THE CATHOLIC CHURCH:
EXIT AND ENTRANCE POLLS

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily is, “The Catholic Church: Exit and Entrance Polls.”

Today we celebrate the feast of the Baptism of Jesus – this Sunday after the Epiphany. What to preach on?

I read the readings for this feast and said a prayer, “Come Holy Spirit!” and then I do what I do before every sermon. I look at an ikon of Jesus on my wall and say, “Help!”

Then I reflect on some basic questions: “How do these readings challenge us?” “What do people need for this Sunday?” “Where are they?” “Where am I?” “What’s happening?” The Arizona shootings are obviously on our minds and in our prayers and in our questions.

AMERICA MAGAZINE

The title and theme of my homily comes from the latest issue of America magazine. January 3-10-17, 2011) It was on my desk. I noticed on the cover the title of an article by William J. Byron, “Does the Church Need Exit Interviews?”

Good title. It had a hook – a catch. It got me to pick the magazine up and make that the first thing I read.

William J. Byron, a Jesuit, a priest, who is now at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia – former head of Catholic University – etc. etc. etc. addresses just the exit question. What about those who have dropped out of our Catholic Church? Why haven’t we interviewed them? Why haven’t we found out and identified what’s what and what’s not? Businesses would do it – if they lost this many people.

It’s a challenging article. It’s a professional article. It can trigger some good stuff.

He quotes a former military man who says, “Personally, I think exit interviews are too late. The church can find plenty of ideas from those still in the pews.” Then the man spoke for himself saying, “I only go to Mass to punch my ‘stay-out-of hell-for-another-week’ card. I don’t celebrate the Mass; I endure it.”

Woo! That says a lot! Hope he’s not in this parish.

Reading that I added to my title not just exit polls – those who have already left – but entrance polls. What are those who come to church thinking? Why are you here? What are your thoughts? What are your reflections? What are your hopes and expectations?

In last year’s survey questionnaire to our parish, I believe we only received a small sampling compared to the number of people in our parish. What does that say? In staff meetings I’ve heard that question come up at least 2 times already.

Next time – we [and who’s the we?] – we have to do better on getting responses from the whole parish – those who come to church regularly; those who come occasionally; and those who have practically dropped out – some of whom have gone to other churches.

What’s a good sampling? Do such surveys or polls do any good? Is there anything I really want to say or scream about? Restaurants have those quality questionnaires. How do they work?

I have been putting my Sunday sermons out in a blog entitled, “Reflections by the Bay” – as well as quotes – and some poetry and reflections since June 2007. You can get it through the St. Mary’s Parish Web site. However, I receive very little feedback for stuff I put on my blog. It’s not that user friendly on how to post a comment.

That’s a blog, that’s a computer, let me get back to Mass. We come here – to be with live bodies – live persons – away from technology, etc. We’re asked to turn off our cell phones. We come here to pray.

I assume the bottom line for most Catholics is Sunday Mass – the Sunday Liturgy – and the numbers are going down.

What would it be like to drive down Duke of Gloucester Street 25 years from now and the red brick church had become a museum – or St. Mary’s Apartments?

Great view!

Great location!

SEVEN STARTER QUESTIONS

William J. Byron gives 7 starter questions that could be a possible way to connect with those who are not showing up on Sundays:

· Why have you stopped attending Sunday mass regularly?

· Are there any changes your parish might make that would prompt you to return?

· Are there any doctrinal issues that trouble you?

· Does your pastor or anyone on the parish staff know you by name?

· Are you in a mixed religion marriage?

· Do your children go to church?

· Did you ever really consider yourself to be a member of a parish community?

IN THE MEANWHILE: THE BAPTISM OF JESUS

In the meanwhile, today we celebrate the Baptism of Jesus.

Jesus – the Sinless One – didn’t go to the Jordan River to have his sins removed.

Jesus comes out of his hidden life – his quiet life – his private life – and becomes public on this day.

It’s interesting to note that the Baptism of Jesus is the first mystery, the first decade, of these 5 new mysteries of the rosary that Pope John Paul established in October of 2002.

How about an entrance or exit poll on the rosary? How about an entrance or exit poll on this mystery?

