be truly involved and active in our democracy (the government of the people, by the people, and for the people), he or she must do some or all the answers provided. There is no sitting on the fence. If you care about an issue, let your representative officials know about it. Call them. Write them. Write to a local newspaper. If your voice is not being heard, look for like-minded individuals, join or form a civic group. If there’s a politician who agrees with you and is running for office, join his or her campaign. And during election, go out and vote. Don’t stay at home and then complain. Some people are good at complaining and saying all that’s wrong with the country, but they will not do a thing to effect a change. They won’t vote. They forget that elections have consequences. Whoever wins will one way or the other make decisions that will affect everyone. Every political decisions and policies affect real people.  

Having said that, let’s turn our attention to something that is already affecting our Church. Let’s use the same mode of the question by asking: “What are the different ways that Catholics can participate in the life of the Church? How can they contribute to the growth, sustenance and survival of the Church? How can laypeople contribute to the spreading of the Gospel of Jesus Christ? How can we support the Church in the area of increasing the number of vocations to the priesthood and religious life? How can St. Mary of Assumption Church support the work of the Redemptorist of Denver Province? Some of the answers include: praying for the Church, praying for priests and religious, especially Redemptorists, praying for increase in vocation in the Church, especially in the Redemptorist of Denver Province, supporting the church by contributing our time, talent and treasure, by attending Masses on Sunday regularly, joining one of the societies in the church (like St. Vincent de Paul, Charismatic Renewal, Catholic Daughters, St. Mary’s Place, etc. I doubt if there is any regular church-going catholic who will not give some of these answers if he or she were to ask the questions the preceded these answers. We already know that we can contribute and support our church by offering the gifts of three Tees: Time, Talent and Treasure. 

Sisters and brothers, what about offering one of your sons and daughters to God and to the Church? Parents with kids, have you ever asked any of them to consider the vocation to the priesthood and religious life? Have we ever encouraged these wonderful young persons in our church to think about the priesthood or religious life? There are so many wonderful young persons in this parish. I see them in church every Sunday. Most, if not all of them, may never consider becoming a Redemptorist priest or brother unless someone encourages them to think about it. We have a responsibility to talk to young people and encourage them to consider the Redemptorist vocation as one of their options. In case you have not heard, in case you don’t know, the Redemptorist Order, founded by the holy man, St. Alphonsus Liguori, is in search of vocations. We need young men to join us. No human community or organization can stay for a long period of time unless there are new borns. Today, some European countries are giving incentives to young women to have more kids. Why? Because their population is dwindling. Low birth rate and aging population have led to some frightening projections about the continue existence of some of these countries. The Catholic Church is not exempted from these negative projections too. If the current trend continues— more aging priests and religious and fewer vocations, then future Church leaders: Bishops and Religious Superiors, would have no other options than to close some churches or decrease their ministerial and pastoral involvements. As I speak, this is already happening. 

This weekend is dedicated to creating awareness to the Redemptorist vocation. My superiors want me to talk to you about the Redemptorist vocation. Redemptorists have served St. Mary of Assumption Church for a very long time. Yet, only a few vocations to the Redemptorists have come from here. And there has been none in most recent times. What’s going on? I know that some of you have been praying for us. A good number of you have supported and continue to support our missions here and abroad financially. Today, I’m urging you to continue to support us by praying for us, assisting our work financially and most especially, by encouraging your child and another child to consider becoming a Redemptorist. The girls are not left out too. We have a female group of nuns called the Redemptoristines. Those of you who have been supporting us all these years, we thank you so much. Your contributions have helped in my training, formation and studies in the Redemptorist Order. I am one of the fruits of your contribution. Thank you so much! May God bless you!

In today’s Gospel taken from Mark 12:38-44, Jesus observed how the people were putting money into the treasury. The event most likely happened in a Synagogue. As he watched, he noticed that many rich people were putting large sums into the treasury. But he also noticed a poor widow who put in two small coins that worth a few cents. And he considered her gift the greatest. You may ask, why? The answer is simple! Rich folks who gave large sums did so from the abundance of their wealth. If a multi-millionaire gives a donation of $1 million, he is still rich. He still has surplus to live on. What he has given is not going to bankrupt him. He’s still going to be a millionaire. But this poor widow, out of her penury, gave everything she had, her whole livelihood. If there’s a young man in your family, talk to him about becoming a Redemptorist. But if there’s none, consider praying for us! Consider picking one of the envelopes on the pews and making a donation to the Redemptorist of Denver Province. Don’t forget, I am one of the fruits of your past donations. Many more fruits can still be harvested by the contribution you make today. We know things are hard. You have bills to pay. You have other financial obligations to attend to. All we ask you today is your widow’s mite. No amount is too small! Thank you! God bless you!