Author: Vernon Dobelmann

We are only a week into Lent, but it has already been quite a journey.  I had the opportunity last week to serve as the spiritual adviser for a men’s Cursillo weekend held in Cheyenne.  It was the first Cursillo weekend to be held in the diocese in about ten years.  It began Thursday evening and ended late on Sunday afternoon.  Candidates came from as far north as St. Stephen’s Mission and as far south as Denver.  It was exciting to see the transformation of the group throughout the course of the weekend.  It is a blessing to have these new Cursillistas in our midst.

I have spent the early part of the week catching up on all of the administrative duties that seem to accumulate rapidly any time I am out of the office for a couple of days.  Now it is time to prepare for the next leg of the journey which takes place this weekend.  I will be heading to St. Anthony’s Parish in Casper for a day-long retreat on Saturday, and the pastor has graciously invited me to preach at all of the weekend liturgies while I am there as well.  I have had the privilege of doing this twice before, in Advent and Lent in 2013, and I am looking forward to spending this time once again with the parishioners at St. Anthony’s Parish.

The season of Lent is always a busy time, but it provides a magnificent chance to grow in our relationship with the Lord.  I encourage each of you to take advantage of those extra opportunities in your local parish to pray, study, and perform acts of service during this holy season.  Please do not let these forty days pass by without encountering the living God in a profound way.  Just as the father lovingly embraced the prodigal son upon his return, God the Father is always ready to welcome us into His loving arms.

If your Lent has gotten off to a slow start, or if you have already failed to keep some of your Lenten resolutions, now is the time to begin anew.  We will hear the account of the Transfiguration this weekend.  Jesus “touched” his disciples to alleviate their fears at this brilliant spectacle.  Jesus longs to “touch” each of us with His love, compassion, and mercy.  Let us find strength in the Lord, our God!

As we approach another celebration of “President’s Day” on Monday I can’t help but wonder what President Washington, President Lincoln, and all of our Founding Fathers would think about the current state of affairs in our country.  It is evident that Christianity in Colonial America served as the foundation of everything the early settlers set out to do. The collapse of Christian virtues and values in our modern culture shows just how far we have strayed from the original intent of our country’s founding.

The Rhode Island Charter of 1683 begins, “We submit our person, lives, and estates unto our Lord Jesus Christ, the King of kings, and Lord of lords, and to all those perfect and most absolute laws of His given us in His Holy Word.”  Fast forward nearly 100 years to 1779 and look at what Samuel Adams wrote in a letter to James Warren.  “A general dissolution of principles and manners will more surely overthrow the liberties of America than the whole force of the common enemy.  While the people are virtuous they cannot be subdued; but when once they lose their virtue, they will be ready to surrender their liberties to the first external or internal invader.  How necessary then is it for those who are determined to transmit the blessings of liberty as a fair inheritance to posterity, to associate on public principles in support of public virtue.”  It seems that Samuel Adams had in mind in 1779 what we would witness in our current generation.

Noah Webster (1758-1843) published a textbook in 1832 entitled, History of the United States.  In this book he speaks at length about the value of religion, the Bible, and Christian principles.  One line serves as a prominent reminder to all public servants today.  “Almost all the civil liberty now enjoyed in the world owes its origins to the principles of the Christian religion.”  Compare that statement to the reality of today in which there appears to be an all-out assault on Christianity from the powers that be.  How did we as a nation allow ourselves to be led astray from such convictions?

The moral decline of our nation is evident.  The refusal to believe in Eternal Truth has brought about rampant relativism in which each individual creates his/her own truth.  The consequences of such a belief system seems to  become more and more obvious with each passing day.  We have been legally killing unborn children for 41 years; there are times when this includes infanticide as depicted in testimony at the trial of Dr. Gosnell.  Physician assisted suicide and euthanasia clearly establish that the value of life is determined by functionality.  The dignity and sanctity of human life is ignored in each of these actions, and yet, it has become accepted and even welcomed in contemporary culture.

