AFTERWO RD

1 f you do not standflrm in faith, you shall not stand at all. (ISAIAH 7,9)

In this brieF history we have looked backward and must be impressed with the people oF Faith who have brought us this Far. Now we must look to the Future, at least into the next generation or 15—year time span.

Our laity have been FaithFul workers over the years through their Families, Financial support and various Forms oFleadership. Yet, the Second Vatican Council has challenged them to a broader and more intense apostolate in the Church and in the world. The same council makes clear that training For this new role is indispensable and that it is the responsibility oFthe diocese to provide this training.

Vocations to the priesthood will need to be more actively pursued, with parishes taking a greater responsibility For this pastoral need. The torch oF priestly ministry must be handed on and the near Future is going to require a new partnership between

clergy and laity.

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Much oFthe Second Vatican Council’s basic teaching still lies open beFore us: all the baptized, without exception, are called to holiness oFliFe; Full and active participation by all the people in the Eucharist is the aim to be considered beFore all else; what we celebrate at Eucharist is to be lived each day, that is, Faith and |iFe are to go together. In all oF these we havejust begun.

Involving the young people more deeply in the |iFe oFthe Church will be both a challenge and ajoy. In Families, in the parishes and through our diocesan youth Ministry OFFice may great strides be taken to nourish the Christian lives oF our youth who have enormous potential as evangelizers.

We have come this Far through Faith in action. May God’s Spirit pour out on our diocese so that our old shall dream dreams and our young shall see visions. Forward we must go in Faith, For as Isaiah so aptly says: “IFyou do not stand firm in Faith, you shall not stand at all.”

Beside restful waters he leads me.

96 O AFTERWORD

(PSALM 23,2)