How can we get more young people to go to Mass?

[jlr247]

I’m 19, and I go to mass. I think some things that they could definitely be doing to encourage attendance with young people are:

-More reverent music (I cannot STAND having that folksy hippy-1975 music that most of the middle-aged folks at my parish like to sing all of the time. I would like some latin.)

-Less “new stuff” pretty much all young Catholics I know dislike when parishes make up their own rules like standing during the consecration

-Some groups to join! My parish has the CWL and KofC, but its mostly 45+ aged people. The only thing I can join is a group half way across the city, which I don’t have transportation to. The parish really just has nothing for people in my age group to get involved in.

-Some more things like stations of the cross nights (only happens like once a year), rosary meetings, a bible study would be nice! (the only bible study we have is at 9AM on Saturdays-that’s it)

-I think the church would do well to have some “small groups” as my protestant friends call them. It’s kind of a small collection of parishoners that meet and study and pray together every so often, so that you feel like you know someone at church. I for one feel like I know nobody at church, because I joined last Easter.

 

[fhansen]

I think in order to get young people to Mass we need to first get them to the Faith. They need to have good answers for why they should believe in the Catholic message. The rest follows from that. It’s definitely time to stop experimenting with some of the nonsense that helped drive me away from the Church years ago. But my returning had entirely to do with coming to see that the Church offered the best explanations for why this world is the way it is.

 

[Rawb]

I’m 19, and I go to mass. I think some things that they could definitely be doing to encourage attendance with young people are:

-More reverent music (I cannot STAND having that folksy hippy-1975 music that most of the middle-aged folks at my parish like to sing all of the time. I would like some latin.)

-Less “new stuff” pretty much all young Catholics I know dislike when parishes make up their own rules like standing during the consecration

-Some groups to join! My parish has the CWL and KofC, but its mostly 45+ aged people. The only thing I can join is a group half way across the city, which I don’t have transportation to. The parish really just has nothing for people in my age group to get involved in.

-Some more things like stations of the cross nights (only happens like once a year), rosary meetings, a bible study would be nice! (the only bible study we have is at 9AM on Saturdays-that’s it)

-I think the church would do well to have some “small groups” as my protestant friends call them. It’s kind of a small collection of parishoners that meet and study and pray together every so often, so that you feel like you know someone at church. I for one feel like I know nobody at church, because I joined last Easter.

Take notes! This is all brilliant. While my Parish does offer quite a bit of extra-sacramental things such as the Rosary before daily Mass, the ongoing Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Bible studies, etc, the Small group idea is brilliant.

I was part of a small group when I was a protestant. It’s sort of like a youth group, but always kept much smaller. They split them up if they get too large. The whole point is to form friendships with the other people in the group, around the commonality of your Faith. It was great, because you noticed these other kids at church, and around town.

Of course, pay extra attention to the “more reverent music” and "no inovating’…

 

[harrisunt]

This obviously applies to young adults and not teenagers but we have Theology on Tap once a month for our area young adults. We get together at a local wing restaurant, share some pitchers of beer, socialize and listen to one of the local priests give a speech on a given topic which changes depending on the priests preference. This Tuesday we are meeting over the topic “It’s Never Too Late to Have a Good Lent”.
I know getting to know others in the community my age makes me a stronger person and makes me want to be a better Catholic.

 

[lak611]

-Some more things like stations of the cross nights (only happens like once a year), rosary meetings, a bible study would be nice! (the only bible study we have is at 9AM on Saturdays-that’s it)

I think you are right about the need to offer programs at times other than in the morning. When I was 19, I was not going to get up early in the morning unless required to for classes. I always went to the Vigil Mass on Saturday. Now, if the church had a program on Saturday night, I would probably have gone, but not Saturday morning.

 

[Scanner]

Scanner,

Your ideas about getting Catholic youth more physically active are interesting, and I certainly think youth should be encouraged to join CYO sports teams, Catholic summer camps, etc.

ElizabethAnne,

Yeah, but I think it has to beyond a “youth group”, sorry. It has to be demanded of every parishioner that they take care of their body, exercise it, and nourish it right because it is God’s creation.

But in the Catholic Church, we very highly value tradition, so I do not think it will work to just start asking confirmation students to carry crosses. Nor would the Church ever make up arbitrary diet rules.

I did realize when I posted this that the Church is based on tradition and not on “creativity.” However, the quesiton is “How do we get more young people to go to Mass?” (the central service/sacrament in Catholicism)

I am offering a suggestion.

