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| Elderly image of religion | |
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| Topic Started: Monday, 2. August 2010, 08:33 (178 Views) | |
| Rose of York | Monday, 2. August 2010, 08:33 Post #1 |
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Keep the Faith! | |
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| Rose of York | Monday, 2. August 2010, 08:38 Post #2 |
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There are two common reactions to problems. 1 Put up with them, shrug the shoulders, say "that's the way of the world, nowt we can do about it." 2 Look at the problem, seek and eradicate the causes. Gardai needed to get a message to the old people, they knew where to find them - churches and mosques! If we had a typical cross section of the population in our churches, people would not think of them as being places where "the old folk" gather. Why have we reached this state of affairs? What can we do about it? If it continues for another ten years ago, our churches will be empty. |
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Keep the Faith! | |
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| K.T.B. | Monday, 2. August 2010, 12:41 Post #3 |
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I happened to be at my city's university's chaplaincy last winter for a Mass and to meet some students as part of a befriending scheme it is running with the local parishes The chapel was full, for a midweek Mass, and afterwards the social club was buzzing. I was impressed by the commitment towards the Faith and the calibre of the young people I met. There wasn't much sign of the ageing Church in that locality at least.
Edited by K.T.B., Monday, 2. August 2010, 12:42.
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| Rose of York | Monday, 2. August 2010, 13:02 Post #4 |
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Katie the enthusiasm of the students demonstrates their faith matters to them. They have each other, each is a member of an ever changing community. sooner or later they will go their separate ways, take up residence in parishes that are not aimed mainly at the younger people. What then? Today's non attending adults include yesteryear's keen students. |
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Keep the Faith! | |
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| Peter | Monday, 2. August 2010, 14:29 Post #5 |
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Ageing populations are undoubtably a problem but I have to say that I've been pleasantly surprised by the congregations I've seen recently in our area. If you take away our recent Mission (a thing that is always going to swell the numbers) there's a good cross section of ages that attend our local Masses and other nearby churches. Maybe while there isn't yet a resurgence, there is a definite turning of the corner. Certainly the eastern european influx has made a difference but that's not by any means the sole reason. |
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| Anne-Marie | Monday, 2. August 2010, 15:29 Post #6 |
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There are only two reasons why the Church is 'in decline' in some parishes: The priest appears clearly not to give a stuff (so why should anyone else?); The people are merely 'going through the motions' without any obvious practice or commitment. As any parent will learn from their children, they pick up incredibly fast on the 'vibes'... and act accordingly. Like Peter, I know what happens when a community if clearly vibrant, no matter how many/few it may start off with. As many of you know, my parish congregation doubled in under three years as a direct result of taking our Faith out to the people... and making a point of welcoming them when they bothered taking us seriously by turning up. Otherwise, our children will only bother while their parents are able to make them - then act on the evidence of their parents not living the Faith they claim! Of course... it does help when the priest is a shining example to the rest of us.... |
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Anne-Marie FIAT VOLUNTAS DEI | |
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| Gerard | Monday, 2. August 2010, 18:43 Post #7 |
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The parish community to which I belong has a distinct age gap. Next to zero members in the 16-30 age group. But the Point (an Anglican initiative) is vibrant and growing. Age range = birth - 70's. Gerry Edited by Gerard, Monday, 2. August 2010, 18:45.
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| "The institutional and charismatic aspects are quasi coessential to the Church's constitution" (Pope John Paul II, 1998). | |
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| K.T.B. | Monday, 2. August 2010, 21:25 Post #8 |
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Some may fall away, Rose, although, I would be surprised if those who I got to know will, given their apparent depth of faith. In our own parish we have a good mix of ages, with young single adults some of whom I know have been through university, and parents of schoolage children. That's not to say there may not be a general problem with an ageing Church. I do think fellowship is important. The students at the Chaplaincy get support from each other, as you say, the young adults have their own social club. The parents of primary school age children get fellowship from the school community, if they attend the Catholic school. I think faith is hard to practice in isolation. The group that do seem hard to reach are the teenagers. In my conversations with our diocesan Youth Officer, I gather that they are put off by the style of Masses, and that they'd prefer more charismatic style worship, more modern hymns. This is certainly the information I get from one of my teenage sons! Edited by K.T.B., Monday, 2. August 2010, 22:03.
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| Peter | Tuesday, 3. August 2010, 11:19 Post #9 |
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Gerry, have "googled" The Point and although I haven't looked at it in any great depth, it does seem to offer a lot so perhaps catholics could learn from it. Peter |
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| Gerard | Tuesday, 3. August 2010, 12:23 Post #10 |
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Peter, I wish we would. Part of the issue is our inability to vary our Sunday worship. Gerry |
| "The institutional and charismatic aspects are quasi coessential to the Church's constitution" (Pope John Paul II, 1998). | |
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| Anne-Marie | Tuesday, 3. August 2010, 13:18 Post #11 |
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Quite, Gerry. 'The Sabbath was made to serve man, not man serve the Sabbath'!!!!! Oh when will we learn.... Edited by Anne-Marie, Tuesday, 3. August 2010, 13:19.
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Anne-Marie FIAT VOLUNTAS DEI | |
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| Rose of York | Tuesday, 3. August 2010, 13:30 Post #12 |
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The diocesan Youth Officer knows the teenagers would prefer more charismatic style worship, more modern hymns. Each parish priest will make his own decision. If he wants it, they will get it. If he wants something else, they will get something else. |
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Keep the Faith! | |
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| Rose of York | Tuesday, 3. August 2010, 13:46 Post #13 |
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There is no reason why the smallest community, even a rural chapel of ease, should not have gatherings, for prayer, in addition to Sunday Mass. We have a problem in that if there are lay led devotions whoever has been running them for years will continue running them for more years, until they get carried into the church in a coffin. That leads to church attendance having an elderly image. We must take practical steps to help young and those approaching middle age, to be actively involved in prayer groups and practical tasls. That is how friends are made. In cases where one partner of a marriage is Catholic and the other does not accompany them to Mass and church activities, they need friends of their own faith. |
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Keep the Faith! | |
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| Eileenanne | Wednesday, 4. August 2010, 11:41 Post #14 |
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I think the involvement in practical tasks is the key for young people. I once heard a wise priest say that to get the best out of young people we should ask for their help rather than offer them things. This gives me the chance to post a link to a video of young folk working to support the sick at Lourdes. This group is from Glasgow, but every diocese I see in Lourdes has a similar group - not as well dressed as ours :) but just as hard working. I hope you will take two minutes to watch this. http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xe494h_lourdes-les-ecossais-scots_webcam Eileenanne |
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