A friend mine sent me this photo of the Archbishop of Quebec, primate of Canada and cardinal of the Roman Church, Gérald Cyprien Lacroix, I.S.P.X., … at a parish function, and who is he sitting with? This is awesome; a prelate who gets it. And, of course it being Quebec, wine on the table with kids!A pastor getting to know his sheep; a man of God witnessing to the love the Messiah has for children! This is evangelization!
Nice photo! Not to sound shallow, but the Cardinal’s attire is a beautiful sign that identifies his role and will leave a visual impression in the minds of the kids. His attire is a sign that affords the children the opportunity to express their curiosity about his role/office in the Church.
Quebec is a society that has rejected its Catholic heritage. Clergy have been shy about wearing their clerical attire in that hostile environment. When clergy do something as simple as wearing the collar or religious wear their habits, those simple but beautiful expressions can be signposts to invite people to reassess their assumptions about the presence of the Church, signposts which invite people into conversation. A priest’s collar reminds people that the Catholic Faith is public and personal.