Again, I think maybe the question should be rephrased then:

“How can we get youth to embrace Catholicism as it is, without being flexible?”

I don’t know the answer to that.

And I just don’t understand what’s so bad about sitting next to grandma at Mass. I do not get this idea that Mass should be compartimentalized into different age groups. I love seeing young people at Mass, old people, babies, middle-agers. It’s awesome to witness the great diversity of the Church and its universality.

All I am saying is that Catholicism by it’s very nature is a sedentary activity.

And maybe the Church is missing an opportunity with sloth and gluttony running at all time highs in America.

Kids sit on their derriere all week in school. . .sit on their derriere with computer games. . .and then are asked to go sit on their derriere at Mass (with some kneeling and standing inserted in there ).

I am not sure it’s entirely “compatible”, especially with males (sorry to be sexist but I think it’s true).

Also, it’s not important for Mass to be “cool.” Mass is Mass. It reaches far beyond cool. Youth need to understand what it is all about. They need to learn, really learn, about God.

I think we need to learn to worship God with body, mind and soul. I realize this thought runs countercurrent to Western thought - who tend to see things more compartmentalized. You have your spiritual. You have your mental. You have your physical. And the three shall never meet.

It’s not really about being “cool”; it’s about fighting the 7 Capital Sins and reflecting that in the way you worship.

I’ll give a story as an example

One morning a jogger was out running on a Sunday morning. As he ran past a small Catholic Church, he waved at the Priest. The priest waved enthusiastically back:

“C’mon in and exercise your spirit!!!”

The jogger was taken back for a second but then yelled back:

“I am!!!”

The moral of the story? He left Catholicism for Jogging? No. LOL. The moral is the body and spirit are one.

The problems as I see it (take it for what it is worth):

1. The parents. Are they living lives in conformity with Church teaching? Are they taking their children to Mass and teaching them about the faith at home? Are they excited about being Catholic and passing that enthusiasm to the next generation? Not every parent that does everything they can to bring their child into a relationship with God and His Church will be successful, but there is a huge problem with parents not pulling through for their children in terms of passing on the faith.

You see. . .this is kind of what I am saying. No matter how “exciting” it seems to Mom and Dad. . .you will get a “Yeah Mom. . .that’s great” at the thought of sitting in Mass for an hour every Sunday. For a lot of kids, not all.

So, it comes down to this question:

Do the clergy serve the people? Or vice-versa? Hard call.

I guess this may have been the eternal debate that Judas had with Jesus - I am not sure where it was portrayed but Judas said, “First liberate the body, then the spirit.” Jesus took the opposite view as the two enjoyed a close friendship.

1. Prayer. A good friend of mine always says that before anyone can appreciate Mass, they need to know how to pray. IMHO, he could not be more right. When you pray, when you have a relationship with the Almighty, Mass is no longer this boring hour one must sit through. It becomes a conversation with the Creator and worship of Him with all the people gathered in the church, all the Catholics in the world, and all the angels and saints in heaven.

I agree. . .again. . .it’s just a suggestion. . .I realize a way off the cuff one.

I hardly think the Pope will be instituting new sacraments/rites of passage from an internet post

 

[idrum677]

I think the focus should be on Jesus and a relationship with him. Befriend a young person, build a relationship and share your faith with them. I remember listening to an interview with a young man on tv, and he said that he had been to Church for years, but it never meant very much to him. Until one day someone spoke to him about Jesus and he invited Jesus into his heart, now he’s an Evangelical.

You hit the nail on the head Elizabeth. We as Catholics have dropped the ball when it comes to evangelizing and involving out youth. As a former peer leader and youth minister, I’ve been waiting to vent about this for some time.
Go to any parish and see what kind of reception a teen will get; usually an unwelcome glare from an adult and don’t even think about getting youth involved in the Mass other than as alter servers. Kids need to feel like they belong and that there presence is not just required but encouraged.
I fully agree that they need to know that they have a relationship with Jesus and he is central to the Church. He is obviously the most important piece of this whole puzzle on how to evangelize youth. Once they come to know Him, the rest of it comes easliy.
We don’t need rock bands at Mass or watered-down content. Kids know fluff when they see it. Youth centered activities outside of Mass using speakers, witnesses, and more contemporary music really work.
We’ve lost 2 generations already, lets not loose a 3rd. Its time we Catholics wake up before its too late.

