Concrete ways to better your Parish (an experience thread for those who need inspiration)

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Xanthippe_Voorhees

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Many people come here with complaints about liturgy (everything from Priestly no-no’s to music to other parishioners) or Parish life or catechetics.

I wanted to create a thread for those of us who are in the thick of it, or acted in a way to facilitate better Parish Life.

This is not a gripe thread, but rather a place to discuss how you, as laity, employee, priest, deacon or sister, has improved the parish and to provide support to those who’d like to do something similar.

For instance, as a Master’s student, I was required to write a marketing plan to help an org through a change. This was supposed to be fictitious, but I received special permission from my professor to help my parish.

Father needed help “selling” the idea of whole community (family) catechesis over the “tried and true” (worthless by it’s fruit) CCD. Issues he hoped to address were:
-Poor Mass Attendance by students
-Dropoff rate of 2nd and 10th graders. (2nd grade was 3x first, and 3rd was 1.5x first grade attendance)
-Influx of 2nd and 9th graders
-Parental ignorance
-CCD Teacher burnout
-Poor materials that left kids confused
-Complaints about mediocre Mass music

So, what we did was to first change up the music for masses, creating 4 distinct sounds. The parish LOVED it. Then a new curriculum was purchased. Parents were invited into the classrooms and encouraged to attend (with a meal provided) and CCD was changed to after Mass. Requirements for the reception of sacraments were changed to not simply address attendance but knowledge. Tied confirmation options in with the Youth Group.

And we “sold” this to the parish.

Almost 4 years out, the parish is a changed place. There is very little fall out after 2nd grade and most confirmed stay with the youth group until college. With less volunteer burnout in CCD, more lively teens, the parish has now extended several ministries, including groups for parents of young children, community clean-up events and “classes” for the elderly like “how to avoid scams” or “safety on the internet”.

So how have YOU changed your parish? (even if you no longer live there)

At my current parish, I’m working with Fr. to develop a monthly after Mass brown bag for study and fellowship.
 
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This is awesome!
There is a lot of change going on in my diocese as we have a new Bishop after 33 years. The rumor is we will be going to a diocesan wide family catechesis program.
I think its a great idea, but then, I have no children, so it does not affect me.
 
Oneofthewomen said:
This is awesome!
There is a lot of change going on in my diocese as we have a new Bishop after 33 years. The rumor is we will be going to a diocesan wide family catechesis program.
I think its a great idea, but then, I have no children, so it does not affect me.
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There’s now “whole Community” that is open to Adult catechesis for those without children or who have adult children…Fr. just started this fall. I moved away so I don’t get to talk to him much but via facebook announcements, it’s going gangbusters because he’s requested volunteers to lead a second class. Perhaps you’ll have a place in your diocese soon!
 
That is really cool. It wouldn’t fly in my neck of the woods (extremely hostile to solicitation) but in places where missionaries are frequent, that’d be great.
 
I’d imagine.

Although you’re right. It’s VERY needed. I left my previous parish for a couple of reasons and went right to another. I’d been a parishioner for many years, attended every week, volunteered countless hours and was really a part of parish life. It boiled down to a few things Fr. failed to correct (he liked babies to be 3 mo when baptizing, no younger…told me 5 weeks was “too early” to baptize 🤬 ) and a health issue with incense (partially his fault).

It’s been about 6 months and the only thing I’ve gotten from the previous parish was 3 letters asking for more money for 3 different “capital campaigns.” I could not have been more turned off to the parish if they’d literally slapped me in the face. How much better would it be to see a loving face! God Bless your work!

I really wish someone cared about me not being there, but it is apparently not so. But God has better plans…it has been made very clear I am where God wants and God has laid opportunities before me that really amaze me.
 
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Since this thread is on liturgy, one change we made a few years ago is introduction of some Latin during Lent so that when we met as one Community on certain Masses, we could share a common language. We are about one third English speakers, one third Spanish and one third bi-lingual.

Also, periodically I will canvas parishioners on what hymns they like, dislike or would like to add.
 
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I agreed. I fought with him to have her baptized at 5 weeks. He was of the opinion that babies too young cry and he can’t focus. I knew the secretary from knitting group and the knight who was in charge of unlocking from parish dinners. They helped force his hand for my little one. I did print out the CCC for him on “Baptism as soon as possible” but he would not change his ways.

I chose to change parishes rather than take it up with the Bishop. I prayed about it quite a bit and felt that the sort of penalties he might put on the priest would likely be more harmful than helpful. It was not easy.