What would it be like to poll all of you or ask you out loud today: What does this feast of the Baptism of Jesus mean to you?

I’ve been at Church Masses where priests would use this homily time to ask the congregation questions – using a microphone out loud – out there in the benches. It was my experience that sometimes this is done well. However, sometimes it drives people up the wall – and perhaps out of the door of the church as soon as possible!

If one of us started doing this, what would be your take on it? This parish posts on line who the priest is for Sunday liturgies. Some people vote with their feet. However, surveys have indicated that the majority of the people who go to the Mass on Sundays – base their choice on the time that works best for them – and not on the priest or preacher or what have you.

MOVE IT!

Moving along, so far I don’t think I have said anything that is memorable or helpful.

The question about polling those who have dropped out of our church or polling those of you who are here – is interesting.

It could be developed. Suggestion slips could be dropped in baskets each Sunday. Questionnaires could be ongoing and on line. Town Hall meetings could feature this as a major theme. These could bring about some improvements – if they are done well – especially if there was follow up to some clear specifics.

I would expect there would be suggestions about the parking lot at St. Mary’s. I would be most interested in questions and thoughts about Mass itself. How about you?

GOING PUBLIC: A POSSIBLE MESSAGE FOR THIS FEAST

Now – let me present something that has meat to it. It’s the question: “What would it be like for me to go public as a Christian?”

What would that mean at home or at work – in the neighborhood and in the world?

I would hope it would not mean one becomes a critic or a pain in the butt – an extremist or a fundamentalist. I would hope it would mean one would be more and more like Christ – more a more and more like the Servant mentioned in today’s First Reading from Isaiah 42 – going about doing good as Jesus is described in today’s Second Reading from the Acts of the Apostles. I would hope it would mean a Catholic Christian would be salt and light to the world. I would hope it would mean when we walk into a room we would bring joy to the world. I would hope here is a foot washer, a servant, a person who brings good news – a giver – a lover – a bringer of faith, hope and charity to the places we live and move and have our being. I would hope it would mean we would be like the great volunteers we have in this parish – in the St. Vincent de Paul Society – in visiting the sick – as well as great volunteers in the area – coaching – tutoring – EMT’s - cleanups – concerned about the earth and the poor [food and housing] – concerned about the old, the young, and those in between – as well as being great parents, teachers, service people, and on and on and on.

CONFIRMATION: GOING PUBLIC WITH OUR FAITH

Dioceses often face the question: What age should we have the sacrament of confirmation?

In the Eastern Orthodox Churches confirmation – which they call “Chrismation” or the “Sacrament of Myron” – “Myron” being the Greek word for “ointment” or “fragrant perfume” – they have this mystery or sacrament right after a baby’s baptism – and after that they receive the Eucharist. People who are baptized as babies receive all 3 sacraments at the same time.

In the Western Church confirmation is received after Baptism when we’re talking about babies. Confirmation is received at various ages – usually sometime in early teens.

The sad joke I’ve often heard is that some bishops will fight to have it as late as possible, because it’s the last time we see these teens till Marriage.

My suggestion is to study whether to have this sacrament of confirmation at the age of 30 – when Jesus went public or at the age of 33 or 35 – and find out if Confirmation will have a much greater lifetime impact on folks and their Spiritual Life as Christians. There would be a renewal of my faith program and then a big Adult Confirmation in my Christian Faith Liturgy – to publically state what my parents and Godparents proclaimed for me as a baby.

That age 30 or 33 or 35 comment will go into my Blog. Let me see if that gets any action.

There would be a lot less confirmations – but I would hope they would be a lot more serious – adult – going public with my Catholic Faith – with my Christian life.

CLOSING QUOTE

I don't know how to end this, so let me close with a quote from C. G. Jung.

"Among all my patients in the second half of life - that is to say, over thirty-five - there has not been one whose problem in the last resort was not that of finding a religious outlook on life. It is safe to say that every one of them fell ill because he had lost what the living religions of every age have given to their followers, and none of them has been really healed who did not regain his religious outlook" (Collected Works, Vol. 11(1958), pg. 334).