As a teacher of teenagers, I'm often asked why I teach. It's a very easy question to answer. To see eyes open wider, understanding grow, and hearts fill with the desire to learn more, how wonderful this is! But this doesn't only apply to teaching teenagers. Imagine the possibility of igniting the same sense of wonder in adults. Faith on Fire really does mean becoming “on fire”. On fire with the knowledge that changes our life. On fire with the desire to reach out to others. On fire with the desire to grow closer to God and one another.
I share the desire of many believers to find new ways to open the door to discovering God. To reassure our brothers and sisters, our neighbours, our work colleagues, our friends, that knowing God will fill our lives, not hamper it. As Pope Benedict reassured us in the homily he gave at his Mass of Inauguration in 2005:
“If we let Christ into our lives, we lose nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing of what makes life free, beautiful and great.… On the basis of long personal experience of life, I say to you … Do not be afraid of Christ! He takes nothing away, and he gives you everything.” - Pope Benedict XVI
I have been lucky to have been invited to be part of this great development that Faith on Fire represents. It is a fresh new catechetical initiative that can reignite adults to become a more living part of their parish and their faith. I am confident that it will draw many back to the knowledge of God’s abiding love for them.
The Faith on Fire team brings a wide range of experiences. I hope to bring my experience of teaching young people, and most importantly my experience of being a husband and father to two adult children. I have witnessed the opening of the doors of faith for young people through pilgrimages I organised to Taizé. I have seen the same occur with teams of religion teachers attending seminars I have been part of organising in my diocese. The spirit of Faith on Fire will inspire many others in parishes across Ireland to open up the doors of faith.
“Do not be afraid. Open wide the doors for Christ.” Pope St John Paul II, Homily at Mass of Inauguration, October 1978
In Faith on Fire, we are certain that Jesus is present in our parishes, acting through all the baptised as they bring His presence out into their daily lives. This is the mission of each one of us. This is the same mission that is inspiring Faith on Fire to reach out to all adults to open again the doors to Christ.
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