Abbey-Roads2

Stewardship 

Many parishes are now call Faith Communities, rather than parishes.  Sometimes the term is applied because, unlike in the old days, parish boundaries are not as distinct, nor are there the National Churches there used to be, such as a German or Polish parish.  Today, many people shop for a Church they like, and will often drive miles to attend Mass or devotions there.  Thus the once local parish Church, no longer just a neighborhood Church, becomes something of a separate community.  Whatever the reason, the emphasis is upon “community”. 

The term, “Faith Communities” sounds a bit protestant to me, as does the term, Stewardship programs.  Of course we are obliged by Church law to contribute to the support of the Church, although Catholics rarely referred to it as tithing, which is another protestant term - more or less.  Yet it is necessary to encourage this practice, and just because it sounds protestant, it isn’t a bad thing.  These days, Stewardship also comprises giving of one’s time and talents.

Homogenized Christianity 

Protestant and Catholic “Faith Communities” are sometimes difficult to distinguish today.  Many Catholic ”worship spaces” have been constructed in the theater-in-the-round format, with the altar on sort of a stage which often looks rather evangelical protestant - the trend also tends to negate the separateness of sanctuary.   This inovation, as well as the more or less iconoclast barreness of modern Churches, wherein Mass can be conducted more like a charismatic prayer meeting - the protestant homogenization seems to have taken hold in a few of these Faith Communities.

The other morning at Mass, I was thinking about how everyone in a parish seems to be expected to get involved nowadays - as if they hadn’t in the past.  I glanced across the pews and thought, “Who could be more involved than these daily Mass goers and rosary prayers.  Many of these people are the ones who financed and built this Church.”  (Many of them remain actively involved in other activities; a group of  the retired men do all the landscaping and grounds work, several women clean, etc.)

Didn’t people participate before Vatican II?

When I was younger, the Altar and Rosary Society ladies did the cleaning, and the Holy Name Society Men did other things.  There was a Third Order that also did a lot in the parish.  Altar boys did their thing, Maria Goretti Club girls did theirs.  The parish had lots of people - families, as well as singles -  involved in lots of activities. 

Maybe it’s because there aren’t as many families these days, or because all the moms are soccer moms and chauffeurs now, that Faith Communities need these sign up days to get people involved?  Or maybe it is a lack of pious fraternities as well as devotional groups within the modern Church?  Nevertheless, it seems to me the emphasis is misplaced today upon “active involvement” in activities, as opposed to participation flowing from devotion.  Or is that too altruistic?  

Prayer and Action

Many people coming back to the Church, or just coming into it, are hit with this “Get involved” mentality however.  It is that “active participation” thing.  Be a “greeter” or a “lector” or a hospitality minister” or a “Eucharistic minister”, etc.  They imagine they have to “be” something in order to be a good Catholic.  Sometimes I wonder if  the emphasis upon activity hasn’t replaced devotion as a means to sanctification? 

A woman who once worked for me was on several committees at a local parish, as well as being a ”minister of hospitality”, an usher, a lector, and committing to several hours a week at adoration.  After a while, she constantly complained about all she “had to do” at Church, though taking pride in being so valuable for it.  I called her “Church lady”.

“It takes a village”

Not a few are like her.  They measure their Catholicism by how much they do.  Often - in their minds and expectations - they are right up there in status with the priest.  Which suddenly makes sense to me as to why the altar of sacrifice is often down on the floor, right in the middle of things, in such a democratic atmosphere of worship.  Even in the Churches where the altar continues to remain in the sanctuary, at Communion the ”sacred space” is invaded by lay ministers functioning with little distinction from the priest.

With fewer priests, the average parish does need volunteers to help the pastor with the administration of a large parish - I just hope Roman Catholic identity is not lost in the process.

As for those people who humbly come to Church for Mass and the sacraments, or just to pray, I hope they get the message that what they are doing is “active participation” as well.