Editors Note: Our guest columnist is Msgr. Myron Pleskac, chaplain for the School Sisters of Christ the King
Having entered into my 77th year of life on this planet, I am now the senior member of the Diocesan Evangelization Committee. I am old enough to remember the days when the word, "evangelization," rarely, if ever, tumbled from the lips of Catholics. And if it applied to anyone, it was pretty much reserved for the priests; the proclamation of God’s Word was, in most cases, relinquished to them.
In the early 60s, right around the time the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council convened, the sleeping giant began to awaken. Organizations like the Christian Family Movement and Young Catholic Workers and other similar movements suddenly sprang up.
As a young priest, I was delighted to meet with couples and young people as they discussed the teachings of their Catholic Faith. A few years later, I was privileged to participate in the first Cursillo held in the diocese and after that took part in a Marriage Encounter weekend, which was then in its early stages in the diocese.
I cherish fond memories of these experiences, and particularly memorable is the fact that I was surrounded by Catholic laity who were hungering to ignite the flame of their faith. I fed off their enthusiasm. These were the first times I came to really understand that we priests can be inspired by the faith of our people. I had previously thought that it was I, a priest, who was supposed to be inspiring them. Happily, I learned that it works both ways.
Then, in September, 1996, a new form of evangelization was introduced into the diocese. It was called SINE (Systematic Integral New Evangelization). It had begun in Mexico City and was recommended to us by the Director for Evangelization for the Bishops of the United States. A team of lay men and women from Rockford, Ill. led the first SINE retreat for 60 people from three Lincoln parishes at Pius X High School.
The impact was electric. The retreats rapidly spread across the diocese, so that within a few years, more than 4,000 people representing most parishes in the diocese had made the retreat. Small communities were formed, many of which are still meeting regularly today. My own community is beginning its 15th year of weekly gatherings, and we are still meeting in the same home where it began back in 1996!
During our meetings, we offer prayers of praise to God, we share how God is working in our lives, we spend some time discussing aspects of our faith by using a spiritual book we have chosen, we pray for a variety of intentions, and we periodically perform a charitable activity on behalf of those in need or volunteer for some parish apostolate. The members of my community are my family.
SINE is now known as "Light of the World." Retreats continue to be offered in many of our parishes. If you know your faith needs a boost (and who among us is not in need of that?), then I suggest that you sign up for a Light of the World retreat. For places and dates, please call the Evangelization Office at 488-2040 or inquire at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
