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Filling The Emptying Pews
Topic Started: Wednesday, 20. December 2006, 15:34 (299 Views)
Deacon Robert
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This is an article from a magazine I have subscribed to for the last 12 years.

http://www.ignatius.com/magazines/hprweb/mendoza.htm


I found the subject was handled well by the author and gives us an idea what we might do to stem the flow.
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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Rose of York
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I have long held the opinion that if the Catholic Church is to build up its numbers in the UK, it would do well to have a pilot scheme in villages.

In a rural area with population just a few hundred it is quite common to have about 60 to 80 at Mass. That does not sound much, but towns with up to fifty thousand are lucky to get 500 at Mass.

The main crux of my argument is that rural areas have strong communities. We do not have cinemas, daily theatre performances, night clubs, Premier League football. Our social life is community based. Newcomers avidly seek means of finding a niche in their new home. Children grow out of play group, and join Scouts, Guides or village sports teams. The next stage is early adulthood when they go the the village pub, or get involved in drama, badminton, village cricket. What a seedbed for FAITH!

The Catholic Church closes village churches, or downgrades them to Chapel of Ease status, in the interests of rationalisation! Oops, sorry, Deanery Pastoral ReOrganisation, resulting (fat chance) in single, vibrant, worshipping communities. That is a euphemism for "drive ten miles to town if you want to get really involved. That is where we have catechesis, youth events, group discussions, confirmations. You lot out in the sticks get a weekly Mass. Think yourselves lucky.

I beg you, read this report on research carried out at Coventry University Applied Research Centre for Sustainable Regeneration, in partnership with the Arthur Rank Centre and the Church of England.



LINK

Quote:
 
The researchers carried out interviews to understand the faith communities and identify issues of local concern. They cross-checked the results through interviews with people outside the faith communities. One such interviewee commented that "the vast majority who are involved in the church keep this a throbbing and thriving community and if they weren't here it would be dire. They are the ones with the motivation to do things in the village because they want people involved. They are the ones who push and drive and build the community. Without it, the village would be dead really."


Quote:
 
Researcher, Professor Richard Farnell says: ‘The evidence from the five case studies, and the six villages they contain, is clear. Rural Christian communities make a substantial contribution to the vibrancy of their villages. There needs to be a wider recognition of it amongst all stakeholders, including the faith communities themselves.


Granted, the Catholic Church is currently in a fix, due to the decline in vocations. I would like to see just a handful of village churches used for a pilot scheme, supported by Diocese. Just imagine the Catholic Church doing what the village Church of England and Methodist churches do, holding events at which all residents feel they are positively wanted. Who knows, someone might pop in to a parish barbecue, take a look at the church, notice a statue, say to one of the Catholics "Its a lovely church. I would like to go but I don't want to worship Mary." That person could be a potential convert. With or without a resident priest, people can meet Catholics. We should have massive, huge posters at the entrance, advertising our Masses, particularly at Easter and Christmas. A Corpus Christi procession could take place, through a village. How about a Passion Play, advertised in a village magazine?

The current situation is that few village churches are in phone books. They have no presbytery, therefore no phone. They are not advertised in local papers. Their priests do not arrange for new residents to receive a "Welcome" visit or card.

The clergy (including my bishop) like my idea of "heightening awareness" of the existence of our village churches. The problem is, they do nowt about it. The Diocese would need to be actively involved.

Quote:
 
People who attend church regularly,’ says the report, ‘make a significant contribution to community vibrancy through their engagement in church based activities and their role in the village.’ Nevertheless, there are limits to this contribution. In some places churchgoers are older village residents.


That is the problem. Older residents who have never moved house do not appreciate the needs of new residents, who want to play their part. Jane has done the flowers for years, and her mother before her. Tom has cut the grass for decades, and his father and grandfather before him. They see no point in having a big bash for the village, after all the village hall and C of E and methodists are already doing it, so there is no need for the Catholics to bother. That problem could be overcome if the Diocese was actively involved, insisted on a parish census resulting in the opportunity for all who wished, to be actively involved.

I say if we started with the villages, we might keep the youngsters. If it worked we could start similar schemes in urban suburbs.

But, what do I know about it? I did not attend a Catholic public school. I am just a woman who lives out in the sticks, somewhere in sleepy England. What can I possibly know or understand? ;)
Keep the Faith!

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Rose of York
Aug 17 2007, 12:42 AM


The Catholic Church closes village churches, or downgrades them to Chapel of Ease status, in the interests of rationalisation!  Oops, sorry, Deanery Pastoral ReOrganisation, resulting (fat chance) in single, vibrant, worshipping communities.  That is a euphemism for "drive ten miles to town if you want to get really involved.  That is where we have catechesis, youth events, group discussions, confirmations.  You lot out in the sticks get a weekly Mass.  Think yourselves lucky.

