People Are Searching

Recently I stumbled across something interesting (old news for those who keep up to date better than me): a list of the top questions posed on Google in 2014.

It seems many people are searching for things that technology alone can't tackle, as the top questions prove.

According to Google, "It seems love does make the world go round. This year, 'What is love' topped the question charts with 5x more searches than 'What is science.' But when it comes to puckering up, we like a bit of guidance and searched 'how to kiss' more times than any other activity, including 'how to survive.'"

Other Google findings:

• "Of all the world's seasons and celebrations, we have the most trouble remembering 'When is Easter,' closely followed by 'When is Halloween,' with searches steadily increasing the closer each holiday gets."
• "If you have a poor sense of direction, you’re among friends. 'Where am I' topped the world’s most asked 'where' questions, closely followed by 'Where is Sochi.'" (site of the 2014 Olympics).
• "We want to feel wanted, especially when it comes to social media. In 2014, we were 2x more likely to search 'Who unfollowed me' as 'Who called me.'"
• "In moments of existential crisis, we looked to the Internet for answers, with 'What is life' and 'Who am I' featuring high on our list of questions."

It seems that many people are searching for much more than encyclopedia knowledge or contemporary songs. They are looking for answers to profound questions: What is love?  What is life? Who am I?

They want to be loved and to belong. While looking for their geographical location, they may have been searching metaphysically, too: Where am I?

To me, the most Googled questions show an opportunity for evangelization. Long before Google, Jesus and His Church has had the answers. People are searching, and we can be the engine directing them to the right place.

We need to take seriously our mandate from Christ, and our parish's mission: "Go and Make Disciples!"

Inspired by the Year of Faith, Susan Szalewski began writing weekly columns for us. Although that year is over, we liked them so well that we asked her to keep writing. Thankfully, she said yes. So watch for these on Thursdays and see the Year of Faith Blog here.

Let's Change 1,500 Lives

 We have purchase 1,500 copies of Matthew

 Kelly's book Rediscovering Catholism.

 They are at all the exits.

 Fr Damian says, "On your way out of church pick up a copy. Think and pray about the people in your life and decide who most needs to find a better relationship with God. Then write them a note, put it in the book, wrap it, and give it to them as a Christmas gift. Re-gifting is a wonderful thing. Share Jesus this Christmas."

Our FOCUS Missionaries Share Their Knowledge

Three of our parishioners are FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) missionaries. Rob Cargill (left) is in his second year at at the University of Illinois, Shannon Zurcher (center) is in her fourth year with FOCUS and leading the team at UConn and Andy Dejka (right) is in his second year at Northwestern University.

Our FOCUS missionaries were kind enough to share their thoughts on Evangelization in our bulletin letter this weekend.

All of the FOCUS missionaries are supported entirely by donations. To learn more about them or for a link to send a gift, see our parish website. 

Telling Others About God

How do we tell others about God?

When you think of evangelization, you might think of someone at your door with a Bible in hand, a preacher on television, or a stranger on a soap box. And you might conclude that you are not meant to evangelize.

Well, here's some good news: God probably is not asking you to go that far out of your comfort zone. Evangelization is more basic than that. For the most part, it's simply living your faith.

You will be challenged, of course. We are called to radiate Christ with our lives. Are you up for the task? Pope Benedict XVI offers us help in one of his Wednesday audience messages, part of his instruction during the Year of Faith.

First of all, the pope says that when we speak about God we are "communicating the Christian faith as a response to the deepest longings of the human heart."

Everyone needs the message we bear: God's love, hope, healing, forgiveness, truth, joy and beauty.

"It means bearing quiet and humble witness each day to the core of the Gospel message," Pope Benedict said.

Our Teacher shows us the way, the Holy Father said. "Jesus gave us an example: by His loving concern for people's questions, struggles and needs, He led them to the Father."

Putting our faith in action begins in our families and naturally branches out to others.

"In the task of bringing God to our contemporaries, families play a privileged role, for in them the life of faith is lived daily in joy, dialogue, forgiveness and love. The God of Jesus Christ has revealed our grandeur as persons redeemed by love and called, in the Church, to renew the city of man, so that it can become the city of God."

Your mission for this Advent, for this Year of Faith, for you entire life: Go and make disciples!

Inspired by this Year of Faith we will be posting columns like this about exporing and/or deepening our faith. Watch for it on Thursdays.