What would it take for catholics to Attend Mass Weekly?

[MartyrForJesus]

A lot of Filipinos go to Mass because they see it as the Filipino thing to do.

That can also have a bad side effect however. View this video for example: Irish 'Catholics"

A lot of those Catholics go to Mass simply because it’s a ‘family’ or ‘cultural’ tradition, not because they actually believe. I think this is a similar attitude that an Irish Bishop recently condemned, people only having their kids confirmed for example because it’s ‘part of their identity’, not because they actually believe in the Church’s teachings. Here is the link if you are interested: (Irish) Archbishop urges lapsed Catholics to leave the faith

God Bless.

 

[saveusfromhell]

That can also have a bad side effect however. View this video for example: Irish 'Catholics"

A lot of those Catholics go to Mass simply because it’s a ‘family’ or ‘cultural’ tradition, not because they actually believe. I think this is a similar attitude that an Irish Bishop recently condemned, people only having their kids confirmed for example because it’s ‘part of their identity’, not because they actually believe in the Church’s teachings. Here is the link if you are interested: (Irish) Archbishop urges lapsed Catholics to leave the faith

God Bless.

no surprise in that rctv clip. the first man who said the church has changed it’s teachings and you don’t have to go to mass would be a common held belief

 

[MartyrForJesus]

no surprise in that rctv clip. the first man who said the church has changed it’s teachings and you don’t have to go to mass would be a common held belief

Yeah it’s pretty upsetting.

 

[Kerry77]

since mass attendance has dropped dramatically in the USA (and other countries) what are some practical suggestions that could INCREASE regular, weekly mass attendance?

I haven’t read all of the responses yet, so excuse me if this has been said before. But telling people it is a mortal sin to miss Mass would be a good place to start (and end). Maybe on Christmas Eve when all of the tourists come.

 

[Kerry77]

That can also have a bad side effect however. View this video for example: Irish 'Catholics"

A lot of those Catholics go to Mass simply because it’s a ‘family’ or ‘cultural’ tradition, not because they actually believe. I think this is a similar attitude that an Irish Bishop recently condemned, people only having their kids confirmed for example because it’s ‘part of their identity’, not because they actually believe in the Church’s teachings. Here is the link if you are interested: (Irish) Archbishop urges lapsed Catholics to leave the faith

God Bless.

I agree with that archbishop. Good for him.

As for America, I don’t know any “Irish Catholics” so that is moot. I know some Irish-Americans.

 

[Kerry77]

I don’t think the TLM is the answer for this problem, although I do believe they should be more widely available. JMHO. I do think more reverent Ordinary Form Masses would help though.

 

[jpjd]

What it takes for Catholics to attend Mass weekly is for people to TRULY BELIEVE in the Lord and to HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM; and whatever liturgies, prayers, programs and activities the parish can offer to cultivate and nurture such a belief and relationship, is what the parish needs to do.

If a person has a strong relationship with the Lord, they make Mass a priority in their lives. They don’t look for loopholes. They would rather be at Mass than be sleeping late, be at a ball game, etc. They WANT to be, and prefer to be, with the Lord through the Eucharist.

 

[thomas_jd]

The primary responsibility of Mass attendance is the parents. As the parent goes so does the child. You always lead by example and pray for those that have fallen away.

 

[mburn16]

For all of you advocating the return of the TLM -

How many devout, faithful Catholics do you know who stay away from mass because of the lack of Latin in the mass?

Tradition is fine, but don’t get lost in Nostalgia, thinking that if we only went back to holding the mass in a language nobody understood, we would be just fine. Thats not going to work. Period. The Latin mass would attract some people, certainly, but it would also turn off others. People like a religious service in which they can participate, and which they can clearly understand. Neither of these elements is particularly strong in the TLM.

If you asked me to describe my ideal liturgy, it would probably end up being a halfway point between the TLM and the NO…but again, I do not think the liturgy is the primary problem, since faiths with both more ritual/tradition and less are both doing better than the RCC.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

Rather than suppose and speculate how about just asking them. You know get a list of the registered parishioners from the parish and a solid list of who attends on a week to week basis. Then go door to door and ask them why. I don’t see any use in asking a bunch of people who probably attend weekly and often daily, who love the church and Christ in the Eucharist why someone who doesn’t, doesn’t feel that way. It is kind of like asking a cow why a chicken crossed the road. MOOOOOOO

That is one of the apostolates of the Legion of Mary - visiting all memebers of the parish, those who attend Mass regularly and those who don’t.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

Please remember, we are not necessarily talking about having the most people in the pews, we are talking about having more faithful Catholics. Evangelical Protestant ecclesiastical communities base their services on sermons - if they started preaching feel-good Christianity (eg. Joel Osteen), they may have many people in the pews, but does their faith have any substance?

The OP only said how to increase attendance. If folks aren’t coming to Mass at all (or only 2x a year), then they aren’t likely to grow in their faith.

When Christ has the disciples throw the net on the other side of the boat, they pulled out so many fish, the nets were breaking. There is no description of these fish being the most attractive, largest, best-tasting - just that there are lots of them!

Parishes do need to be more welcoming outside of Mass. When people see the faithful truly reaching out, trying to help, they are attracted to that. If faith is seen as being merely intellectual, it is never as attractive to the fallen away or the unchurched.

