In the sessions, people primarily spoke most of Jesus, the riches of the Catholic Faith, and their love for being part of the universal Church. They found joy in the living presence of Christ in the Church, in the celebration of the Mass and the universality of the liturgy, in their participation in and the availability of the Sacraments (especially during the pandemic), the gift of Sacred Scripture, and their sense of belonging to a parish community with a common identity.
These themes were echoed in the survey results, where over 75% of people responded that they agree or strongly agree about belief in the Resurrection, the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, that Scripture is the Word of God, and in Jesus’ moral teachings. One participant remarked, “The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone – sometimes we don’t appreciate our faith, but Jesus is the foundation of everything. This is the joy.”
Closely related to the preceding was an expressed desire for ongoing catechetical formation, discipleship development, and spiritual direction. The people of the Archdiocese are hungry to learn more about the faith they love so dearly and about how to share the Gospel with others. Parents want to learn how to better form their children at home, and individuals shared that they want to know how to share their story with others and accompany others on their journeys of faith.
People consistently asked for spiritual direction, Bible studies and small faith sharing groups, adult faith formation, retreat opportunities, and to hear from outside presenters and speakers on faith topics. One participant shared, “If you don’t know (the faith), you can’t live it or defend it.” The survey indicates that there is room for parishes to improve in these areas.
Less than 20% of respondents strongly agreed that their parish fosters their spiritual growth through small groups, retreats, or Bible study, and only 26% strongly agreed that their parish forms them as a disciple. With regard to evangelization, only 30% of respondents indicated that they share the story of Jesus with people at least once each month, and 25% of respondents answered in the same way about sharing their own personal story.
From the executive summary of synod results published on June 22.
82% of participants were over 50? Stick a fork in the church.
What about all those 39 year-old “young adults” that are in the church and go to young adult programs? Where were they? Too busy eating s’mores?
Compare those pics with the interiors of Google or Facebook headquarters. No wonder the church is shedding youth like the floodgates have been left open. Catholic buildings and spaces are depressing.
“These themes were echoed in the survey results, where over 75% of people responded that they agree or strongly agree about belief in the Resurrection, the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, that Scripture is the Word of God, and in Jesus’ moral teachings.” Heartwarming to be sure, as I expected to read of a great clamor for the Church to change her teachings. Speaking of this, what of the remaining < 25%? It would be helpful to know which aspect of the Catholic faith they don't believe in order for their pastors better to bring proper spiritual direction. It is incomprehensible to me that a Catholic would not believe in the resurrection of Christ, for instance. Still, I think all this is pretty good news.
The survey is meaningless. Might as well have asked respondents whether they believe you should eat ice cream in a bowl with a spoon.
While the number of participants is disappointing, the results are interesting. I see when I travel that parishes in big cities do not have the same opportunities for Bible study and adult education as those in small town and rural areas. I believe a lot of this is tied to the lack of other opportunities in the community. Church is the center of people’s social lives.
And similar to another diocese, 81% of respondents believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.
The low numbers of 31-50% are coming from Pew Research. Their methodology is on their website.
Actually it is not, but what is, is the Synod and fantasies of liberal clerics who think the problem with Vatican 2 is that it has not been implemented. I was at my local Synod and it was filled with boomers who have not learned a thing, who think “listening” is the way to fix the Church. Its a complete joke. The TLM will be around long after your bones have turned to dust.
The Mass is sacred. It has nothing to do with popularity. The beautiful Tridentine Latin Mass is ancient and holy, and theologically perfectly constructed. It does not matter if people like it or not. Michaelangelo’s great works of art are stunningly beautiful, regardless of whether they are popular or not.
Ya know. If numbers were really what’s important then the original disciples never should have bothered. Right anon?
Where is The Roman empire? Nero? Henry8? Robespierre? The mighty soviet union?
Are you one who hopes that catholics are right? Or one who doesnt? The former can be fixed ya know.
Heading says 7 comments but I only see four?
Some appeared in the ‘Latest Comments” on the right but never got to the page.
I just figured someone had been celebrating too hard.
It’s time to ban the songs at Mass that sing “All Are Welcome”. No, all are not welcome. You’re welcome if you repent of sin and profess the Creed and all that the Catholic Church teaches as having been revealed by God. But you’re not welcome if you don’t profess Catholic faith or if you obstinately persist in manifest grave sin. Let’s stop this ridiculous charade that has been going on for decades. All are not welcome.
So, a Protestant is not welcome to come to a Catholic church? A Jew is not welcome? A Muslim is not welcome? Who are you/we to say who is welcome to come to Christ? Christian faith is not the end, but the means. We are all on a journey, trying to find Christ in our lives, in our souls. Yes, all are welcome on the journey to Christ. The door may be narrow but the path is wide.
“The door may be narrow but the path is wide.” I get your point, Bob One. A wide path is a metaphor for “all are welcome,” and that’s the way it should be. The narrow door is a metaphor for the necessity of conversion away from sin and to Christ and His Church. Hard to argue with that one as well.
One might say, with a slight change in the metaphor, “The door is narrow and the path is narrow?” I am thinking of Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:14.
Bob One, there are welcome, but they are not welcome to change the Church’s teachings.
Would you go to an Orthodox Jewish synagogue or an Islamic place of worship and tell them they are awful because they do not serve you pork or alcohol at their functions?
Would you put grafitti on Jewish places of worship and burn down a synagogue to get your way because they believe marriage is between a man and a woman?
Some are doing just that to Catholic churches. Debates on agreed neutral territory are one thing, intimidation is quite another.
Correction to first line: “they” are welcome, not “there” are welcome.
“So, a Protestant is not welcome to come to a Catholic church? yes they are heretics
A Jew is not welcome? yes they deny Christ
A Muslim is not welcome? yes they deny the Holy Trinity
The Catholic Church is the only path ….
Bob One you are the perfect example of the “spirit of Vatican 2” and devastation it has caused to the Church
bohemond writes: ““So, a Protestant is not welcome to come to a Catholic church? yes they are heretics
A Jew is not welcome? yes they deny Christ
A Muslim is not welcome? yes they deny the Holy Trinity
The Catholic Church is the only path ….
Bob One you are the perfect example of the “spirit of Vatican 2” and devastation it has caused to the Church”
If I hadn’t been welcome to enter a Catholic Church I may not have converted and become a Catholic and then a Priest. Anyone can come in if they are respectful. This is how a lot of people begin their journey into the Catholic Church. Now, we are not talking about those who come in to cause trouble or to drag people out of the Catholic Church, but, again, those who come in respectfully and often are curious about the Church.
Father with all respect Bob One does not seek to convert those of other Faiths, he like most liberal Catholic believes there is no need since we are going to heaven by our own path. This false ecumenism (and Yes Vatican 2 is part of problem) was not the same attitude in which the Jesuit missionaries of old converted Canada, and South America. The Church is in decline because the of modernist attitude of getting along and “accompanying” the world rather than converting it
All Are Welcome is gay anthem, implicitly communicating that all are welcome without having to change, and everyone knows it.
Nobody checks for Catholic membership at my parish.
they should