The Catholic News Service reports that in Washington, USA, “The impact of the wave of layoffs in firms, factories, financial companies and the automotive industry can be felt in parish halls or church basements across the country on any given weeknight. That's where many of the newly unemployed go for practical and sometimes spiritual advice.”
Going further, the report gave exact information on the exercise that “Just outside Detroit, at St. Andrew Parish in Rochester, a job support group began last year with about 20 participants. Now, at least 80 people attend the twice-monthly meetings, according to Betty Dobies, chair of St. Andrew's Career Mentoring Ministry, which has a partnership with 13 church groups in the Detroit area. ‘We started out thinking we'd review resumes and interview techniques, but we found that the main thing people really need is support,’ Dobies said.”
I wish to comment on the impact of the above report. We know that the Catholic Church is replete with documents, encyclicals, Episcopal letters that touch and actually state what local Churches and church organizations should do in terms of offering evangelisation that takes care not only of the spiritual needs of the faithful but also their corporal needs. We know also that we are engaged in charity works and in fact that each or many parishes have an outlet for taking care of the poor and these are doing wonderfully in most cases. But there is other aspect or approach to caring for the corporal need of the faithful, which I have observed in other Christian denominations, particularly the evangelicals – one on one attention given to their adherents, that in the present moment seems to be lacking amongst us.
Perhaps, it could be because of our number – we are always so many, thanks to God, but from my background, studying why the early missionaries had much success in eastern Nigeria, which is true also in many other parts of African countries was their resilience in forging a filial unity among the converts that all in way or the other feel responsible to each other. The evangelicals have continued this type of relationship, and in Nigeria, it is paying them much in winning members. We may argue theologically and others wise, but the truth is that people are much confident and can sustain their faith when they feel part of a community. The Church not only at St. Andrew’s Rochester, but also at any place must rediscover their kind of pastoral attention in the modern era evangelisation. It gives a view of a true family of God, which is what the Church is in reality. It gives a sense of interconnectedness, and by so doing, destroys the monster of isolation that many suffer as a result of our technological world. Places where this type of evangelisation is in place, a lively faith is known to be in place. I feel we need many of this kind of place.
Going further, the report gave exact information on the exercise that “Just outside Detroit, at St. Andrew Parish in Rochester, a job support group began last year with about 20 participants. Now, at least 80 people attend the twice-monthly meetings, according to Betty Dobies, chair of St. Andrew's Career Mentoring Ministry, which has a partnership with 13 church groups in the Detroit area. ‘We started out thinking we'd review resumes and interview techniques, but we found that the main thing people really need is support,’ Dobies said.”
I wish to comment on the impact of the above report. We know that the Catholic Church is replete with documents, encyclicals, Episcopal letters that touch and actually state what local Churches and church organizations should do in terms of offering evangelisation that takes care not only of the spiritual needs of the faithful but also their corporal needs. We know also that we are engaged in charity works and in fact that each or many parishes have an outlet for taking care of the poor and these are doing wonderfully in most cases. But there is other aspect or approach to caring for the corporal need of the faithful, which I have observed in other Christian denominations, particularly the evangelicals – one on one attention given to their adherents, that in the present moment seems to be lacking amongst us.
Perhaps, it could be because of our number – we are always so many, thanks to God, but from my background, studying why the early missionaries had much success in eastern Nigeria, which is true also in many other parts of African countries was their resilience in forging a filial unity among the converts that all in way or the other feel responsible to each other. The evangelicals have continued this type of relationship, and in Nigeria, it is paying them much in winning members. We may argue theologically and others wise, but the truth is that people are much confident and can sustain their faith when they feel part of a community. The Church not only at St. Andrew’s Rochester, but also at any place must rediscover their kind of pastoral attention in the modern era evangelisation. It gives a view of a true family of God, which is what the Church is in reality. It gives a sense of interconnectedness, and by so doing, destroys the monster of isolation that many suffer as a result of our technological world. Places where this type of evangelisation is in place, a lively faith is known to be in place. I feel we need many of this kind of place.
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