In Europe, including in Belgium, France, Germany…many of the Sant’Egidio, Nuvoi Orizzonti, and other new ecclesial Catholic communities have very very full parishes. These communities usually have a special charism or pastoral center appealing to groups that are in need of belonging (elderly, migrants, disabled, addiction, depression, et…
In Europe, including in Belgium, France, Germany…many of the Sant’Egidio, Nuvoi Orizzonti, and other new ecclesial Catholic communities have very very full parishes. These communities usually have a special charism or pastoral center appealing to groups that are in need of belonging (elderly, migrants, disabled, addiction, depression, etc. etc.). And those very full parishes buck the overall trend of decline around them. For example, why was one parish in the center of DC full last Sunday while another parish only 3 blocks away was 85% empty. People go where they feel they can thrive and belong. And you are right, a lot of parishes we deem “conservative” do a fantastic job at that as well. It’s not a one size fits all.
I’ll note that these are challenges the Church and society in general hasn’t had to face until recently. It is one of many reasons why our pastoral paradigms have to be creative and adaptive, just as they always have been. It reminds me of some leaders in the Middle East who have “modernization” down to a science… allow the people just enough freedom to move about that they do not rebel. But how do we keep them together as one? It’s an even greater challenge for many groups within a community (including churches) to thrive in a democratic or free society. If the group is not relevant to the peculiarities that people face OR if it does not offer a life raft from the crazy world around it, that attendance is naturally going to decline.
In Europe, including in Belgium, France, Germany…many of the Sant’Egidio, Nuvoi Orizzonti, and other new ecclesial Catholic communities have very very full parishes. These communities usually have a special charism or pastoral center appealing to groups that are in need of belonging (elderly, migrants, disabled, addiction, depression, etc. etc.). And those very full parishes buck the overall trend of decline around them. For example, why was one parish in the center of DC full last Sunday while another parish only 3 blocks away was 85% empty. People go where they feel they can thrive and belong. And you are right, a lot of parishes we deem “conservative” do a fantastic job at that as well. It’s not a one size fits all.
I’ll note that these are challenges the Church and society in general hasn’t had to face until recently. It is one of many reasons why our pastoral paradigms have to be creative and adaptive, just as they always have been. It reminds me of some leaders in the Middle East who have “modernization” down to a science… allow the people just enough freedom to move about that they do not rebel. But how do we keep them together as one? It’s an even greater challenge for many groups within a community (including churches) to thrive in a democratic or free society. If the group is not relevant to the peculiarities that people face OR if it does not offer a life raft from the crazy world around it, that attendance is naturally going to decline.
See "From Christendom to Apostolic Mission".