The Vineyard of Parish Life
I wanted to draw DC readers’ attention to three interesting articles on parish life from three different publications. The first is from Godspy, an online Catholic magazine that deserves to be more widely known. The article, entitled Unleashing the Laity, talks about the efforts of Fr. Peter Grover, a priest of the Oblates of Mary, to revive an urban parish in Boston. His approach has been to put worship and catechesis first, encouraging parishioners to learn more about–and to talk more about—their faith. Fr. Peter believes the relative torpidity of many parishes is a function of “lingering clericalism.” He wants to learn lessons from some of the more successful lay ecclesial movements. This quote from Fr. Peter stuck with me:
We can’t just tell people about Christ’s life…we have to inspire our people to want Christ’s life inside them. You can only have joy by living God’s life. You’ve got to fall in love. The Lord asks Peter: “Do you love me?” You’ve got to answer that question. Then the good works follow.
Now another article I came across recently looked at the efforts of Holy Family Catholic Community in Chicago, that bills itself as “an evangelical parish in the Roman Catholic tradition. Holy Family has been trying to learn lessons from the well-known non-denominational Willow Creek megachurch that is only 3 miles away. The parish has 3,700 families. Here’s a quote from the pastor, Rev. Pat Brennan:
I think what happened to the Catholic Church is we became a little comfortable with ourselves and forgot some of what made us Catholic. We forgot what made us passionate…So I’ve just taken the best that I’ve seen of Catholic parishes and evangelical churches and put them together to make Holy Family. In doing that, I think we’ve rediscovered the heart of Catholicism.
Are there a lot of differences between these two parishes? Sure there are. Lots of them. But I’m more interested in the similarities: the stress on making a personal decision for Christ and the importance of lay leadership. In an American Catholic culture increasingly characterized by religious voluntarism, those are probably critical tools for building vibrant parish life.
And here’s a final essay from Commonweal’s own John Garvey who, by himself, is probably worth the price of my subscription (I keep bugging Grant and Tim to put out a collection of his columns). Garvey, an Orthodox priest, writes about why people join churches, and notes that the reasons are often complex:
Any pastor knows that the church exists as something like a series of concentric circles. At the center of the church are those people who are there because they are serious about belief, truly committed to Christian belief. Then there are those who believe the church makes sense, as much as anything else, and since it was good enough for their parents or for some good friends it is good enough for them. Then there are (especially in ethnic parishes) those who go to the Orthodox or Catholic church because that’s what you do if you are Russian or Greek or Italian or Irish. There are, at the outer limits, seekers, and people who are alone and simply need the company.
It is important for the church to meet all of these people wherever they are, hoping to bring people in the outer circles closer to the center. But just as Jesus met Zacchaeus, the woman at the well, and the doubting father (who wanted his son’s cure more than anything else, even authentic faith), we have to see that even the tentative approach is holy, that the desire to find something, even something as simple as human companionship, is a sign of the need we have to be one with others, something that at its heart brings us into the mystery of the Trinity. It may be hard to see the coffee hour as something that has to do with the mystery of the Trinity, but there is a sense in which, if you can’t find it there, you won’t find it anywhere.
Good material for reflection for those of us toiling in the vineyard of parish life.
Peter, in a roundabout way you highlight some of the systemic problems of the RCC. Maybe it is because the parish structure is still that of the Middle Ages when the church dominated the secular life as well. It is the approach that the Sacraments are here and you get everything when you get them and does it matter how you relate to each other or the pastor except to reverence the latter.
As is oft said there appears to be more unity in a sporting event or concert than in a Eucharistic celebration. There is hardly any exchange except for remarking on people’s apparel and appropriateness. So sad that Cardinal George’s only contribution to a thriving parish is to insist on kneelers in the new church. That parish is more true than its Cardinal.
Fr. Brennan is showing his parish how they are the church also. Something, also not built in the structure. For example, why can’t they have the charism of preaching; especially since priests are doing such a bad job. For pastor Brennan, who is doing a good job, they can help.
I wish I were as upbeat as you Peter. The situation appears rather disturbing.
Thanks Peter. I think the permanent diaconate is key in this regard, too. Deacons are uniquely placed to overcome clericalism by having one foot in the world of the clergy and the other firmly in business and family life.
I appreciate this posting because at my parish we are at the beginning stages of reviving parish life.
So, thank you.
Like it or not, Jesus instituted a top-down hierarchy. Our priests are supposed to be our shepherds, not “just another person who happens to be able to consecrate bread and wine”.
The key to understanding the church is a knowledge of the true history of the church. For example, one of the real abuses of the Gregorian Reform was the exalted platforms priests were placed on and the excessive reverence of the Eucharist. As a result people started to receive Communion less and the priest retreated more and more where he was hardly visible and bells had to be rung to signal the consecration.
Not until Vatican II was this abuse addressed. Many still do not realize that the key to renewal is make the pastor a t rue servant of the people again.
Peter, great post:
I found it interesting that, Garvey places the “people who are alone and simply need the company” on the outer most circle. Where I wonder does he place those Catholics who are the CEBCCW (Christmas, Easter, Baptism, Communion, Confirmation, Wedding) Catholics.
In Ontario, Canada where Catholic education is free and paid for by the state CEBCCWs send their kids to Catholic schools. As in the U.K. and probably even in some of the U.S. parochial schools in wealthier suburbs, the school for many kids is the Church and vise-versa.
Do you think Garvey see these “Catholics” as spread throughout his concentric circles or are they in a circle beyond the lonely? Does he even place them in any of the circles, that is are they outside the church?
In response to John’s post, I think it important to note that John Garvey is an Orthodox priest, not a Roman Catholic. Secondly, it would be difficult to place people who are absent most of the time at the center of parish life. In the first instance a community consists of those show up. Of course, each parish should actively reach out to its less active parishoners. Occasions like baptisms, marriages, first communion, and confirmation must be seen as opportunities to evangelize, inspire and draw people closer to God in and the through the gathered community.
Jesus did not instiute a “top-down hierarchy.” Tony could benefit from reading Ronald Modras’ excellent article on the ecclesiology of Prof. Joseph Ratzinger and reflecting on how, just a year into his pontificate, he is pratically and prudently going about implementing much of what is concisely outlined in this well-written article.
Regarding Holy Family Catholic Parish Community in Chicago, I for one think it’s great that the parishioners did not want kneelers. It’s much more penitential to kneel on the floor, as I am sure they are all doing during the proper times of the Mass.
That being said, it is good for them to remember that there may be some people who because of various health or physical reasons need the kneelers. Those who wish to kneel on the floor, as the current practice must be, can always put the kneelers up.