Where have all the children gone? It’s mid-June. School is over for the year. CCD Classes are finished. Children have received their First Holy Communion and Confirmation. And then, there are no children in Church, or at least, very few. What does that teach our children? During the school year, I hear: busy with sports, games and practices, recitals, plays and music practices, school extra-curricular programs. But now school is over for the summer and still we’ve lost the kids.
Faith, Church, and sometimes even God, has become an elective school subject. Rather than a way of life: loving God and neighbor, it has become an extra when needed. This may sound like a depressing message, and it is. We need to help our children see God. Help them recognize Him in Church. Maybe by pointing out the faith symbols there. Maybe taking the time to pray with them, so they know God in a personal way, not a homework assignment. I would say that ninety percent of our youth have smart phones. I’m sure they have many games on them. How many have a prayer app or an app that shares stories of faith or a spiritual thought for the day? These apps are not as good as spending some quiet time with Jesus. But they are the second best thing as they remind our youth of their faith.