I grew up in an amazing parish and have yet to come accross another parish which is as vibrate, loving or as big a commnunity feel that my home parish has. The parish priest there has spent the last 30 years turning this parish into a wonderful disciple parish, long before the bishops said that this is what parishes should be doing! How's that for insightful.
My home parish I will always speak fondly of because they are my family and my friends. Most of the teenagers now are the children I used to babysit for, the youth club which I help start at 12 years of age is still going stronger than ever. This parish has been there for me physically and emotionally and without their love and fellowship I would not be where I am today.
My home parish I will always speak fondly of because they are my family and my friends. Most of the teenagers now are the children I used to babysit for, the youth club which I help start at 12 years of age is still going stronger than ever. This parish has been there for me physically and emotionally and without their love and fellowship I would not be where I am today.
This is what I wish for every Catholic to experience. To belong to a parish, not to just attend mass once a week but to actually belong and feel as though they are a valid part of that community.
As Catholic’s we should be looking out for people within our parishes, we should know at the very minimum those who attend the mass’ we regularly attend. We should support each other through voluntary work as well as financial support towards the costs of running a parish. I often hear parents say that there should be more for young people within the parish, and then very few people step forward to organise and run these events. Times have changed and no longer is it acceptable that we just open the doors for our young people. These days there are risk assessments to fill out, health and safety to conform to and volunteers should have some training in how to work with young people.
I grew up in a parish that focus very much on intergenerational work. The young people would support events within the parish be it running a stall at the Christmas Fate, make tea and coffee for those working at the Christmas Fate, help with the setting up and the pulling down, cover stalls for comfort breaks…. All with a willing heart and a smile on their face. And why did they do this, because the parish supported the young people in their endeavours. The youth club always had help, when fundraising events happened the parish would support the young people. The young people would sit together throughout the mass, they would participate with ministries within mass, there is a successful youth SVP… all because these young people felt as though they were important and worthwhile part of the parish. Also because they have great role models. When you’re in a parish were those who volunteer their services are in the majority of course you want to do something, but if your in a parish where volunteering your services are in the minority how are young people meant to learn what being in service is about.
A parish like this is few and far between and it’s such a shame. For it is because of this parish that I have a strong faith and a passion to work with parishes to help have a successful youth ministry. Since I have left my home parishes I have become part of no less than four parishes, all of which have barely been friendly, I’ve had to constantly make the first move to introduce myself and try and be part of the parish and to be honest it gets more than a little disheartening. I have to now go out and join another parish and I’m not sure I have the strength at the moment to put in that energy to try and become part of the parish, I am hoping that they will make the first move and make me feel welcome so that I want to put the time and energy into it.
If we can not have a strong community with in our parishes how can we as Catholic’s go out into the world and show them the love of God. So take a look around you during mass, how many people do you know, is there anyone missing who usually turns up. Do you know of someone who is housebound and may like a visit or help with shopping. Charity begins at home.
What really makes me laugh is the older generations are forever saying 'the young need things to do' 'why do we keep loosing the youth' and it's because the older generation don't like to help out. The youth can not come together is a group and run their own activities the world around does does not allow this. The older generations have to step forward and give a helping hand. I look around a lot of the parishes that I work in and only around 1 - 2% of those who attend mass actually do any sort of volunteering within the parishes and this includes those who undertake ministries (Eucharistic, Music, Liturgy etc). It makes my heart ache. How can you have a parish community when you know next to no one in the mass you attend (I am aware that one of my parishes have a weekend attendance of around 3000 people), when you don't help out at least one a month with something that is going on with in the parish.
I understand that when you have a family that time is precious, but surely if you would like your child to be brought up with a love of the Catholic faith and not just something that they attend once a week (or less in some cases) have time to explore one's faith should be a natural part of the family dynamics. Encouraging your young person to go to the church youth group or the youth SVP etc should be a must but as parents you should at least volunteer to help out these groups at least once a term. That works out at one evening every three months. Surely it can't be that hard to arrange something like that if the Catholic faith allowing your children to enjoy and love the faith.
Again an example of my home parish, there is a 'good Catholic family' in my parish, I say this with a smile on my face as child number 7 or possibly 8 was born last year. The children are a variety of ages the eldest being around 15 years old. This is a good solid family, each child has their own interested, but this family go to church regularly and participate within the church community. I am sure the children are so involved because the parents are.
Remember adults that you are the young people's role model. If you are participating within your parish your children are more likely to, if you don't participate please don't complain because your children don't. Think about what sort of vibe you are giving your child about the church. I'm not just talking to parents and their children, I'm also talking to all those within the parish. I have attended four parishes since I moved out of my mother's and none have been as friendly as my home parish. None have been as active as my home parish. My home parish have activities going on within the parish but also look at the community around them and help in the local community.
I am trying to find a free weekend when I can attend my new parish (I'm either working or at my mothers'), but looking at their website they don't have a lot on unless your a young person going through the sacramental programme.
I would love to be able to work within a parish and help in creating a discipleship parish but the catholic church does not have money for things like that. Other denominations ask a tithe from their members the Catholic church doesn't. A lot of non catholics don't realise this but our priests are not paid. They are supported by the community and they live on what ever the church community gives them. There is a larger pot of money they can tap into but that money must be paid back over time.
Anyway I'm not sure this rant actually makes sense fully but the point I make is that why isn't there a better feeling of community within the Catholic church. The Catholic Church say that a catholic must go to mass once a week because one can not be fully emmersed within their faith by themselves, they must come together as a community to celebrate the faith and all that Jesus and God have to offer and to support one another in that..... so what happened?
Matthew 25:31-46
Luke 13:31-35
Luke 13:31-35
I wonder if part of the problem might be this "a catholic must go to mass once a week" thing. If you focus on simply attending mass then people can just tick a mental box and think they have done their bit just by being physically present; yet this is not at all the same as coming together as a community. A 'church' of 3,000 people cannot possibly function as a church unless people get involved in smaller groups midweek, for example.
ReplyDeleteThe big challenge and opportunity of modern culture is that, by and large, people do seem to be becoming more individualistic and less involved in their communities generally. On the one hand this makes it harder for a church to get people involved and committed; on the other it makes the church both distinctive and valuable, when it does offer a healthy community. It's all very well being individualistic when life seems plain sailing, but when really bad things happen it makes a huge difference to have a caring community around you. Plus, raising a family is really much more difficult without being part of a community which values and supports families (sometimes to the extent of neglecting singles or childless couples, unfortunately, as you have commented elsewhere). There are good reasons why divorce rates and delinquency rates are generally lower amongst active members of faith communities than in the surrounding population (curiously, the notable exception to this is US Southern Baptists, among whom divorce rates are actually higher).
Money is an issue for the vast majority of UK churches - all must fund their own activities, with various methods of cross-subsidising smaller, poorer churches. The important point here is that people who are more involved in their church are more likely to value it and to willingly make a realistic financial contribution to it.
I think good youth work can make a tremendous difference in a church, but only (usually) when that difference is backed by family involvement. The one really good part of the church I attend is its work with children and young people. This covers both children of church-going parents, and children from non-churchgoing families. Both get involved in youth activities, but only the children of active members really bridge the gap between youth work and church. Actually, thinking about the young people at our church, it is mostly those with fathers actively involved who are most willing to get involved in wider church activities themselves (only 'mostly' though, I can easily think of a very active exception - although her mother and grandmother are very active too).
Sorry, this is rather a long comment. I hope it makes some sort of sense.