January 30, 2009
The Christian Journey
Participation: Much more than filling empty pews
BY FATHER JIM SAUER
The Message recently reported on the “Town Hall” meetings held last fall by Bishop Gettelfinger, the Strategic Task Force established to look at long-range diocesan plans, and a series of concerns to be written about in the Message. The two captivating my interest were: 1) the large percentage of Catholics in our diocese no longer “attending” Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation, and 2) the questions dealing with new members not remaining in the Church once they are received during the Easter Vigil or at other times of the year (for the already baptized).
The Catechism of the Catholic Church, as well as Canon Law, reflects the teachings set forth in Vatican II. Unless I am mistaken, when a new word is intentionally used, the Church does so to emphasize a major shift in thinking and behavior. Both the Universal Catechism and Canon Law no longer use the word “attend,” but “participate.” Some may say that this is a matter of semantics. However, the word “participate” reflects more precisely the Catholic Church’s challenge and desire for everyone’s “full and active participation in worship.” Warm bodies filling our pews on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation are no longer sufficient.
The Church’s worship is “our prayer” during which we sing, respond to the prayers, listen to the Scriptures, and minister liturgically. The Church’s worship is no longer the “priest’s prayer” during which the people privately say their prayers (e.g. the rosary). Our American bishops, in their document on “Music in Catholic Worship,” (1982) write: “We are celebrating when we involve ourselves meaningfully in the thoughts, words, songs, and gestures of the worshipping community — when everything we do is wholehearted and authentic for us — when we mean the words and want to do what is done” (Paragraph 3). Paragraph 4 of the same document expresses that “People in love make signs of love, not only to express their love but also to deepen it. Love never expressed dies. Christians’ love for Christ and for one another and Christians’ faith in Christ and in one another must be expressed in the signs and symbols of celebration or they will die.”
This touches on a further concern expressed during the Town Hall meetings — “How do we increase the attendance at Sunday Masses and Holy Days of Obligation?” While we must do everything possible to welcome back our inactive Catholic sisters and brothers, it is no longer simply a matter of increasing the numbers “attending” Sunday Masses. We must increase the “participation” level of everyone present. What are we inviting our Catholics back to? What are we inviting them to participate in?
In their original document on “Music in Catholic Worship” (1972), our bishops made a bold statement that “Good liturgy strengthens faith; bad liturgy weakens faith, and can even destroy it.” What do our Sunday liturgies look like? Do they cultivate the full, conscious, and active participation of all the people? What is the quality of our music, environment, proclamation of the Word, homilies? Are our parishes hospitable and welcoming? If we want our inactive Catholics to return, parishioners must ask themselves “to what are we inviting them back?” Do we experience Christ’s united presence in the gathered community, the presider, the Word, and Sacrament? This could be a productive topic for our Parish Councils, Liturgy Commissions, other commissions, prayer groups, and parishioners during Lent.