Traditionalists, suffering from the mortal sin of pride, often tout that their parishes or TLM Masses are the ones that are booming and with young people to boot. Never mind that while there are TLM Masses and parishes that are booming, these are not booming as much as more contemporary parishes with all kinds of post-Vatican II liturgical eccentricities.
One such parish, in the south by the way, is Saint Matthew’s Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. In 2015, according the a local television news expose, this parish had more than 10,000 registered households thus making it the largest parish in the USA.
The pastor then, who isn’t the pastor now, as he retired, describes himself as a product of the 1960’s and somewhat stuck there. But he has or had a larger than life personality, able to create around himself the cult of the personality.
But his parish and the various ministries, and many, many of them, have brought the people into this parish and there is active/actual participation not only with the Mass but the good works that parishes and individuals should be accomplishing.
I have no idea if the new pastor was and is able to continue to pull people in by shear force of his personality. I suspect he had a hard road to trod in that regard.
Does anyone know what the parish is like today compared to 2015 when a local station in Charlotte did this nicely done report. Press the link for the video:
8 comments:
I think there are more liberals, guilty of the mortal sin of pride. You're a mind reader now?
If you look at the parish bulletin they offer a lot of very traditional groups like the Legion of Mary,
Father McDonald, brace yourself for the usual attacks that you will receive from "traditionalists."
You have been attacked each time that you have directed any degree of criticism at trads.
That will not change.
One is not permitted to utter the truth in regard to "traditional" Catholicism. One must march in lockstep with trads.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
It is wonderful to have viewed the holy, vibrant manner in which that parish has thrived.
Their efforts to care for the spiritual, as well as material needs, of God's children, is uplifting.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
Every parish I've known in my life has imploded, and am fairly sure that my attendance was not the cause. They all depended upon "aren't we a great and caring club to which to belong?" mindset, very self-referential as to how wonderful they were with all their good works and socials to which everyone welcome.
Now they are all very old people watching their parishes collapse, still putting on the same show and wondering where it all went wrong, and wondering why they are dying off, frightened and alone.
Same today at the only two parishes less than an hour from me. One of them a giant modern church which appears a county jail from the outside, now mostly empty even Sunday morning, even the choir numbers down accentuating the empty seats of the music section down front and off to right of altar, complete with a sound system a rock band would die for, and the locally obligatory grand piano, and of course a bell choir for special days.
So, I expect that church you mention is or will suffer the same fate, same as all others who cannot show members how to encounter God.
I think TLM parishes are more conducive to an encounter with God, as more time during Masses for contemplation (virtually nil in modern Masses), and the churches more often open for individual prayer (most modern churches locked with maybe a shabby second rate "adoration chapel" available), and often more inspiring the sense of the holy inside the churches.
I see a far higher percentage (although still an extreme minority) of TLM parishoners praying before/after/outside of Masses, seeking God (near zero at modern churches) and also see loads of militant, abrasive, holier-than-thou parishoners at TLM parishes who generally are not those noted for that prayer life, their attitude being "our club is better than your club".
Almost none at either type parish receive any spiritual catechesis, and them entirely fixated on their respective rites, where at least a TLM parishoner stands at least some chance of developing a spiritual life on their own due to more opportunity and rites/churches generally more inspirational in the sense of the holy existing at all.
The majority of either variety are lacking enough of spiritual life that their days are numbered, because at either, there generally is nobody there who can lead seekers to God.
In answer to your question as to the parish, their bulletin is 16 pages long, 5 of them paid advertising, directory of groups would make the USCCB proud, 4 priests listed, 7 deacons, a gift shop advertising latest seasonal gifts, and seems just a really nice mall to which to belong. I predict it will be on the rocks in 5yrs, certainly by 10yrs, and nothing like a really huge church with declining members to accentuate how empty the building is becoming. They are following the wonderful public school model in consolidation, with same results, large churches are to worship what public schools are to education and McDonalds is to fine dining.
I’m definitely a proponent of the traditional Latin Mass, but a reverent Novus Ordo Mass brings people in too. We have a few dedicated parishes to the TLM in the KC area and some that offer both, yet I feel a reverent Novus Ordo Mass celebrated in continuity with our liturgical patrimony is another worthwhile expression of the Roman Rite. My parish with a reverent Novus Ordo Mass has produced a healthy parish environment and I think such parishes going forward will be key in evangelization.
https://m.facebook.com/shrineofdivinemercykc/
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