Guardian Angel Store - A Cardboard Testimony at St. Patrick's

Colorado Springs - During the masses the weekend of 16 – 17 May 2009, parishioners of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church presented a cardboard testimony to the congregation. The words written and displayed helped those who witnessed to understand the impact of just a few parish ministries.

The testimonies were presented following a procession of banners which displayed a small portion of the ministries managed and sponsored within St. Patrick’s. Father Larry Solan began the cardboard testimony and recited the statements of those who followed. As each person in the procession stepped in front of the alter, they held up a sign with a statement as to where they were before a ministry touched their life. After a moment, they would turn the cardboard to reveal a statement as to where they are now. Below are a few examples.

Side one:
Apathetic, Luke warm Catholic
Side two:
Called by God to Stephen Ministry

Side one:
Casually following faith
Side two:
Witness of Christ to friends, defender of faith

Side one:
Cradle Catholic resiting involvement
Side two:
In the Passion presentation and leading youth group

Side one:
40 years plus without Communion
Side two:
RCIA = Confirmation and helping others to the Eucharist

Side one:
Devout atheist
Side two:
Converted in college

Side one:
Diagnosed/treated for brain cancer
Side two:
Blessed with a new wife and a new life

Side one:
Afraid for my Fiance
Side two:
Trusted in God, new RCIA Catholic to be married in June

Side one:
Fallen police officer, CSPD Detective, Jared S. Jensen
Side two:
Surviving on your hugs

The words by themselves carried a message, but the testimony was made even more powerful by each individual holding their cardboard sign, standing as Father read, flipping their cardboard so all could see and hear the impact to individual lives. The sanctuary was silent except for Father's narration. The emotion was seen in each face, each sign telling how lives were changed. The power of the ministries could not help but be felt. The congregation was obviously touched as the silence was finally broken with a standing ovation and applause. After all the testimonies were presented, an interesting fact emerged, four of the participants are actively pursuing or discerning a call to religious vocations.

Cardboard testimony is a means to use a few words to present a very powerful message. Through short statements, a few parishioners shared some life changing events. Some related how one’s life was enhanced; others related how lives were transformed. The testimony revealed that God touches our lives in a variety of ways. He touches our spirit, but He also touches us through each other. We are the instrument of His peace, we are His body and we are the fulfillment of His will. We cannot be in communion with His commandments unless we are in faithful community with each other.

Remember this question posed to our Lord. "Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?" He said to him, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments." Matthew 22: 36-40

In response to this test by the Pharisees, Jesus responded that we must love God; but he also pointed out the second commandment, which is like the first, also requires love. We must love one another. In those words, Jesus told us that to truly express our love for God, we must participate in that love through each other. We, therefore, cannot have a complete relationship with God unless we also have a relationship within God’s community.

There are a variety of ways we participate within this community. We all do not have the same gifts, but we each have some gift through which we may contribute.

“To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit. To one is given through the Spirit the expression of wisdom; to another the expression of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit; to another mighty deeds; to another prophecy; to another discernment of spirits; to another varieties of tongues; to another interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit produces all of these, distributing them individually to each person as He wishes. As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ.” 1 Corinthians 12: 7-12

St. Patrick’s has 104 ministries to care for the poor and to nurture the spiritual life of the community in a variety of ways. To do so requires a combination of people and resources. Some have little money, not everyone has every talent or skill, but everyone has something through which they may contribute. Sometimes we are the ones in need and sometimes we are the ones to take care of those in need. Sometimes, we may not even know our need, but we may find it as we participate within the community of God’s creation.

When God is in our lives, great things happen. The cardboard testimonies presented made that case very clear. The testimonies also made the case that God’s will is accomplished through our hands and the gifts He has given us to share with others. How much more powerful could God’s community be if more participated? Perhaps we should all take a moment and ask ourselves, what is our testimony? Are we changed because of the gifts shared by others? Are we changed because we share? After we ponder these questions, perhaps we should pray and ask our Lord and Savior for discernment as to what more we can do to fulfill His will.