The attack on Christianity is to be expected.  People with religious convictions who are guided by the Sacred Scriptures in their day-to-day lives are a roadblock to those with an evil agenda.  The tyranny that erupted at various times in history provides us with some insight as to what is happening today.  If we are prudent we will all become students of history to get a glimpse at our future.  The removal of God from our public institutions, the indoctrination of students from preschool through the ultra-liberal university years, the control of the press from graduates of these liberal universities, and big time financial donors promoting their aggressive agenda paints a picture that is not too bright for Christians who value the liberty provided by the Constitution of the United States.

The Health and Human Services (HHS) mandate is one of the latest assaults on Christianity, and on the Catholic Church in particular.  Why is this relevant?  The Catholic Church is a significant roadblock to those who pursue a culture of death.  A book entitled, They Fired the First Shot 2012, spells it out quite clearly beginning on page 562 where the author says:

“If you study communist takeovers and dictatorships, you will see we are on this road.  Mexico’s history in the early part of the last century is proof.  As in Mexico, the Catholic bishops, priests and religious in the United States will be among the first to be imprisoned or killed.  Others will follow.  The healthcare mandate first attacks the Catholic Church.  Bishops, as the enemy sees them, are generals to be eradicated to scatter the flock and are the first that must be taken down.  Don’t want to believe it?  Study history.  Look at the French Revolution.  The guillotines ran non-stop.  Not possible in the United States?  If there is not a radical stand now, “the guillotines,” whatever that might be in the USA, will run non-stop.  History clearly shows religion is first in line to be crushed and the first major blow to smash the Church is the healthcare mandate.” 

The author is adamant that the Catholic Church has to be firm in standing up against this attack on religious liberty.  The writer goes on to elaborate that, “twenty-five percent of all medical health related care, totaling $100 billion, is under the spiritual authority and protection of the Catholic Church.  This in itself is authority not to bargain with, but to mandate; not to request with, but to state: ‘Our goal is we will not shut down.  We will not relinquish our authority to the state.  We will not go to jail.’”

It appears that we will need to follow the example of repentance as demonstrated by the people of Nineveh to bring our nation back to God.  Prayer and fasting are key elements that people of God have used in the past and they are certainly pertinent for our needs today.  May each of us truly turn our hearts and minds to God!  

The words attributed to Patrick Henry so long ago may resonate once more with Americans, “Give me liberty, or give me death.”  

On January 30, 1972 in Londonderry, Northern Ireland, demonstrators were marching in protest of the British policy of internment of suspected Irish nationalists.  The British authorities had ordered the march banned, but it continued despite the orders.  There are numerous accounts which give details of the incident of that day, but these reports don’t seem to all agree about certain aspects of the confrontation.  Bottom line, British Army paratroopers fired into the crowd killing 13 and wounding at least that many as well. All of the deceased were Catholics.  This event came to be known as Bloody Sunday.

I was only an adolescent when Bloody Sunday occurred, but I can remember watching the evening news with my parents during that time period and frequently hearing stories about the clashes between Protestants and Catholics.  I did not fully comprehend what was taking place, but even at that early age it was obvious that the tension and conflict was immense.  Looking back, I recall that the Irish Republican Army (IRA) became a household name through the repeated reporting night after night.  Although I lacked understanding about the events, I certainly had a familiarity with them nonetheless.

Conflict is evident throughout human history and it remains prevalent in modern society as well.  Nations wage war against one another; revolutions occur within countries; religious factions attack and divide; the list could go on and on.  Following the State of the Union speech this week given by the president of the United States, we can easily spot the conflict between political and moral ideologies right here at home.  The gap between conservative and liberal thinking grows ever wider and the increased polarization of our citizenry is the ensuing result.  This trend has accelerated in recent decades and it appears to be a recipe for disastrous results.  If we believe that a house divided against itself cannot stand, where do we think our nation is headed?

Is there hope?  Reading through the Old Testament we can see the “ups and downs” that nations experienced.  If the people went astray but finally turned back toward God, they would flourish. The good news is that if we turn back to God anything can happen.  I remain hopeful that someday here in the United States we will allow God back into our public institutions and into our society.  I am hopeful that there will come a day when we awake from our spiritual slumber and live devout and upright lives.  What can we learn from events like “Bloody Sunday?” 

