Has the Church ever studied why so many people attend Mass on Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday, Easter morning and Christmas morning?

[Irishmom2]

In case nobody has said it, I’m going to say it:

Easter and Christmas, more people attend because families get together and even non-practicing relatives go because their practicing relatives are going.

Palm Sunday and Ash Wednesday: they give out free stuff.

Don’t forget to pick up your free calendar at Christmas!

 

[Irishmom2]

Our church had lots more people there for mass at Christmas than a typical Sunday. I agree that some people were there because the rest of their family was attending. It was clear that they were unaware of when to sit, stand or kneel. They may not have even been Catholic. I am not sure why it should matter to anyone else why someone else chooses to attend mass when they do. All are welcome.

 

[PeterT]

But we don’t generally share photos as we are not close, I also am a convert and not familiar with Catholic culture. It would not occur to send a photo of something to someone when they were adamantly ANTI it. I sincerely thought they would be offended. Every time I saw them it was an opportunity for them to rant about how awful and terrible the church was. How on earth am I expected to know that this is excluded? I literally had no idea that my aunt was a lapsed Catholic as growing up she never said a word about God or the church and had nothing Catholic in her home. Growing up I never saw photos EVER of children in their First Holy Communion outfits so it was sincerely something I never realised that she would ever want. She was very shocked I became Catholic and told me it was something she had rejected.

Of course I would happily share but how was I supposed to know she would want a photo when she would criticize my and my husband’s faith even when she was guest in our home?

Yeah, don’t worry about it. I agree it would appear surprising to those of us who are not too familiar with first communion social traditions. Live and learn.

 

[Elf01]

I am not sure why it should matter to anyone else why someone else chooses to attend mass when they do.

I think the idea is if we can figure out why those days are such draws we can implement ideas to get people to Mass on other days.

 

[TheLittleLady]

I’ve read many studies, and the one thing that stands out. The most effective way to “get people to Mass” is to invite them to Mass and when they arrive be welcoming/friendly.

For me the way to be welcoming/friendly, I sit with them, show them the missalette, help them get acquainted with the book, get them a bulletin, introduce them to people, tell them about groups they might find interesting, invite them to come again next week even offering to pick them up if need be.

ETA.

Another thing is to notice who is not at Mass. You see some of the same people every week at “your” mass. When someone is not there for a week, not a big deal you figure they are sick, traveling or just went to another Mass that week.

When they are gone for 3 weeks, take notice, give them a call and ask if everything is all right. Offer to at minimum pray with them. Many people need to know they are missed.

 

[Irishmom2]

Irishmom2:

I am not sure why it should matter to anyone else why someone else chooses to attend mass when they do.

I think the idea is if we can figure out why those days are such draws we can implement ideas to get people to Mass on other days.

I just don’t see that happening. The Church does not change its ways to entice more people to come. If the Eucharist is not a reason enough for them to come, I am not sure we need to implement ideas to get them there. Just my two cents.

 

[TheLittleLady]

If the Eucharist is not a reason enough for them to come, I am not sure we need to implement ideas to get them there. Just my two cents.

Evangelization, reaching out, was a central theme of Christ’s teaching while on earth. Remember the parables, like the parable of the 99 sheep in the fold and the Good Shepherd who goes out to seek the one who is lost?

The marriage supper parable, where the Master commands his servants to go out into the highways and byways and bring people in?

Pope St John Paul II reminded us all of our call to the New Evangelization. Notice, he did not call us to the “New Catechesis”, you and I are each called to evangelize others.

There are very good resources here to help every one of us become better evangelists:

http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/how-we-teach/new-evangelization/index.cfm

http://www.usccb.org/about/evangelization-and-catechesis/index.cfm

https://www.wearesaltandlight.org/

 

[Irishmom2]

I think I should have said I am not sure we can implement ways to get them there.

If people attending mass over the years has declined, and I am going to assume that people have been trying to evangelize all along, it hasn’t really worked. That’s why I said I don’t really think it’s something that we can do for people. Their wanting to be there has to come from within themself.

