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Posted on 10/09/2011 1:19:05 PM PDT by Alex Murphy
"It's always hurtful to the people it's happening to, but these closures in Bridgeport are certainly more limited than it might have been," said Paul Lakeland, professor of religious studies at Fairfield University. "Catholics don't go to church every week like they used to. Today we're seeing about 25 percent of Catholics go to church at least once a week, quite a significant drop-off from what it was 50 years ago."
It was a different picture back in the 1960s.
"Back then, every Mass was packed," said Charles Brilvitch, the city's former historian and a lifelong city resident. "You'd walk into church and it was standing-room only"....
....Many faith communities, including some Catholic parishes, are thriving. But many are not. Wether its a diocese with hundreds of parishes or a storefront church next door to a bodega, those in charge are painfully aware of the fact that income largely comes from voluntary donations. Churches can't take their flocks to court for not contributing.
..must not comment...You’re KILLING me here!
Freep-mail me to get on or off my pro-life and Catholic List:
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Surprisingly to some, one church that escaped the padlock was Sts. Cyril & Methodius Church. It towers over the East Side and arguably has the most beautiful and ornate interior of any church in the city. It opened in 1907 as a Slovak church; today, it's the last one in the city that offers a Latin Mass.
Sorry to hear about the others, though.
Many of you don’t go to church and you’re making fewer babies. Want some cheese with that whine?
Not surprising. The population of Bridgeport has declined by 15% and the white population by 30%: all the Irish and Italians have headed for the suburbs - it’s not as if all these parishioners have decided to become Warren/Osteen clowns.
I wonder if the local bishop would be willing to accept the idea of a sole corporation Catholic church “accessory or missionary” and separate from his sole corporation diocesan property?
That is, it would be separate from the diocese property, and thus insulated against any debts or judgments against it, and would have special rules, perhaps with services by “visiting clergy”, or affiliation, but not ownership to a religious order.
A real blend, in other words. Part private chapel, part monastic annex, part church, operated and managed by a board of directors, under guidance from the bishop, etc.
A single wealthy person might be the owner of the private corporation, with the idea that there are not enough regular congregants to support a whole church, but enough so that travel for them would be burdensome.
Yet, I understand that Seminaries are full... Can we turn this around? It seems to me that we need to double down on high school and college, instill a new set of values in the youth (rather than parties and electronic gadgets). I heard a little bit about that at Mass this morning. We have a very successful, exceptional Catholic school system in inner city Milwaukee run by the Capuchins. A school system within a school system, so to speak. They just announced that they were going to start emphasizing education for everyone in the schools (K through 12) rather than just the brightest. I’m not sure quite what Father (a visiting priest) meant, but I’m sure that I will hear more about it as the year goes on.
We are in the suburbs, and we seem to lose many of the young people as they go to college. They relocate to other cities upon graduation and don’t come back to church until their children are ready for the sacraments — if then. They are chasing the almighty dollar, rather than save their souls.
“...the harsh realities of empty pews and dwindling contributions.”
..and yet the Vatican takes in $200 MILLION a week from the United States..
Well, the Church is not a building. It is a body of believers. Why not meet in each other’s houses, like they did when the church was in its infancy? What would be wrong with that?
There used to be a lot of Irish and Italians and other Catholics in Bridgeport. As in many other cities, most of them moved or were driven out by an influx of blacks, during the period of forced integration.
These used to be neighborhood churches, in basically all-Catholic neighborhoods. Now the ethnic neighborhoods have been destroyed. That’s the chief reason why attendance is down so much.
There are a few black Catholics, but not many. So the neighborhoods are no longer Catholic. Something has got to give, but of course, no one wants it to be THEIR church, and you can’t really blame them. But that’s the way it is.
200 million a week?
That’s all ?
Not enough priests. Besides, we already have the churches, why not fill them again?
Well, because of the price of the upkeep of those churches. Not enough priests? Just what would be involved in having services at home? I’m curious. What steps would need to be taken in order to meet at someone’s house?
Simply, since priests do have masses at parishioners homes from time to time, nothing.
The priest will bring his traveling case which contains a chalice and hosts. The wine is supplied as is the water which must be added to the wine. It signifies Christ's nature, human and divine.
That's it.
Mass has been said at my home once in the past.
We have Small Christian Communities which meet at homes as well as prayer and bible studies which meet at home.
As far as the churches, I know of many other denominations that have closed doors because the demographics have changed. Detroit is a case in point because of the many immigrants from Islam.
Most parishes are kept up by the parishioners. Our parish has its cleaning, repair, maintenance and grounds done by the parish members.
Interestingly enough, my husband and our friend painted a Pentecostal rectory, or whatever you call the minister's home for free and did repairs gratis.
They did it because their Pentecostal friend was unable to help because of illness and the congregation is old.
Some people do believe that Christians should help other Christians.
BTW, Mass is WORSHIP is it not something singular.
It is the highest form of adoration.
The mass at my home was for an extraordinary purpose.
Sunday mass is the gathering of all the community for the purpose of adoring the God.
We haven’t had any Churches close here... yet! We have seen several parochial elementary schools close though. That certainly doesn’t bode well for the future of the Church.
My wife is pastor of a small Methodist Church and has been tormented by the decline in attendance there. I spent an hour or so talking with her Bishop a couple of years ago and he indicated that Churches of all denominations have the same problem.
Perhaps the time is coming...
“..and yet the Vatican takes in $200 MILLION a week from the United States”
Where is your cite for that because I have 2010’s figures which are:
The 2010 financial report for the Holy See yielded some good news for a change when it was published last weekend. This is Peter’s Pence collection from the worldwide churches which is done once a year.
For the last three years the Vatican had made a succession of losses but for the 2010 financial year the Holy See... total revenue of €245.2 million against total expenses of €235.3 million.
http://www.cinews.ie/article.php?artid=8718
Alex, you posted a thread last week about the Catholic Church..part of the article talked about the $200 million a week the Vatican receives from the U.S. Do you know which thread that was?
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