“Belonging”
Fr. Eric Tellez, the pastor at St. Patrick Catholic Community in Scottsdale, often shares his thoughts on the common phrase “all are welcome.” He’s ok with it, but it’s not really his favorite. That might come as a surprise to some folks. What’s wrong with welcoming people? I thought that’s what we were supposed to do!
Fr. Eric explains that we are indeed called to welcome people, but that welcoming is incomplete without another critical piece: belonging. Welcome can be conditional. People can wear out their welcome or be told “You’re no longer welcome here.” There is something more intrinsic to belonging.
Relationships of belonging are strong protective factors for our mental health; they foster inner healing and help us become more resilient. You may fall into the trap of believing that you are not worthy of these relationships, that you are a person that is to be tolerated but not cherished. It’s not an uncommon feeling, but it is not true.
What does God have to say about you? You are beloved… and there’s nothing you can do about it.
Many of us have felt like outcasts at different moments in our lives. It is good for us to be reminded that we belong. We are loved. We are connected.