My first two questions are:
- I usually watch EWTN TV programmes including daily mass but wonder why there are only elderly Christians in church. Are there no youth around that church ? Or should l assume that all youth have joined the pentecostal churches?
- Whats the Church’s official position about the Charismatic group within the church. Some Priests support it so much yet others don’t.
Charles Mwamba
Welcome, Charles, the forums
EWTN TV Masses are usually filmed in their chapel or church, which is both a pilgrimage destination, and a tourist destination but I don’t think it is a parish church, attendance does not reflect an average Catholic parish. For the weekday Masses, which of course are filmed before they are aired, most attendees, even in a regular parish, will probably be adults, and often retired people, becaues most youth are in school and adults at work. For weekend Masses, the attendance at EWTN will reflect who the tourists are, and esp. at this time of year, most of them will be retired people. They do quite often have groups of younger people, there for a special reason such as a conference or retreat.
The demographic of the Church in America as a whole is getting younger and more ethnically diverse every year.
Yes the Catholic Charismatic Renewal is alive and well in the US in many parishes and college campus ministries. It is an approved spirituality and attracts many priests and lay people. It is especially popular among Hispanic congregations, but not exclusively found there. A lay spirituality movement called Cursillo which is grounded in charismatic spirituality is still very widespread, especially among Hispanics (the largest and fastest growing ethnic “minority” in the US).
We discuss things related to the Charismatic Renewal on the spirituality forum, and I will try to post some links later today as I am on my way to work now. A visitor to this country who prefers to worship in a charismatic parish should find one to his liking in most large or average size American cities.
