Bicentennial Reflection:
Beginning of the Bicentennial
service program in the Archdiocese

By Cardinal Justin Rigali

A Bicentennial event
This Saturday, January 5, we observe the Feast of Saint John Neumann, the fourth bishop of Philadelphia. Two months from now, on March 3, we celebrate the Feast of a great daughter of our Archdiocese, Saint Katharine Drexel. The observance of the liturgical feasts of these two saintly figures, who are so much a part of the two-hundred year history of our Archdiocese, seems to provide a wonderful period within which to highlight a characteristic of their Christian lives: service to others. This is why I have invited all parishes and schools throughout the Archdiocese to observe the period between these two feasts as a time to encourage a heightened level of volunteer service. Of course, I am able to ask for a “heightened level” of service because this Christian activity of volunteer service takes place every day, often in a quiet and unheralded way, throughout our Archdiocese. During this period of our Bicentennial celebration, we merely heighten our awareness of and increase our commitment to this ongoing service. We are so blessed to have our great Saint John Neumann and Saint Katharine Drexel as our inspiration and example during this period.

Faith expressed in works
In chapter two of the Letter of Saint James, we read a marvelous explanation of Christian charity, especially toward those who are in most need. Saint James concludes this chapter with the well-known phrase: “For just as a body without a spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead” (James 2:26). The Second Vatican Council makes a very firm statement concerning the necessity of joining faith to good works in order to obtain salvation. The Council states: “Fully incorporated into the society of the Church are those who, possessing the Spirit of Christ, accept its entire structure and all the means of salvation established within it. A person who does not persevere in charity, however, is not saved, even though incorporated into the church. Such people remain indeed in the bosom of the church, but only ‘bodily’ not ‘in their hearts’. If they fail to respond in thought, word and deed to grace, not only will they not be saved, they will be the more severely judged” (Lumen Gentium, 14). Saint Thomas Aquinas summarizes this basic Christian teaching in this way: “The truth of faith not only includes inner belief, but also outward profession, which is expressed not only by declaration of one’s belief, but also by the actions by which a person shows that he has faith” (Summa theologiae, II-II, 124, 5).

Ongoing acts of service
The reason that I have asked for a heightened level of volunteer service during this two-month period is that I also wanted to acknowledge the fact that this service is constant and ongoing throughout the Archdiocese. In our parishes, elementary and secondary schools, hospitals and residences for the aged there is an entire network of volunteer service going on every day. In addition to these institutions, the tremendous network of charity which is coordinated by our Catholic Social Services, while primarily staffed by professional employees, is also assisted in its work by dedicated volunteers. Our Community centers, Senior Citizen centers, Housing and homeless services, Immigration and refugee resettlement services and Community development programs are assisted in their work by numerous volunteers. I also think of those who assist the charitable work of the Missionaries of Charity, Saint John’s Hospice, Mercy Hospice and McAuley House, just to name a few. Our young people are often involved in service related volunteer work as well. Our Office for Youth and Young Adults has recently completed its long-standing” Operation Santa Claus,” which gives the opportunity to our young people to collect toys for needy children throughout the Archdiocese. In the days before Christmas, trucks filled with toys, gathered and distributed by our young people, travel throughout the Archdiocese. When I or my Auxiliary Bishops visit our parishes for the Sacrament of Confirmation, we are often told of the volunteer service projects that have been performed by the candidates for Confirmation as a way of integrating the work of service along with the gift of faith. Although much of all the volunteer service work we have been speaking about is done quietly and often behind closed doors, it is during this period of heightened awareness of this work that we are reminded that it does go on every day and it is constantly in need of additional help.

Consistency in both faith and action
We know that we live in an age of instant communication. This certainly has many benefits but it also contains dangers for the integrity of the human person. For instance, studies often show that the use of technology sometimes impedes individuals in their interpersonal relationships. The ability to enjoy another person’s company, the writing of a thoughtful letter or card or the interaction necessary for children and young people often suffer in our technological age. Advertising, which is so expensive, is geared for the “momentary sell.” Within a short period of time a sponsor must get across a strong message which must be compact, brief and convincing. All of this can contribute to a shallow and superficial view of actions and people. It can easily lead to an attitude that in reality says: “What can this person do for me?” If he or she can help me, give me what I want or advance my position, I will invest my time and energy in doing something for this person, if not I will not waste my time. Both friendship and marriage have suffered as a result of this attitude. If there is no faithful and committed consistency in our relationships, they will remain superficial and they will ultimately die. The same danger presents itself with our Christian acts of charity and our volunteer work.

Two suggestions
I would like to present two suggestions that will help us to keep our volunteer activity both focused and faithful: unselfishness and consistency.

In an age in which the focus is often on the self and what another person can do for me, it is more than ever necessary to keep in mind the selflessness of Christian service. There is no doubt that there is a beautiful sense of satisfaction and fulfillment when we are involved in helping others. There is nothing wrong with that. However, it is important to remember that our service is not just another thing that is “all about me.” As we pointed out at the beginning of this topic, service is the fruit of and the indispensable complement of our faith. Our patrons during this Season of Service, Saint John Neumann and Saint Katharine Drexel, were people of great faith and prayer, who lived out their faith in their service of others and were sustained in that service by their life of prayer. Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta never tired of reminding people that she was not merely a humanitarian, she was a Christian. This is what impelled her and what should impel us to perform acts of Christian service in which we see Jesus in the least fortunate and most needy among us.

The other element we need to address when speaking of service is consistency. This is another area in which our age presents a danger. Inconsistency in relationships and in marriage contribute to their failure and are often the result of selfishness. Those who coordinate volunteer service work are sometimes frustrated by the initial enthusiasm of well-meaning individuals who are not consistent in their commitment. Service is an ongoing element of our Christian faith and just as it should not be self-seeking it also should be consistent.

An invitation
I invite all of you personally to a heightened level of volunteer service during our eight week “Bicentennial Season of Service.” I know that through this newspaper, through your own parish bulletins and through all the other means of communication that we have been making use of, you will be able to find an area of service that fits your needs and abilities. For those who may be sick or unable to participate physically in this program due to various circumstances, I ask you to support this work with your prayers and sacrifices.

In September of 2007, during his pastoral visit to Austria, our Holy Father spoke to a large group of volunteers gathered in Vienna. We can also be inspired by his words as we begin our Season of Service: “Volunteer work is a service to human dignity, inasmuch as men and women are created in the image and likeness of God. As Irenaeus of Lyons says: ‘The glory of God is living man, and the life of man is the vision of God.’ God’s gaze—the gaze of Jesus, fills us with God’s love. There are looks that reveal esteem and express love. Volunteer workers have regard for others; they remind us of the dignity of every human being and they awaken enthusiasm and hope. Volunteer workers are guardians and advocates of human rights and human dignity” (Remarks to Volunteers, Vienna, 9 September 2007).

Through the intercession of Saint John Neuman and Saint Katharine Drexel, let us pray for the active, unselfish and consistent work of service throughout our great Archdiocese.

January 3, 2008