By Linda Busetti
HERALD Staff Writer
(From the issue of 5/2/02)
"Promoting Positive Images of Priesthood and Religious Life," was one of 16 concurrent workshops offered to Congress delegates.
The two-part workshop was presented by Sister of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis of the Congregation of Our Lady of Lourdes Sister Barbara Kraemer and Dominican Sister Diane Poplawski.
Sister Barbara Kraemer used data from recent studies to draw a picture of how young adult Catholics view the Church, their place in it and vocations to the priesthood and religious life.
The 1998 study, "Young Adult Catholics: Religion in the Culture of Choice," by Dean Hoge, William Dinges, Sister of Notre Dame de Namur Sister Mary Johnson and Juan Gonzalez, Jr., surveyed more than 800 confirmed Catholics between the ages of 20 and 39. Sister Kraemer the "large majority do not have a strong intellectual formation in the faith nor do they understand the reasons for the institutional Church." Young adult Catholics surveyed said they would tell bishops the Church should provide more ways for them to become more meaningfully involved in Church life, especially in parishes. They also wanted more adult education about Scripture, knowledge of the faith and church traditions and teachings.
According to the study, "A number of Church teachings, especially about human sexuality, erode the Church’s credibility with a large number of young adults," Sister Kraemer said.
A recent article by Joseph J. Guido in America, a weekly Catholic magazine, details a study of thousands of students in the class of 2003 in more than 400 colleges and universities. Sister Kraemer said the results reveal 89 percent attend church "occasionally," the majority do volunteer work and 45 percent consider spirituality as "essential" to their lives. When asked how many had considered a vocation to the priesthood, only two in 1,000 said yes. Only one in 1,000 had considered the religious life.
The family’s role in the promotion of vocations to the priesthood and religious life is "also in a sad state of affairs," Sister Kraemer said. In 1997 the Center for the Study of Religious Life surveyed parents of Catholic children already involved in parish programs. These parents believe the "work of priests is stressful and demanding." Parents had reservations about young sons committing their lives to the priesthood and didn’t want to sacrifice having grandchildren. Mothers surveyed "placed higher value" on the religious life than fathers, Sister Kraemer said. When asked whether they had encouraged their children to consider a religious vocation, 48 percent disagreed and 19 percent "strongly disagreed."
The Catholic Church has become culturally diverse, Sister Kraemer said, noting especially growth in the Hispanic Catholic population. "It’s difficult to predict trends, but there is certainly going to be a markedly changed Church in the next generation," she said.
According to Sister Kraemer, although 16 percent of U.S. Catholics are Hispanic, there is only one Hispanic priest for every 9,925 Hispanic Catholics. By 2050 the Hispanic population in the United States will triple, she said.
As for Native Americans, Sister Kraemer reported, according to the Center for the Study of Religious Life, Native American priests have always been "outsiders," and so young men see "no models" within their own culture.
The National Communicators Network for Women Religious commissioned a study, "Images Young People Have of Religious," a phone survey of 18-39-year-olds, which found young adults "know little about religious life" and often don’t know the difference between a priest and a brother. Only 52 percent surveyed thought you had to be Catholic to be a religious; 62 percent knew a religious personally. Few surveyed had been invited to consider the religious life.
Perceptions of women ages 19-38 in a Notre Dame University study about Images of Sisters were "outdated" and revealed "personal biases," Sister Kraemer said. Women found the "sense of community" to be attractive, but the inability to marry and have a family as drawbacks.
"How do we let young people know that religious and priests are ‘real people’" Sister Kraemer challenged the delegates …What energizes us? What are our passions? We have to offer religious life as not only viable, but joyful," she said.
Sister Diane Poplawski presented a variety of audio-visual resources parishes can use to encourage more positive images of priesthood and religious life, while reflecting cultural diversity. The resources focus on practical ways to invite young people to consider vocations, ways to connect with young adults and to foster parental involvement.
"Compelling" personal stories of vocations to the priesthood comprise the video, "Priest as Inviter." Included is the story of newly ordained Father Mathew Simonar describing the encouragement of an older parish priest, "God didn’t speak to me in a booming voice, but in whispers. Father Don was one of those whispers."
A three-part video workshop, "Opening Our Hearts and Homes: A Process to Help Religious Congregations Invite New Members," is designed specifically for use by religious communities.
In "Walking on Water," two videos tell the stories of nine people of diverse ethnic backgrounds who have been called to serve as lay persons, brothers, sisters or priests.
Sister Poplawski reminded delegates that "young people are hungry for community and spirituality."
A video and study guide set, "Witness to Hope," focuses on young adults who "witness to the gospel" in their daily lives through meaningful service and how these young people might continue to serve through vocations to the priesthood or religious life.
All of the resource materials mentioned are available through the National Coalition for Church Vocations (NCCV), a non-profit publisher (www.nccv-vocations.org), which can be contacted at 1-800/671-NCCV or by mail at 5420 S. Cornell Ave., # 105, Chicago, Ill. 60615-5604.
Copyright ©2002 Arlington Catholic Herald. All rights reserved.
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