Recently in his weekly column “A Note from Fr. Mark” to members of the Catholic Community of Pleasanton, Rev. Mark Wiesner, shared some rather uncomfortable observations in the parish bulletin about the October Count. The title of the column was “Something’s not right.”
That “something” had to do with trends revealed from numbers compiled from the annual head count of parishioners since the year 2000. “The October count numbers for our parish are both interesting and concerning,” the pastor wrote in the Sept. 29 bulletin.
In 2000, the year that St. Elizabeth Seton Church opened, the October Count was 3,371, “meaning on average 3,371 people attended Mass in the parish on weekends,” Father Wiesner wrote. While the parish’s October Count in 2012 reached a high of 4,492, in every year since then the yearly attendance numbers has shown a decline: from 4,030 in October 2015 to 2,799 in October 2018.
Calling these figures “particularly pronounced and disturbing,” Father Wiesner noted that he shared this information with the parish’s pastoral council, finance council and parish staff to launch discussions on the causes of the decline and to explore ways to begin addressing the causes of it.
The drop in Mass attendance figures is not confined to the Pleasanton faith community. The October Count has revealed that total Mass attendance across the diocese has been declining and “some deaneries and regions have more declines than others,” according to Mary Fair who crunched the numbers from the October Count spanning the past 19 years for the Diocesan Planning Board.
Total Mass attendance in the Oakland diocese was in the 130,000 range from 2000 to 2009, with a dip to 125,346 in 2010, then the numbers went back up to 131,193 in 2011, Fair said. For the years 2012-2015 attendance ranged from a high of 127,920 to a low of 122,427. Starting in 2016, attendance has dropped each year from 117,452 in 2016 to 111,062 in 2018.
Full story at Catholic Voice Oakland.
Disappointing, but not at all surprising. Families want to provide examples of leadership, integrity, justice, and equality to their children. They just do not see that in a clergy that – as whole – do not provide these qualities. There are exceptions, thankfully, but when they do exist, they are beaten down by more vocal factions in the Church.
HELLO – Do families in “Your Fellow Catholic” world care about God? About worshipping and praising Him, receiving Him body, blood, soul, and divinity in the Holy Eucharist? Honoring the third commandment to keep His day holy? Just asking cuz you left out the most important reasons to go to Mass!
Seriously, shame on you for such an omission. However, thanks for clarifying how much of a secular lot you are.
Kristin, if you don’t have a good idea why people don’t want to go to Church, just reread your own comment.
YFC, I don’t have a clue to what you are taking about, so I’ll have to guess. Do you mean that some or most clergy do not approve of homosexual acts/gay marriage, and that is the big turn-off? Please advise.
What about collection revenue? How is that changing compared to attendance?
This seems similar to what I’ve read about nationwide attendance.
Supposedly the third largest Christian group in tne US is Former Catholics.
It’s the Francis effect!
Are they going to EVANGELIZE? Or will continue as before.
The answer is simple. People are getting older and dying or have become too infirm to attend Mass.
Young couples are having no more than 2 or 1 or no children. No children = No future adults.
Go to any Sunday Mass in almost any parish and look at the number of gray heads. It is the vast majority. These good folks will be gone in 15 to 20 years.
Yes, true, If it’s not crying it’s dying.
Too many people don’t believe in God anymore. Society teaches that the Church is wrong in not approving of gay marriage, abortion, or LGBTQ++ in any form. As such, the young don’t want to belong to an organization that discriminates for any reason. It has been a long time since marriage was required to keep the farm going, or having kids for the same reason. People just live together for years with or without kids. Marriage is no longer a sacrament for them, but a financial arrangement. The church is too insular. Have you ever been to a Catholic church that was truly welcoming? Generally, you are ignored; go in, sit down, and shut up. Drop your money in the basket and leave. By the way, if your not Catholic be sure not to go to communion because Christ is not for you, yet. We literally do everything in our power to keep strangers from disturbing us.
