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'Going it alone' isn’t spiritual road I want to follow |
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By Mary Kay Upson
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Wednesday, 25 August 2010 |
The Catholic Spirit invited readers to reflect the value of the church community in light of novelist Anne Rice’s recent decision to “quit Christianity.” These are some of the responses that we received.
The article about community [Aug. 12] really struck a chord with me. I’m
a proponent of community. I don’t know if there is a danger in “going
it alone” spiritually, but I believe it’s a harder road. Anne Rice’s
announcement about quitting Christianity but not Christ struck me as an
oxymoron!
I’ve been a member of my church (St. Mary’s in St. Paul) for about 11
years now. I cantor and I’m a section leader in our choir, so I feel
intimately connected with the liturgy.
To me, being a part of a parish community is no different than being a
member of a family. There are good times and bad times — times of
dissension and times of agreement and peace.
In the area of music, in particular, there are many opinions — likes and
dislikes. It’s very difficult to please everyone. In the music arena
alone, there is a constant need for compromise and understanding. Music
is a “hot button” for many, and, of course, everyone has an opinion.
I’ve seen people leave our parish over a very minor disagreement with a
fellow parishioner. I find this very sad. The most important skill I’ve
learned in life is how to get along with others. We don’t always get our
way and sometimes we need to compromise.
Accompanied on journey
The greatest testimony of “community” that I can give is this: Ten years
ago I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Today, I’m healed and,
thankfully, the thought of my illness rarely enters my mind.
An important point that I’ll never forget is that I wasn’t alone on this
journey as I felt the love and support of almost every member of my
parish while I was undergoing treatment. There were so many people
praying for my recovery that I feel like it was similar to the beginning
of “It’s a Wonderful Life” where the angels realize they must help
George Bailey.
Can people disappoint us? Can those around us become a “thorn in our
side” and cause us to want to run in the opposite direction? The answer
is yes, but the people around us are just like us — we’re all working
out our own salvation.
We need each other to learn and grow. I think that “going it alone”
would not only be difficult, it would be very sad. Loving your neighbor
as yourself, it turns out, is a lifelong process — and a difficult one
at times.
Mary Kay Upson is a member of St. Mary in St. Paul.
I can only speak for myself when I write personal reasons for desiring a faith community — needing a faith community. Born and raised "Catholic" — including Catholic schools in Winona, (St. Stanislaus, then Cotter High School -1960.) I simply went through the motions of going to Mass each Sunday because it was expected.
My spirituality began to take root and provide meaning to me as I God answered my prayers nearly flunked out of Cotter High, then actually did the following year at Winona State College. I joined the U.S. Navy the summer before, — and has ever since.
I sought out churches in every city and country I serve in. I recall like it was yesterday, tears of gratitude tumbling down my cheeks, as I felt the presence of God in each church. My spirituality was born out of desperation, and nurtured into maturity over the past 68 years.
My life has been full of the usual trials — some monumental, but throughout it all, I was able to turn to God and find comfort. As a member of St. Bartholomew in Wayzata for the past 41 years, I have found a home. God lives through people. He sends those very people to us as needed to fill in the cracks of human life and its struggles.
Without my church and all of God's people, I would not be here today! Nor would my spouse Linda, our four adult children and our three grandchildren, and perhaps many of the thousands of children I have been privileged to teach over the past 40 years.
Steve Muras
Plymouth
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