“The people in darkness have seen a great light.”

How is the Catholic faith effectively handed on from one generation to the next?  Many educators and faith formation coordinators have lamented in recent decades that we have not done a good job in evangelizing and catechizing our people.  Thus, it is frequently perceived that our current Catholic population lacks a thorough knowledge and understanding of Church teachings.  Is that perception accurate?

On January 24, 2014, Michael Voris posted a video reflecting on some things he observed at the pro-life march in Washington, D.C.   http://www.churchmilitant.tv/daily/?today=2014-01-24

He commented about the impressive aspect of seeing so many young people braving the bitter cold to participate in the march, but he conducted some unscientific interviews with many of them while he was there and walked away with some disturbing statistics.  He found that 30% of the young people gathered for the march were okay with the use of contraception.  He also found that 19% of the young people were accepting of homosexual physically active relationships.  In his observation, Michael Voris points out that the culture of death has already slipped into the hearts and minds of the young Church.  Remember, these observations were made in regard to those young “pro-life” people present at the March for Life in Washington, D.C.  What do you think these interviews would unmask if they were conducted in a completely different venue?

Michael Voris is very direct in addressing Church leadership about their shortcomings and failures in regard to preaching and teaching the fullness of the faith, and he readily acknowledges that being the messenger of such news does not make him popular in certain circles.  I will admit that his criticisms are difficult to hear since I fall into one of the categories on the receiving end of the message.  However, it is essential for all of us, clergy and laity, who have teaching responsibilities within the Church to take our roles seriously.  Subsequently, I believe Mr. Voris gives us an opportunity for some solid evaluation and reflection of our ministerial outreach.

How do we a draw a balance in our preaching and teaching?  Is there a way to not focus on “fire and brimstone” constantly, and yet truly teach the more difficult components of the faith?  Quite simply, how do we teach the truth in love?  What can we learn from the past, and how can we apply it to the present?

Cicero (106 B.C. – 43 B.C.) listed three aims of rhetoric: (1) to teach; (2) to delight; and (3) to persuade.  St. Augustine picked up on this from Cicero and reinforced the importance of clarity in our communication.  He applied this to both teaching and preaching.  His admonishment was straight to the point when he said, “The speaker should not primarily consider the quality of his teaching, but the clarity of it.”  (On Christian Doctrine 4, 12, 27)

Obviously, we are pursuing goals much more prolific than the simple development of oratorical skills.  However, it makes sense to utilize the concepts of effective rhetoric in our teaching and preaching.  In what ways do we strive to “delight the heart?”  If our approach to teaching is vibrant and engaging we have the potential to create an atmosphere more conducive to learning.  It is no secret that if we delight the heart, the mind becomes more receptive to our teaching.  Ultimately, this receptivity, or lack thereof, impacts our ability to persuade the hearer as we invite him/her to conversion.  God chooses to use us as instruments of His love; it is important that we cooperate with the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit as we minster. 

Continuing our celebration of Catholic Schools Week encourages all of us with teaching responsibilities in our schools (and other settings as well) to engage in some serious reflection.  How do I engage in prayer and study in my own life?  Am I on fire with the love of God?  Why did I enter this ministry?  Am I pursuing my passion or my pension?  Finally, am I effectively contributing to the building up of the Kingdom of God?

“Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge, and Service”

The celebration of Catholic Schools Week began on January 26 and runs through February 1.  This week the spotlight clearly shines on the mission of Catholic education as the theme so aptly declares, “Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge, and Service”.

The National Catholic Educational Association highlights some statistics on their website that are quite revealing.  Over two million students are enrolled in Catholic schools in the current academic year at the elementary, middle, and secondary levels.  Of these students, 317,470 are non-Catholic.  That is just under 16% of the total enrollment of students in the Catholic system.  There are a total of 6,685 Catholic schools in the United States; we celebrated the opening of 28 new ones this year while also witnessing the closing or consolidation of 148 others.  The overall student/teacher ratio is 13:1.

