Archbishop encourages CYO volunteers to keep Christ as their focal point
Archbishop Charles C. Thompson poses for a photo with recipients of the Spirit of Youth Award from the archdiocese’s Catholic Youth Organization (CYO). The youths were honored during the CYO’s Volunteers Awards Ceremony at SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Indianapolis on May 2. (Photo by Michaela Ward of the CYO)
Criterion staff report
In the world of sports, athletes are often reminded and encouraged to keep their focus on what they need to do to make the most of their potential.
In a similar way, when Archbishop Charles
C. Thompson praised the volunteers who were being honored by the archdiocese’s Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) on May 2, he also shared a short yet poignant story to remind and encourage them to continue to keep Christ as the focal point of their lives.
Recalling his time as the pastor of a parish, Archbishop Thompson told the honorees, their families and their friends, “There was a man who was very proud of himself. He said to me, ‘Father, you’ll never see me on Sunday morning because that’s when I take my children out and do service hours.’ That made me very sad for him and for his children. Because if he didn’t have Jesus, what was he taking to others?”
The archbishop then quoted the late Cardinal Francis E. George of Chicago during the CYO’s Volunteer Awards Ceremony at SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Indianapolis,
“He never talked about the Church being countercultural. He didn’t like that language. He said, ‘The Church exists within culture.’ We’re not called to be countercultural. We’re called to transform the culture, and those who transform the culture are called to be transformed. Those who are taught to evangelize must be evangelized. Those who are called to teach must be taught. Those who are called to lead others to Christ must know Christ.”
Pointing at the altar of the cathedral, the archbishop noted, “CYO is Catholic, which means it is to be rooted in this altar.
“At the center of CYO is not the playing field or the gym. It is the Eucharist. It brings Christ to others. You have to know him to bring him to others. Our coaches, our volunteers and all those involved are truly transforming individuals, families and communities.”
In praising the youths and adults being honored, the archbishop also thanked them for helping to bring others closer to Christ.
“So we give thanks for those in CYO who humbly, through God’s grace, touch the lives of others. … We rejoice that, amid all the activities, all the opportunities, all the challenges in CYO, God’s grace is at work … not in our name, but in [Christ’s].” †
Related stories
