Tell Someone What the Lord Has Done for You

07-05-2026Weekly ReflectionFr. James Aboyi, VC, Pastor

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Last November and December, 187 parishioners took the time to complete the Disciple Maker Index (DMI) Survey. This survey was conducted in parishes throughout our Diocese and across the country as part of a broader effort to better understand and strengthen parish life. I would like to begin by sincerely thanking everyone who participated.

The purpose of the Disciple Maker Index is not simply to collect statistics. Rather, it helps us better understand the spiritual life of our parish. Are we growing in our relationship with Jesus Christ? Are we recognizing His presence in our daily lives? Are we becoming disciples who not only receive God's love but also share it with others?

The survey primarily reflected the voices of parishioners who are actively engaged in parish life. These are individuals and families who strive to practice their faith, participate in parish activities, and grow as disciples of Christ. Their responses help us identify the strengths of our parish, areas where we are bearing good fruit, and opportunities where we can continue growing together. There is much for which we should be grateful.

More than half of respondents (51%) indicated that their relationship with Jesus Christ is the most important relationship in their lives. That is wonderful news. Even more encouraging, 72% said that our parish helps them recognize God's presence and activity in their lives. As your pastor, I am deeply grateful for these responses, for they remind us that God is working powerfully among us.

At the same time, one finding caught my attention. When parishioners were asked whether our parish equips them to share their personal faith story with others, 47% responded positively. However, 41% indicated that they were unsure. That uncertainty is important.

Many people are learning to recognize God's work in their lives, but they may not yet feel confident speaking about it. They may not know how to put their experience into words. They may wonder whether their story is significant enough to share. The truth is that every Christian has a story.

Not long ago, after Mass, I listened to a parishioner describe how God brought him back to the Church. Someone had asked him a simple question: "How did you find your way here?" His answer was moving.

Years earlier, he had drifted away from his Catholic faith. Then a loved one passed away in his arms. The experience shook him deeply. Every day on his way to work, he would drive past a Catholic church and feel a quiet invitation to stop. Day after day he ignored that invitation. Until one day he didn't.

He walked into the church seeking comfort and strength. He returned the next day. Then the day after that. Through prayer, the sacraments, and God's presence, he found healing and peace. Slowly, God brought him home.

This was not a dramatic presentation or a carefully rehearsed testimony. It was simply a conversation after Mass. A parishioner speaking naturally about what God had done in his life. He was prepared to tell his story. Would we be prepared?

Many Catholics struggle to answer that question. Some believe they do not have a story worth telling because they compare themselves to conversion experiences such as that of Saint Paul on the road to Damascus. Since they have never experienced a sudden transformation, they assume they have nothing to share.

But most Christians are not Saint Paul. Many of us are more like the disciples on the road to Emmaus. Jesus was walking beside them long before they recognized Him. Only later did they look back and realize what had happened. They said to one another, "Were not our hearts burning within us while He spoke to us on the way?" The same often happens in our own lives. Like the disciples at Emmaus, we often recognize God's presence only in hindsight. God has been writing your story all along.

Faith often spreads through ordinary people speaking naturally about what God has done in their lives. Long before many people attend a retreat, read a spiritual book, or speak with a priest, they encounter the faith through someone they know and trust.

A friend shares how God helped him through a difficult season.

A family member shares how the Eucharist strengthened her during a time of suffering.

These simple conversations often become the beginning of someone's journey back to God.

We do this naturally in every other area of life. We tell stories about where we grew up, people who influenced us, mistakes we made, lessons we learned, and moments that changed us. Why should our relationship with Jesus be any different? If Christ truly is the most important relationship in our lives, then He should appear in our story.

Saint John writes, "What we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you" (1 Jn 1:3). That is our mission. We are called to share what God has done in our lives, not to draw attention to ourselves, but to give glory to Him. Of course, we must exercise wisdom and sensitivity. Not every person is ready to hear our story at every moment. There are times when we simply listen, pray, and wait patiently. But when God opens a door, we should be ready to speak about what He has done.

How can we become more prepared?

The first step is to remember. Think back over your life. Consider a prayer that was answered. Recall a difficult period through which God carried you. Reflect on moments when His presence became clear to you. Write these memories down.

Throughout Scripture, God's people were repeatedly instructed to remember His mighty works. They celebrated feasts, told stories, and handed down their experiences to future generations. Remembering strengthened their faith. The same is true for us. Every Mass is an act of remembrance. We remember what Christ has done for us through His life, death, and resurrection. In doing so, we recognize once again the faithfulness of God.

I would also encourage you to spend time in silence before the Lord. Our world is filled with noise, distractions, and endless activity. We move from one obligation to another and often fail to notice the ways God is speaking to us. Spend time each day in prayer. Speak heart to heart with Jesus. Then be silent. Listen. Allow Him to reveal His presence in your life.

If you are not yet involved in Adoration, consider spending even a few moments each week before the Blessed Sacrament. In the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, we learn to recognize the voice of the Good Shepherd and discover that Jesus is not distant. He is present, speaking, and inviting us into a deeper relationship with Him.

As I reflect on the survey results, I also want to speak directly to those parishioners who may not feel connected to our parish community or nourished in their faith. Please know that you are not alone.

Coming to Mass each weekend is essential and remains the foundation of our Catholic life. But sometimes we need more than attending Mass anonymously. We need relationships. We need fellowship. We need opportunities to learn, serve, pray, and grow alongside others.

If you feel disconnected, I encourage you to reach out to us. Consider joining a ministry. Volunteer at a parish event. Become involved in one of our prayer groups, service organizations, Bible studies, evangelization efforts, or devotional ministries. Through these ministries, you build friendships, grow closer to Christ, and become a stronger disciple. In time, you become more confident speaking to others about your faith and the ways God is working in your life.

Imagine a parish where faith is shared naturally.

Imagine conversations after Mass where people naturally speak about God's blessings.

Imagine ministry meetings where members share not only plans and projects but also the ways they have seen God at work.

That is the kind of parish community I pray Corpus Christi Parish will continue to become. When the Disciple Maker Index is conducted again in the future, I hope we will see fewer parishioners uncertain about how to share their faith story. More importantly, I hope we will see a parish family growing ever deeper in its relationship with Jesus Christ, recognizing His presence more clearly, and confidently telling others what He has done.

As Our Lord reminds us, "For from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks" (Lk 6:45). May our hearts be so full of gratitude for God's goodness that we cannot help but share His story and ours with others.