‘Guided by the Holy Spirit’

(Above) Many faithful gathered at Holy Cross Church in Dewitt for the Finding the One workshop, which featured several speakers.

‘Finding the One’ workshop inspires hope to reach those who’ve left the Church and bring them back home

By Elizabeth Landry, staff writer

To find inspirational, faith-filled Catholic speakers who really get people fired up and excited to spread the Good News, event organizers often look outside their faith communities. But for the “Finding the One” March 22 workshop that took place at Holy Cross in Dewitt, the speakers came directly from within the diocese, said Deacon Jeff Dixe.

“If you stop and think about it … there are some pretty big names out there in evangelization who do amazing work. But if you look at the conference we just had, all that grace came from inside our own walls. Isn’t it incredible? So, everyone has their place and has their job. That’s what blew me away, that this happened simply with what we have under our own roof,” he said, highlighting the efficacy and awe-inspiring faith on display from each of the event’s speakers.

The workshop, “Finding The One: Rebuilding The Bridge & Welcoming Them Home,” was organized by the Adult & Ministerial Formation office, led by Dc. Jeff, who serves as the office’s director. Bishop Douglas J. Lucia was the keynote speaker. Tom Andino, Kateri Lickona, Allison Bracht and Deacon Craig Rheaume also gave talks providing insight and suggestions on how to handle conversations with those we know and love who, for many different reasons, left the Church. The speakers shared their personal stories, struggles and faith journeys, emphasizing that we each have our own unique story to tell, which can, in and of itself, be a powerful evangelizing tool already in our arsenal.

Reflecting on the event, Dc. Jeff said the two words that first came to mind were “awe” and “gratitude.” He attributes all the credit for the success of the workshop, so far and still to come, to the Holy Spirit.

“It was something that was guided by the Holy Spirit from its conception all the way through to its completion. And to be honest with you, I don’t even think it’s complete. With every speaker, one blended into another, and again, it’s the work of the Holy Spirit in terms of the way the sequence worked out. … There was this linkage that you could see from beginning to end with all the speakers that was just amazing. The Holy Spirit guided [them] and delivered the overall message. The Holy Spirit moved the hearts of the people that were there,” he said, adding that participants’ reactions to the speakers included “everything from jaws dropping to tears,” based on how each individual was affected by the messages.

Allison Bracht, associate director of high school youth ministry in Baldwinsville, laid out four components for trying to reach those estranged from the Church: know your individual story, invite them, connect with them, and, finally, but most importantly, pray for them. Similarly, but from a different angle, Dc. Rheaume, a convert from Protestantism to Catholicism, shared a list of “dos and don’ts” for evangelizing those who’ve left the Church. He stressed the importance of prayer, fasting, persistence, patience and living one’s faith joyfully as key elements in reaching those we want to see return to practicing their faith. He recommended avoiding being quick to argue, belittling others’ experiences and becoming frustrated when our efforts seem to be unsuccessful.

After the conference ended, some participants shared their thoughts and feelings about the day. One participant who wished to remain anonymous said, “It was inspiring and hopeful. … There was a lot of good advice given today.”

Joan Cincotta, a parishioner at Holy Cross, shared that she came “mostly because I have adult children who are questioning their faith, and I thought that I could learn something here today that would help me to help them.”

A participant in the Formation for Ministry program, Paul Gallagher, of St. Bernard’s in Waterville, echoed one of Dc. Jeff’s sentiments, saying, “Obviously, [it was] the influence of the Holy Spirit in putting this whole thing together. It really came together well.” He also emphasized the importance of each person carrying out the mission of finding the one. “Personal interaction is the key. It’s a one-on-one thing,” he said. “It’s not something that somebody else is going to do. It’s something that you yourself have to do.”

Eileen Rose, of Holy Cross, said she found her story represented in many of the situations discussed in the talks, as she is a convert to Catholicism after being Protestant for many years, but never finding her place. “I turned Catholic, and it was 10 years after that I really came back to my faith as a Catholic, and now there’s no stopping me.” And what did she think of the day and the speakers? “[It was] absolutely amazing. And every time I go to something — this was absolutely exceptional, though, this is over the top, it was amazing — but I learn more and more, and it reinforces my faith and makes me take it to other people.”

Dc. Jeff is looking forward to organizing another event to further the mission of evangelization — he said he already has a title in mind for the next conference — but for now, it’s important to “savor the graces” and let the work of God and the Holy Spirit happen in the moment. For him, right now, the most important thing is gratitude, he said, “for [the participants] taking the time to be there and answering the call, because we find one, and then we find another, and then another. That’s the beauty of it all. All of us sitting there, we were there because somebody found us. We have to keep that in mind.”

Looking forward, Dc. Jeff is hopeful about “the seeds that were planted through [this] experience. “I think they’re going to bear fruit, I really do,” he said, “I just think it’s a matter of how we tend the soil — the ground is fertile.”