by Father Christopher Heanue
The seeds of faith are sown quietly, often in the simple moments of a child’s life. A prayer before bed, a family’s weekly attendance at Mass, the encouraging words of a teacher or catechist are just some of the ways such seeds are planted.
With the proper care, these seeds take root and begin to grow into a life of strong faith, hope, and charity.
I often think of a young boy named John, whom I came to know in my first parish assignment at Holy Child Jesus in Richmond Hill. He was a kind and deeply reverent altar server. Even as a child, there was something striking about his love for the Eucharist. His desire to serve God was pure and genuine and it quietly inspired those around him — young and old alike.
In 2018, our parish participated in the diocesan pilgrimage to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. It was an unforgettable day.
A small group of our young pilgrims had the honor of processing into the grand basilica and sitting in the sanctuary for Mass. Among them was John. I remember seeing him kneel there in prayer, a boy full of wonder and devotion.
This year, on Oct. 25, 9 years later, I returned to that same pilgrimage, and there was John again, kneeling in the same sacred space. This time, however, he was not the teen from Holy Child Jesus.
He was there as a seminarian for our diocese, still humble, still prayerful, still striving to follow God’s call.
The sight of him kneeling in that same spot, years apart, was profoundly moving. It reminded me that the seeds planted long ago by his family, parish, school, and community had grown into a beautiful vocation.
This is why we must continue to invest in our young people, especially through our Catholic schools and religious education programs.
Faith does not grow by accident; it grows when parents, teachers, and parish communities make it a priority.
Every time a child learns to pray, receives the sacraments, or encounters the beauty of the Church, another seed is planted. My hope is to continue nurturing that growth here at St. Joan of Arc Parish by establishing a youth ministry program. With the proper funding, we can provide a space where our young people can share their faith, form friendships, and experience the joy of belonging to the Church.
Let us continue to pray for our children, that the seeds of faith we sow today will eventually grow into lives rooted in love for God and service to His Church.
Father Christopher Heanue is pastor of St. Joan of Arc Parish in Jackson Heights.