Written by Patty Mayer
“As we live more deeply in real presence, our spirituality ripples into an ever widening, holy communion, with all God’s people.”
For 12 years I worked in a residential treatment facility with teenage delinquents helping approximately 300 young men and women from all over the state of Iowa. As their counselor, I worked with them to find ways to make better choices, manage their emotions, and hopefully return home. Not all went home from our facility, some went into foster care, and others made choices that took them into a higher level of care. I cannot tell you how many timeout rooms I sat in, or how many bloody hands I held after a fist went through a wall or a window, but I can tell you that it was in these vulnerable moments I saw the true heart of the other. In these moments I knew that I was witnessing something real and holy. These moments were often the catalyst for a young person to make drastic changes.
Those teens are now adults in their late 30’s or early to mid 40’s – I sometimes ponder where they ended up in life, and pray that they found the right path.
Leaving counseling I headed to Marshalltown, where I began working for the Catholic Church. I started at one parish, but the last three years I worked for both Catholic churches in town. They have since become one parish. Working at both, I encountered more fully the Hispanic community. I went from working with one parish and one culture, to working with two parishes with two distinct cultures, and, by the time I left, a third culture emerging. I enjoyed interviewing some of the Latino families, hearing their stories, their struggles, and their faith led me to see this community in a beautiful way. Over the years, I was honored to continue to grow in knowing the people of this community. Opening myself to the people of both parishes, regardless of cultural differences, allowed me to see connection and communion with all those I served.
I often tell people that when my ministry becomes a “job“ it’s time for me to leave. What I do at OLIH goes beyond a job description or an obligation. My greatest joy, truly, is to witness to those in our community as they grow in their faith journey.
Some of my greatest moments are at the end of CEW, when we all gather, and I can look around the room and I see the faces of people I know, who I have been honored to be part of their journey. I have the same feeling when I stand there, witnessing someone coming into full communion in the Catholic Church. As I stand there, holding the holy oil as father confers confirmation, is a moment of great joy. It may look like pride, but in reality, my heart is filled to bursting with happiness for the person who has opened their heart to growing in their knowledge of Jesus, their love of Jesus, and their willingness to follow Jesus. Every week at Mass I look at the pews opposite of me, I pray for each of you, some of you I know by name and others, I know your face.
COVID made me realize how small my world has become. My world affects only a small amount of our world. When I look at each one of you, as you go forth, taking Jesus with you, I am aware of the ripple effects of sharing Christ. You taking Him forth to your piece of the world and sharing Him with those you encounter in your day-to-day life influences people to go out and do the same. How far the ripples go, I will never know. I do know that occasionally I have someone come seeking RCIA or spiritual direction who will tell me the path that led them to find me, and it is because of someone like you who shared their journey.
When I think about how my life affects the world or our society, I know that because of where I am employed, I don’t get out into the secular world as much as most of you, but I trust that because of my ministry people meet Jesus and take Jesus with them. Take Jesus with you and share Him with those in your life that need to know Him.
Each one of us has a story of how we have shared Eucharist and eucharist with others. When have you entered into the real and authentic presence with another?