'Here We Go Bridgers . . .'

	Bishop David Zubik

In 1967, my classmates and I graduated from high school, a Catholic high school, Saint Veronica by name. But one of the lasting memories of our senior year had nothing to do with our school.

The Town of Ambridge, Pennsylvania, in which I grew up, came together that year to support the undefeated basketball team of the public high school. Throughout the basketball season, the chant of the town was: "Here We Go Bridgers, Here We Go." As the team won each game, the enthusiasm of all the residents of the town, my high school classmates included, rose with each win, reaching fever pitch with the state championship.

The enthusiasm that captured all of us that year was "contagious." Even people who weren't sports fans were caught up in the spirit of the basketball team's victories.

It was the spirit of enthusiasm that God wanted the Israelite people of the Old Testament to experience as a result of His messages to them through Moses. As they made their journey away from their slavery at the hands of the Egyptians to the comfort of arriving at the Promised Land of Canaan, God reminded the Israelites that He was their God and they were His people.

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In the New Testament, Jesus likewise wanted His disciples to be full of enthusiasm. When Jesus gathered together with His apostles at the Last Supper, He wanted them, as well, to be excited about the fact that He was about to lay down His life for them. Jesus gave the Apostles every reason to be excited. He was promising them salvation.

In so many of his Letters, Saint Paul too wanted the early Christians to feel excited about being fellow citizens of the Saints themselves and members of the household of God. God gave the early Christians every reason to be excited. He was promising them salvation.

In just about a week, we will be gathering in our churches to celebrate the great Easter Vigil. During that powerful liturgy, we will be welcoming into our Church Catechumens (those who will be baptized) and Candidates (those who will be received into full communion of the Church).

Back in the 4th Century, the members of the Church found themselves inspired by the Catechumens, who were filled with such joy when they came to be received into the Church at Easter. As a matter of fact, those already a part of the Church were jealous. They didn't feel the same joy as the Catechumens. The enthusiasm of the Catechumens charged the others to get more excited about their faith, to take God more seriously and to live their faith more joyfully. The enthusiasm of the Catechumens was contagious.

That's the way it was in the Church then and that's the way it is in the Church today. The Catechumens and the Candidates challenge us to be more excited about our faith, to love God more seriously and to live our faith more joyfully.

As much as my friends and townspeople celebrated the great Bridger Basketball team of 1967, our enthusiasm pales in comparison to the excitement we should feel as we approach Easter, an enthusiasm evident in our Catechumens and Candidates.

God gives us every reason to be excited. He is promising us, all of us, salvation.