I’ve noticed, quite honestly ever since I moved here to Douglasville, Georgia four years ago, that I have issues with my parish. For one, most of the parishioners are hypocrites (or at least in my opinion), based by the fact that act like Catholics when the rest of us pay attention, but backstab others and do other un-Catholic type things. Another thing I’ve had issues with is how our parish has become after getting two new priests. During their first few weeks, my parish removed families that “did not give time, talent or money to the parish”. This makes me angry, simply because some families cannot offer anything of those things.
So I need advice. What should I do? I am a youth of the parish, so my voice doesn’t really make an impact.
What do you mean by “removed” families that did not give time, talent, or treasure? Are you talking about families that never show up for Mass or anything and they removed them from the parish registry? Did they tell them they can’t come to Mass? (Which is a most unlikely thing to happen). What exactly happened?
My parish is a Stewardship parish and people are asked to sign a Stewardship Time, Talent, and Treasure form. If a family cannot afford anything, that is ok, but they need to sign the form anyway and return it. This lets the parish know they are active parishoners, even if they can’t afford anything or contribute any time. No one calls them and tells them they must give or join something, but they have some sort of record of active parishoners. Now if they don’t sign, that doesn’t mean they are prevented from attending Mass or can’t go to parish functions, but they will not receive tuition discounts for the school, won’t receive the parish mailings, and it may affect whether they can be married in the parish, or have to pay more tuition costs for CCD, etc. They would be charged non-parishoner rates for renting the church and the hall, etc. The important thing is to return the form, even if nothing is pledged. They understand not everyone can give or contribute.
But if someone hasn’t been to Mass in years, never sets foot in the Church, why should they remain on the parish rolls as an active parishoner? I think if you inquire about this, you may find that these mostly are the people they have removed from the registration. Why don’t you ask the priests and find out for sure, rather than assume anything.
Also, people are human, and in every church on this earth you will find those who exhibit less than Christian behavior, and almost every one of us does that at one time or another. When you see such behavior, pray for them. If someone wants to gossip, refuse to listen to it. Set an example. You are young, and things may upset you more now because you are more idealistic, but as you grow older and have more life experience, you will learn how to deal with it and accept the faults of others without becoming unduly upset. You will learn how to let things roll off your back, and distinguish what is important enough for you to be concerned about and try to do something, or just ignore it. The important thing is how you act, the example you set for others, because that speaks louder than words.
I hope you can make your parish experience a good one for yourself. A lot of that is up to you. Try to find the good things and be more positive, that will help a lot. There is no perfect parish.
