Returning to Mass

As I was catching up on the Catholic news I avoided reading while on vacation the past few weeks, I saw these few paragraphs from an article by The Pillar about Mass attendance. While many people have returned to Mass, overall attendance is down 14% since the beginning of the pandemic in March of 2020. It’s one of the largest declines we’ve seen. The question is why.

Reflecting on 2021

As I turn the calendar from one year to the next, I typically take some time to look at what worked and what didn’t so I can adjust for the new year. How often do you do this type of reflection in parish work? If you’re anything like me when I was in ministry, probably not all that often. If you do this already, great job!!

Even Better and Happier

Sharing the faith is a simple as sharing the story of our happiness, the cause for our joy, the reason for our hope! Although it’s simple, it’s not always easy! I love how this priest lays it right out in his email signature!!

Hospitality for Christmas Revisited

This is a re-post from a couple of years ago – and since we’re about to enter our second pandemic Christmas, I thought it was time to revisit hospitality! Many parishes had a reservation system last year because they were limiting seating due to local social distancing regulations. Some of you might be doing that again this year. However most parishes I’m speaking to are back to regular capacity with about 60 to 85 percent of parishioners returning to Mass.

Eucharistic Revival

I’m sure you’ve heard about the Bishop’s approving a plan for a three-year National Eucharistic Revival by now (read more here). A need for a deeper reflection and acceptance of The Real Presence has been needed for quite some time. Surveys show that even the most committed Catholics (those who attend Mass each week) do not all believe that Jesus is really, truly present in the Eucharist at Mass.

End of Year Giving

The end of the year is fast approaching, so I wanted to share a few thoughts on end of year giving to make it simple and easy for your parishioners.

Pass the Rolls

On the Wednesday before Thanksgiving my former pastor always gave the same homily. Sometimes he incorporated his advice into that Sunday’s message as well. But it ended with “Pass the Rolls.”

Some Ideas for Advent

The end of the Church year is rapidly approaching and that means Advent is almost here! As you prepare for the season of anticipation, how about trying a few of these fellowship ideas.

Dig a Little Deeper

Every month I gather with a few members of our team and walk through some elements of Conversation and Emotional Intelligence. We take an hour to reflect on what’s worked well this past month and learn about a new area where we can grow as a team. In the previous twelve months these monthly sessions have fundamentally changed the way this team relates to one another and other teams in the company.

Stewardship: Time and Talent

One of the most common responses to our survey question “What would allow you to volunteer more at the parish” is a write-in: “If someone called me back.” UGH, doesn’t that just hit you right in the middle of the chest. Sometimes people don’t get a call or email back to signing up because they’ve written illegibly and although we tried, we didn’t succeed. Sometimes they never responded to our emails or voicemails – communication is a two-way street.