Live and plant seeds of authenticity

GUYANA

In his Easter message to the diocese, Bishop Francis Alleyne OSB of Georgetown said as Easter people Catholics are called to take up the stance that has been strong in tradition: the readiness to explore and commit to the best ways of being.

“Each time the Church faced a new era or a new culture it had to adopt new styles of thought, new types of education, new ways of stimulating the intelligence and forming relationships. Each new era called for new ways to live in and organise our world,” the bishop said, according to a Catholic Standard report.

He gave the example of very early in Church history, Peter coming to terms with the new milieu of non- Jews seeking Baptism and recognising ‘God does not have favourites’ (Acts 10: 34–35). The Councils of the Church from the Council in Jerusalem (Acts 15) through to the Second Vatican Council marked moments when the Church faced new milieux and shaped new ways of being.

Bishop Alleyne said the constant through the many changes was resurrection, new life, new ways of being–the core of the Christian identity. “And each time we celebrate Easter, we affirm this, we rejoice in it, we are Easter people,” he said.

The bishop made reference to Pope Francis’ encyclicals on the environment Laudato Si, and Amoris Laetitia on the pastoral care of families, adding the world has a wonderful tradition of renewal, adjusting to and embracing new realities and truths.

Bishop Alleyne mentioned the Holy Father’s Synod on Youth later this year, and next year a Synod on the Amazon with each inviting the whole church into the most authentic way of being.

Bringing this “closer to home” he said a look at the elements of the environment–crime, abuse, exploitation, in which Catholics are called to be “Easter people”,  can also open ways for new possibilities—for better communications, collaborations, relationships, security and education.