 

[raaucoin]

I think in large part it boils down to better catechesis. I am the only one in my family under 70 who still goes to Mass, and often times when I’m talking religion with other Catholics, I feel like I’m the only one who understands what the Mass truly is - the sacrifice of Christ on Calvary for the salvation of man. People find Mass boring because they don’t understand what it is and how you should pray the Mass.

Most of what I know about the faith, despite the fact that I went to Catholic elementary school, I taught myself by spending time on this forum, reading the Catechism and scripture, and seeking out solid priests.

If the catechesis about the Mass improves, people will not only realize why it’s important to go to Mass: they might actually enjoy and get something out of going to Mass.

As an after thought, I feel that the Mass itself should have more of a sacred atmosphere. When I watch a Mass on EWTN, or when I go to the FSSP parish in town, or when I go to the reverent OF near my house, I feel like I’ve entered a holy space. People are quiet. There are stained glass windows, holy water, the tabernacle is at the altar, there’s chanting and organ music. I know that I’m about to assist at the august sacrifice of the altar.

When I go to other parishes, such as the one I grew up at, it feels less like a church and more like a community center or even a Protestant worship space. I feel less like I’m going to assist at a sacrifice, and more like I’m going to have a community get together (albeit with people I don’t know).

The focus of the Mass itself and of the church building needs to be on almighty God and not on ourselves.

When the primary understanding of the Mass is a community get together and meal, why go if you don’t particularly care for the community? After all, I have my own friends and family I can get together with. But if the primary understanding of the Mass is as the sacrifice of Christ so that graces could be poured into our souls for our eternal redemption, the reason why we can’t miss Mass is understood.

 

[saveusfromhell]

apart from fssp your telling my story

 

[Georgia]

I haven’t read all of the responses yet, so excuse me if this has been said before. But telling people it is a mortal sin to miss Mass would be a good place to start (and end). Maybe on Christmas Eve when all of the tourists come.

I’ve sometimes wondered why that never comes up at Christmas Eve. People who have chosen to miss Mass since Easter should have their attention directed to that fact.

 

[ConstantineTG]

I don’t think the TLM is the answer for this problem, although I do believe they should be more widely available. JMHO. I do think more reverent Ordinary Form Masses would help though.

The reality is more Roman Catholics today are perfectly happy with the OF Masses, yes, including those things that makes the eyes of some members here roll to the back of their heads. I attended a “Simbang Gabi” here in Canada (its the traditional pre-dawn Masses celebrated for 9 days before Christmas in the Philippines) and its at a large parish. Its done with the drums and the guitars with the hymns. There were easily 1000 people there at 5:15am.

 

[ProVobis]

The reality is more Roman Catholics today are perfectly happy with the OF Masses,

So no reason for the thread?

 

[fred_conty]

This will show in proportion to a person’s prayer life or lack of it.
Prayer increases love. We are talking about the sacrament of love.
Love overcomes every obsticle. More need to develope a prayer life.
Here is a New Year’s opportunity.

A new “then” could be taken on once a month until completing the list.

Start simple with little prayers in the morning, evening, and table.

Then one prayer every hour.

Then 5 minute daily bible reading.

Then an hour a week in adoration.

Then family/spousal after dinner rosary,

Then wearing a scapular, miraculous medal.

Then bi-weekly confession.

Then penance on Friday from 1 to 3 Pm

Then weekly Mass on Wednesday

Then nothing to drink from 9 - 12 on Thrusdays

Then a chaplet of divine mercy on Tuesdays

Then add one of your own…

Then you will find a person you do not recognize.

 

[ProVobis]

People find Mass boring because they don’t understand what it is and how you should pray the Mass.

But the vernacular was supposed to help them understand the Mass better. Funny, though, it also seemed to have taken a lot of the mystery out of the Mass as well. Perhaps not by means of the EF, but maybe we should go back to making it more of a mystery again. A community meal only works for so long.

 

[Filii_Dei]

But the vernacular was supposed to help them understand the Mass better. Funny, though, it also seemed to have taken a lot of the mystery out of the Mass as well. Perhaps not by means of the EF, but maybe we should go back to making it more of a mystery again. A community meal only works for so long.

I respectfully disagree, ProVobis. While I find plenty of reasons for restoring Latin as the language of liturgy, it making the mass a mystery to Catholics doesn’t strike me as one. We may be thinking of the wrong definition of ‘mystery’. The mystery (small letter ‘m’) should not reside in a Catholic’s inability to comprehend what the priest and congregation is saying. Instead, his awe should be directed towards the proper Sacred Mysteries: the Holy Sacraments in which God imparts His divine grace to imperfect man. In that, I believe Latin will be of use in imparting a sense of sacredness.

In any case, I don’t see the use of vernacular in the Eastern churches to have “taken the mystery out of the Mass”. There’s more to this problem, like instilling Catholics with a better appreciation and understanding of Holy Tradition. We’re riding rough times with rising secularization and indifferentism in the West, while churches in Africa and Asia are filled with faithful. I believe the EF should be more widely celebrated and learned, but we shouldn’t ignore the main threats to the Church.

 

[Angel_Bradford]

since mass attendance has dropped dramatically in the USA (and other countries) what are some practical suggestions that could INCREASE regular, weekly mass attendance?

For me, and I am sure others, the time of the week day Mass is the issue. My parish did have a week day Mass at 5:30 pm which was great for me. But many years ago, the pastor moved it from 5:30 pm to 8:30 am except on Wednesdays when the Mass has always been at noon.