“. By the way, if your not Catholic be sure not to go to communion because Christ is not for you, yet. ” Bob One if you actually knew anything about the Blessed Sacrament we Catholics believe it is Christ truly present. Therefore non-Catholics who do not believe are not allowed to receive him.
Bohemond, I know about the Blessed Sacrament and I know the rules. Yes, it is the Body and Blood of Christ truly present. But, you know I’m sure that other denominations believe in the true presence as well, and welcome those who believe to come to communion. I just think our rule is wrong. It says, you are not welcome.
Bob One– the Catholic Church is the only one, with the dogma of Transubstantiation! A great miracle! It is very disrespectful, to walk into some strange church, and freely partakr of their religious rites! A sacrilege! To be a good, practicing Catholic, requires good instruction, and commitment! Why not warmly invite a newcomer to a class in the Faith– and offer to serve as their godfather, if they decide to become a Catholic?
Bob One, “I’m sure that other denominations believe in the true presence as well,” The only other demonation that believes in the True Presence are the Orthodox, and guess what they are under no restriction from receiving communion in the Catholic Church, except maybe the rules of their own church. The Protestants DO NOT BELIEVE in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Our rules are correct, if they “offend” be appearing “unwelcoming” so be it….
The youth want the truth and they know that the Church does discriminate against “sin” because the wages of sin are death. They don’t want a water-downed version of the truth.
The San Francisco Archdiocese has the same problem! Especially sad, on Christmas, Ash Wed., Holy Week and Easter, and major Feast Days, such as the big Marian Feasts like the Assumption and Immaculate Conception– which used to fill churches with worshipers! Well– I enjoyed the news story, and videos, of the devout, upset Catholic men who snuck into the Amazon Synod secretly, stole all the Amazon Synod statues, and threw them all into the Tiber River– for love of Christ! Good for them! What poor Catholic leadership we have!
I think that today, there is too much confusion in the Church, too much secularism, very poor catechesis, too little discipline, too many poor liturgies– and too much crime and wrong-doing! The result of very poor Catholic leadership! The Pope and his prelates have lost their focus and their mission, for Christ! They are all choking on the “smoke of Satan,” which flew in immediately, when the Church opened her doors to the world, at Vatican II—instead of offering Christ in better ways to the world! You can’t run your life, your marriage and family– by all their “modernist nonsense!” Highly confusing, extremely disintegrative– and ultimately destructive! Where is Christ??And where is our daily path to Heaven??
I agree with Jeff’s analysis. Most of my fellow parishioners are age 60 and over. Very few young families are enrolled in the parish. I suspect the decline may be due to the sex abuse crises as well as competition from Protestant churches which offer programs for the whole family, don’t preach against artificial contraception and are soft on same-sex marriage. Unfortunately, I foresee the possibility of my parish, along with many others, closing its doors in the not too distant future.
I must differ with you, William Robert. In my 41 years as a Catholic ( convert) I have never once heard any preaching on artificial contraception, or gay marriage, for that matter. I do agree that strong evangelical churches offer more for the whole family and I agree with Bob One that most Catholic churches seem not nearly as warm as, say, the Pentecostal churches I have visited or used to attend regularly. That is a real tragedy. But our youth are so inundated by LBGTQ dogmatism at every turn that they are brainwashed to perceive evil to be good and good evil. And this has affected mainline Protestant denominations as well. I hate to say it, but I believe the Mormon church has done the best job warding off the pernicious influences plaguing our youth, and I’m no Mormon.
Are you serious? The Protestant churches are dying as well (maybe even more!) The reason is the infiltration of the homosexuals in the Priesthood and the cover-up by those homosexual Bishops who refused to address this and even contributed to this abomination. When was the last time you heard a sermon against contraction or homosexuality in the Catholic Church? What a joke. Finally, the “gates of Hell will never prevail against it” so dream on if you think they will close their doors…only in the Devil’s mind is this a possibility….
Many Protestant Evangelical churches today, are very passionate about Christ and His teachings, and have strong religious programs for you, your marriage, and family! And they are also pro-life, and pro-Christian Marriage! Many Latin Americans are converting to these churches, since ours has fallen to pieces! Some converts secretly still say their Rosaries!
