Bucking a trend, these churches figured out how to bring millennials back to worship

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I wish that sort of ministry existed outside of big cities. There seem to be a lot more opportunities in cities.
 
R_H_Benson said:
Yet, as I often ask, do these young Catholics embrace the Novus Ordo Mass in and of itself, or do they embrace it because it is all that they know?
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I grew up with the EF, went through the change to the OF. I’ll stick with the OF. Why? because the EF didn’t make any sense to me. I did learn Latin, I still understand the Latin. But I think and pray in English. I am more present in the OF. I am more of a participant than a spectator. I’ve grown closer to Jesus through the OF than I ever did in the EF. So I say it is only a personal preference. To say that EF attendees are more reverent and holy and true Catholics than those who attend the OF is nothing more than a personal judgment on fellow Catholics.

I raised two sons in the church. One ceased to attend when he left home. The other still attends even when he is away. One doesn’t get it and one does. Both had the same catechesis. We need to remind ourselves that we don’t make more Catholics, the Holy Spirit does.
 
Loud-living-dogma said:
Facebook is creepy about privacy issues, such as searching your email files. They collect your info and sell it to 3rd parties. I HATE it that a lot of organizations require us to sign in to Facebook to see their info. Why can’t they just put it on their webpage? Ugh.

Seriously, Duesenberg, you don’t know that Facebook has a lot of “issues” about user privacy?
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I’m a web developer for an e-commerce site. We track everything we can about you. Every one does. Facebook simply can do it on a scale that is similar to Google or Microsoft or Apple. Honestly, I hate FB. But my Catholic Young Adult group uses it, so I use it exclusively for that.

Having said that, we are horrible, as a whole and as parishes, at embracing technology:

Every parish/deanery/diocese needs to have:
  1. Website, backed by a CMS system, allowing parishioners to add content (probably after some sort of review). All major announcements/events need to be on here, probably on the homepage, pretty high up.
  2. Facebook Page (and possibly a group) - All major events and announcements should be done here.
  3. Twitter - For quick announcements, especially for schedule changes.
  4. Slack - This is a communication tool that allows for people to communicate via channels, PMing, or via group messages. This would be great at having normal dialogue while also having a specific channel for youth events and discussions. A parish-level or even deanery-level slack system would be fantastic at allowing people to better talk with each other as individuals while still being able to do general announcements.
 
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Why require people to use FB, or other propriety services that require people to give up privacy?

Why not just do this on the website? You could duplicate info on FB other proprietary platforms if people choose.
 
Did I say a parish/deanery/diocese should only use FB?

I reiterated your point [about having multiple mediums], but the fear of FB is irrational if you don’t also fear Google, Microsoft, or Apple.
 
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When I use Google or Microsoft, do I have to use my name and publicly identify myself?
 
Unless your blocking third party cookies, have an ad-blocker enabled, clear your internet cache constantly, and have a different IP address every single session, Google, Microsoft, and/or Apple are probable tracking you quite easily, name and all.

Almost every site uses Google Analytics, which means Google Analytics is being loaded on almost every page that you load. If you use Gmail or have a Google account, or have an Android device, then Google tracks you that much more easily.

Unless your running a Linux, you have a Windows or a Mac. Which means MS and Apple are both able to track you quite easily. And if you have an iPhone device, then Apple can track you much easier.

If anything, Microsoft will track you the least out of the three. But they still track you.
 
Duesenberg said:
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Loud-living-dogma:
Yes, we do have a personal parish that is EF, but honestly it is in just about the worst part of town. When there is a shooting in our city, it is usually within a few blocks of the EF parish.
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That’s very interesting. One reason why I don’t believe there would be such as thing as an “EF parish.” EF Masses should be celebrated as needed in any old Latin Rite parish church.

It also bring up another point. A cardinal rule of those who carry concealed firearms is to simply avoid dangerous places whenever possible. I would have a tough time attending ANY parish church that I knew was in a dangerous place.
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China is a dangerous place to attend Mass. Syria is a dangerous place to be Catholic, let alone gather for Mass. etc…
The dangers in our American inner cities is somewhat blown out of proportion.
 
Updating the website takes more effort than updating Facebook.

Many parishes have secretaries who are of an older generation, they will be overwhelmed by even WYSIWIG web site maintenance but just about everyone can use Facebook.
 
Okay, but do they (google, Microsoft) publicly identify me? No.
 
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Loud-living-dogma said:
Okay, but do they publicly identify me?
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Yes, they can. Having said that, does that matter? Why is being publicly identified on the Internet so wrong? If you search my name and my city/area, you’ll find me, and be able to contact me. As a Catholic (in various leadership roles at points in my life), that is good, as it’s another way for me to reach others.
 
