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Dear Fellow Parishioners in Christ:
On the nightly news tonight they featured a story about religion in America. The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life completed a large nation-wide study and basically found that the percentage of church attending Americans is down and the percentage of people who do not believe in God at all, is up. This news does not surprise me, but it does sadden me.
Our world has certainly changed since I was a kid. When I was growing up everyone on my street went to church or synagogue. It was a part of the fabric of life and almost everyone participated. These days things are much different. As a nation we have strayed away from formal religion and much of our culture regards religion as unnecessary. I don’t want to live in a world where God and church and faith are seen as unnecessary. But unfortunately this is the world we do live in today.
On a recent trip home to Springfield, Massachusetts, my mother and brother told me some surprising news. It seems that all but one of the Catholic schools in Springfield is closing their doors. Not enough students to keep them all open. It’s a financial decision, I guess and even though I no longer live there, I felt profoundly sad about this development. One of the schools, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, was my grammar school and the place I learned to love and respect Jesus Christ. It was a school that most of the kids on my street attended. It was an important part of our lives. It was an institution that was supported, respected and beloved by many.
Most Americans in the 1960’s attended a church or synagogue. It was a normal and natural part of life. It was a foundational structure of our society. Our churches were as much a part of normal life as going to work or going to school. People attended regularly. Father Charles tells me that in his neighborhood you could see hundreds of people walking to mass each Sunday. It was part of the order of things. And I believe it was good.
Unfortunately, we really cannot take things for granted any more when it comes to our places of worship. As a society, we have become cynical about religion and more and more people don’t even bother with it. They don’t think it’s necessary or important. Some people go as far as to say we are becoming a “Godless America”. I am convinced this is one of the reasons why St. Nicholas is struggling today. Our church is yet another victim of this apathy and a society that has changed its heart about religion.
It seems to me that now, more than ever, is the perfect time to start a Stewardship program at Saint Nicholas. Our ancient faith is so much more than a church building. It is our connection to God and our understanding of our relationship with Him. It is a place to worship God and be blessed by the sacraments and services of our faith. It is a place to connect with others who share these beliefs. It is a place that provides us with countless blessings of friendship and faith.
Stewardship is a program that is meant to uplift our beloved parish of St. Nicholas. It is more important than ever to support our church because, as I have pointed out, we cannot rely on our own society anymore. Is it going to be difficult? Yes! Is it going to be expensive? Yes! Is it our responsibility? Yes! I believe it is up to us to make sure that St. Nicholas is financially healthy well into the future. And we can all help to do this by supporting the Stewardship program with our Time, Talent and Treasure.
In Christ’s name,
Presvytera Nancy Joanides
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