Joy and Hope

My children's Godmother was born and raised in the Caribbean.  On several occasions, she has commented on what she sees as the lack of joy in a great many Catholic parishes in this country, and contrasts this with the abundant joy in the parishes back home.

The Dowager Lady Grantham dismissed this English characteristic as being merely a consequence of our climate, and we in Glossop know a lot about such weather.  But as I reflect, I think it goes much deeper than that.

My recollection of my own Catholic upbringing could be summed up by the word conformity.  We were expected to conform, to do certain things – go to Holy Mass, say our prayers, give money to charity, etc. 

And there is little joy to be had in conformity.

When I am confronted by parishes or Catholic societies and organisations that are evidently joyful, I notice one common element: hope.

By hope, I do not mean mere wishful thinking.  But a hope that stems from a vibrant, living relationship with God and a profound trust in him.  Those parishes and organisations feel the call to live as members of the Kingdom of God and, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, play their part in building up God's Kingdom on earth.

The recent letter from Bishop Patrick about the future of the Church in Glossop could, at first, cause us to feel downhearted, and we may be tempted to wallow.  But let us rather see this as a great opportunity.  If we remember to seek first the Kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33), then we can be filled with hope and live in joy.

“All of us, however, need to recover the joy of living, since men and women, created in the image and likeness of God (cf. Gen 1:26), cannot rest content with getting along one day at a time, settling for the here and now…” (Pope Francis - Spes non confundit)


https://www.glossopcatholics.org.uk/the-future-of-our-parishes/