Inspiration At Church?

This past Sunday I was lucky enough to experience something I have rarely seen growing up as a Roman Catholic: A Catholic mass that was slightly haphazard yet very welcoming, had a lively and inspiring church choir, took a good 10 minutes to go through the Sign of Peace, and was packed to the brim with worshipers. It was definitely unconventional yet managed to still be reverent. It was at Sacred Heart Catholic Church which is located in north Omaha.

Now maybe I’ve just led a very sheltered life and haven’t experienced the world but it seems to me that the majority of Catholic services are quite subdued, ordered and conventional, and the music is hit or miss. (We are lucky here at St. John’s to have an awesome choir). I’ve very rarely experienced the opposite. The other examples that come to mind are when I went to church in college and at church camp. The gatherings were of students my own age so I’m sure that was the main reason for the feeling of welcome and of “this can be fun.”

Everyone’s faith is different even within the same religion and I realize that there are those who wouldn’t like this type of worship. There are a lot of people who prefer to have a structured and traditional service. That’s fine. What I’m saying is that if more parishes were similar to Sacred Heart, then more young people would come to mass. In a world where numbers of Catholics are dropping rapidly, I think that the best way to stop that decline would be to attract the younger members who will eventually be the older folks in the community. One way is the music. If churches were willing and able to bring in a saxophone player and a drum set like Sacred Heart, it would be a great start. (I love St. John’s with the harp, piano, guitar, and occasional extra instruments).

But it wasn’t just the music that gave it a more welcoming feel. It was the whole attitude of the parishioners and priest. They were able to pray with each other in a way that wasn’t so stiff and solitary. There is a time for that to be sure. But if you want to gain a larger community of like minded people that’s what you have to do…focus on the community. Hence, the 10 minute Sign of Peace. Normally, you shake the hand of the person to either side of you and the people in front and behind you. Here (and at camp and in college) you take the time to go around and hug people. And not just the folks in your immediate vicinity. It’s hard not to feel welcomed in a situation like that.

I’m not suggesting that this is for everyone or that it is the answer to get more people excited about coming to church and staying with or joining the Catholic faith. But it is one answer. It certainly got me excited enough to blog about it!