Witness talk for the Feast of the Holy Family by Teresa Vossen

December 29/30, 2007

Upon being asked to speak to you all today, my email reply to Sr. Mary was: "Let me think about it."  Was there no one better to speak? I thought of all of the folks I see at church more reputable than me? So I waited, and received my answer from God by the relaxed feeling I had upon re-reading her email.

Many of you here at the 5p mass have watched my family over the years. We sit on the east side, in the first 1-3 rows. We joined St. Catherine's 7 years ago when Joe was 7 and Massimo was 3.  Church had been a foreign place to them prior, and my husband Gary and I  needed to sit as close as possible so the boys could pay attention. And there we've remained.

Both Gary and I had been raised Catholic, but were not practicing when we met.  We were not married in the Catholic church and our boys were not baptized at birth, as we were not associated with any church at the time. (Both grandmothers were very concerned about our heathen ways, but were kind to keep their thoughts mostly to themselves.)  But over the years as Joe grew and Massi came along,  Easter and Christmas would come and go and Church was not a part of the celebration, and  I  felt a piece of us missing.  We wanted our boys to build a faith they could rely upon for security.  Gary and I  had the same bi-annual discussion: I yearned for a religious and spiritual community, but didn't feel a pull to the Catholic church. Gary felt his faith was strong enough without having to attend church.  Also, the lack of women's role in the church seemed to contradict Jesus' teachings and my own beliefs.  For the above reasons we stayed away. 

And I remained restless.   And then we found St. Catherine's...I was the scout.  I attended an 11:30 mass: the music was wonderful, there were women on the altar active in the celebration, and we held hands during the Our Father.  I was sold, and needed to tell Gary about it all.  We attended our first mass as a family on Ash Wednesday 2001. 

Throughout our search, we had faith. And it tugged at us constantly, and when we paid attention we let it pull us closer to God and our church family here.

The second reading today of St. Paul to the Colossians speaks to faith and its role in the family.  Family was the basis of the early church, and it was important for families to know how to treat each other so they could lead a life reflective of Jesus'.  Family is the place where love is modeled and molded, shared and caressed, given and received. Family is known as the Domestic church, meaning the place where spirituality, a relationship with God and the church is developed.

Our family of four has that love, and that faith.  And we work hard at having it, as any relationship requires work. Our boys have each other to love and rely upon (although at times their wrestling makes me wonder...), and to work together when angry, because that's what family members who love each other do.  Their faith in each other has grown, as our faith in our St. Catherine's family has grown.

We've had many role models and disciples help us on our journey here, too many to name.  But each meeting has helped us spiritually whether we are aware of it or not.

My faith has been made stronger by reaching out to my St. Catherine's family, both by being a member of a Small Faith Community for 3 years and a liturgical minister.  The boys have received the Sacraments.  Joe has been active in youth groups.  And weekly, our relationship with the parish grows when we attend the Eucharistic celebration.

As my faith grows stronger, I  have become a better teacher for my children.  Prayer plays a  more active part of our family life.  The way we treat one another and how that treatment is extended to those outside of our home is a testament to our growing faith. 

I try daily to pray the prayer of St. Therese and there is one line I have grown to rely upon, especially when I have doubts of how I'm living my life. "May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be."  That trust is my faith. 

This is a journey we are on.  Where I was on the faith continuum 7 years ago and where I am now has changed.  And it continues to grow.  I am more at peace, which is reflected in the many roles I play: as a mother, a wife, a sister, a social worker, a daughter, a friend.

After this exercise, I realize I was a good parishioner to approach.  We cannot view our faith in the context of others, but only in comparison to ourselves.