By Adam Ganucheau For The Catholic Week With four boys, there is a certain level of chaos that exists at my house. Whether it’s wrestling, running, or jumping, there usually seems to be constant activity. Chaos is usually accompanied by mess of some kind – clothes strewn about, an explosion of Pokemon cards, throw pillows literally thrown to the ground.
Predictably, when our sons are told to clean up their mess, there is a cry of anguish that the mess is too big, that it is just impossible to undo whatever they just caused. However, when shown that the large mess can be cleaned one step at a time, the great big thing seems much more manageable. Start with the stuffed animals, and then it won’t seem so big and bad.
I’ve been thinking about great big things and small measures lately. In the times when something seems too big to manage, if we step back and see a small step that can be taken, it could help give us perspective.
Coronavirus is a great big thing, an unseen virus that has taken many lives. Yet, if each of us wears a mask and washes our hands regularly, then we do our small step.
Racism and systems of oppression towards people of color is too big to dismantle with one action. Small measures chip away and make some progress, so that when accumulated, it makes a significant difference. Conversion of our own hearts is the first small measure, which can lead to recognizing our own biases, which can lead to something that feels big, such as Archbishop Wilton Gregory being named a cardinal, the first African-American to hold that title.
There are great big things happening for the young people in our archdiocese. Holy Spirit Hall, a brand new retreat center for young people, is nearing completion on the former site of Camp Cullen. This beautiful new building faces Mobile Bay and will give young people an opportunity to encounter God. Thanks to the generosity in the Generations of Faith capital campaign, a charitable trust for parish youth ministries has been established, and this trust will be distributed by grants to parishes for effective and dynamic ministry with young people.
Holy Spirit Hall and the charitable trust didn’t happen in a blink of an eye or on the spur of the moment. There were small measures that led to those great big things: a commitment to invest in our young people, an opportunity here and there, and openness to the Holy Spirit.
Young people can be protagonists of the change that they seek in their communities and in the world. Like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, they walk with Jesus on their own but are accompanied by Him. The journey to sainthood can be a long one, but it begins with one small step at a time.
What are the small measures that can make a young person a saint? Some are common sense: daily prayer, receiving the Eucharist, frequent Reconciliation. But some small measures are present without even realizing it: a kind word to a friend, a smile in the hallway between classes, showing empathy and kindness at all opportunities.
Young people need the space to make those small measures, to be encouraged when adults see them doing small things with great love, and to not be afraid of making a mistake or failing on the road to sainthood. When we give the Holy Spirit room and permission to work in our young people, big great things are possible and will happen.
November is Black Catholic History Month, a time to celebrate the great heritage of Black Catholics. One of the Black Catholics on the road to canonization is Venerable Henriette Delille. I do not think Henriette set out to accomplish great things, but took small measures that added up over time. Being a godmother to one slave being baptized happened so frequently that now the old baptistery at St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans is a prayer room in Henriette’s honor.
Her prayer exemplifies small measures that each one of us can take: “I believe in God. I hope in God. I love. I want to live and die for God.” Let us commit ourselves to taking those small steps daily.
— Adam Ganucheau is the Director of the Office of Youth Ministry for the Archdiocese of Mobile. He may be emailed at [email protected] Visit our website, www.ArchMobYouth.org Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/ArchMobYouth and follow us on Twitter and Instagram - @ArchMobYouth