Church Shopping (4)

                                 Church Shopping (4)

The program I described also demonstrated the abandonment of the principle of subsidiarity, that decisions should involve those who must implement them and be made at the lowest level possible, It was imposed from the top without consultation as to the need or the appropriateness of the material.

No two communities are identical in their needs or their composition and such programs should be tailored to the needs and also to the abilities of the participants. Many parishes must adapt their programs to accommodate different levels of spiritual maturity as well as educational backgrounds.

Perhaps what I am saying is that while the neophyte may be seeking an introduction to Christ for the first time, others may be seeking a deeper personal relationship with Him and a fuller understanding of His Gospel. If a church or the church community is not prepared to respond to this search, the seeker may go elsewhere, to another church of the same or of another denomination. If we fail to meet this need, which is actually universal, we tend to blame the seeker, but the failure us ours. Since only 50% of those who leave join another church, we all fail the other 50%.

But if we meet the need, if we have a warm, vibrant, welcoming community, if the joy and love of Christ is evident in our celebrations, and His message is faithfully and enthusiastically proclaimed in the homily, then the seeker has found a home where their faith is fed and nurtured and grows to maturity and bears fruit in abundance.

Doctrinal orthodoxy, a Scripture-based theology, may be what the visitor is seeking, but it also seems that the presentation of the message, the welcome and the friendly atmosphere in which it is communicated may be the factor which determines the choice. Only you can provide that.

(The end.)