Bishop Tobin on Questions to and from God

"Last week, in Newport, we held our biennial Priest Convocation in the Diocese of Providence. About 70 priests, roughly a third of our presbyterate, joined together for a couple days of fraternity, prayer, study, and discussion. This year's event was among the most successful ever; it was enjoyable, informative and rewarding.

"Our presenter was Sherry Weddell, a nationally known expert on religious practice and evangelization. Her theme, with the same title as her best-selling book, was 'Forming Intentional Disciples.' Sherry first painted the rather bleak picture of religious practice in our country today, particularly among young Catholics, and explained its causes and characteristics. Did you know, for example, that only 30 percent of Americans who were raised Catholic are still practicing? How distressing!

"She then emphasized the importance of developing a conversion experience that begins with a personal encounter with Christ and moves an individual from 'seeker, to disciple, to apostle.' Catholics in the pew, she explained, must make a conscious decision to know and follow Jesus before they can draw others to him. Her five presentations were packed with information, insights and inspiration.

"At the very end of her program Sherry posed a question that we could reflect upon ourselves and then pose to others in the course of a conversion dialogue: 'If you could ask God one question that you knew God would answer right away, what would it be?'"

In a recent commentary, Bishop Thomas J. Tobin, of the Diocese of Providence (RI), reflected on potential answers to this question and on how God might "turn the tables and have some hard questions to ask us."

To access Bishop Tobin's complete essay, please visit:

Without A Doubt: Questions to God, Questions from God (16 NOV 17)