L
liznicks
Guest
I’m a new Catholic so bare with me if I seem over-zealous. My local parish church is very small. We are the church for the neighbourhood school but most of the school’s families do not attend our church - either they are lapsed Catholics or have found other more welcoming churches.
The church is mostly half-empty. The parishoners I have met are kind and giving but mostly older and retired or elderly. There is no welcoming committee, there is no information or guidance for people just starting to visit this church. If there is ministry work done - it seems to be an inner circle that only communicates within itself.
A couple of examples of the issues … the CWL ladies meet on a week day. They complain that younger women don’t attend the meetings. Most younger women work or if they are home, they care caring for a child. They don’t want to switch the meetings to evenings. There is no publicity about the CWL or what it does.
I know many young families who have attended this church for years and know no one and have not ever been spoken to by the priest or ushers or regular members.
I started attending 3 years ago as a non-Catholic. I was extremely discouraged - I attended without my husband but with my 2 young children. After almost 2 years, I had not one regular member speak to me nor ask if I was new. I eventually gave up and attended a non Catholic church for a year until the love of the faith propelled me to give the parish another try and enrol in the RCIA.
And I was the only convert in the parish - I think I’ve been the only convert in this parish in a decade!
As I progressed in the RCIA, I gradually met some of the regular attending members and so I’ve learned more about the inner workings of the church.
most of the older members complain that younger families do not attend mass. When I try to explain the reasons why - they seem to be confused. No one seems to “get” that there should be more open communication, more outreach, more welcoming to new members.
I don’t believe in “switching” to a different parish church. I’d like to try to improve this one. I mean perhaps new ministries could be started to attract younger families. I think there should be more outreach extended to new visitors to the church. Etc etc.
Has anyone ever taken on this sort of project in their parish? Where does one start? I think our priest is open to direction …
I hope this post is in the correct forum!
The church is mostly half-empty. The parishoners I have met are kind and giving but mostly older and retired or elderly. There is no welcoming committee, there is no information or guidance for people just starting to visit this church. If there is ministry work done - it seems to be an inner circle that only communicates within itself.
A couple of examples of the issues … the CWL ladies meet on a week day. They complain that younger women don’t attend the meetings. Most younger women work or if they are home, they care caring for a child. They don’t want to switch the meetings to evenings. There is no publicity about the CWL or what it does.
I know many young families who have attended this church for years and know no one and have not ever been spoken to by the priest or ushers or regular members.
I started attending 3 years ago as a non-Catholic. I was extremely discouraged - I attended without my husband but with my 2 young children. After almost 2 years, I had not one regular member speak to me nor ask if I was new. I eventually gave up and attended a non Catholic church for a year until the love of the faith propelled me to give the parish another try and enrol in the RCIA.
And I was the only convert in the parish - I think I’ve been the only convert in this parish in a decade!
As I progressed in the RCIA, I gradually met some of the regular attending members and so I’ve learned more about the inner workings of the church.
most of the older members complain that younger families do not attend mass. When I try to explain the reasons why - they seem to be confused. No one seems to “get” that there should be more open communication, more outreach, more welcoming to new members.
I don’t believe in “switching” to a different parish church. I’d like to try to improve this one. I mean perhaps new ministries could be started to attract younger families. I think there should be more outreach extended to new visitors to the church. Etc etc.
Has anyone ever taken on this sort of project in their parish? Where does one start? I think our priest is open to direction …
I hope this post is in the correct forum!
Thank you for giving me this advice. I often attend another denomination’s mom & tots group and it is ending. I have thought about starting my own group at our parish but was a little unsure how it would unfold. This might be a good time to approach the parish priest with an idea.