Parish Dos and Don'ts from Millennials

[Usige]

I tend to think whenever anybody starts complaining about “fiefdoms” held by “previous generations”, what they really mean is that Younger Person just got there and wants to make a lot of changes/ improvements that Older Person who’s been there for 30 years doesn’t really want to make, so all of a sudden it’s an “Older Generation Fiefdom” sort of thing rather than just the younger person realizing they don’t get their own way all the time and sometimes you need to be charitable and let the other person who’s been doing it for 30 years just keep on doing.

That might be true to a point, but I have seen places where older parishioners have made it clear that younger people need to “wait their turn”. These “younger” people were in their 30s and 40s; many having volunteered for 5+ years in the ministry.

There is a huge risk of people saying I’ve kept this going for 30 years and then finally wanting to pass it on only to find they’ve chased everyone away. People volunteer because they want to help, not simply to follow orders. If they cannot internalize a connection because it is only someone else’s vision, then the ministry will live as long as those holding the reins and will pass away with them.

 

[puppson]

Yes the 8 AM masses are primarily for retirees. I know of only two parishes that offer noon, late afternoon or evening weekday masses. One is the diocesan cathedral and the other is FSSP.

Ditto for confessions. Almost all on Saturday afternoons for an hour.

 

[Peeps]

In regards to daily Mass times–

Many of us work in hospitals. Our city’s hospitals are the biggest employers in the area—thousands of people are employed by them, and also at the many clinics in the area.

And what time do hospitals begin their 1st shift?

7:00 a.m.

And many of the clinics start the workday at 7:00 a.m. as well.

And what does this mean for daily Mass? Obviously an 8:00 a.m. or 8:30 a.m. Mass is out for all of us.

But…so is a 6:30 a.m. Mass. Even if it lasts only 15 minutes, that still leaves just 15 minutes to dash out to the car, drive to the hospital (and only one of the hospitals has a Catholic Church right across the street!), and dash inside to punch in!

Even a 6:00 a.m. Mass would give enough time for those of us who don’t have to bring little ones to a daycare, or get school aged children ready for school (hopefully there is a spouse who does not work the same hours and can be home for the kiddos).

And for that matter, the other big employers in our city are the factories that are still open (and more have opened or re-opened in the last 2 years!), and what time does their 1st shift start?

7:00 a.m.

So here’s my theory–the local churches/diocese are either completely clueless about real people in their cities, or they really don’t want anyone at their daily morning Masses except retired people.

I really hope some bishops get hold of this post and think it over. To those of us who work a first shift, 6:00 is not too early at all! Heck, I’m planning to go in to work at 5:30 a.m. this morning because of the workload!

In case anyone is wondering, I do go to morning daily Mass when I have my day off work.

 

[LawyersGunsAndMoney]

There’s also the priest shortage to consider. A lot of priests have commitments in the evening: masses, parish council, meeting with engaged couples, etc. Priests gotta sleep too. If the same priest who is going to say daily mass at 530 is going to have a parish council meeting at 7 pm, that’s pretty brutal.

Honestly, there’s probably no way to time daily mass so everyone is happy, at least without 3x more priests.

 

[goout]

The main fail of the modern “youth” movement is patronization. Young people don’t want to be patronized or pandered to. The want the real Catholic Church, including it’s intellectual and liturgical tradition.
They are capable. They need baby boomers to quit apologizing for the Church’s traditions and Tradition.

Given the attempt to water down what it means to be Catholic, what compelling reason have we given young people to be Catholic?

 

[tafan2]

I disagree, at least in urban areas where each parish as at least one priest. Not for every single person, but for a lot more than just old retired people and stay at home moms. It simply takes coordination of the various parishes and a little but of understanding by the 830am crowd.

 

[Erikaspirit16]

A good article with a good list. If a parish actually followed the suggestions they would be in good shape. I’ve occasionally posted my own top 10 things parishes could do. I brought my list to a deacon a couple years ago and his reply was that the pastor was only interested in one thing: money to pay off the mortgage. Of course by getting more people involved, they would presumably get more money! But never mind that.

One comment on the “fiefdoms.” I agree 100%. A little story from 20+ years ago: At a large parish, the pastor announced that they would be having elections for the parish council, and that the information was posted. So, me being me, I investigated. Was the information posted in the bulletin? No. Was it in a display or paper at the back of the church? No. Was in in the parish office? No. So where was it? It was in a different building, next door to the church, and in a hallway bulletin board in the basement. Other than a few stray rats, I’m not sure who would go down there. So, as an experiment, I took the information and applied to be on the council. Since there were no other candidates (in a parish of 2,000+), I was appointed to the council. I came to the first meeting early and sat at a table in the middle. The other council members arrived and studiously ignored me. NOT ONE said hello, or “Who are you?” or anything. The pastor eventually showed up and also ignored me. Eventually, in the middle of the meeting, I stood up, announced that clearly I was not welcome there, resigned on the spot, and walked out. Fiefdom indeed.

 

[phil19034]

There’s also the priest shortage to consider. A lot of priests have commitments in the evening: masses, parish council, meeting with engaged couples, etc. Priests gotta sleep too. If the same priest who is going to say daily mass at 530 is going to have a parish council meeting at 7 pm, that’s pretty brutal.

Honestly, there’s probably no way to time daily mass so everyone is happy, at least without 3x more priests.

I think this is why there is a growing number of Parishes that shift the daily on at least one day to be an evening daily mass.

