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A couple once told us, "We don't go to Mass like we used to, maybe once or twice a month. We don't get much out of it anymore." These were not inactive parishioners. They had been active in their children's religious formation programs when they were younger and remained committed to peace and justice activities although not through the parish.
They admitted that they were on the fringes of the parish at the present time and were moving farther and farther out from its center. They also said that they could be enticed back to regular attendance if they could find something meaningful in the parish liturgies. Addressing the Issue: What to do? We suggest starting with an assessment of the Masses. Find out how people feel and listen closely to what they are saying. One way to do this is to pass out a half-page reaction card to a random group of twenty people as they come into church. Do this four weekends in a row as a way to connect with those who attend sporadically. This reaction card might include such questions as: "What is your attitude toward the Mass you are now attending?" Follow-up questions would ask for reactions to the welcoming, the music, the homily, the environment, the sound system, along with suggestions as to how the liturgy could be improved. Respondents drop the card into the collection basket or into a box at the back of church. The results are then tabulated, usually by the Worship Commission and forwarded to the appropriate groups or individuals. (Sample Reaction Cards are included with this Newsletter as an attachment.) Five Key Areas: An essential element of any liturgy, as suggested by Vatican II, is the active involvement of the assembly. Five areas where this can happen include the welcoming, the music, the homily, attending to the unique make-up and needs of the congregation and not wearing out the people by going on too long. For the welcoming, consider concentrating on "welcoming the stranger." Every effort at greeting and helping people feel valued and accepted as part of the liturgies is summed up in the one objective, "The person you don't know is the person who needs to feel welcomed above all others." Even when there are greeters at the doors of the church, the unknown and marginal person can walk into Mass unnoticed. Concentrate on the stranger and everyone will feel accepted. Make this the mission of everyone who attends the liturgy and the experience of community among the participants will grow accordingly. As for the music, one director changed her concept of congregational singing. She decided to make the entire assembly her choir, doing the same thing with that group as she did with the choir. During Lent she invited the congregation to sing in four part harmony. She handed out song sheets for people to take home and practice. She practiced the various parts before Mass during Lent saying, "You can do this! You can do this!" Then on Palm Sunday the entire congregation sang its great song. The participants were so proud of themselves that they wanted to sing it again on Easter even though it was a Lenten song. That's participation! For the homily, the best preparation is a Homily Reflection Group that meets at least once a month. It would involve the priests, deacons and others who could give good suggestions and feedback. The end result is a homily at every Mass that people can take home and use throughout the week. It rings true to them and stays with them. For most it is the only experience of scripture and it's relevance. Finally, keep the Mass to an hour, no matter what, and adapt it to the kind of people attending. Attendance will rise and along with it the interest and enthusiasm of the parishioners. Tom Sweetser, SJ & Peg Bishop, OSF (www.pepparish.org) Parish Newsletter - June 2006 A Service of the Parish Evaluation Project Milwaukee, Wisconsin Reproduced on the OPRFM website with permission |
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