Your Top 3 Reasons for Drop in Mass Attendance?

[ProVobis]

Apathy because times are good for us in the Western world.

Or maybe apathy because times are not? There seems to be evidence that people are saving more, paying down debt, making fewer trips because of the gas prices, working longer hours for less, and not to mention sometimes paying new parking fees even on Sundays in some of the major cities. This, however, may just be an excuse.

 

[Rahn]

Or maybe apathy because times are not? There seems to be evidence that people are saving more, paying down debt, making fewer trips because of the gas prices, working longer hours for less, and not to mention sometimes paying new parking fees even on Sundays in some of the major cities. This, however, may just be an excuse.

When you compare what we have in the Western world, versus in the third world, our “doing it hard” doesn’t even compare to theirs. Yet, the most fervent Catholics now come from the third world.

 

[Bearontherun]

1. Lessening fear of the Lord (forgetting about God’s Justice and only seeing the Mercy)
2. Lessening love for God
3. Many people are floating along with the values of a secularized society and are unaware or
   uninterested in what the church teaches.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

That’s a very cynical response to your parish ElToro. There are church politics in every denomination. And plenty of protestant churches without great choirs, good preachers, or Sunday fellowship. Just as there are Catholic parishes with all of that.

The music issue is really a bit of a dodge. In many protestant churches with vibrant music ministries, the music is focus on the kind of praise music that isn’t so popular in conservative Catholic circles. In churches where they sing lots of traditional hymns, the choir often includes paid members. The music during the services sounds beautiful, but with a full strong choir, there may not be that many in the pews singing.

If we are looking for a return to a time when most parishioners sang in church, we probably need to also return to a time when most people sang period. As Cat said, there used to be quite a bit of singing even at company events, while working, in families, etc. Now, there isn’t even singing as such at school pep rallies. A choir might sign the school song, but the rest of the music is piped in pop songs.

Your postings are wonderful. Let’s take the music issue. Ask in the most solemn and tactful manner “why do so many Protestant parishes have such better singing and music than we do?” and the canned response will almost invariably be “but they don’t have the Eucharist!”

What?

I believe mentioning the God-given gifts we Catholics enjoy is a way not to address our own shortcomings as Catholics. Yes we have the Eucharist! One would think that would help to ensure our singing/music would be BETTER than anytone elses and not an excuse for poor music/singing!

I think in many ways Catholics are LAZY when it comes to things like music and fellowship – both take a great amount of WORK. I also suspect the entrenched politics surrounding Catholic parishes might be a bit heavier than most Protestant parishes in terms of music and fellowship ministries – but I really don’t know for sure. Then again so many are so hardened from how they have been mistreated for the past half century or so. They’re survivors – ticket punchers and they want out of Mass ASAP each Sunday.

I do know this. If the Choir from St. Pete’s visiting the Mass I attend followed by a free catered gourmet breakfast from the best Restaurant in town in our own parish hall, the feedback would likely be “the choir made the Mass 10 minutes longer!” as they marched like drones to their vehicles, oblivious to the people motioning them into the parish hall.