I just think it’s wrong to have to give yet another private platform my personal info, when I don’t know how they are going to use it, how long they will keep it, etc. in order to see information that DOES NOT BELONG to FB, such as info relating to my parish or diocese.
And, in addition, I would have to publicly identify myself, as well as giving up private info about myself to FB. Why do people not understand this? I don’t get it…
 
The problem is, given a reasonable number of posts, for instance by anyone contributing to this thread, and the fact that they have posted on many other threads, together provide enough “bits” of information that anyone who was so inclined could likely find out way more about you than you think. I’m pretty confident anyone so inclined knows exactly who I am, where I live, what parish I belong to, what my interests are etc etc. I’m pretty sure I could do the same for others.

The OP brings up good points about what could be done. Whether it actually helps depends on the characteristics of those driving the thread, and what “helps” means in context.

Blessings,
Stephie
 
I question whether people truly believe that the Church should “cater” to people, any people. Churches that tend to do that end up being the topic of contentious and pretty harsh threads around here. People should volunteer and educate themselves . Period. There is always a better way to do this because times and demographics shift. The woman with toddlers suddenly find time to help with altar linens when everyone is in grade school or higher. It’s a win. But it doesn’t’ mean that those options were never there in the first place.
Our pastor has begin telling people at the conclusion of Mass that if they are seeking ways to help the parish…they should attend Adoration. Blessings flow from this for ourselves and our parish leadership and membership. Great idea. Push PRAYER. Everything else falls into line.
 
Loud-living-dogma said:
I just think it’s wrong to have to give yet another private platform my personal info, when I don’t know how they are going to use it, how long they will keep it, etc. in order to see information that DOES NOT BELONG to FB, such as info relating to my parish or diocese.

And, in addition, I would have to publicly identify myself, as well as giving up private info about myself to FB. Why do people not understand this? I don’t get it…
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I said we should use multiple mediums, including a website (a modern, responsive, and easy-to-use, and relevant website, which is rare), facebook, twitter, slack, and more. You disagreed with that.

I also pointed out that fear of FB tracking you is irrational if you don’t have the same fear against other tech giants. But that was a side discussion distracting from the main point, which is we should be using every medium we can at our disposal, and technology opens a medium that we aren’t using effectively.
 
Maybe not Facebook but some sort of online media would help. In my early 20s I was in a long distance relationship like many of this age and it wasn’t possible to attend the same parish every week. I know others who have to work weekends. You end up missing out on stuff if it’s only in a paper bulletin and there is no one to contact you during the week with what’s going on.
 
Most parishes publish the bulletin on their website. I would tend to agree that some parish Web sites are pretty -er- lame, but that at least gets you info in a non paper format.

In the spirit of the thread title, an enhancement along these lines, maybe with some sort of auto reminder might be of use.
 
Fair enough, but most bulletins are pitiful at best, even before considering online publishing.

Paper bulletins are nice, but it should really be down to a page - some basic, recurring info (e.g. contact/pastor), and main upcoming events, with most everything pointing to a website (or some digital medium) to read more.

Maybe retain a full-bulletin copy that has a detailed list of everything, but that should only be for people who want those specifically. Of course, most parishes still manually generate each bulletin instead of using a generator of some sort, so that’s one of the inhibitors - you’d need to maintain 2 bulletins AND an online presence using this approach. Ain’t no volunteer(s) got time for that.
 
@Duesenberg is there a requirement that everyone attending Mass has to conform to a certain level of interaction with others? (Rhetorical Question) None of us can gauge where another is at emotionally or psychologically when they are at Mass and especially when surrounded by strangers. Please don’t get nit picky with people if they say they do not come to church to socialize. If others give (the non-socializers) some room, in time they may want to socialize and even make friends. I would be reluctant to socialize with a stranger that seemed like he was scrutinizing me to see if I was “properly interacting” with others… (hint, hint, just sayin)
 
This sounds really bad but I am horrible at knowing peoples names, it’s a flaw in myself in social interactions. When I went to my high school reunion I went with my closest friend…I literally could not remember any of the other names of any of my fellow classmates, they all remembered my name, but I remembered none of theres. Same thing in church. When a priest may say before mass begins to turn and introduce yourself to your neighbor…probably by the time the second reading is over I will have forgotten your name. Also, after mass at coffee hour people will introduce themselves to me but, by the time next week comes around I will most definitely have forgotten their name. Generally speaking I have to do a project with someone for me to remember their name…“Sally” and “Mary” are the ladies I worked with at the school bake sale. And “Maria” is the lady that arranges for the scheduled signups for adoration. But, to expect me to learn and remember a bunch of random strangers names, on a personal level, That’s not going to happen. But, I do smile and say “Hi…you”
 
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