For example:

• Mon to Thursday at 7:15 AM, Friday at 6:30 PM
• Mon, Tue, Thr, Fri at 7:15 AM, Wed at 7PM

The way I see it, I would rather have 50 people be able to attend daily mass at least once a week than have 25 who can attend at the same time every day.

 

[blackforest]

Do Catholic hospitals offer a daily Mass in the chapel? It might make a nice “lunch” break for employees.

Then again, with large corporations from the medical-industrial complex eating them up and belching loudly, Catholic hospitals are scarcely Catholic anymore . . .

 

[phil19034]

Do Catholic hospitals offer a daily Mass in the chapel? It might make a nice “lunch” break for employees.

Then again, with large corporations from the medical-industrial complex eating them up and belching loudly, Catholic hospitals are scarcely Catholic anymore . . .

Some do, some don’t

Depends on whether they have a full time priest Chaplain

 

[Peeps]

Do Catholic hospitals offer a daily Mass in the chapel? It might make a nice “lunch” break for employees.

Then again, with large corporations from the medical-industrial complex eating them up and belching loudly, Catholic hospitals are scarcely Catholic anymore . . .

The Catholic hospital in our city offers prayer times, and has chapels on every floor. I don’t know about daily Mass, but there is definitely Sunday Mass, and I know people who attend it even though they don’t work in the hospital! It’s perfect because it’s fast and short, and for people who have issues with sitting still for a long time (e.g., those with toddlers, or those with physical impairments), it’s perfect!

My husband recently had surgery and spend a few days in the Catholic hospital–what a blessing! He said he would like to be sick again so he could go back! I have to admit, it was awfully nice to hear the prayers on the overhead, to see the pictures of the Lord Jesus and other pieces of religious art, and to have my husband’s doctor pray with him before the surgery!

At my secular hospital, I’m pretty certain that any “overt” religious symbols, such as the picture of Jesus that used to hang in every hospital room, have been removed so as not to “offend”. Sigh.

 

[Wendy1989]

I could go for VBS for adults. With appropriate snacks and beverages. And I’m not a GenXer!

 

[redbetta]

I wish parishes would hold summer lecture series by various experts for us nerdier Catholic. Most talks I’ve seen advertised at parishes are more spiritual and less academic.

 

[Elf01]

I wish parishes would hold summer lecture series by various experts for us nerdier Catholic. Most talks I’ve seen advertised at parishes are more spiritual and less academic.

Having regular talks by people of the calibar of CA apologists would be amazing.

 

[Wendy1989]

I would be happy with ‘pub’ discussions. Something akin to what Chesterton, Tolkien and Lewis would have on occasion.

 

[blackforest]

Bummer you don’t go to my parish! My priest is sharp as a whip and gives great, intellectually meaty adult ed lectures, even over the summer. He offers them once a week, but twice on that day - a.m. for the retirees and late evening for the rest of us . . and the retirees.

There a time and a place for the touchy-feelies, but I do agree with you. Catholics need a stronger, headier theological foundation. I can get my kumbaya fix at any of my area mega-churches.

 

[Elf01]

I would be happy with ‘pub’ discussions. Something akin to what Chesterton, Tolkien and Lewis would have on occasion.

They can be great, but difficult to get right.

You need enough people to discuss but few enough that everyone has a chance to speak. You don’'t want the discussion hogged by one or two people, and then they may have unorthodox opinions or simply lack knowledge in the area being discussed.

Having someone come to speak (at least to me) makes their opinions more ‘official’.

On saying that if I’m set on something my mind is not easily changed. We had a guest speaker last year who did not believe that the infancy narratives were historical. I reserved my right to respectfully disagree with that, to be fair he did say I am not the Magesterim and you are free to disagree with me.

 

[Peeps]

I could go for VBS for adults. With appropriate snacks and beverages. And I’m not a GenXer!

This is kind of like what our Parish Mission is, although the snacks are usually just “coffee,” not koolaid and goldfish crackers!

 

[PeterT]

PeterT:

At our parish the 6:45 AM Mass might be moved back to 7:30 AM to see if that Mass time appeal more to today’s Catholic workforce. Clearly our 6:45 AM Mass doesn’t. The other alternative would be to offer a 12 Noon or 12:15 PM lunchtime Mass or an after work 5:30 PM Mass that might appeal to the nearby working Catholics.

Even though I’m on the East Coast, I’m never awake at 6:45 am. I’m 41 years old, and I just don’t wake up that early.

7:30 might work, but depends on how the rush hour commute is by your parish. Do ppl drive to work or take a train? If they take train, is the parish close to train station and is there a train time that gets them to downtown before 9am? If everyone drives, how long of a drive is it to get downtown from the parish?

Personally, think more Parishes need to try an evening daily Mass, even if just once or twice a week.

Lunchtime mass only works (in my opinion) if the parish is located where a lot of jobs are located.

God Bless

That’s our parish. Thousands of workers are within an easy 10 minute drive of the church. Hence the idea a lunchtime Mass and also a 7:30 AM Mass for workers who would like to attend a Mass before they head off to work (who work less than 15 minutes away from the church).

We do offer a noontime Mass on Ash Wednesday. It’s very well attended by those who work nearby.

 

[poche]

Some of this is not new. I remember hearing how over 50 years ago the priests in our parish were promoting daily mass and the benefits of going to daily mass. That was until someone pointed out to them that the daily mass schedule conflicted with most of the parishioners’ work schedules. They were asked to please change the daily mass schedule or stop promoting daily mass. They stopped promoting daily mass.