A man walks in front of the Church of Our Lady of Peace in New York July 31, 2015. (CNS photo/Eduardo Munoz, Reuters)

An Ordinary Sunday: A Nationwide Survey of Parish Masses

Two summer weekends, nine states, twelve churches: After years of dwindling attendance, indifferent liturgies, and a contracting priesthood, what can be done to bring people closer to the Mass that has sustained Christians for so long?

The Editors

September 12, 2017

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Princeton Junction, New Jersey

Not to brag, but when people in our area shop for a parish, my parish is the one that wins

By Thomas Baker

September 12, 2017

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Charleston, South Carolina

We are not a perfect people and our Mass this particular week was not flawless

By Elizabeth Kirkland Cahill

September 12, 2017

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Tallahasee, Florida

The piano is loud; drum and cymbals sound; the congregation sways and claps as we sing. Hosanna!

By John Schwenkler

September 12, 2017

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Menlo Park, California

They looked untroubled, at home in their skins, at home in the world. Who wouldn’t be, living in Menlo Park?

By Catherine Wolff

September 12, 2017

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Decatur, Georgia

This was not a remnant gathering of the old and the halt. I may have been the oldest (and haltest) worshiper present

By Luke Timothy Johnson

September 12, 2017

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Brooklyn, New York

Based on those old experiences, I’d come with my guard up. Did I really want to lower it?

By Dominic Preziosi

September 12, 2017

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Hazard, Kentucky

The door swings shut, but not before a gleeful “Wheeee!” echoes through the church

By Katie Daniels

September 12, 2017

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Bellingham, Washington

I walk to the altar and see the wooden statues of Saint Joseph the Worker, to the right, and Our Lady of Fatima, to the left

By Sam Rocha

September 12, 2017

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Antioch, California

Regardless of our human failings as liturgical actors, God was present and at work

By J. Peter Nixon

September 12, 2017

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Royal Palm Beach, Florida

As we say in Florida, we never did that up North

By Tom Blackburn

September 12, 2017

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Casual dress predominated. Like the figures in the church’s statues and paintings, all were white

Menominee, Illinois

By David Carroll Cochran

September 12, 2017

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Wheaton, Illinois

The worship space itself is impressive, and may deserve to be called beautiful

By Jim Pauwels

September 12, 2017

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