At the most recent Diocesan Pastoral Council meeting here in the Rockford Diocese, the discussion centered around a special report by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) on “The Catholic Family, 21st Century Challenges in the United States.”

The statistics presented in that report seemed pretty grim as it relates to the family and its practice of the Catholic faith. The challenge to the DPC was to discuss what the report and the state of the American family means to diocesan parishes and the Catholic faith here locally and provide thoughts on the subject to Bishop David Malloy.

After an excellent morning of intelligent and faith-filled discussion it occurred to me that we need to talk less about groups — families, Catholics, young people, old people, Millennials, Gen X’ers, Baby Boomers, etc, and more about you and me. We could speak and write volumes about what we think is getting in the way of practicing the faith and what is wrong with families in this day and age but it might be helpful also to look in the mirror sometimes.

The examination or conversation about “what’s wrong with (fill-in-the-blank) needs to start with the line from the popular hymn, “… let it begin with me.”

Each group, each community begins with individual action toward one goal. And it begins with the path and action we choose to take or not. For example, you can have the right recipe and the right ingredients, a wonderful kitchen and beautiful utensils and appliances, but if you choose not to put it all together, you better not expect to get a cake! If you or I, individually, don’t get involved or take action, everything will be as it should be but no one will get nourished.

Faith is like that too. We can’t expect others to share or practice the faith if we as individuals don’t do it.

We talk a lot about Catholic life but if we don’t live it and give example it’s just talk. Our faith becomes just another membership and not a way of life.

Another example: I am a member of a gym and an aqua aerobics class. The equipment is clean and modern and the environment is warm in the winter and cool in the summer. It has everything to help me stay stretched and flexible. The pool is well maintained and a constant temperature. My name is listed on the membership and I pay my dues.

I enjoy going to exercise because I know the difference it makes. But whew, is it difficult to stay motivated. I can think of a hundred reasons not to go. But if I don’t take advantage of what that membership means and apply it to my life, I better not expect my muscles to stay loose, my aches to be gone or my waistline to shrink. And I can’t expect anyone to get excited about changing their habits if I am a weak example.

It’s like that with faith. We have beautiful, comfortable churches. They are kept warm in the winter and cool in the summer and many people make sure they are well maintained. The instruments are all in place and provided for music, for liturgy and everything that goes with it. We are listed on the membership registry and we send a tithe. Everything is in place for our worship. But that is not church. Church is us.

All the ingredients are there for us to experience a faith-filled life but too many times we choose not to act. We choose not to be nourished. And our example will certainly perpetuate itself in our children and communities and in the grim statistics we now see.

I know, I know, sometimes it’s hard to get up, shower and get to church when all we want to do is lounge on the couch with the Sunday paper, some hot coffee and wait for the game to come on TV. We know Mass is good for us. We know prayer at home is good. We also know that a life where we have a deep and profound relationship and friendship with Christ and fidelity to His teaching helps us save our souls. We also know a happy, positive life of faith draws others to the same.

So if we want to make an impact on future statistics maybe a little self-exam is in order for all of us. A good workout with Christ is the best recipe for positive outcomes but only if our actions support them.

And let it begin with me.