Staying at home to watch Mass on TV is no substitute for going to church, Bishop Donal McKeown of Derry has warned.
“Because the missionary Christ is in Holy Communion, staying at home to watch Mass on TV is no substitute for being part of the missionary congregation, fed each week by the Body of Christ. That is a huge challenge for us as we move forward,” he said.
In a homily at St Eugene’s Cathedral in Derry, Bishop McKeown said mission is “an antidote to a selfish culture that leaves people feeling lonely and unfulfilled” and he challenged parishes on how ready they are to bring Christ to others in the community.
A missionary Church, he said, is energised. “A frightened, defensive church is unhappy, and can easily go to war with itself.”
Noting Pope Francis’ definition of the Church as a community of missionary disciples, the Bishop of Derry said an inward-looking Church is not the Church of Christ and is not modelled on Mary.
“A politically strong Church without a missionary heart is useless. All Church renewal is not based on how we update our teachings and practices to become popular. We seek to please the Lord, not the passing fads of those who think they are important or smart.
“At the present time, our only question has to be whether we are effective in making new disciples for Christ. And the need for profound renewal is based on the fact that we have been failing to bring many hurting and idealistic young people to know Christ and his mercy.
“The question is not about how we bring them to us. The real and awkward question is about we bring them to know the love of God and the divine dream that Christ has for each one of them.”
Talk about a synodal way of being Church is not focussed on us, or on going where we feel comfortable, Bishop McKeown said. Jesus was asking the faithful to step out of the boat and come to him.
The Church community has to make space for all to participate. “But the purpose of the Church is to bring Christ to the people of our time.”
He described Mary as the model of the first disciple who bears Jesus with her. “Our own culture emphasises that I ought to obey my thirst, feel good, and never say ‘no’. It is all about me.
“The starting point for the disciple of Christ is to ask, where can I bring Jesus to another person? Our companionship with Jesus is meant to prepare us to share the One whom we have welcomed into our midst. Mission is an antidote to a selfish culture that leaves people feeling lonely and unfulfilled. How ready is our parish to be urgent in bringing Christ to others in our community?”
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