A few Sundays ago at Mass, the Gospel reading got me excited about something and I thought that, instead of jumping up and shouting right there, it was probably more appropriate to share my point of view here in this blog with you, my single Catholic friends.
It was the reading from the Gospel of Matthew that all of us have heard time and time again, when Jesus feeds the crowd of five thousand with a few loaves and fishes. Of course, there are many take-aways for this scripture reading, primarily the predication of the miracle of the Eucharist that would take place later. But the part that did at that moment, and always has gotten me both motivated and frustrated at the same time are these two verses:
This is a deserted place and it is already late; dismiss the crowds so that they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves." Jesus said to them, "There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves (Matthew 14:15-16).
Why do I have that reaction to this passage? Well, I get motivated by it because in my opinion, Jesus is telling His disciples to stop passing the buck and start helping out--to be proactive and do something themselves instead of looking for someone to do it for them. Don't just complain about a problem, take action and find a solution.
But I get frustrated by it--actually by the response to it--which is less than enthusiastic by many Catholics. Since we are all Jesus' disciples by virtue of our baptism, I wanted to share my sentiment with you because this is a good thing for all of us to ponder--at a time when a fair percentage of Catholics sit in the pews and complain about the Catholic Church, but never lend a hand and do something to help effect a change themselves, what can you and I be doing to help where help is needed?
As I was writing this, I conducted a simple internet search that revealed some very loud, dispairaging voices:
The Catholic Church is not doing enough for the poor!
The Catholic Church is not doing enough to address sex abuse!
Another common complaint is the Church is not doing enough for single Catholics. True, those who have never been married have distinct needs to be met as do those who have been widowed or divorced. Since people look to the Church for assistance with social issues such as these, we need to recognize this simple fact... you and I are the Catholic Church. You and I are the ones that should be stepping up to the plate to do something to help. Is it possible the Holy Spirit is calling you to "give them some food, yourselves?"
There are some people already who are trying to help the single Catholic population, such as the team at CatholicMatch.com, of course. But maybe the problem is that there is no activity taking place in your particular area. If that is the case, here is your opportunity to do something wonderful. Why sit back and wait for someone to resolve a problem when you can use your gifts and talents in an exciting and meaningful way, one that has the potential to impact others' lives as well as your own?
You may have limitations like long work hours, travel, limited financial means, or just a lack of people to network with that may be keeping you from doing something. If you think you might be good at getting people together but are faced with some of these obstacles, here are a few suggestions that may be of help to you:
1. Create a Meetup.com group
This is a popular, convenient and cost-free way you can attract local people you don't know but who are looking for the type of activity you are planning. You create your own group and make announcements for upcoming events that others are able to join. Also check out the Groups home page on CatholicMatch.com and see what is happening locally, around the country or in topical groups (members need to be logged into CatholicMatch.com in order to see the Groups page).
2. Advertise in your parish bulletin
This is a great way to get the word out to other single Catholics in your parish, and doesn't cost anything.
3. See if your diocese has a single adult ministry
Often times there are multiple groups sponsored by the diocese; YAM (Young Adult Ministry), singles over 40 groups and senior singles as well.
4. Don't be afraid to start small
Organize an event for 5 or 6 friends and have each person invite someone else for the next one. Make that a trend and you could have a fairly large group within a short time.
Whether it is dinner at a local restaurant, a beach outing or maybe meeting for mass and going for coffee afterward, you could be the catalyst for getting a regular group going and possibly see some great things happening in your neck of the woods.
