2010 2(37) - UCWLC

The Value of the Written WordBy Susan LazarukThe 40th Anniversary ofis a good time to reflect onthe importance of Catholic communicationsto maintaining our Catholicfaith.The message of using media—whether through traditional printvehicles or as it’s increasingly beingdone now online—is also timely forthis special publication ofas it comes out soon afterthe Church’s World CommunicationsDay, celebrated every year on theSunday before Pentecost, this yearon May 16.Pope Benedict XVI used the opportunityto encourage priests to use websitesand web logs (blogs) to enhancetheir pastoral ministry, remindingthem of St. Paul’s exclamation: “Woeto me if I do not preach the Gospel.”Pope Benedict continues PopeJohn Paul II’s message of the NewEvangelization, reaching out to youngpeople or those fallen away from thechurch using all types of media. PopeBenedict noted in his 2010 CommunicationsDay message that priests whouse the Internet to pastor to others“should be less notable for theirmedia savvy than for their priestlyheart, their closeness to Christ.”That message can also apply toall Catholics. What’s most importantis not to be polished communicatorsbut to share what’s in our hearts tohelp us to grow spiritually and to helpothers know how Jesus and Catholicismcan help them. The more I carryGod’s message to others, by tellingothers how God has helped me andcontinues to help me, the more ithelps me to grow in my faith.We ladies of the UCWLC are fortunatethat we have a vehicle for sharingour spiritual journey with each other in. We are encouragedto use it to tell our stories of our faithand culture, especially the olderladies so their stories won’t be lostto those coming after them.We can also carry God’s messageto others by clipping an inspiringarticle, forwarding anemail or passing along our copy ofto others. Letliterature carry the message, too.Lastly, I can’t communicate myspirituality if I don’t nurture it. Inaddition to attending Divine Liturgyevery Sunday and Holy Daysand engage in the Sacraments, it’simportant that I continue to readCatholic magazines, newspapersand books, as well as the Bible, toattend Bible study and to watchCatholic television, such as EWTNand Salt & Light TV, and accessthe many Catholic websites availableonline. There is no shortage ofquality Catholic media being produced.It’s up to Catholics to seekit out and support it financially soit can thrive.The Evil One knows the powerof media and uses it to flood ourhomes through TV, movies, books,video games and daily newspapersto lead us away from the Catholicfaith, which isn’t always easy tofollow in the face of such superficialand fleeting “pleasures.” Ittakes a daily and concerted effortto counter that powerful, all-pervasivemessage that is sometimesblatant and usually subtle with anintentionally Catholic one and toavoid morally offensive programsand movies, particularly aroundchildren, teens, young adults andother vulnerable people.Susan Lazaruk is a journalist as well asthe ND representative for theNew Westminster Eparchy.►►►Увага!Call for manuscripts!120 років історіїукраїнців Канади120-yearAnniversary ofUkrainian CanadaNext year the 1.2 millionUkrainian community of Canadawill be celebrating its120 birthday. To mark this eventhopes to publishThe 2ndNasha Doroha Anthologywith your stories and poemsrepresenting the differentexperiences of the fourimmigration waves fromUkraine. The deadline isCanada Day, July 1, 2011.Start writing now!Щоб гідно відзначити 120-літнєіснування українців в Канадів 2011 р.,заохочує всіх до писанняспоминів, оповідань, віршів зпережиття 4-ох імміграційниххвиль, які опинилися в Канадіз України. Твори помістимо в2-ій АнтологіїНашої Дороги.Річенець День Канади,1-го липня, 2011 р.Оксана Башук Гепбурн,редакторoksanabh@sympatico.ca6 Íàøà Äîðîãà ëiòî/2010