:knight2:

 

[idrum677]

Our pastor did not initiate any of the groups himself. Lay people… discerned a need in the parish and decided what would fill it. They then presented the ideas to the pastor who gave permission for the new ministries and organizations. This has been a gradual growth over 20 years from 0 to about 70 things.
What it takes is a pastor who is open to lay participation in the parish and an individual with a good idea and the drive to get it going.

The problem is that more often that not, you either have a pastor who has to be involved/control every aspect of ministry :juggle: (which keeps people from voluntering) of a pastor who is apathetic to anything new and won;t give to go-ahead for anything (which keeps people from voluntering)
You can’t win :banghead:

 

[jlr247]

I think you are right about the need to offer programs at times other than in the morning. When I was 19, I was not going to get up early in the morning unless required to for classes. I always went to the Vigil Mass on Saturday. Now, if the church had a program on Saturday night, I would probably have gone, but not Saturday morning.

Well, I would get up to go, but I work on Saturdays so that I can pay for school.

Another thing that parishes should watch for (I don’t know how often this applies), is that the people running things like bible studies know what they’re talking about. When I was in RCIA, I asked one of the leaders how long Jesus stayed in Egypt (when Joseph had the dream), and she told me I was confused and must be thinking of Moses. This woman is the same one who runs the bible study! I don’t really want to take a bible study from someone who doesn’t know what happens in the gospels.

 

[lak611]

Well, I would get up to go, but I work on Saturdays so that I can pay for school.

Parishes do need to find a time that young people will be able to attend programs, though. College students do not spend all of their time in class or working. However, early mornings tend to be bad because most young people do not like to get up early in the morning. I know I sure didn’t when I was in college!

 

[MDomashinski]

Does your parish have any programs for young adults in their twenties? What can be done to keep them in the Church after college? It seems like I see lots of teens in church, but almost no singles in their twenties.

Many non-Catholic colleges have Newman Associations. They hold retreats, can put college kids in touch with other like-minded practicing Catholic students, have service projects, etc. Having a strong foundation (or at least exposure) to The Word previous to going off on one’s own is necessary, I believe, for the 17-23 crowd to be able to make the leap. It’s a really tough time for many youths. Pray for all of them. God works miracles.

 

[lak611]

Many non-Catholic colleges have Newman Associations. They hold retreats, can put college kids in touch with other like-minded practicing Catholic students, have service projects, etc. Having a strong foundation (or at least exposure) to The Word previous to going off on one’s own is necessary, I believe, for the 17-23 crowd to be able to make the leap. It’s a really tough time for many youths. Pray for all of them. God works miracles.

The Newman Associations are great, but what happens once these young adults graduate? There are few parish programs that are geared toward people from 22-30 who are still single.

 

[idrum677]

The Newman Associations are great, but what happens once these young adults graduate? There are few parish programs that are geared toward people from 22-30 who are still single.

:ehh:
There a few parish programs geared toward anyone in that age group, single or married. There are younger men in my parish that would like to do somthing but aren’t willing to spend all their time with the 70-somthings such as the men’s club or the K of C.
:banghead:

 

[MDomashinski]

For myself, getting through that time immediately after college was returning to my parent’s parish and volunteering with the CYO, there I ran into many of my old h.s. buddies. We chaperoned trips, gave talks on retreats about Catholic life in college, etc. It was a tough time full of temptation but I still felt like there was a place for me in our parish. When I moved out, and out of my parent’s parish, I had already established the need within myself for weekly Eucharist as a primary need for getting my butt to mass every sunday. I started going, but not officially joining, to any local church, not on a regular basis though. I can see what you’re saying about the need there for some kind of young adult fellowship. Through friendships I made at my new job, I ended up substituting church based fellowship, with Catholic Faith based fellowship with my co-workers. This is how I met my husband (married 4.5 years) and expecting our first this Easter Season! I’m out of college now 9 years this May, it seems like just yesterday, and never felt abandoned by my church. At times, like many sinners, I abandoned it. By God’s grace and good will, I’ve been blessed with the kind of Faith that keeps me coming back for a little confession and eucharist when I find myself miserable and astray. Get more young people to go to Mass, 1. Pray for them, 2. Live a Christian life, be an example, a beacon, etc. I am sure I wouldn’t be here if key people in my life hadn’t been or done those things for me. Clergy BTW- serve the people, people serve the Church. The next step, is to get involved with your parish council and start your own young adult fellowship, prayer group, retreat, bible study. Open it to other Parishes in the diocese. Follow St. Newman’s example with college youth. Maybe we just haven’t had that saint come along yet. Maybe it’ll be one of us?