 

[TheLittleLady]

Surveys show:

• 67% of Americans say a personal invitation from a family member would be very or somewhat effective in getting them to visit a church.

https://www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2014/july/power-of-invitation-our-god-pursues-lost-and-so-should-we.html

(There are many surveys out there, some set this as high as 80% who did return did so because of a personal invitation.)

 

[Clare]

I’m more interested in why people that are clearly not regular Mass goers get their children baptised and promise to raise the child in the faith? How can they do this if they don’t attend on a Sunday?

 

[JoeFreedom]

I agree with @exegete (expiation of sins) and @gracepoole (superficial good feeling) and you @brenda (family drags them along). I also agree it is better for them to participate a little than none at all. What bothers me (and this is just a sign of my lack of holiness, temperance, and patience) is that most non-regulars treat the Mass as some kind of fun social event. Easter is sacred and I want to be even more reverent to our Lord but it is hard to do that when everyone is laughing and talking loudly. Each year I think I become better and offer it up, that although I wish I could worship in relative silence and prepare my soul for resurrection of Christ and the Eucharist, I pray for them and for the grace to welcome them in and be joyful God brought them here.

 

[Brendea]

We have learned that on Christmas and Easter we have to arrive nearly half an hour to an hour early to get a seat. We usually have a usual pew we like to sit on most Saturday nights we prefer the Saturday night service at the church 30 minutes away than the Sunday morning service at the church 600meters up the road however we seem to attend mass at both churches regularly (our usual seat is 3 from the front so the kids can see and so there is seats up the front so those who are visiting with family who are not mobile have space at the front) normally there is only 2 or 3 families who sit on this particular side of the church.
Yesterday we had people comming into mass half an hour after it started.
Before mass starts I like to sit in silence and think/pray/meditate/reflect however yesterday everyone was talking so loud ( it doesn’t help I forgot To bring the kids rosaries something ive found helps to keep the kids quiet when everyone else is being loud)
I wish those visiting would 1 arrive on time and 2 to please be quiet so those around them can use the silence before mass starts there’s no better place to pray than in front of the tabernacle.

I also get slightly embarrassed when Mr 6 says to loud people around us see the red light on up there. It means jesus is in the box( tabernacle) so we must be very very quiet and behave while we are visiting him.

 

[prayerrider]

10:30 AM Mass today was overflowing.
When I left I walked past the priest outside and said, “Thank you Father. See you at Christmas!”
He smiled kind of wryly so I quickly added, “Just kidding!”
Lol I’m such a card!

 

[Phemie]

I know my children will come with me to Midnight Mass at Christmas when they don’t believe, don’t darken the Church doors for 364 days of the year, and even proclaim themselves to be atheists. It’s all about nostalgia, not faith.

 

[prayerrider]

I try to treat all the irreverent noise as a mortification. What else can I do? Even today, some people were out of their pews and socializing before the Processional was all the way down the aisle. I just do my best to tune it out .

 

[Diaconia]

I don’t think there has ever been much systematic study of this, but rather, just anecdotal.

Most clergy and parishes know why people go irregularly, as have been mentioned throughout the thread (cultural reasons, going with family they are visiting, fond memories, get something special at Mass [ashes, palms, throat blessing, calendar]).

Studying it in a scientific fashion would be difficult - asking those attending to fill out a card would take more time than people would tolerate, and the responses by those who attend occasionally would likely not be terribly honest.

It is what it is, other religions have the same issue: lots of Jews attend on the High Holy Days, and rarely ever during the rest of the year. Protestants have swelled numbers at Christmas and Easter. The same is true of Orthodox Christians. More Muslims go to mosque during Ramadan, etc.

Better to have them with us than not, and scolding them (even if they incorrectly perceive they are being scolded), does not bring them back any sooner.

The laborer who worked just an hour received the same wage as the one who worked all day - Jesus is full of mercy.

Many Catholics become more engaged as they approach death. Let’s all pray for those who come to Church rarely.

Deacon Christopher

 

[Exegete]

I don’t think there has ever been much systematic study of this, but rather, just anecdotal.

I suspect you are right and that absolutely stuns me…

There are ways to study this phenomenon. I suspect most techniques would not be familiar to the average pastor/bishop however.

 

[YourNameHere]

I guess because they are too lazy to attend Mass on a weekly basis.
Perhaps they just want to hit the big Masses.