Your Top 3 Reasons for Drop in Mass Attendance?

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ElToro said:
What do you think are the 3 main reasons for a drop in Mass attendance (if that’s indeed the case) over the past 40+ years in your diocese/parish. In mine I believe:

1.) Lack of reverence and solemnity. We now treat the sacred as if it were the ordinary.

2.) Increased compeitition – secular life, Protestantism, non-Christian beliefs, etc.

3.) Poor preaching.
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Mass attendance at my parish church is around 80% and we have 10 Masses every Sunday to be able to accommodate everyone.
 
  1. Lack of reverence shown (too much loud talking before Mass, etc)
  2. Lack of modesty and appropriateness of dress (too many people come dressed like they are ready to go on a picnic, etc)
  3. Music choices
 
jesus4ever said:
the youth these days are growing up not knowing anything about religon. they know what parents teach them or do around they and if there is no religon around them then simply not knowing that a God exist
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Ding ding ding, give da man a cigar!
As the twig is bent, so grows the tree!
(This is not the sole correct answer but I believe it to be a very significant reason!)
 
I could add 3 more…
  1. Lack of good faith formation for all ages (Catechism classes for young people should be mandatory through out their school years even when they are not going to get a sacrament for the first time ; more opportunities for things like Bible study and/or religious studies/discussions for adults should be more plentiful)
  2. Many people see Mass attendance (both Holy Days and Sunday obligation), Eucharistic Adoration, private (or public) prayer/devotions, and/or going to Confession as a distraction in their busy lives at times. I see those things as a respite in my busy work and secular life to spend time with the Lord whether at home or in church depending on the activity. Mass attendance is more important to me as I’ve repented my past ways. I also do find time for the other items too outside of Mass.
  3. Many are distracted easily by the misbehavior of others especially in children who are of the age of reason - 7, and should know the basics of keeping quiet in Mass without toys and snacks/drinks. I do my best not to be distracted but it can be hard to pay attention when a parent is constantly shushing a child that looks old enough to show good behavior. I am not also not happy with people who talk loud before or after Mass making it hard for those who wish to have quiet time.
 
ElToro said:
What do you think are the 3 main reasons for a drop in Mass attendance (if that’s indeed the case) over the past 40+ years in your diocese/parish. In mine I believe:

1.) Lack of reverence and solemnity. We now treat the sacred as if it were the ordinary.

2.) Increased compeitition – secular life, Protestantism, non-Christian beliefs, etc.

3.) Poor preaching.
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I would say:
  1. lack of prayer;
  2. lack of prayer;
  3. lack of prayer.
 
ElToro said:
What do you think are the 3 main reasons for a drop in Mass attendance (if that’s indeed the case) over the past 40+ years in your diocese/parish. In mine I believe:

**1.) Lack of reverence and solemnity. We now treat the sacred as if it were the ordinary. **

2.) Same as #1

3.) Same as #1.
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There I fixed it for you.👍

If we were to demonstrate by our actions within the liturgy to show what the liturgy truly is, people would know that they could not get this in a protestant feel good worship.

I believe we have become just another worship service, there is nothing special about the Catholic Mass. 😦
 
So here are 3 solutions:
  1. Increase reverence at the Mass. Preferably make the Latin Mass much more widespread. The new English tranlsiation of the NO is going to be helpful, but the NO has many flaws still.
  2. Church Architecture needs to be better. Too many places look like protestant churches now. I will use specific examples: If you live in the Wash DC area…Holy Trinity parish in Gainsville, VA is a perfect example of how what a Catholic church should look like…the most beautiful modern church I’ve ever seen. The opposite is St Bede in Williamsburg, VA…a terrible architecural design…its a circle, with a big organ, the tabernacle in the background, and just 2 statues that are less than flattering to Jesus and Mary.
  3. Enforce and encourage standards: Reverence of the Eucharist, how you dress, how you behave at church. I dont remember a priest in a homily with a exception or two, talking about this.
 
TedDC said:
That was certainly the case with me. Once I realized that I didn’t sincerely believe in the Real Presence, everything else about the Mass became just empty ritual.
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How did you come to the conclusion that the real presence was real false teaching?🤷
 
So many good reasons - all true!

Mine…
  1. the disbelief of the presence of Good and evil (God and satan)
  2. rejection of our Baptismal Promises after Confirmation
  3. rejection of marriage vows, particularly the “(acceptance of) children lovingly from God, and bring them up according to the law of Christ and his Church?”
and as a result of #2;
  1. not bringing up a generation (or more) of youth and putting them on the right path of Catholisism.
To add to #1 - if you aren’t raised in the faith, there is little chance you will live with it.
 
I think a big reason is that people are angry at the scandals in the church.
 
