“Go, therefore, and Make Disciples”

16th Sunday of Ordinary Time

“Go, therefore, and Make Disciples”

Discipleship has been the focus of my bulletin reflections as well as my Sunday sermons. This is because discipleship is integral to the Christian life. In fact, the word disciple derives from the Latin root which means “learner”, or in other words, to be an apprentice. A disciple is an apprentice of Jesus – one who learns and follows and studies under the tutelage of Jesus. One way we can see ourselves as an apprentice of Christ is through the medium of Sacred Scripture. Our study of Sacred Scripture, and the New Testament in a particular way, transmits the life and teachings of Jesus. However, once received into our minds and hearts, the question that remains is: what is my response? I affectionately refer to this process as spiritual physics. After encountering the Risen Lord Jesus, after undergoing this study that is apprenticeship, after learning from Him, I believe we are necessarily inspired to mission!

Mission isn’t something new – it’s not just the vision of the modern Church. Rather, mission goes back to the vision of Christ, himself. For instance, consider the calling of the twelve as found in Mark’s Gospel. “He appointed twelve [whom he also named apostles] that they might be with him and he might send them forth to preach” (Mark 3:14). “That they might be with him” points to this concept of discipleship – being a learner or apprentice of Jesus. Following that clause, though, comes something revolutionary! “And he might send them forth to preach”. That’s the resulting clarion call and commission of a disciple. The word “apostle” literally means one who is sent away. The contemporary disciple is to be an apostle – one who is sent out on mission to proclaim the Gospel. And this action or work of proclamation (“kerygma” is the Greek word meaning “proclamation”) is what is known as evangelization. Mission means to be sent out in the name of Christ, and evangelization is what we do once we are sent away: to proclaim Christ to others that will facilitate an encounter with the Risen Lord, so that someone else can become a disciple, and make a personal choice and commitment to follow Jesus.

On a side note, if you’re ever wondering how you can succinctly and simply pronounce and proclaim the kerygmatic proclamation, I would encourage using the words of the late Pope Francis in his Apostolic Exhortation “Evangelii Guadium”: Jesus Christ loves you; he gave his life to save you; and now he is living at your side to enlighten, strengthen and free you! (EG 164). Those three points are all that’s needed to make the initial proclamation to someone.

Within this framework, one can ascertain that the nomenclature "disciple" is actually inadequate. That is why Pope Francis asserts that the baptized person must become a “missionary disciple”. Pope Francis goes on to explain, “Every Christian is challenged, here and now, to be actively engaged in evangelization; indeed, anyone who has truly experienced God’s saving love does not need much time or lengthy training to go out and proclaim that love. Every Christian is a missionary to the extent that he or she has encountered the love of God in Christ Jesus: we no longer say that we are “disciples” and “missionaries”, but rather that we are always ‘missionary disciples’” (EG 120).

People of St. Francis de Sales, we are missionary disciples! We remind ourselves of that truth every time we exit church – a sign that quotes the words of the Risen Lord Jesus: “Go, therefore, and make disciples” (Matthew 28:19a).

Wishing you God’s peace and everything good, I remain – 

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Christian Shiu
Administrator

Disciple, Shepherd, Steward

15th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Disciple, Shepherd, Steward

Having completed my first full week at St. Francis de Sales, including a weekend, I am grateful for the warm welcome and hospitality, and I am elated to be a part of your parish.  From my conversations and encounters with people, it is clear to me that there is a strong sense of community here.  Last week, I spoke of walking together; it has already become evident to me that you are disciples of Christ who walk together with each other.  I have witnessed this from the incredible synergy and spirit of collaboration among the staff, I have witnessed this from the dedicated liturgical ministers who ensure that we can all belong, believe and become here in our spiritual home, I have witnessed this from those who serve in the food pantry ministry; I have witnessed this from our committed Ministers of Care, leaving church after Daily Mass to bring Holy Communion to those who cannot join the worshipping community in-person, and I have witnessed this from the assembly in the celebration of Eucharist – as you walk together with each other in worship, exercising your common priesthood, uniting the story and substance of your lives to the one sacrifice of Christ on the Cross for the salvation of the world. 

As I have been spending time praying about my new role as pastor of a parish, a thought comes to mind: disciple, shepherd and steward.  In the Archdiocese of Chicago, an important model of priesthood entails these three categories, and they each speak to the three-fold duty of the priest.  As a Disciple, I am entrusted with providing spiritual vision and ensuring that we stay grounded on the Mission.  In the words of the Risen Lord Jesus: to go and make disciples (cf. Matthew 28:19).  As a Shepherd, I am entrusted with teaching and preaching the Gospel and providing pastoral care.  And as a Steward, I am entrusted with the great gift which is the holy People of God – to help you to “shine like lights in the world” (Philippians 2:15b) as I celebrate the Sacraments and ensure the life of grace.  

