I should add to what I posted that I would also imagine that consolidating small parishes into one vibrant parish might also be more conducive to priestly vocations within the community. A native anglophone clergy would be a plus, I would think. All the Ukrianian churches around here have foreign priests with thick accents. The priest at the church I went to last Sunday kept referring to Saint John the Baptist as "Saint John this Baptism".

No parish should be allowed to grow beyond 1000 people. No priest can know more than that, and no parish can be a family of faith beyond that. Industrial scale Christianity does not work.

People do not think if Jesus, His death on the Cross, His burial, and His glorious Resurrection at a festival. They are there to eat, drink, and have a good time.

My parish has had festivals for decades and there has been no growth that I can remember as a result of this. The Fundamentalists don't do this. They go out, knock on doors, and by doing so, they find the people who are hungry and then disciple them into the Church. What is with Catholics that we are so lazy that we can't get off our duffs and do the same thing?

The very first step in Evangelization is for the priest to have a vision for his Church and that they share it. It's the manly thing to do. Most priests have no vision. That's why in so many cases, the people perish.

I can go with this. The priest at the Roman Catholic parish I've been going to, since I arrived in Oregon, last year, definitely had a vision, throughout his 19-year tenure, there. In this time frame, he spearheaded the construction of a new gymnasium, media center, and a k-8 school program. On top of that, there are various ministries for youth, and adult parishioners. It seems like every mass offered is semi-packed, or packed (there are four offered on weekends, and daily masses in the morning).

I understand the concern for small numbers within individual parishes. But, I think it should be a great way to get something going, in grassroots fashion.

I wouldn't want too big of a parish where you couldn't recall anyone on a first-name basis, however.

I agree with your point about those festivals not being as effective as advertised. If you give anyone anything distracting their attention away from what you're communicating, they'll very likely tune out really quickly.

Going door to door, or person, is effective, and most desirable. However, I've come across many evangelists, or would-be evangelists who would do, or say things rubbing me, or anyone else, the wrong way. Choice of words are important to a degree. The segue into talking about Jesus is the toughest part for me. I suppose it has something to do with Jesus not being readily acceptable to the masses. Or, maybe the lack of confidence in my ability to relay the Gospel to others because of my encounters with overly zealous evangelists.

I recently attended the Electronic Entertainment Expo, in Los Angeles. There, I came across a venue, named Game Church. They provide services to at-risk youth through the medium of video games, as a bridge to discussions of Christianity. So, I think, it'll come down to having a good bridge, not so much they'll accept the invitation right away, but sufficiently have the seed planted into their minds.

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I don't think I'm exactly lazy when it comes to my faith but I am ambivalent about quite a few elements of it and consequently am almost completely lacking in missionary zeal. I discern a lot of hooey in Catholicism and wouldn't want to inflict that on anyone else.

Besides, I come from a very religiously diverse family and consequently our attitude was "to each his own." That still makes sense to me.

















Besides, I come from a family of diverse religious confessions and our attitude was, "to each his own." That still makes sense to me.

Really? I guess I'll just have to hand in my baptismal certificate, because I was obviously at the food festival only to eat, drink and have a good time.

Then why aren't I a Mormon or Jehovah's Witness?

Sheesh! You people have such narrow, limited ideas of evangelization, which can mostly be summarized as "Get 2x4, hit people over the head with it".

You win more converts with pieroghi or baklava than you do with tiresome sermons by semi-educated apologists or tracts written by historical, biblical and theological simpletons.

Ever notice the Mormons NEVER discuss THEIR theology when they evangelize?

Really?

We always have 2 or 3 new members/families after our food festival. During the few weeks leading up to it, our pastor always reminds us that, yes, we hope to make a lot of money, but our real goal for the festival is evangelization, to introduce people to our church, our history, our faith. Two or three new parishioners per food festival may be small returns for the amount of work we do, but two or three souls? Well worth the effort!

That's very good news. People follow a leader. They don't lead on their own.

I can only base my response from the standpoint of having personally encountered them: I usually don't let the discussion get to that point. The same goes for Jehovah's Witnesses. Yeah, I'll get their pamphlet, to be nice. I will also read some of what it says, but it doesn't mean I'll flock to them. Or, I'll say, I'm already a believer; and they let me go my way.

[quote=Penthaetria][quote=Lester S][quote=Irish_Ruthenian][quote=StuartK]Actually, just have a food festival, and they will come. Tack on a church tour, maybe throw in a concert by the choir, and invite people to come back for Liturgy. Your net will catch many fish that way. [/quote]

My parish has had festivals for decades and there has been no growth that I can remember as a result of this. [/quote]

I agree with your point about those festivals not being as effective as advertised. If you give anyone anything distracting their attention away from what you're communicating, they'll very likely tune out really quickly. [/quote]
Really?

We always have 2 or 3 new members/families after our food festival. During the few weeks leading up to it, our pastor always reminds us that, yes, we hope to make a lot of money, but our real goal for the festival is evangelization, to introduce people to our church, our history, our faith. Two or three new parishioners per food festival may be small returns for the amount of work we do, but two or three souls? Well worth the effort![/quote]

I like this.

Mormons NEVER talk about their theology

In fact - I've never seen them talking to each other much about their theology

Look at all the resources for Orthodoxy / Catholicism slicing and dicing the theology in every way we can -

I don't see the theology books in large publishing houses and bookstores discussing the details of their theology.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THIS DISCUSSION?

In order to evsngelize - YOU BETTER HAVE THE TRUTH! THE TRUE FAITH!