  1. Poor catechisis. Most Catholics (and indeed most non-Catholic Christians) know little about their professed faith. Many have never read the Bible, the Catechism, or any book explaining the Christian faith. Their faith remains as informed as it was when they were a child (assuming they had been given any education in their faith even then).
  2. The world. The entire culture we’re immersed in preaches a very anti-Christian message of relativism and hedonism. This creates the idea that there is no objective right or wrong and that anything that would restrict our ability to indulge in our own wanton self-gratification is offensive and backward.
  3. Scandal. Too many Christians seem unwilling to live their lives as Christ commands. Of course none of us could ever meet His perfect standard, but the fact that so many professed Christians regularly skip their weekly church service, appear to care little for the poor, and are more prone to argue about the faith instead of politely explaining it helps to make those whose faith is weak or wavering stumble.
 
My top three echo those of many people above.
  1. Poor catechesis. This is an issue with the adults as well as the kids. After all, if the adults don’t know what’s going on,how are the kids they are teaching going to know?
  2. Lack of belief in the Real Presence. This goes along with #1. If people really knew what was happening in Mass, attendance would be through the roof.
  3. Secularism. Society has decided that it doesn’t need God anymore.
 
people have stopped coming because the way most priests celebrate the liturgy, its more about us than about god. once that happens, why would you want to come, if its not about god anymore?

we need more reverent liturgy, more catholic music (chant, polyphony, sacred choral mushic), and an end to priests who make you feel like youre at dinner and a show
 
From where I sit, the top three reasons for drop in Mass attendance in YOUR area of the country are:
  1. They all moved down south.
  2. They all moved down south.
  3. They all moved down south.
Look at the location of most of you who are posting on this thread. Michigan, Upstate NY, Washington DC, Minnesota, California…

My point is, while everyone is complaining about lack of catechesis or lack of reverence or poor liturgies, maybe the real reason why Mass attendance is down in some parts of the country is more related to how secular governments have enacted laws contrary to the Catholic faith. Let’s face it, homosexual marriage laws and other initiatives contrary to our faith in states like Vermont, Massachusets and California aren’t attracting Catholics to those states and Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina arn’t going to embrace these ideas any time soon. High taxes alone are driving people down south.

Look at Vermont. Most statistics agree that Vermont lost 20% of its Catholic population. I’ve read liberal bloggers who blame it on the draconian theology of evil Pope Bennedict but the fact is that the state of Vermont lost 9% of its total population over the last twelve years. Those people didn’t all die. They went somewhere and they went there for a reason.

There is no drop in Mass attendance here in the south.

The parish I belong to sometimes registers 10 new families in a week. We registered fifteen new families during the last week in July. You can’t find parking for most of the Masses and the fire marshall has threatened to fine the Church for overcrowding. We just built a 40 classroom school three years ago and they can’t build schools fast enough down here in the south.

Birmingham AL, Charleston SC, Greenville SC, Raleigh NC, Chattanooga TN, all beautiful little cities with booming Catholic populations. The Archdioces of Atlanta had 2015 people in the Rite of Christian Election last spring and the Holy Father appointed Auxilliary Bishop Zarama to assist Archbishop Gregory for us two years ago.

I don’t know what you all are doing in gloves and parkas on your way to empty Churches up North but I wear a polo shirt most days in February and have to get to Mass a half hour early to get a seat.

-Tim-
 
  1. Facebook, MySpace, and other online places have become “community” for most people. This is where they seem to find fulfillment, even though they are not in proximity to each other. Mass is seen by many as “old fashioned” and boring, and who likes being with people who are not my “friends.”.
  2. Todays Hand-held devices are every bit a narcotic. People cannot “not” use them. To have to put it aside even for 50-60 minutes is an agony for them and so it’s easier to stay home and play with these devices than attend Mass.
  3. Parents are so very busy working at their jobs, paying all the bills, trying to keep their kids on the straight and narrow, and add to that all the activities that their children are involved in…something has to give (especially on the weekends) and that would be Mass… People are so “worn out” from the work week that they actually don’t have the energy to do anything (except play with their PC’s or hand held devices) let alone go to Church!
  4. Let’s face it, the Church has shot itself in the foot with the abuse crisis. All the worry about giving scandal and keeping it all secret, actually caused even more scandal and outright hostility. I remember when I filled out my laicization papers, the instructions to and wording of the form constantly talked about scandal this and scandal that. I left because of mental illness, how that would cause scandal, I don’t know…but the Church needs to honestly and transparently admit it was motivated by that age-old idea and that to do so was wrong…I am afraid, however, that the time has passed and the pain it has caused for many (abused and not abused) will be with us for generations. "Why bother with Mass at all if those who represent the Church sinned and then hid it! It’s a gigantic wall that now has to be climbed and it’s easier to just avoid it.
  5. Finally…in an age of fewer priests, remove all business functions from the priests shoulders…anything to do with finances, anything to do with running a parish complex should be handed to a “business manager.” Free priests to celebrate the sacraments and teach the faith! Anything else is a waste of time!
 
