"The Christian People", the Community and the Future

“The Christian People”. This is an ancient way of describing the Church, the communion of the Baptized. This people is an identifiable body, made up of women and men, the young and the old, saints and struggling sinners. Among the Christian People, the Catholic Church is perhaps the most easily identifiable as a presence in the world. The visible structure of the Church, with clergy and religious, bishops and popes, parishes and dioceses, and a fairly well articulated doctrine of faith, all make us anything but a hidden presence in the world.

Aerial view of new Church construction,
Sacred Heart, Hidalgo, Texas

My hope is that non-Catholics and non-Christians in our local communities of the Río Grande Valley see us as a positive presence, one that strengthens the bonds of friendship with good will and cooperative work for the good of all. It is our mission to serve the whole community, not just the Catholic community. Thus, our Catholic Charities doesn't ask a person’s religion when they come seeking some assistance. We don't ask their immigration status either. This way of serving is in obedience to the Lord Jesus who bids us give water to the thirsty and food to the hungry (see Mt 25).

I am sure that a good number of our non-Catholic neighbors do not agree with all the stands the Church takes on political and social issues of our time. Our unwavering defense of the unborn child, our political advocacy in favor of the humane treatment of immigrants and refugees, and our opposition to the death penalty, for example, are a part of who we are. Yet, again, I hope that those who disagree with us do not perceive in our defense of human dignity any trace of resentment or anger. And to the Christian People I say that we must constantly be on our guard lest our passion for the Social Teaching of the Church degenerate into a reckless hostility towards any person. The Lord strictly forbids us from treating anyone with disrespect. And for the times we have failed to show respect and kindness to others we should seek pardon from Christ and from those we may have offended.

The Church is a great mystery, and as bishop I am principally charged with leading the Church in the Río Grande Valley in her mission to be an effective sign of Christ Jesus, risen from the dead. We can only fulfill our mission to the wider community if we are true to the Lord and to ourselves as a community in the Lord. I want the Catholics in the Valley to know that we have great challenges and opportunities ahead of us. For some time, I have been engaged in discussions with clergy, religious and lay leadership about our need for strategic planning so that we can move consciously and confidently to meet those challenges and seize those opportunities.

New mission chapel of Saint Jude, near Weslaco, Texas

For example, we are in need of establishing new parishes and missions. The Church is growing and our structures must adapt to the new realities unfolding before us. We also need to find ways to make Catholics who have drifted from active participation in our parishes to feel invited and welcomed in our communities. We also must rededicate ourselves to supporting each other in our daily struggles as families and as individuals. This involves a renewal of zeal in our evangelization, catechesis and sacramental preparations, for the grace of the Lord sustains us.

In October the priests of the Diocese and I will continue our strategic planning discussions, and there will be opportunities for parishioners and for persons who are not presently active in the Church to express their concerns and hopes. We are blessed because recently many of our parishes have participated in the Encuentro Process. My hope is that the fruits of those discussions will become a vibrant part of our strategic planning in the coming months. I ask you to be on the lookout for opportunities to join in the discussions.

Perhaps some of you think that this sounds like another Church program and little will come of it. I am not looking for a new program, I am looking for an enduring reorientation of our perspective as Catholics, one that takes to heart Pope Francis’ call for a Church whose every fiber is dedicated to Evangelization, the support of family life, and to keeping the hopes of our young people alive and strong. The work of the clergy is not to substitute for the witness of the Christian People. On the contrary, we are at the service of providing the Christian People with the resources of grace, in the sacraments and in the Gospel announced, so that all of us can be that People whom the Lord calls to announce, witness and be his presence in the world.

May the Eucharistic Mystery be our strength, may Christ our Shepherd guide us always, and may the prayers of the Virgin Mother of God and Saint Joseph accompany us always.

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