CHANGE IS COMING

 

CHANGE IS COMING

Change is not always welcome.  We have our routines to which we have become accustomed and when they are interrupted it can be annoying.  I can speak from personal experience; in the past, the most difficult for me have been changes in priestly assignments; leaving what I know, people I care about, having to put into someone else’s hands projects I might have planned or started, and the whole hassle of moving.  But through every change God has been with me and has helped me to grow. 

The change which many of you have experienced is much more traumatic than my changes in assignment.  Perhaps you have experienced a terrible medical diagnosis, the loss of a spouse or child, divorce, the loss of a job, etc.  All these events which so many experience initiate unwelcome change.  It is difficult, but as followers of Christ we have great support.  We have the Church to help us by her prayers, the sacraments, and brothers and sisters in Christ.  The one to whom we have dedicated our lives tells us “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5) and our faith teaches us that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).  Everything else may change, but God does not change; his charity is never failing, and he accompanies us through difficult changes. 

There are changes that are good and even necessary.  We need to read the signs of the times, as the Second Vatican Council recommended, and make appropriate adjustments.  I recently read that we are experiencing for the first time in the history of the world the de-Christianization of a culture.  The consequence of the decline of faith in the West is a decline in Mass attendance, baptisms, weddings, ordinations, and consecrations to religious life.  This is a change that we do not welcome but it is one that we have to face.

All this musing leads me to the topic of a change in our Sunday Mass schedule.  I have made this difficult decision after consultation with the various parish councils and the Liturgy Committee.  The main reason for a change is that I think that we can better meet the pastoral needs of our people, all things considered, with two Masses on Sunday rather than three.  The seating capacity of the church is 890 souls.  Since September, not including Christmas and Easter, there were only 8 Sunday Masses out of 121 which were attended by 300 people or more.  That is less than half capacity.  The other Masses usually run from 95 to 140 souls in attendance.  Especially during the summer, the church looks empty during some of the Masses.  Moreover, despite the generosity of our volunteers, sometimes we fall short in filling our needs.

Beginning on Memorial Day weekend we will celebrate Mass at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. but not at 12 p.m.  The Vigil Mass on Saturday will continue to be celebrated at 4:30 p.m.  During the summer I will gather with the Liturgy Committee and other parish leaders and will evaluate the effect of the change and determine the Mass schedule following Labor Day weekend.  One thing we will have to take into consideration in scheduling Masses is the Christian Youth Faith Formation’s Sunday morning classes.  We are committed to keep them going.

The liturgy feels more vibrant when there are more people in the pews.  The best way to fill them, of course, is for all of us to share the good news with the non-churched and to invite the former-churched to return.  I pray every morning in my Rosary for revival in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.  Based on my experience of hearing confessions during Lent, I think it might be happening.  Your priests have noted a significant increase in confessions.  This is a good sign which we should support by our prayers. 

Monsignor John Graf, of happy memory, and the leaders of our parish who planned the building of the new church in 2001 had the good foresight to plan a large building.  Larger churches are a big help when there are fewer priests since fewer Masses are needed.  Our change will make it easier to get the coverage for our celebrations.  It will also create larger communities at the other three Masses, which should contribute to their vibrancy.  I regret any inconvenience to those who are used to attending the noon Mass.  Change can be painful but I think this one will lead to good.  Please pray for us in discerning the future schedule, and feel free to share your thoughts with me or any member of the Liturgy Committee.  Thank you for your understanding and your prayers.