By Fr Stephan Alexander
General Manager, CCSJ and AMMR
Many of the things we do daily enrich our lives and the lives of others. These simple daily acts often display our faith, exemplifies the hope that animates us during difficult circumstances, highlights our general desire for self-development, the kindness and generosity that generally characterise us as people, and our zeal to participate with each other in various activities.
These ordinary activities are at the heart of who we are. Hence, they are also at the heart of Catholic Social Teaching (CST). Yet, we often fail to make that connection, that is, between the good that we seek and the Church’s social doctrine, which leads us to the ultimate good.
This is either because we are unaware of CST (a sad but understandable reality since CST isn’t often the focus of weekend homilies or formation programmes) or it’s because of our difficulty to connect what seems theoretical to the practicality of daily life.
However, using two examples of experiences I had earlier this year, I hope to utilise the lens of friendship – as elucidated by Darrion Narine in his Catholic News article published August 2, 2023 – to assist us in making this connection.
In May 2023, I had the pleasure of celebrating Mass with the Bethesda Catholic Community for persons with disabilities (PWDs). My several experiences with Bethesda have expanded my heart to great proportions.
Here I learned there is nothing I can give that could overcome what is shared with me. These most wonderful persons always bestow unconditional welcome, that is, an open invitation for me to participate in their extremely active and generous lives. Like many others, I sometimes fall victim to the thought that I must make space for them or that I should allow them to participate in my activities without ever giving thought to what they could offer me, yet in their presence, I clearly understand myself as being invited into life-changing experiences that I’m always eager to participate in.
On this occasion in May, I was impacted by the late arrival of a mother and her daughter, Stephanie and Kaylah. They arrived after Mass had ended.
I was intrigued that despite being so late they still chose to come. I soon became aware that car trouble caused their delay and Kaylah’s excitement to see and participate in activities with her friends inspired Stephanie to continue the journey. Their desire for God, community and friendship moved me and caused me to respond as I happily invited them to Eucharist.
Fast forward to August 2023 and I once again encountered Kaylah and her mum, this time at a community pool where I had taken my mom. Kaylah’s energy drew the attention of everyone at the pool. My mom was particularly drawn to her.
Stephanie and I soon recognised that we had met earlier in May at Bethesda, and this allowed the opportunity for mom to interact with Kaylah.
Medical challenges have led to interesting changes in my mom’s routine and even to her desire to partake in various activities. Getting her out of the house is sometimes difficult and while I was happy that she asked to go to the pool, I never expected so great a visit.
Kaylah’s effervescence, and the freedom with which she tossed herself into water more than twice her height proved a great inspiration to mom, who normally prefers the ‘baby’ pool.
I looked on with great enthusiasm as this little PWD—did I forget to mention that—who was herself learning to swim, was inviting my mom to participate in the joy of this experience in a way that I would never have been able to.
Kaylah and mom’s pool activities were completely independent of each other, and they didn’t really spend much time together in the water. Yet a friendship was born and through a mutual desire to share and participate in each other’s worlds, all four of our lives were impacted.
Participation in all aspects of life is a key principle of CST and it’s not participation of some, a few, or many. It’s the right of all! We often forget that until persons like Kaylah remind us otherwise.
Bethesda’s invitation for me to participate in their community and Kaylah’s invitation for my mom to have fun at the pool shouldn’t be one-offs. Our desire to help the poor, disabled, marginalised and other vulnerable groups in society should equally be a desire to participate in their lives and to allow them to participate fully in whatever initiatives or activities are being contemplated and executed on their behalf.
This isn’t just about giving or doing. It’s about being, allowing ourselves to be as we allow others to be.
We always try to keep this in mind at CCSJ. Hence, our continued invitation in these articles for you to participate in our ministry.
