Sometimes, that 1-5% can be hard to break into, or to wrest any position from…Yes, there are politics in any organization including the Church. In fact, when it comes to doing things inside the Church, because we believe that good works DO help us get to Heaven, some people grab a whole lot of territory, perhaps in hopes of paving their way to Heaven.
This is also true. In my case, I participate in 40 Days for Life and have worked at my local pro-life coalition, helping them with their yearly fund-raising benefit. I think Catholics don’t generally make any noise about what they do for the Church.
I volunteer at an NPR radio station that operates a subcarrier where volunteers read newspapers, magazines, etc to listeners who are blind or print-impaired over specially-equipped radio receivers that the station loans out to those in need. As you say, this has nothing to do with my parish but those who need the service appreciate it. Also the newspapers and magazines are secular but every once in a while on my program I bring in the local Catholic diocesan newspaper and read an article or two from that. The director says it is okay as long as I give credit to my source.
A neighbor approached the priest, president of the woman’s guild, and another in the church about starting a group to address a need in the parish. All said they’d get back to her and she never heard a word after six months.
Some of the other posters have brought up very good points. I think it depends on how you are defining activities and where you got the 1 - 5% figure. Are you defining activities as going Bible studies or as one poster pointed out pro-life activities? Many Catholic Bible studies ofter become vicariate wide, i.e." including more than one parish. Also many active Catholics are involved directly in some kind of service at mass instead of activities out side of mass and on different days. This includes Eucharistic minister, usher, lector, sacristan. I know that is what I do and do not currently have time to be involved in some of the other areas of service that you mentioned above. As in any Church, Catholic or Protestant, there is usually the same core that have the time and ability to do prayer groups, Bible study etc.
that is sad but in seven years have you gone to talk to the priest yourself? One of the best ways to “know” the priest or be known by him is the volunteer and involve yourself at mass even daily mass and help out there. The lady that wanted to start a group to address a parish need should have pursued it more. Told who ever she talked to what and how and where, publish in the bulletin and go from there. The priest might not have wanted to get involved in a Holiday meal plan do to liability, past experience, lack of help etc. Just throwing out and idea like this without maybe a detail plan of how to make it work, what it would cost etc might have been the cause of the rejection by the priest.A neighbor approached the priest, president of the woman’s guild, and another in the church about starting a group to address a need in the parish. All said they’d get back to her and she never heard a word after six months.
Another asked about serving meals on a holiday and was told bluntly by the priest, “We don’t do that.”
Another asked to volunteer and was told by same, “We have enough volunteers.”
Last month, the parish sent out a survey asking for volunteers.
There are 35 who usually attend daily Mass. Very warm during the “Peace” and holding hands part. Once that is over, no one acknowledges you. After seven years,none of the priests has ever addressed me by name.
you can still be involved at mass. step forward and volunteer as a greeter, usher, EM, lector, sacristan. Maybe you don’t have time now but you can still do something and you will be amazed at how many you meet doing the very same thing. I am a lector and that is all I have time for right now but at least i feel it is something.
She did. She called, dropped off the information, talked to the office secretary, talked to the priest on the phone, and to the head of the woman’s guild. She was told they’d get back to her and none did.
I am sorry the hear all of this. It sounds like the priest is not open to new ideas and people running them and yes there is no excuse to be rude.
This tells me that your parish is united around the Eucharist.