PRO  OR  CON  COMMENTS ON THE  NUMBER OF CATHOLICS

The  title of my comments is, “Pro or Con Comments on the Number of Catholics.”

 

25 years from now – I’ll be dead – but I’d like to know what the comments will be about Catholic Church numbers around the year 2050.

 

We all have heard about Catholics who have dropped out of our church because of the priest abuse cases. I think we need some more distance to be able to make clearer statements about that. Obviously lots of horror stories.

 

Then there are the dropouts because of the Corona Virus.

 

Time will tell some answers about that as well. Once the obligation of having to go to Mass was announced to prevent the spread of the virus we lost membership. People are coming back now. Are they coming back because they want communion – and community and they want to worship with congregation?  Zoom Masses are neat – probably better homilies – because and you can click your remote around till you find a great church and preacher in Colorado or Atlanta or where have you.

 

In the meanwhile I would suggest  making pro comments about the church.

 

We are called to be evangelists.  So instead of just listening to family members and others tell us about why they dropped out of church – with good reasons – the bad stuff they see in our church – mention good things.

For example, talk about Catholic schools and their gift to the world and to the nations. Villanova, Boston College, Bishop McDevitt, Regis High School where Doctor Fauci went in New York City, Red Bank Catholic, CBA, and Our Lady of Sorrows and a thousand other Catholic grammar schools.

 

How about mentioning Catholic hospitals, St. Jude’s, St. Rita’s, St. Joseph Hospital and Medical System in Phoenix.  Then there are hospitals and health care systems run by the Mercy Sisters, the Daughters of Charity, the Sisters of Providence, etc. etc.

 

How about mentioning food pantries, work for the poor, counseling places, retreat houses, spiritual direction ministry?

 

How about finding out about great parishes?

 

How about doing funerals, visiting nursing homes?

 

Today’s First Reading begins by saying we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses.

 

Today’s gospel talks about Jesus healing the daughter of Jairus and the woman who touches his garments and is healed of her bloods problems.

 

Today we celebrate the feast of St. John Bosco who did all kinds of education work for kids in Italy. At a time - 1855 – 331 houses affecting 4540 religious – were closes.  He figured on ways of working around the government – so boys  - especially the homeless could get an education and training.

 

Talk about the good stuff our churches do!