Is it possible to tell if the few “traditional” churches in the diocese that offer ad orientem or Latin mass are doing? Better, worse, same?
I think the attendance decline is due to a combination of many factors listed above, and I’d like to add the following to the list:
—Most church-going Catholics tend to be conservatives, and conservatives are fleeing far-left California, and especially the Bay Area, in droves each year.
—Many conservative Catholics have become disillusioned with liberal Catholics in high places—clergy, religious and laity—who have feet of clay, seem pharisaical, power-hungry, and condemning of conservative points-of-view. McCarrick is a good example.
—Fewer and fewer young families can afford to buy homes in California’s largest cities and their suburbs.
—Years of sub-par Catholic education in both Catholic schools and Religious Education have taken their toll.
I don’t know what the answer is, but my family is also looking to leave the state in the next few years.
Years ago, I knew of a man and his wife, who prayed for the grace to be financially able to relocate to a place with a good church, of an all-Tridentine Latin Mass religious order. There are many thriving, growing communities of this type, perfect for a Catholic family! When the man retired, this couple found the perfect opportunity, and relocated– and have lived “happily ever after” in their new home, ever since! A great blessing!
Oh– this retired married couple relocated to a place with a wonderful, growing, thriving church, run by the FSSP! They have lived there, “happily ever after!” A precious “dream come true!” (Mine, too!)
The Catholic Church is a wonderful institution if you get involved and really believe that the Mass is a transformational experience that can be enjoyed daily and weekly. However I do think in our ever evolving world Our Church is often viewed as not very welcoming, often cold and stuffy as well as off putting to people that are new or different views or lifestyles. There is also a growing tension in the Church between the conservative elements that want to reject modern thinking on progressive issues such as climate change, immigration, non-traditional lifestyles, etc. and the progressives that want to modernize or liberalize the Church to reflect these concerns and issues. Frankly I think the Church should stay out of politics and stick to teaching the Word of God and Jesus and provide services and Ministries that bring people and the community together in a loving and generous way.
Lived in Pleasanton about 12 years ago. Looked for a church for the family to attend. Tried one in Pleasanton first thing I remembered thinking is what protestant architect designed this church? The only crucifix present was the small processional one. Seating “in the round” , What or whom was the center focal during the mass? Tried one in Livermore. Priest allowed non ordained clergy (professional staff) to administer a “reflection” in lieu of the homily You could tell who was running that parish. Not the priest! Maybe the issue is Catholics are looking for the sacraments and guidance in developing a stronger prayer life. Take a look at St. Michael and St. Charles Borromeo web sites and see if you can determine the authentic Catholic Church.
Jesus! Jesus! Jesus! Why don’t we just give people Jesus? BE the Church and quit going through the motions.When you are salty, people are thirsty and they will come.
Stay salty my friend, stay salty :)
What is this “welcoming” nonsense? Have you noticed the light hanging above or near the tabernacle? That’s all the warmth needed. Coffee and donuts after Mass in the parish hall is a great idea for meeting people but that isn’t what it’s all supposed to be about. Lukewarm priests who want to be liked, God-awful liturgy. Had the traditional Latin Mass not become available in many churches in my area, I think I’d be an eastern Catholic by now if not actually an Eastern Orthodox. Want to see children and large families? Go to a traditional Latin Mass.
Get the lay people and girl altar servers off the stage (er, the altar). No more “extraordinary ministers or lay “lectors.” Put the priests back to work and get them out of so many meetings, vacation trips to who knows where, back to distributing communion to the sick. Get rid of pianos and guitars. Learn Gregorian chant and banish Marty Haugen’s music inside the church.
