4th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Jan. 29, 2012
Fr. Anthony Brankin
Gospel: Mark 1:21-28 “He taught them with authority.”
Sermon summary: In the two cities surrounding this parish, we are educating only 2,000 children of grammar-school age with the faith through our CCD and grammar school programs. But that leaves 42,000 school-age children in the area not being educated in the Catholic faith.
Speak Softly and Carry a Benevolent “Stick”The great doctor of the Church, St. Francis de Sales, advises us to “live gently with a valiant spirit.” Do you have a burning desire to grow holy, in union with God? Gentleness and strength of spirit are part of the Salesian spirituality, practiced by both religious and laity alike.
Learn more on Visitation Spirit. Read “Salesian Spirituality is Strong and Growing.”
If we lose our faith, we lose our families. If we lose our families we lose our souls. The life of our country, our society, depends on the strength of families. The Catholic school system is the alternative by which we escape the slavery and brainwashing, which is part and parcel of the public – or government – school system.
Eager college volunteers
We can revitalize the Catholic school system, and reduce tuition to virtually free, by creating a system of young college graduates who devote two to three years to teaching in the schools in exchange for a small stipend and lodging.
The Baptists and Mormons do it. We did it for one hundred years. Our young people would do it today. We need to creatively find such a system. Not just to keep the current system open. We must ask ourselves how best to fulfill Our Lord’s commandment, “Let the little children come to Me.”