I agree that does not constitute a community.
During a discussion with one of my sons recently, he volunteered the opinion that the loss of communities, such as those which used to surround the local Church, was responsible for much of society's ills. I agreed with him - and that doesn't often happen :D
KatyA
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Ned

Deacon Robert
Dec 20 2006, 02:34 PM
This is an article from a magazine I have subscribed to for the last 12 years.

....

I found the subject was handled well by the author and gives us an idea what we might do to stem the flow.

I'm in an Internet Cafe, Robert. But I've had a quick look. It is good.

Now I've printed it out so I can have a good read at home.
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PJD

Yes I will do the same as Ned, Deacon.

PJD
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nelly k

Deacon Robert, Ill need to go back to as well , over the weekend maybe, its strange because my Dad mentioned this to me the other day, what date was the article written, nelly
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PJD

Deacon:

What an excellent text you referred us to.

Apart from the block selected below my signature, I have picked up what I believe are three important observations from the document.

As a personal contribution (Rose may agree with me here) – I see those presently engaged here in UK - with reference to item 3 - constitute the problem (not meant in an uncharitable sense you understand). Put crudely, it won’t work unless you chuck out the old and bring in the new. And you will see 'additions' to this critique of 'existing establishment' referred to within the longer text below.

1) Lack of scriptural and theological sophistication
Although the Second Vatican Council did much to restore a more scientific biblical theology, exegesis, hermeneutics and interpretation in order to serve speculative and pastoral theology, that restoration—in spite of encouraging lectionary homiletics rather than non-scriptural, topical sermons—has not trickled down to the average laymen or women in the pew. As Peter Kreeft points out: And many of their converts are coming from the Catholic Church-mainly, badly educated Catholics.

2) Lack of appropriate and effective Catholic catechesis
Anemic parishes and preaching

3) Catholics need to establish in each diocese and parish—with the support of the national bishop’s conferences—an office or department for adult education and catechesis.

PJD

“I have great esteem and respect for “liberation theology.” However, like all good things there is always a danger that it can fall short of the fullness of the gospel. The danger, I believe, is not so much that it ends in Marxist ideology, but the much greater danger of once again trusting in works. This occurs when social and political liberation is confused with liberation from sin and evil, and material salvation with spiritual, making both of them depend solely on the efforts of man. When this happens, I believe one slips imperceptibly into what Paul calls “another gospel,” a gospel, which is no longer the “power of God.” Jesus is reduced to an example of liberation rather that the “cause of salvation” for all those who believe in him. This is not the only way, however, that we can preach “another gospel”…[but also through]…enneagrams, New Ager (sic) and other such things. These are all “weak and poor elements of this world” as Paul called them compared to the power of the Gospel. …Today there is a new invasion of Christianity from retreats and spiritual exercises and courses, all inspired by this man-made gospel. These concentrate on the “self”: self-knowledge, self-expression, self-acceptance, self-justification, self-realization, in other words, self-fulfillment instead of the self-denial and self-forgetfulness that lies at the heart of Christianity. In this man-centered gospel, salvation comes from within man himself and Jesus becomes reduced to just one more ingredient in the religious cocktail. This “other gospel” originates in those countries, which are rich and sated, from people who believe it is possible to go “beyond faith” and “beyond Christ.” ”
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Ned

PJD
Aug 18 2007, 03:23 PM

....    .....

... The danger, I believe, is not so much that it ends in Marxist ideology, but the much greater danger of once again trusting in works.

.... Today there is a new invasion of Christianity from retreats and spiritual exercises and courses, all inspired by this man-made gospel. These concentrate on the “self”: self-knowledge, self-expression, self-acceptance, self-justification, self-realization, in other words, self-fulfillment instead of the self-denial and self-forgetfulness that lies at the heart of Christianity.

In this man-centered gospel, salvation comes from within man himself and Jesus becomes reduced to just one more ingredient in the religious cocktail. ...  ....

...  ....

I think you hit several nails right on the head there, Robert.

If the People of God are to get back to fighting the good fight then local churches will have to stop selling raffle tickets. People can't do both.

I'm not saying that individual catholics should not be pursuing the corporal works of mercy - of course they must - but that can be done, and very often more effectively done, if they do it with other people of good will in a non-sectarian setting. The Church should be filling its members with the love of Christ which then shines forth from them in their daily lives.

In many churches there are too many people trying to collect money for too many causes.

There is also too much importance given to what used to be called 'special devotions' - that is particular personal devotions that people might have to a particular saint or to a particular place of pilgrimage. Pre-V2 somebody might have a particular devotion to, say, Our Lady of Lourdes or to Our Lady of Fatima. But that was a private matter and you would rarely hear that mentioned from the pulpit. Now there is frequent mention of Saints, Apparitions and what was on TV last night - accordingly there is less affirmation that 'God was man in Palestine, and lives today in bread and wine'.

We need to be more focused on Jesus Christ. I'm glad the old mass is coming back, but it will only be a meaningless charade unless there is also a return to the true christian values which went with it.
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