Will the Catholic Church one day regain landmark buildings that were stolen from it?

[Profete]

You are living in a denial. Orthodox Church actually increased the number of parishes in the US, some are indeed tiny, so what?
Catholic Church reduced the number of parishes.

 

[StephieNorthCo]

Http://www.stsconstantinehelen.com

Reasonably large GO near here. They do put out a well advertised and well attended Greek festival every year. Catholic Church annual bazaars typically pale by comparison.

Hmmm, I wonder if there might be one door worth exploring there. Might also cross to another thread.

 

[rossum]

Funny you should post this. I was thinking yesterday about a beautiful priory in a village called Cartmel not far from where I live

Mmmm… Sticky Toffee Pudding. (I used to live just south of there, near Lancaster.)

rossum

 

[Isca]

I used to live in Lancaster! Nice part of the country.

 

[Duesenberg]

You are living in a denial. Orthodox Church actually increased the number of parishes in the US, some are indeed tiny, so what?

Catholic Church reduced the number of parishes.

And the Catholic Church actually grew in membership. Garage “churches” mean nothing. Bringing the faithful into Church means everything in this context.

 

[twf]

Friend, you have a very triumphant attitude and it comes across as condescending. You’re not going to win anyone to your cause this way. The Catholic Church has nothing but the utmost respect for Orthodoxy.

 

[twf]

I was simply replying to your assertion that the modern Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch is St Ignatius’ successor. My point was that it depends on your point of view.

 

[phil19034]

Http://www.stsconstantinehelen.com

Reasonably large GO near here. They do put out a well advertised and well attended Greek festival every year. Catholic Church annual bazaars typically pale by comparison.

Hmmm, I wonder if there might be one door worth exploring there. Might also cross to another thread.

Well… you have to keep in mind that almost every single Greek Orthodox is ethnically Greek. Most Catholic parishes are multi-cultural.

However, I do know of several Catholic parishes that have large large Italian communities and they through awesome Italian festivals, and there are some with large Irish communities that through awesome St. Patrick Day festivities (that are Church & family friendly).

But a Catholic parish that is ethnically diverse (aka most of them) isn’t likely to sponsor ethic festivals unless they have a Sunday mass said in that language (like Spanish, Vietnamese, etc)

I also know of several Catholic parishes that have festivals with rides, etc, that the whole community attends. Very well attended. But I have no idea if they have an evangelical effect.

Then, I know of parishes that have a Live Nativity each year with animals, etc. that brings out the entire community (Catholic and non). They are great community events with an evangelical purpose.

The point is what’s your goal? To have an event that is directly intended to grow someone’s faith? Or to have an event that is family friendly and an alternative to secular events? Both are good goals, but I would argue that if a parish could only choose one, most would focus more on growing the faith.

God bless!

 

[StephieNorthCo]

I do not at all disagree with your bottom line. However, rather than either or, to what extent could it be both and?

We have a rather large Hispanic contingent. Yet, I honestly don’t know whether we ought to have a Spanish festival. Maybe. Although dismissed out of hand in another thread, none of the events we DO have are really advertised. But advertising can be productively done to get community acknowledgment, and support. Who knows? Maybe more members to regain things lost.

Blessings,
Stephie

 

[phil19034]

I do not at all disagree with your bottom line. However, rather than either or, to what extent could it be both and?

We have a rather large Hispanic contingent. Yet, I honestly don’t know whether we ought to have a Spanish festival. Maybe. Although dismissed out of hand in another thread, none of the events we DO have are really advertised. But advertising can be productively done to get community acknowledgment, and support. Who knows? Maybe more members to regain things lost.

Blessings,
Stephie

Advertising is always very good and very important.

I think what happens is the old guard (who still run the parishes) are used to simply announcing an event to the parish and having enough people attend.

Older staff members and priests are not accustom to advertising outside the parish for events (like Protestants and others do).

For example, it’s not uncommon to see a protestant church advertising for a Christmas play, bazaar, or recital at coffee shops (like Starbucks). But it’s very rare to see a Catholic Church doing that.

It’s also not uncommon to see Protestants leave ads in car windows in parking lots too.

We Catholics need too get much better at this kind of thing, and I think we will as more Baby Boomers retire from ministry.