Recently, our Parish Office has been working on the annual
submission of the form called the “Status Animarum.” It is the compilation of data concerning
the reality of parish life, including details of parish membership and numbers
of Sacramental celebrations, as well as other matters that lend themselves to
counting. The name of the document means
the “state of the souls” who are in our parish.
Reviewing the record books and nowadays the online listings
of such matters serves to bring to mind all the events of the past year. Baptisms, Confirmations, First Communions, Weddings
and Funerals are among the items about which we give an account. Masses, opportunities for Confession, Anointing
of the Sick and our ways of reaching out to others are all considered. In short, the annual Status Animarum is a
snapshot of the whole previous year’s activities. We are reflecting on our practical approach
to the spiritual life we share.
The information is pulled together by the Diocese to
evaluate our collective efforts to live out our Catholic Faith. Perhaps it would be a good idea for you to do
a similar accounting for your family and for your own response to the Catholic
Faith. What is the “state of your soul”?
What Sacraments have you celebrated? How do you arrange your days and weeks and
months in relationship to the Faith? Does
your account of yourself and your family show clearly that your relationship with
God is your priority? Would someone who read
your “statistics” be able to tell that you are a Catholic, not just in good standing,
but also truly involved with the meaning of Faith?
Lent is coming. It
will start with Ash Wednesday on February 26th. Take some time now to begin your assessment
and to establish a plan for renewal. All
of us are called to conversion. We must
turn more toward God, acknowledging His Love and reaching out to others to
share our Faith in Him.
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