TimothyH said:
From where I sit, the top three reasons for drop in Mass attendance in YOUR area of the country are:
  1. They all moved down south.
  2. They all moved down south.
  3. They all moved down south.
My point is, while everyone is complaining about lack of catechesis or lack of reverence or poor liturgies, maybe the real reason why Mass attendance is down in some parts of the country is more related to how secular governments have enacted laws contrary to the Catholic faith. Let’s face it, homosexual marriage laws and other initiatives contrary to our faith in states like Vermont, Massachusets and California aren’t attracting Catholics to those states and Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina arn’t going to embrace these ideas any time soon. High taxes alone are driving people down south and Vermont lost 9% of its total population over the last ten years.

There is not drop in Mass attendance here in the south.

The parish I belong to sometimes registers 10 new families in a week. We registered fifteen new families during the last week in July. You can’t find parking for most of the Masses and the fire marshall has threatened to fine the Church for overcrowding. We just built a 40 classroom school three years ago and they can’t build schools fast enough down here in the south.

Birmingham AL, Charleston SC, Greenville SC, Raleigh NC, Chattanooga TN, all beautiful little cities with booming Catholic populations. The Archdioces of Atlanta had 2015 people in the Rite of Christian Election last spring and the Holy Father appointed Auxilliary Bishop Zarama to assist Archbishop Gregory for us two years ago.

I don’t know what you all are doing in gloves and parkas on your way to empty Churches up North but I wear a polo shirt most days in February and have to get to Mass a half hour early to get a seat.

-Tim-
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My soul lives and breathes the North. I would shrivel up and die south of maybe Pennsylvania, like a plant pulled out of the soil.

Anyway, it’s not just population shifts; mass attendance really has declined as a percentage of total Catholics. I would guess that is true in the South as well, it’s just masked by mass migrations from places like the Northern states and Latin America, though that’s just intuition.
 
  1. poor catechesis
  2. laziness-doing the bare minimum like just going to Church on Sunday- failure to practice their Catholic Faith and participate in the sacraments of the Church.
  3. perhaps eventually justifying some personal sin that is against Catholic teaching
When you don’t use it you lose it. If one does not pray or practice their Faith, it’s like a veil covers their eyes and they can no longer understand the little that they once knew.
 
  1. “Protestant-ization” of teaching. Trying to counter protestant competition, with our own brand of “community” and “love”. Protestant teaching is a loss of pieces of the Truth, entrusted to the Catholic Church. By teaching the hard-core values of the Church, including, sin, hell, purgatory, etc., a priest/deacon is not mixing words or catering to his/her congregation. But one must realize, that by teaching Truth, there will be those that accept and those that don’t. In saying that, teaching fluff is recognized by all, and helps no one.
2.** Lack of teaching.** Around the time of the passing of V2, some of the “intellectual” hierarchy of the Church, thought it would be good to take the changes and “run with them”, generally stripping the Church of her unique identity in certain areas, and making a mockery of the Holy Mass. This also led to a liberal, very fluff-oriented method of catechesis, which still leaves people floundering. These have taught every type of abomination, from feminism, to occultism, which leave a terrible scar, which will take years to fix.
  1. Failure of seminaries to properly prepare priests. Okay, not all seminaries are this way, but many have fallen astray, or become a mess. There is so much garbage that these men deal with that they should not have to, going through seminary. They need to start out on solid ground, and many of these places have problems to start out with.
Close 4th: Lack of prayer for priests and religious by laity. For the longest time, I was attending a church that would pray for the priests and religious and say the St. Michael prayer after every Mass as a norm. It was amazing what this little bit of prayer did in that parish.
 
ElToro said:
What do you think are the 3 main reasons for a drop in Mass attendance (if that’s indeed the case) over the past 40+ years in your diocese/parish. In mine I believe:

1.) Lack of reverence and solemnity. We now treat the sacred as if it were the ordinary.

2.) Increased compeitition – secular life, Protestantism, non-Christian beliefs, etc.

3.) Poor preaching.
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I agree with the third one more than the other two. The homilies I have heard in many churches are offputting and insulting to the intelligence of the people in the pew. I have also heard some great ones at university churches. Homiletics is a skill but it is a learnable skill. It’s not just the academic homilist who has captivated my interest. An installation homily like the one given by Archbishop Gustavo Garcia Siller of San Antonio, TX-- so passionate, so committed that it made me sit up in my chair — makes people appreciate what’s available in the church.
 
Lapey said:
How did you come to the conclusion that the real presence was real false teaching?🤷
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Quite simply the lack of evidence that it’s true. The Real Presence is man’s interpretation of words which men claim were spoken by someone who men believe was the son of God. That’s entirely too tenuous a chain of “evidence” to convince me there’s any truth in such an extraordinary claim.

Let’s face it - the Real Presence is a matter of faith, pure and simple. Either you have it or you don’t.
 
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