Where do we start?

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Dismas2004

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I think all can agree that the Church is in need of renewal - especially herself. I’ve heard it said but have never found the study to back it up, “There are 67 million Catholics int he US, but only 200,000 or so that are faithful Catholics” (if you happen to know where that came from please let us know!)

Where do you think is the best place to start the renewal?
 
I don’t know that the Church in need of renewal per se, but the Church needs an answer to the things that are causing Catholics to fall away. Humanism (man can achieve anything on his own) and relativism (all religions are equal or old fashioned belief systems) are a big reason people loose their faith (literally). The Church needs a firm, loving response to these modern belief systems that people are following. If your faith is eroded enough, the path of least resistance will quickly lead you away from the Church. Obedience is hard. We need to evangelize on all levels (priests to their parish communities, parisheners to their fellow parisheners, Catholics to their non-Catholic/non-Christian friends and associates) about what the Church’s answer to modernity, humanism, and relativism is.

This response to modernity was a primary concern of Pope John Paul II (and Vatican II) and a big part of his papacy.
 
I think we need more teaching and instruction outside of Mass for adults.

To understand our Catholic Church is to love our Church. Overall membership in the church went up slightly again. People who fall away are replaced by more that join.
 
Dismas2004 said:
I’ve heard it said but have never found the study to back it up, “There are 67 million Catholics int he US, but only 200,000 or so that are faithful Catholics” (if you happen to know where that came please let us know!)
Click to expand...
Generally the information comes from CARA. This is where the USCCB gets their information

cara.georgetown.edu/
 
T700 said:
That’s an amazing, if slightly scary and depressing, site! Thanks for sharing it.

Paul
Click to expand...
Very scary considering…

I use the site all the time when preparing talks, etc… I have found it very enlightening.
 
I think we start with ourselves. We pray for the Holy Spirit to move us; we express to God our longing to participate in the wonderful life He’s made available to us.

Our temporal resource is the Church - we need to re-double our efforts to participate in her life and to invite and to welcome as many more people into her as we can.

We start, today, in our own communities where we can, to enliven life in the Church.

Print and distribute evangelical pamphlets.

Organize humanitarian missions.

Don’t zombie into mass and then zombie out – engage with your fellow parishoners and make it the fun, supportive and participatory experience that it is supposed to be!

Go up to someone in your parish and invite him to dinner; hold a feast. Talk, get to know, brainstorm ideas about how you can move the mountains in your community that need moving; then pray; then move them
 
I clicked “Other.”

I would focus on children currently in primary school: bring orthodox people in to teach as many as possible, and show the children the full majesty of the Catholic faith as they receive the Sacraments for the first time. Teach them about the rite of Reconciliation, and the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, and give them age-appropriate catechesis… all the things that have slipped away in Catholic education need to be brought back.

In ten years, there would hopefully be more devout Catholic young adults, who can then teach others what they’ve learnt. I’m part of a generation of young adults that went through feel-good
religious education at school and discovered the fullness of Catholicism at a later time: what we need next is a generation that has always been fully Catholic, and loves its own faith.
 
I think the focus should start with adults, especially parents. I think that ongoing formation in the Catholic faith should be encouraged by every parish. Encourage adults to become active in a form of ministry- visiting the sick and homebound, youth and young adult ministry, or volunteering with the local Catholic Charities, Catholic Worker, soup kitchen or what not. I’ve been around a few parishes that have family faith formation programs. In addition to normal PSR/CCD for children the parents also meet to learn the faith and are equipped with materials to also teach and discuss the faith. This helps parents to understand their call to pass on the faith to their children, but in order to teach it, they first must learn and understand it.
 
My opinion and perspective :
Many people go to Mass to receive. Not many are willing to sacrifice and give of themselves. Following the way of Christ is hard. I dont think many understand the continuation of the offering and what being in the covenant demands of individuals. People in my parish gripe about not having the availability of certain things but yet they will not step up. You see the same faces doing. Then you hear of a click in the parish. Our Ultreya is about done with because attendance is based on “who is the speaker”. People want to be entertained !
 
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