The Priest as disciple, shepherd and steward is the one who walks together with the people – praying, listening and discerning so that true co-responsibility can occur.  Remember a moment ago I spoke of the common priesthood: this is the priesthood of the Baptized!  And therein is the reality that every single member of the Body of Christ is co-responsible for the Mission of Christ.  Simply put, co-responsibility means that every baptized member of the Body has a unique call or vocation, ministry and lifestyle that enables her to participate in mission and evangelization – building up the Body of Christ and proclaiming the Gospel.  

The ministerial priesthood – that of the ordained – is called to be at the service of the common priesthood.  And I couldn’t be more excited than to do that here at St. Francis de Sales.  As I mentioned in my weekend homily, always remember that you have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in you, you are a beloved child of God, and God loves you – never let anyone tell you otherwise.  Because of that truth, you are being equipped and enabled daily by Christ to also be disciples, shepherds and stewards of the faith, “to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship” (Romans 12:1b).  While the priest consecrates the Eucharist, You consecrate the world! 

Wishing you God’s peace and everything good, I remain – 

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Christian Shiu
Administrator

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Watch Fr Christian’s Homily from last week below!

Walking Together

Walking Together

St. Francis de Sales would resort to writing notes teaching and explicating the Catholic faith on sheets of paper, slipping them under doors. That was the only way he might hope to re-evangelize in Geneva. The Catholic Revival didn’t come easy for St. Francis, but he had a resolve and resiliency to forge ahead, to walk together with others, in gentleness and love.

Walking together in the spiritual life is pivotal. We find countless examples from Sacred Scripture: Jesus instructs the apostles to walk together in pairs, as he sends them out as those who share in his mission (cf. Mark 6:7); later, Jesus will call forth the seventy-two who will also participate in the mission, they, too, are to walk together in pairs (cf. Luke 10:1); or think of that monumental and momentous Resurrection day, when Cleopas and the other disciple are walking together with the Risen Lord Jesus on the Road to Emmaus (cf. Luke 24:13-35). If we flip back to the Old Testament, we discover equally compelling examples of walking together: Naomi and Ruth in their pact of true friendship, Enoch and Noah, both depicted in the Book of Genesis as righteous ones who walked with God. Even the psalmist who writes “under his wings you may take refuge” absolutely believed that the Lord – in whom refuge is found – was walking together with him (cf. Ps. 91:4).

This past week, I had the opportunity to visit the University of Notre Dame for some rest and reflection. One of my fondest memories was praying at the Grotto. There, I saw people walking together in faith, young and old, parents with their children hand-in-hand, college students, summer camp kids, visitors and tourists. Above all, in the midst of the sacred silence, I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit, allowing this concept of walking together to become tangible in the unity of the human family – because we are all looking for something, we are all yearning for something; we are all desiring something to settle and satisfy our restless hearts. Indeed, how wonderful that people walk together toward Christ, seeking the aid and intercession of Our Lady who leads us to ever deeper friendship with her Son.

As the new Pastor of St. Francis de Sales, I am deeply honored to have the privilege of walking together with you in your unique human experiences: the worries, challenges and concerns, goals and aspirations, hopes and dreams. That’s all okay! I pledge to walk with you and to point us to Christ so that we may find hope in Him and in each other. At the Corby Hall residence for Holy Cross priests and brothers, right before entering the Holy Spirit Chapel, the seal of the order is stamped on the floor; it reads “Spes Unica”. That means: our only Hope. Indeed, the direction in which we will walk together is Christ – Christ through his saving work of Passion, Death, Resurrection and Ascension is the only source of our Hope! And it is having hope that enables us to move forward, to take that next step, even when we are uncertain, because we trust that God is with us and God loves us. If we ever need reminding of the love of God, let us gaze upon the Cross: there we see love outstretched and open to all, a new and eternal covenant that our parish continues to share with others through mission and evangelization.

St. Francis de Sales wrote notes and letters; I will, too, in the medium of a new pastor’s column entitled “Eagle’s Landing” that will appear each week in the bulletin. In the days, months, and years to come, I look forward to using this platform as a way to communicate and share faith, news, and ideas. I am also eager to engage in avenues and events that will afford us the opportunity to meet, for you to share your faith, news, and ideas with me, and for me to listen.

As we walk together with Our Lady’s guidance, be assured of my prayers as I remain –

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Christian Shiu
Administrator