Cetta York

Witness

I grew up in a Catholic family and attended Catholic elementary and high school and eventually in my later years a Catholic college; Notre Dame of Maryland University. A faith-filled atmosphere and religious devotions were clearly a part of my family and our Italian heritage. I remember going to Penance every Saturday afternoon before receiving Jesus in the Eucharist on Sunday morning. It was not that I was an awful child; it was what was expected of me. I am sure that our priests grew weary week after week hearing that I yelled at one of my sisters or stomped my feet when my mom gave me a chore, or did not finish my supper. Sometimes I got bored and made up a few sins just to have a different penance. Obviously, it was a few years before I understood the real purpose of the sacrament of Penance and the gift of God’s grace and healing reconciliation. I recall that I practiced what I was taught by the nuns and my family without giving much thought to any of it. It just was what we did; an integral part of my everyday existence. I thought everyone attended Sunday Mass and Holy Days of Obligation, Stations of the Cross on Fridays in Lent, fasted from meat on every Friday, prayed novenas and rosaries, and asked particular saints to intercede to God on their behalf. I can honestly say that even in my teen years I did not know anyone who was not a practicing Catholic. Boy, did I take a lot for granted.

At nineteen I married, and for a few short years I became a half-hearted Catholic. I went to Mass occasionally and my prayer life became somewhat irregular. Something was missing but I was so caught up in being young and in love, setting up our first place, and balancing work, husband, my Italian family, and in-laws that I did not realize that by not keeping God a priority in my life, I was not the same person. After six long years my husband and I welcomed our first child. At her Baptism, I made a promise that I would do my very best to be the mother that God intended me to be. We were blessed with two more daughters and I rely daily on the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary to her son Jesus. I often wonder, how can anyone raise a family and not have faith in God?

Today my faith is alive and growing. It is not stagnant and ignored. It is continually nourished through the Holy Mass and Eucharist. Along with devotions, service to the church, and volunteering we find ways as a family to give thanks and praise to God for all of his blessings. I feel that St. Ignatius is my second home. Here I find the Body of Christ working together to be Christ for others here on earth. The Good News of the Gospel is alive and well in Hickory. I am so blessed to be a part of faith formation at St. Ignatius. I was a catechist for 13 years while my children were attending religious education and in 2004 I became a staff member.

As Director of a large Faith Formation program we work together so that all can develop a lasting and personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Society may change, the dynamics of families may alter, good and bad may enter into our lives, but we know for certain that God’s love for us never changes, fades, or erodes. God is here now and he wants us to be his disciples. God wants us to walk with him on the journey; to learn about him through Scripture, to pray and talk with him, to share life’s joys and sadness. We are never alone. Being Catholic is not just a name for a religion. It is relational, pulsing, and growing. It means to be welcoming, understanding, compassionate, and mindful of the love of God working within us all to be a people of joy!