Full-time (equivalent) staff in our Catholic schools is comprised predominantly of the laity; lay women comprise 74.5% while lay men make up 22.3% for a total of 96.8%.  Clergy and religious only comprise 3.2 % of professional staff in our Catholic schools.

What do these statistics reveal about the state of Catholic education in our country?  Obviously, the Catholic educational system still has a profound impact on our society with 6,685 schools in operation and over 2 million students enrolled.  Those numbers suggest a huge potential for shaping the culture with solid Christian Catholic values if effective faith formation and education are a central component of each of these Catholic schools.  On the other hand, if we see our schools functioning simply as private schools, but not necessarily all that focused on being Catholic, we won’t see the potential fulfilled as dramatically as it could be.  If that occurs, then we have missed our purpose and our mission.  There are over 2,000 Catholic schools with a waiting list for admission, and I am sincerely hopeful that our Catholicity is the driving force behind that positive statistic.  

The decline of religious men and women (priests, brothers and sisters) has certainly impacted Catholic education in recent decades.  This decline has definitely been viewed in a negative light, and with good reason.  Our religious men and women bring a Catholic presence into our Catholic institutions that are uniquely their own, and it is sometimes difficult to capture those charisms in laity-led endeavors.  However, this decline in the number of religious serving our schools has provided a profound opportunity for the laity to step up to a ministry which empowers them to more fully live out their vocational call to holiness.  Vatican II recognized the vital role of the laity, and the modern Catholic educational system is a place where the laity exercise a premier ministry in shaping the hearts and minds of the young Church.

Catholic Schools Week celebrates a wide range of attributes regarding our vast educational system across the country.  First and foremost, I see it as a time of gratitude.  Many people sacrificed immensely throughout the years to get us to where we are today.  They gave generously of their time, talent, and treasure to make Catholic education a reality and we cannot take those sacrifices for granted.  Generous people continue to make sacrifices today to continue the tradition, and it is imperative that we live with grateful hearts for these blessings.

Parents, you are the first and primary teachers of your children in the faith.  Thank you for the many ways you take that obligation seriously.  Your ability to model the faith to your children cannot be matched by anyone else; you have a unique role bestowed by God.  The Catholic school and parish serve as a support system to assist you in this endeavor, but you provide the foundation upon which these other avenues are able to build.  Please continue to pray with (and for) your children that they may grow in wisdom, grace, and holiness.

Catholic school administrators, you fulfill a significant role in establishing the spiritual climate of your Catholic school.  The spirituality of the faculty, staff, students, and parents cannot simply be an “add-on” thing that you do when it is convenient.  The Christian perspective has to be the central focus of all that takes place on campus, and a Christ-like attitude should permeate every fiber of our Catholic schools.  Administrators, thank you for the leadership you demonstrate to make our Catholicity a reality in the institutions that you serve.  Keep the flame of faith burning brightly.

Faculty and staff, thank you for your ministry to the students and parents who enter the walls of your school.  Your pursuit of excellence as an educator, and as a Christian, creates an environment in your classroom that serves as a catalyst for others to pursue excellence too.  Your enthusiasm for academic learning and faith formation as well as your zest for life are contagious.  You have the opportunity to be a blessing to everyone who enters your room, including your colleagues.  Don’t miss the chance to be a faithful witness of Jesus Christ!  

Students, it can be challenging at times to stay focused on learning, loving, and living Christ.  There are many things in the world designed to distract you from those things that are important in your academic studies as well as your faith formation and development.  Please know that the guidance of your parents and teachers is a responsibility they possess by the vocational calling they have received, and it is a responsibility not taken lightly.  While none of us fulfill our duties perfectly, I hope you are able to witness an abundance of love and caring from those whose care you are entrusted.  It is my sincere prayer that each of you experience the immense love of God through the love and respect of your parents and teachers.  Happy Catholic Schools Week!

“Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge, and Service”