July 16, 2010
The Christian Journey
How to describe an ‘ideal’ parish: Some thoughts to begin
BY FATHER JIM SAUER
Dear Readers, how was your recent trip to New York City as you plan to relocate your family out East thanks to a job promotion? You have spent two weekends attending Masses at different churches hoping to find the ideal parish where you will register AND participate.
Remember — “ideal” parish doesn’t mean “perfect” parish. No such perfect parish exists. Perhaps we could use other adjectives in describing the “ideal” parish like “vibrant,” “energetic,” “inspirational” or “faith-filled.” Bishop Gerald A. Gettelfinger’s weekly columns on our “Future Diocesan Strategic Planning” spoke often to the idea of “re-energizing” parish life. The ideal parish is an “energetic” parish living the Gospel.
Readers were to list those qualities they would look for in the “ideal” parish in which they would take an active part before purchasing a home. Faith and parish life were higher priorities than where you resided. What qualities did you list for your “ideal” parish?
Today I want to chronicle some qualities of the “ideal” parish, which Liturgical Commissions have shared throughout the years. These qualities became the focus of our ministry in our local parish. If you wrote down your list of qualities, compare them with the qualities presented by our commission members.
The first quality is that the ideal parish must be a “welcoming community.” The parish needs to be “people friendly,” not only to their own parishioners, but also to guests who worship with them. Parishioners, pastor, parish staff, ushers need to create an atmosphere in which everyone feels comfortable. No one is to leave our Sunday Eucharistic gatherings feeling unwelcomed.
Along with the “spirit of hospitality,” the church environment should be “pleasing” and “uncluttered.” A clean environment — just as we clean our homes when guests visit — says, “It is important for you to be here.” Decorations need to be displayed both inside and outside the Church according to the church seasons (e.g. be cautious of emphasizing Memorial Day with red, white, and blue when we might celebrate the central belief of our faith — the Solemnity of the Holy Trinity — that same weekend).
Artwork should be hung throughout the Church (not only in the sanctuary). This shows how the entire people of God are part of the holy action. Together with the priest, they offer themselves with Christ in the Eucharist. The second quality of the ideal parish was that the Sunday Eucharist must be “inspiring” (now this will differ from parishioner to parishioner –therefore, the instructions in the Roman Missal offer basic guidelines for planning Masses according to the various spiritual needs of our people).
One element for an inspirational Mass is the need for “upbeat” and “inspirational” music. (Every Mass is expected to have a minimum of music.) Everyone must be encouraged to join in the singing and vocal responses to the prayers. We need to use various musical instruments.
How do we encourage everyone to sing and respond meaningfully to the prayers? Our parishioners must become more aware that they are present for each other. This is central to every Eucharist. Christ’s death on the cross for our eternal life was the final act of His life of total self-giving service. For all eternity, Christ bears the marks of His crucifixion as testimony of His love for all humanity. Thus, Christ continues to give us His Body and Blood today. We must catechize our parishioners that they are at Mass to strengthen the faith of each other. How each person worships or fails to join in the worship affects the faith of everyone else.
Next week, we’ll continue with more qualities of the “vibrant” and “energetic” parish.