Post hoc, ergo propter hoc. This isn’t a California vs the rest of the country issue, nor is it a main-line Protestant church issue. Attendance is down all over the country. People go where they are welcomed, where there are services available for their needs. Let me compare “us” to the mega evangelical church in our area. They have thousands attend each of three services on Sunday, they have three ordained pastors responsible for the small group activities. they have highly paid musicians, the have Bible study each evening of the week, youth activities after school each day, licensed family counselors on staff every day, job search programs, AA programs, Scouts, Athletic programs, at least two to three people at each door to welcome people, escorts for the immobile, golf carts in the parking lots to pick up older folks and take them to the front door, people assigned to visitors to get them registered and into groups, and it goes on. But most important they preach about Jesus all the time.
You can’t judge the Catholic church by Protestant rules. People who come to church wanting a (necessarily superficial) “welcoming” social feeling are already coming for the wrong reason. Worship isn’t about us. It’s about Him. And no other church offers a more intimate connection with Christ than the true Eucharist on offer from the Catholic Church, which Christ Himself founded.
Bob March, evangelization is about bringing people to Christ. If we don’t welcome them, why would they come back? If they don’t know about the true Eucharist, how will they learn and believe if we don’t welcome them? Would you go to someone’s home if you were not welcomed? If you live outside the Church, many see us as a hate group. How do we convince them otherwise if we don’t welcome them?
“If you live outside the Church, many see us as a hate group” And you will be hated by all men because of me, Mark 13:13. Bob One if you judge the Church by the measure of corrupt groups like the ADL and SPLC then we are hate group. We don’t welcome those by compromising what we believe….
Bohemond, it is hard to think of the Anti Defamation League as a bad organization unless you support anti-semitism. It is hard to think of the Southern Poverty Law Center as a bad organization unless you support hate groups. Each of these groups fights hard to ensure equality in our country. I reviewed the hate groups listed in California by the SPLC. Couldn’t find one that shouldn’t be on the list. I’m not sure why you call them corrupt groups. That would be like calling the ACLU corrupt when all it does is support the Bill of Rights.
Bob one once again swallows all liberal naratives the SPLC considers the following Catholics group/individuals a hate groups …now I can assure that none of the orgainzations are hate groups, they just don’t goose step secularist tunes played at the SPLC. But it doesn’t surprise me that a liberal like you would side the secularist over actual Catholics.
Catholic Family News/Catholic Family Ministries, Inc.* (Niagara Falls, New York)
Christ or Chaos* (West Chester, Ohio)
Culture Wars/Fidelity Press* (South Bend, Indiana)
The Fatima Crusader (Constable, New York)
IHM Media (Richmond, New Hampshire)
IHS Press (Norfolk, Virginia)
In the Spirit of Chartres Committee (Carrollton, Virginia)
The Remnant (Forest Lake, MN)
Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary* (Richmond, New Hampshire)
As for the ADL like their comrades at the SPLC they stand for everything the Church preaches against abortion, gay, marriage etc. You know what else they they threaten local municipalities with lawsuits should they dare display a Creche scene at Christmas time, I know because I saw it happen…
bohemond, clever use of the “hate” scripture, but you’ve got it backwards. It is the Believers who are to be hated. The Scripture is not saying that we are to do the hating. HUGE difference!
Oh, Bob One– in case you didn’t know– all of those above-mentioned groups truly hate the Catholic Church, and seek to destroy it in any way they can! For example– they seek the immoral legal “rights” of those who practice abortion, prostitution, gay sex and gay “marriage,” gay adoptions of children, etc. etc. — and seek to legally shut down Catholic organizations that uphold Church teachings! They are EVIL!!
Bob One– did you know that the ACLU has always been a HUGE supporter of the “rights” of women to work as prostitutes (or “sex workers,” as they call it!)?? These so-called radical “human rights” groups, listed above– are a FRAUD!! Extremely dangerous!!
So now YFC and not surprisingly anyone who is a Faithful Catholic who does not goose step to the secular worldview must now be considered filled with hate….
Bob One, people don’t get up on Sunday morning and go to church, to get “welcomed!” That’s silly! They go to worship God! And it’s nice, if the other worshipers are friendly, too. I have talked to people who said they came to church, or returned to the Catholic Faith, because they needed God, for various reasons. And they desired to pray, and to seek Him! Many also seek a good church for their families, and worry about their children growing up with good Christian values, staying away from sin and danger!
