Editor's Note

Without Words

As this issue featuring the Franciscans was being prepared, I thought more than once of the famous instruction of St. Francis to “Preach the Gospel. If necessary, use words.” Franciscans – at least it was my experience – don’t as a rule talk much about their ministry or spirituality. Instead, they simply point to all the physically and spiritually needy people around them, all the places where injustice and conflict hold sway. The gesture is wordless, but the message is clear: “Get to work.” And the “work” is building God’s Kingdom here and now. One Franciscan Sister pointed out some ways she sees that work being accomplished in our Diocese:

  • Those working to save the lives of the unborn
  • Those working with the marginalized, preparing meals for migrant workers, advocating for them for fair treatment and respect
  • Catholic Charities counseling the troubled and afflicted
  • Project Rachel supporting forgiveness and reconciliation with a loving God
  • The generosity of parishioners to Catholic Relief Services connecting with the poor of the world
  • Supporting the homeless and neglected through “Faith Support Circles”
  • Working with victims of domestic abuse
  • Working for climate change projects, taking the St. Francis Pledge to care for Creation and the Poor
  • Working with and supporting ex-offenders to ease into society once again, addressing re-entry issues for persons returning from prison

In any case, the Franciscans have a message for all the children of God, those in need and those – like many of us – in a position to help.

This month we’re also introducing the six new seminarians for our Diocese. It seems clear, and the men and women discerning vocations tell us, as Holy Hours for vocations resume throughout the Diocese, that our prayers for an increase in priests and consecrated religious are bearing fruit.

Several readers wrote after our last issue to express pleasure over the “Did You Know?” feature in our monthly section on the Year for Priests. One family said that this was especially interesting since they were new to the Diocese and wanted to know our priests better. After seeing the responses from our priests, though, I think there will be some surprises even for the “old timers” as this feature continues.

Thanks as always for your feedback and encouragement. You can reach me at 715 Nazareth Street, Raleigh, NC 27606 or reece@raldioc.org.

rich