It Will Be Like Pulling Teeth

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WillyAL

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My wife and I are scheduled to be greeters at the Holy Thursday Mass this evening. I have been informed that we will be expected to line up twelve people to have their feet washed. The crowd at this Mass is typically very sparse so my wife and I will likely be two of the “washees.” Finding even ten more willing participants will be pretty difficult. This seems to be the one thing that no one wants to volunteer for. Even when asked directly, it’s been my experience that the majority of folks will just flat out refuse, and they don’t want to hear any attempts at persuasion.

Any suggestions on how to convince people to participate?
 
That’s really unfortunate. Too bad the pastor didn’t preselect people for this. You might want to suggest that going forward. That the pastor could select people who, for example, participate in different ministries in the church.

But you’re in a pickle tonight. If there are some people you know, remind them that this is an honor and not a duty like cleaning up after the donut gathering.

If all else fails, there’s old fashioned Catholic guilt on your side. 👍
 
WillyAL said:
My wife and I are scheduled to be greeters at the Holy Thursday Mass this evening. I have been informed that we will be expected to line up twelve people to have their feet washed. The crowd at this Mass is typically very sparse so my wife and I will likely be two of the “washees.” Finding even ten more willing participants will be pretty difficult. This seems to be the one thing that no one wants to volunteer for. Even when asked directly, it’s been my experience that the majority of folks will just flat out refuse, and they don’t want to hear any attempts at persuasion.

Any suggestions on how to convince people to participate?
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This should have been prepared for weeks ago, say with a signup sheet. Rounding up people for the Washing of the Feet is not the way to go.

The best thing to do in this case is to cancel the ritual.
 
I agree with the other responses…maybe they should have pre-selected 12 people for the foot washing. I guess all you can do is ask people as they come through the door and hope they agree.

I would absolutely say “yes” if I was asked prior to the Mass. I think it is an honor.
 
I’ve never heard of the 12 people being selected at random from attendees as they come in like this.

I agree with others in the thread who stated that it should have been arranged long before this. OP, don’t let the guilt be taken upon yourself if you fail to be successful, since it isn’t your responsibility in the first place.
 
If you want to train you Pet to perform tricks ,
You reward them with a treat,
Maybe you need to think along these lines,
Box of Chocolates , or free Coffee &. Cookies ,
Or perhaps free Rosery,
Once they see how rewarding it is…they won’t need to ask to help,
 
Or again, make it easy for everyone.

Cancel the Washing of the Feet. It is an optional rite and no one should have to be pressured into making it happen. Not Father, not the ushers, and certainly not attendees.
 
Explain that we need people for the washing of the feet, that you can’t start the mass until you have 12 people. Explain it like you explained to us that few people are willing to do it, that you’d be especially grateful for volunteers, that it would help you as much as helping out with cleaning the church or any of the other ministries.
 
porthos11 said:
Or again, make it easy for everyone.

Cancel the Washing of the Feet. It is an optional rite and no one should have to be pressured into making it happen. Not Father, not the ushers, and certainly not attendees.
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Whether or not to have the washing of the feet is not up to the OP. It is up to the priest.

It is unfortunate that the parish didn’t have a better plan. We began identifying volunteers three weeks ago.

The best advice for the OP is to get there early, approach people who are not wearing clothing or footwear that will make it difficult to participate (boots, for example), and be positive. Don’t allude to being “drafted”, don’t say things like, “you probably don’t want to… But…” Just be positive. “Hi John, can I count on you to participate in the washing of the feet tonight?”
 
Hmmm, I’m wondering if this task has been pushed on the greeters because somebody else didn’t want to have to ask for volunteers :hmmm: Anyway, I agree with others that this should have been planned well in advance. At least you should have been given some advance notice so that you could have called people on the phone. Even the altar servers in our parish are given advanced notice so that they can be prepared. (only altar servers get their feet washed in our parish). If you can’t get twelve to volunteer, oh well 🤷
 
Its pretty late, and if the OP is in the central or eastern time zones, the event is already well underway.

However, recruiting students at the parish high school was always a good way to get volunteers. Although you’d probably need a little bit more lead time than the OP had.
 
I hate to say it, but this definitely poor planning on the part of the pastor. People should have been asked or selected at least a week or two in advance. Be sure to mention this as a suggestion to your pastor for next year!
 
zab said:
Hmmm, I’m wondering if this task has been pushed on the greeters because somebody else didn’t want to have to ask for volunteers :hmmm:
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That was my thought, too! 👍

In any case (the Mass having already taken place), one thing to keep in mind, in addition to the optionality of the rite: there doesn’t have to be 12 people. There can be 10 or 14 or 6 or 2. 😉
 
Gorgias said:
That was my thought, too! 👍

In any case (the Mass having already taken place), one thing to keep in mind, in addition to the optionality of the rite: there doesn’t have to be 12 people. There can be 10 or 14 or 6 or 2. 😉
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Yes, one year one of our volunteers didn’t make it to mass, so we had 11. Our priest, from another country and very quiet, not prone to extemporaneous comments washed the 11 and then said “Judas left early” when he got to the empty chair. Such a funny little wry comment, the priest making the best of it.
 
Hmm. Our former pastor simply omitted the foot-washing every year, and our current pastor tried to recruit at the door. He asked my and my daughters, but we all had on tights / hose. Ha ha, not going to work too well.
I kind of just wish the current pastor would just leave it out as well.
 
How strange. Am I the only one at a parish where people voluntarily line up for feet washing, not having been pre-selected? Probably 50 people took part last night. I was hoping to myself but my 7-year-old was terrified and as much as I tried to coax her, she pleaded with me to stay with her in the pew.

I do, however, wonder if folks sometimes refuse not just because they’re uncomfortable with it but because they struggle physically with it. It can be quite an ordeal for those who are older or in some way physically disabled. And for some, they may have foot-related ailments that they don’t wish to expose to the parish. Totally understandable.
 
OP here.

Thanks to everyone for your thoughts. I agree that this should have been sorted out well in advance. Happily, things worked out just fine. I got there early in order to find some agreeable looking people with easily removable footwear. One of the first to arrive was a friend of mine who works as a salesman. This guy can sell anything to anyone. He readily agreed to participate. “Great,” I said. “One down and only eleven more to go.” He responded, “Oh, you need more? Don’t worry, I’ll get them for you.” Within ten minutes he “sold” eleven more people on the idea that, in addition to being an honor, it would be great fun to have Father wash their feet. When word got around we actually had to turn a few folks away!

All’s well that ends well.
 
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