The FSSP is in full communion with Rome and only offers the Latin Mass, the Extraordinary Form. It is indeed extraordinary that the FSSP has seen no decline in Mass attendance, but rather a continual increase. On Sundays, folks are literally spilling out of the pews. As you say, Bob, worship is “about Him.” In the Latin Mass, the sacrifice at the altar is the focal point. The Latin Mass is totally “about Him.” When worship is about Him, folks attend.
LOVE the FSSP!!
There are some great comments here but there are also a lot of the demonstrations of outright hostility that turns so many people off. It’s not about how good the coffee is after mass. It’s the expressions of judgement that the congregants so often demonstrate as they sip their Sanka.
There was a priest, along with several other priests and laypeople, who turned a poor, failing Catholic Church in California into a major shrine. There is a book on line about it entitled “Our Lady’s Way, Cultivating the Fruit of Peace”, by Rosemary Alva.
It says on the back of the book, “This is the remarkable story of the priests and people who turned a futureless church into a mecca of faith and conversion with a simple hope for the future, zeal for souls, and unwavering love for Christ and his Mother.”
“Modernists” they were not, although up-to-date methods were used.
The back also quotes Fr. John Sweeney, “Prayer works. I didn’t have anything but a prayer”.
The book I mentioned is on line in color for $55, it it can be bought in black and white for around $20, especially at the Gift Shop at Our Lady of Peace Shrine in Santa Clara. There teachings about the evils of abortion, artificial contraception were and are taught. I have seen a change since Msg. Sweeney, Frs. Devlin, Warren, Shichida and others have passed away, but the shrine is still orthodox Catholic. Also, Fr. Sweeney had the newer Latin Mass and the Traditional Latin Mass at the shrine. From there it went to other churches in the valley.
May they rest in peace. They fought modernism hard. It was an up hill battle for them all the way.
LOVE Our Lady of Peace in Santa Clara! Fr. Sweeney did a tremendous job!
He was a true believer, and it just rubbed off on all who knew him.
Wonderful, to learn of all the best Catholic churches, in every community! Handy for travel, too!
If they are selling a book for $55, maybe the story is not as remarkable as it is marketable :)
The book can be bought used or borrowed from their lending library, which I think they still have. Most books are more expensive when they first come out, but are found cheaper later. As I said before the black and white book is only $20. It is the one with colored pictures which is more expensive, certainly worth it to those who knew Fr. Sweeney, Fr. Devlin and the others if they can afford it.
That is another thing that Catholic churches need, good lending libraries..
Jesus expressed judgement against sin. We should follow the example that Jesus set for us.
I will mention something very discouraging. At beautiful Star of the Sea (San Francisco) the Pastor firmly believes that “since everyone always leaves town for Christmas (and other holidays), to visit family, and other reasons”– for the parish to plan for big, beautiful Masses and religious devotions at Christmas, Easter, (etc) isn’t worth it. Oh, how awful! I disagree!
Star of the Sea, a big, beautiful church that seats (I think!) up to 1000 people– once was a large, thriving Catholic bastion, with a rectory full of priests, a convent full of nuns, and a grade school and high school– Star of the Sea Academy. Many large Catholic families lived within parish boundaries, and the church was always packed, every Sunday, and on Holy Days! In those days of long ago– no one would ever dream of not planning big Masses, big celebrations, for Christmas, Holy Week and Easter! Lots of big Catholic families used to live in San Francisco! And they didn’t “go out of town” for Christmas– emptying the churches! Plus– we all had to go to Midnight Mass on Dec. 31st, New Year’s Eve– for the Feast of Circumcision, on Jan. 1st! (After Vatican II, Church leaders changed the name of that Feast Day, as everyone knows.) The Catholic Faith was once very serious! And life used to be centered on the Catholic home and family! That is how it should be!