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| EMPTYING PEWS | |
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| Topic Started: Monday, 2. October 2006, 11:21 (1,618 Views) | |
| Deacon Robert | Monday, 2. October 2006, 22:24 Post #16 |
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Mick, That's a good idea but our Bishops got there first. Deacons minister and evangelize in the work place. One of the reasons we are expected to minister at food banks and homeless shelters is that we can bring the love of the church to those who have been forgotten and no longer churched. The Parish can also do something on it's own. My Parish reaches out to those who are on the roles but not attending regularly with a quarterly news letter inviting their return. We advertise in the local paper various non religious events such as exercise classes, English lessons for immigrants, tax and health advice for the elderly. We make sure that at these events there is alway at least one member of the clergy there to greet the people, answer questions, or just chat. |
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The burden of life is from ourselves, its lightness from the grace of Christ and the love of God. - William Bernard Ullanthorne | |
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| Gerard | Tuesday, 3. October 2006, 09:30 Post #17 |
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Rose,
But the flow is in the other direction. Even if it could be reversed it would be a very partial solution but you would need to turn round the attitude of the people in the pews who dont want (in no particular order): Baptism in the Holy Spirit in the Catholic Church Tongues in the Catholic Church Bible study in the Catholic Church Singing in the Catholic Church Dancing in the Catholic Church Prophecy in the Catholic Church Drums in the Catholic Church Guitars in the Catholic Church Signs and Wonders in the Catholic Church Exorcism in the Catholic Church Deliverance in the Catholic Church Street Evangelisation in the Catholic Church Clapping in the Catholic Church People shouting Aleluia in the Catholic Church Raised hands in the Catholic Church There are places in the world where the Catholic Church is growing phenomenally. In those places it is a Pentecostal Catholicism. Gerry |
| "The institutional and charismatic aspects are quasi coessential to the Church's constitution" (Pope John Paul II, 1998). | |
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| EROS | Tuesday, 3. October 2006, 09:42 Post #18 |
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The one thing that I find interesting is that the majority of Pentecostals that were survayed would be the Black Pentecostals, now I have always believed these people are very charged and emotional and love their church. I put them on the same road as the renewal people. What I did not mention at the time I started this thread was that the United Reformed Church lost 43% and the Methodists lost 24%. this is a lot of people giving up going to church. We must all get our act together as Christians or evil will creep up behind without you knowing about it. Or is it happening, read into this as you will. :ph43r: :ph43r: |
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| Rose of York | Tuesday, 3. October 2006, 11:38 Post #19 |
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The Quality of Worship The Quality of Prayer is not measurable by staticians. It rises from the heart and soul to Heaven. |
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Keep the Faith! | |
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| Gerard | Tuesday, 3. October 2006, 12:22 Post #20 |
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Sorry Rose, that is a cop out. Numbers matter. God wants everyone in heaven.
Gerry |
| "The institutional and charismatic aspects are quasi coessential to the Church's constitution" (Pope John Paul II, 1998). | |
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| Rose of York | Tuesday, 3. October 2006, 12:32 Post #21 |
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Gerry the numbers alone are not sufficient to tell us why people are in a particular place at a particular time. Never mind the quality. Feel the width. |
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Keep the Faith! | |
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| Gerard | Tuesday, 3. October 2006, 12:41 Post #22 |
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Rose, So the verse is really "Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature, but never mind the quantity feel the quality" ? or perhaps: "Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature, but never mind the quantity judge the quality" ? Gerry |
| "The institutional and charismatic aspects are quasi coessential to the Church's constitution" (Pope John Paul II, 1998). | |
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| Rose of York | Tuesday, 3. October 2006, 12:57 Post #23 |
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Faith can be sorely tested when one cannot get to a church where the liturgical style is not to one's liking. True Catholic faith is centred on the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Other worship stems from that. Catholics who leave the One, True, Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, founded by Jesus Christ, and turn to man-founded non Catholic Pentecostal denominations lose something far more important than anything they can gain. Those who are fully aware of the miracle that takes place on the altar stay put. The people of God need good solid teaching, and in some Catholic churches they do not get it. |
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Keep the Faith! | |
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| Michael | Tuesday, 3. October 2006, 13:50 Post #24 |
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no disrespect intended, but i don't feel that the charismatic movement is all it's cracked up to be, i tried attending one at the cathedral and found them to be a cliquey wee group, our best approach to stem the losses is to reach out to all those lapsed catholics out there, we have plenty of deacons and lay people more than capable of this task |
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| Gerard | Tuesday, 3. October 2006, 14:03 Post #25 |
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Michael, Why are Pentecostals growing by 34% while Catholics are shrinking by 28% ? Gerry |
| "The institutional and charismatic aspects are quasi coessential to the Church's constitution" (Pope John Paul II, 1998). | |
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| Rose of York | Tuesday, 3. October 2006, 14:25 Post #26 |
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Because they are a bunch of manipulative mind benders who prey on vulnerable people. They like to get them when the chips are down and life is tough. Gerry this forum is about Catholicism. If you are here to market protestant Pentecostalism, please declare yourself. I am going out now, whatever reply you give I will not be able to respond immediately. I suggest we widen the scope of this discussion. |
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Keep the Faith! | |
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| Gerard | Tuesday, 3. October 2006, 15:09 Post #27 |
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Rose, My question was asked of Michael. I am interested in his reply.
That is from the post that started this thread. I am keeping this thread on target. Its a pertinant question. I think the answer is - to some extent yes.
I think you are trying to avoid a difficult and uncomfortable question. Hiding from the question does not answer it. I posed an even more uncomfortable point:
No one responded. But this point says it all. My parish is growing old and dying. But the parishoners want to keep everything the same just as it is now, and has been for 30 years, - certain death. There are few worshipers younger than me and I am in my 50s. The statistics say this is the situation across the UK.
That is sheer and utter calumny. If I am here to market anything it is Pentecostal Catholicism, Charismatic Catholicism, a lively living Catholicism. One that shouts Alleluia, Jesus Is Alive. Does that make me a Protestant, Rose? Becuase that is what parishoners say to chase people away. So that they can keep things the same. Thats what the parents say to their children to keep their styles of worship at a distance. Down the road and not in our church. God poured out His Spirit on the Catholic Church in the 1960 in the same powerful way He poured it out on the Protestants, accompanied by the flourishing of the charisms. But the Catholic Church in the UK squashed it. Fenced it in, marginalised it, called it "protestant". Did you know you can inhibit the Holy Spirit? You can. Just say no. He wont force Himself on anyone. The Catholic church in the UK did just this. catholic Pentecostals are growing topsy turvey in Africa and China. But you say "protestant". But the Popes celebrate CCR so I have all the approval I need. Second lastly, I dont see myself as marketing Catholic Pentecostalism rather as representing it. But if a visitor thinks "I wonder if that is what I am looking for" then Praise the Lord. Lastly, I will not stop asking the difficult question. I will keep on asking it. Gerry |
| "The institutional and charismatic aspects are quasi coessential to the Church's constitution" (Pope John Paul II, 1998). | |
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| Rose of York | Tuesday, 3. October 2006, 15:22 Post #28 |
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I answered. It is an open forum. |
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Keep the Faith! | |
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| Rose of York | Tuesday, 3. October 2006, 15:23 Post #29 |
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Keep the Faith! | |
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| Angus Toanimo | Tuesday, 3. October 2006, 15:23 Post #30 |
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Gerry, Calumny is a statement of derogation libel, slander, false or malicious. The only statement Rose made was '...this forum is about Catholicism.' There was nothing calumnious in Rose's post. |
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9:19 AM Jul 11