By Julie Ann Loong
“Why be Catholic?” It’s true that this is an important question to ask, especially in our fast-paced world, where everyone is rushing to check everything off their bucket lists. With this question, we could take a moment to pause and live with what God is presenting to us right now rather than later.
Deacon Stephen Martinez from the Archdiocese of Agana, Guam, spent the weekend– first on Saturday with our diocese’s Pre-Confirmation and Confirmation students, and then with the general public on Sunday– giving hours of his time speaking about the significance of our faith today.
He discussed topics such as why we should believe in God, how to talk to our children or peers about God, why choose to be Catholic, and if God is okay even with all the things we’ve done while also bringing up a current event happening in the Marianas and the world: suicide. He said the following while speaking to the youth on Saturday.
“Can God forgive even my very worst sin? In those darkest hours, that’s when we can remember, ‘Yes I believe in God. God is real. God exists. And yes, there is nothing that I can do that God cannot forgive me for.’ So if you know anyone who has ever had suicidal thoughts, talk to them. The worst thing that can happen is to remain silent.”
Deacon Stephen recognized that having a love for the sacraments, most especially the Eucharist, is what helped him to be Catholic.
“The eucharist is the source and summit. But if I only meet Jesus on Sunday and I have no other spiritual nourishment Monday through Saturday, my spirit is not going to be healthy… Everybody wants to go to brunch on Sundays, but the Sunday Eucharist is the buffet of all buffets. Jesus Christ, right there for you. But if I starve my spirit Monday through Saturday, I’m Catholic in label, what am I doing to the spirit that God put within me?”
The students who attended the talk on Saturday all sat with their classmates and filled up the front of the cathedral. Along with Vinni Orsini, who served as the emcee, and Deacon Stephen, they laughed, sang, and even danced together. Then, towards the end, the audience was given the chance to ask the deacon some questions regarding our faith that they were curious about. Many were seeking guidance in direction, asking what to do in certain situations.
Being Catholic is a grace we can experience, planned by God since the beginning of time as a keystone in his design of the universe. As we enter this season of Lent, we can prepare for the Feast of the Resurrection of the Lord and be reminded of the resurrections that happen in our daily lives.
