Keep the emphasis on seeing the person, the soul, archbishop tells CYO volunteers

Archbishop Charles C. Thompson poses for a photo with recipients of the Bernie Price Spirit of Youth Award, named in honor of the longtime staff member of the archdiocese’s Catholic Youth Organization. The youths were honored during the CYO’s volunteer awards ceremony on May 12 at SS. Peter & Paul Cathedral in Indianapolis. (Photo courtesy of Zoe Hawkins)

By John Shaughnessy

As he shared his homily with the volunteers, their families and friends during the liturgy part of the Catholic Youth Organization volunteer awards ceremony on May 12, Archbishop Charles C. Thompson encouraged everyone to “always keep in mind the soul, the spirit and the character of the person before us.” (Related story: CYO recognition highlights volunteer efforts of adults and youths)

To emphasize that point, the archbishop shared a phone call he had with a distraught mother from his days as the pastor of a parish. The mother was upset because of a phone conversation she had with another mom, whom she had considered a good friend.

The first mom wanted to let the second mom know that their sons had a “falling out” with each other. Yet when the first mom shared that news, the second mom told her, “Don’t bother me about that,” adding that she wasn’t about to discipline her son because his athletic skills were the family’s primary hope for its financial future.

“In other words,” the archbishop summed up the second mother’s thinking, “this kid is going to get a scholarship, he’s going to be a great athlete, he’s going to go on to be a pro, and we’re going to be set for life.”

Yet for the first mom and the archbishop in his then-role as pastor, there was the greater concern for the future of the boy from a far more important perspective.

“Where was the soul in this?” the archbishop shared with the volunteers, their families and friends.

Archbishop Thompson connected that story and that question to the efforts of St. John Bosco, the namesake for the highest honor that the archdiocese’s CYO gives to an outstanding volunteer.

“St. John Bosco is known for reaching out to young people, especially those who are in trouble, in need, especially young boys. Because he saw the soul,” the archbishop noted. “He didn’t see objects. He saw the person, the soul.”

The source of St. John Bosco’s approach to youths was rooted in his Catholic faith, “primarily his devotion to the Eucharist,” the archbishop said.

“The late Pope Benedict XVI used to say that our task as Christians is not to possess truth, but our task as Christians is to allow truth to possess us. And he went on to say that truth is a person. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. And St. John Bosco wholly embraced that.

“It was the Eucharist, the person of Jesus Christ that nurtured him, sustained him in his outreach to young people, never seeing them as an object but always seeing their soul. “

Archbishop Thompson recognized the CYO’s efforts in various ways “to help build up the character, to help us build up our values and principles and virtues.”

He also noted, “It’s great to win, but sometimes we learn even more in defeat. Our task is not always to win. Our task is always to keep before us a person’s soul. Let us never see each other as an object but always a soul.”

As he blessed the awards later, the archbishop said, “Bless all of those who receive them, that in serving one another we may imitate your son. We ask you again for this in Christ our Lord.”

The archbishop’s focus on serving others was echoed by Jack Schmitz, executive director of the archdiocese’s CYO.

“This organization is all about the people,” said Schmitz, noting that the CYO is in its 72nd year in the archdiocese. “The combined efforts and sacrifices made by thousands of volunteers on a yearly basis is the foundation which provides great experiences for kids, leading them to become the best version of themselves.

“Countless lives have been impacted through the remarkable volunteerism from this exceptional group of people, and we are so proud to recognize them.”
 

(The recipients of this year’s St. John Bosco Medal, the highest honor the archdiocese’s Catholic Youth Organization gives to its outstanding volunteers, are linked to on this page.) †