Male involvement in the Church

[Captain_America]

In our parish everything is done by the priest, except Altar and Rosary.

He keeps the decisionmaking to himself and no one bothers him about it. He’s happy this way.

Evangelization? Never!

Groups using the facilities! Hah!

 

[Elizium23]

In our parish everything is done by the priest, except Altar and Rosary.

He keeps the decisionmaking to himself and no one bothers him about it. He’s happy this way.

Evangelization? Never!

Groups using the facilities! Hah!

He sings the whole Mass a cappella? Or does he whip out a guitar?

 

[edward_george]

Hola amigos. I have a few questions for everyone:

1. If you’re a man, how are you involved in your parish and local Catholic community? If you’re a woman, how are the men in your life involved? I am a man. I am a seminarian, and I am involved in my local Catholic community–i.e. the seminary–by going to Lauds, Mass, and Vespers, going to class and conferences, doing associated academic work, going to spiritual direction and formation meetings, and working an apostolic works assignment.
2. In addition to Mass attendance (bare minimum), what particular ministries or Catholic groups/organizations would you like to see more male involvement in? The seminary. We could always use more vocations!
3. Expanding on the above, what opportunities for men are simply lacking in your area? Do you have any ideas for new ministries? See above.
4. Do you have any suggestions for improving the male-oriented groups that currently exist (parish men’s clubs, KofC, etc.) Promoting vocations–a rising tide lifts all boats.
5. Do you have any suggestions for encouraging or motivating men to get involved? Greater vocations promotion–fostering a culture of vocations in the parish by having priests committed to the faith, to prayer, to reverent liturgy, who preach about vocations and invite young men to consider the priesthood.
6. Please add any other points that you think are helpful to this topic. Most of this is offered tongue in cheek, as I read the first question and couldn’t pass it up.

 

[hwriggles4]

As a man, I do find at the parish level if a priest commands a “manly” presence, that more men will step up. I like to hear homilies that are challenging to the congregation, and not the “status quo”. I also don’t like the “oh, I’m afraid to offend people in the congregation.”

As a man, if I feel that the priests assigned to a particular parish are “wimpy”, I will go find another parish, even if it means driving 20-30 miles to attend Mass.

As for personal involvement, I was a Vice-President of a Young Adult Group when I was younger. Today, I am a CCD teacher, and I often ask for junior high, because I feel that the boys in those classes need to see “good men who walk their walk.” Many young boys today have absent fathers, and need a positive male role model. The young boys are also “street smart”, and if a man is being phony, the young boys know that, and if the young boys find a phony, their attention span is lost.

I am also a Knight, and our group helps with landscaping, cooking at the church (i.e. pancake breakfasts and helping with the parish picnic), and does a few other manly things, as well as men’s fellowship.