And I think that’s the difference. Because of Lifeteen I understood enough about the Church to understand how universal it was and that if something wasn’t right then search out a parish that was. Not because of feelings, but because of love for the faith.
 
I would think that “whole family” catechesis programs would be better developed as “whole parish” programs, so that they would be helpful and applicable to those who have children as well as those who don’t. If “whole family” programs are only reiterating what the children are learning, then it would not be particularly attractive to most parents that I know. We want adult-level ongoing catechesis.
 
babochka said:
I would think that “whole family” catechesis programs would be better developed as “whole parish” programs, so that they would be helpful and applicable to those who have children as well as those who don’t. If “whole family” programs are only reiterating what the children are learning, then it would not be particularly attractive to most parents that I know. We want adult-level ongoing catechesis.
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With the parish I helped with they started with “whole family” and moved on to “whole community” The parents did always learn on a different level post First Communion. Many needed the basics as they had not attended until they had a cute little 2nd grader that they wanted 1st Communion pictures of.

They are now moving to whole community because they have enough fervor in the parish that it is desired. Some parishes may be able to handle an initial roll-out of whole community, but with veritas in play and burned out CCD volunteers it’s less likely. Seeing happen organically, like at the parish I helped with, seems to be the best method.
 
Whole family catechesis is the new “hot” thing in parishes right now.
The notion is to help PARENTS teach their kids, with the parish assisting
which is how it’s supposed to be. The fact is, parents are so poorly catechized, they end up loving it.
 
Pick up a copy of “Forming Intentional Disciples”, read it and then give it to someone else. Get the study guide and begin a group study.

Pick up “Building a Parish of Intentional Disciples” and keep going.

Put an extra $5 in the plate each week.

Invite someone to Mass.
 
I like what Deacon Jeff said, and that Intentional Disciples book is awesome.
I highly recommend it.
At the end of the day though, when the pews are filled with people striving to be holy int he ways that Deacon recommends, All will be well.

Thanks Julian of Norwich! 😉✝️
 
pnewton said:
Since this thread is on liturgy, one change we made a few years ago is introduction of some Latin during Lent so that when we met as one Community on certain Masses, we could share a common language. We are about one third English speakers, one third Spanish and one third bi-lingual.
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As a Canadian visitor to Arizona, I appreciated one parish’s Spanish/English pew missal. I could find and keep my place on the English side, and do my best reading the corresponding Spanish on the opposite side.

My parish at home includes Latin as well especially in Lent.
 
Our parish recently changed the way people go up to communion, which is hard to explain without diagrams, but it has made things much less congested.

For my own part, I like what the bulletin says, “Before Mass, talk to God, After Mass, talk to each other” or something to that effect, so I try to model that. And there’s nothing hurtful about a cheerful smile. I love smiling at people, especially when I enter the building. The gentleman who organizes the collection bags has taken to returning the smile beautifully. I know that is terribly simplistic and unspiritual, but I remember when I first went to a Mass and no one would even make eye contact, let alone smile, and it does discourage.
 
I’m fairly new to this small town. Comparing the local population numbers with the number of families at mass I feel there must be need for some kind of outreach and on one occasion I (very) delicately hinted to the pastoral council. I do understand there could be reservations about proselytizing. There is an active ministerial association among the Christian churches.

I wouldn’t be comfortable either, but with leadership like you have, I would just do it! Meanwhile, praying and watching for the opening.

“How to” might make for good new topic.
 
Xanthippe_Voorhees said:
Parents were invited into the classrooms and encouraged to attend (with a meal provided) and CCD was changed to after Mass. Requirements for the reception of sacraments were changed to not simply address attendance but knowledge. Tied confirmation options in with the Youth Group.
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I too am on the front lines. I am the Asst DRE at a large parish. We are always trying to improve and invigorate. In my 14 years, we are on our 3rd curriculum. Besides a “traditional” program, we are also able to offer the Montessori based Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. For a few years we offered a “whole family” option but that petered out.

We would love to have the parents more involved, but space is a crunch for us. We offer class at three times on Sunday (between the Masses) and once on Wednesday evening - in addition RCIA and RCIC is on Thursday nights. Most of our classes are full at 20 kids and some are maxed out at 24. We could not get another butt in another seat. For sacraments, parents attend two 1st HC parent meetings as well as the two retreats and Confirmation parents attend four meetings.

We are a fairly vibrant parish, though most students do not attend Mass. This past July our parish had a priestly staff overhaul from four older (average age of 81) Jesuits to three diocesan priests.
 
People love that Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. Lots of good training for the teachers available which is the key!
 
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