23 Ways To Identify A Faithful Parish
CRISIS Magazine - Special e-Report
January 14, 2005
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Dear Friend,
It has been almost three weeks since I last wrote you. For that I
apologize. Our office was closed for the Christmas break and then,
upon returning, I was hit with a particularly aggressive virus. (I'll
spare you the details.)
So please accept a very belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
I enjoyed both with my wife and some friends and family at our home
in Baltimore. We didn't have the snow that I always hope for on
Christmas day, but we were able to enjoy a roaring fire and a lot of
great conversation.
In my last email, you'll remember that I asked for your advice on a
letter I received from one of our readers. She's a non-Catholic who's
interested in entering the Church, but wants to make sure she gets
involved with a solid parish -- one that follows and promotes
authentic Catholicism.
So, she asked, what kinds of things should she look for when she
walks into a parish church for the first time? Are there any easy,
tell-tale ways to gauge the health and fidelity of that particular
parish?
An excellent question. And since it deserves a good answer, I
thought I'd ask for your input. Thank heavens I did, since you had
several pieces of advice that I'd never considered before. In fact,
there were so many first-rate suggestions, I've grouped them together
and turned them into a short e-Report. Please feel free to send this
to anyone you think would benefit from it. (You might also print it
out and save it in case you move and need to find a new parish
yourself.)
The following compilation comes in no particular order, and owing to
the length, I wasn't able to include every suggestion. Nor,
incidentally, do these 23 items contain the sum total of everything
that makes up a great parish. Since the question centered on a
parish's fidelity, I've tried to remain within those bounds.
Before I give you the list, I need to make an important final note:
In going through the 23 points, it's important to take them as a
whole, rather than focus on this or that specific item. For example,
it is certainly true that it's difficult to worship reverently in an
ugly, pray-barn type church. (You know the kind I mean.) But this
itself doesn't necessarily mean it's a bad parish. It may well be the
case that the current pastor arrived long after the church was built
and is simply stuck with a less-than-glorious structure.
Having said that, taken together, I do think these points can help
you identify a solid parish.
Let me know if you agree.
Have a wonderful weekend,
Brian
23 Ways To Identify a Faithful Parish
1. There is at least one daily Mass. Obviously, if a parish shares a
pastor with other parishes, this may not always be possible. But
barring that, a parish needs to offer daily Mass.
2. Confession is offered for a set time... not just "by appointment
only." The absolute importance of that sacrament must not be
diminished.
3. The tabernacle is inside the main church in a prominent place.
It's always frustrating to have to play "Where's Jesus?" when you
walk into a parish for the first time. I recall once when visiting a
church I'd never been in before, I confusedly genuflected to
everything from the cantor to a statue of St. Therese before I
figured out where the tabernacle was.
4. The church has kneelers. Period.
5. The church doesn't have a sign in the front that describes itself
as a "Catholic Community." I know, this one seems petty at first, but
it tends to be true. If a parish has an objection to the word
"church," that's a good indication that a larger problem exists. And
if that parish magnifies the nonsense with a sign that says something
like, "An Open, Inclusive Community of Catholic Christians Who Care
and Share," stop, turn around, run.
6. As you enter the church, you see people in the pews in prayer or,
at least, reverent silence. If, on the other hand, it looks like
social time down at the bingo parlor, that's a bad sign.
7. The Mass is not intentionally altered through the use of
inclusive language.
8. The Mass is said according to the General Instruction of the
Roman Missal and the instructions of the local bishop. Improvisation
is great in jazz. Mass isn't jazz.
9. The gospel is not being read, nor the homily given, by someone
other than a priest or deacon.
10. Latin has pride of place in the Mass. It's right there in the
documents of the Second Vatican Council. That should be reflected in
the liturgy itself.
11. The bread for the Eucharist isn't made with added ingredients
not allowed by the Church. Honey, for example.
12. The liturgical music focuses on God, not the community. We are
there, after all, to worship Him, not ourselves. And there's never a
good reason to sing songs about bridges over troubled waters. You can
do that at home, Mr. Garfunkel.
13. Extraordinary ministers do not outnumber the parishioners.
There's a reason, after all, that we refer to them as EXTRAORDINARY
ministers. We only use them when there are too many people for the
priest and deacon to handle.
14. If you're able to find the mission statement of the parish (it's
often carried in the bulletin), make sure it says something about
fidelity to the Magisterium of the Church.
15. And while you're thumbing through the bulletin, see if there are
other good groups there, like the Knights of Columbus, Legion of
Mary, St. Vincent de Paul, and Holy Name Society. A faithful Bible
study group is also a great sign.
16. The parish offers some form of Eucharistic adoration.
17. The parish has an active Pro-Life ministry, as well as a
ministry that cares for the poor.
18. The priest wears his collar. Now, obviously, if you see your
local pastor jogging one morning, he's not going to be wearing his
clericals. But a priest should generally look the part. It's an
important witness to the secular world and a sign that he recognizes
the great value of his own vocation.
19. The pastor isn't afraid to preach on the tough issues: abortion,
divorce, contraception, cloning, etc. That's not to say that every
homily should cover those topics. But a priest should truly believe
the Church's teaching and defend them without pause.
20. The parish's marriage preparation program includes instruction
in Natural Family Planning (NFP). And if someone involved in the
program describes NFP as "the rhythm method," go immediately limp and
drop to the ground. With luck, he'll think you passed out and will
take you to the emergency room, far, far away from that parish.
21. The church has a vibrant religious education program for both
children and adults based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
You might also try to find out who's involved in the program and
where they received their own formation.
22. The church's Website doesn't link to dissident groups like Call
to Action, Voice of the Faithful, or Catholics for a Free Choice.
And finally...
23. If there's a literature rack in the church, look at the
publications the parish is carrying. Dissident magazines or
newspapers tend to go hand in hand with a dissident parish. On the
other hand, should you see a copy of Crisis in the rack, join that
parish. The pastor is clearly a man of great taste and refinement.
***** LEARN THE REAL CAUSE OF THE CRISIS IN THE CHURCH *****
Sex abuse scandals... irreverent liturgies... homosexuality in the
seminaries... liberal theology preached from the pulpit...
You know all about the crisis in the Church. But you've never heard
the full story. When did the collapse in the Church occur... and what
REALLY caused it?
Fr. Benedict Groeschel knows. He was there when it happened... 10
years BEFORE Vatican II.
What he saw will surprise you.
Click here to learn more:
http://www.crisismagazine.com/products.htm
[Cut and paste into your browser if the link isn't active]
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