Comments on: Keeping Count?

By: Fr. Christopher Costigan

Fr. Christopher Costigan — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:45:24 +0000

There are really two extremes at work here. The first is that we place so many barriers to someone receiving any sacraments that people say it is not worth it. I don’t mean Mass attendance (required of all Catholics, of course) but 17 parent meetings and 345 service hours and 2 banners. The other extreme is no requirements; just show up. I would like to hear what places are doing to hit the middle ground, so to speak.

By: Scott Pluff

Scott Pluff — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:30:28 +0000

Interesting idea, though it won’t take them long to figure out that they can swing by church, scan their fingerprint, then dash out to the waiting car to make soccer practice on time.

My parish just celebrated 7th and 8th grade confirmations last week. The pastor estimates that 2/3 of the confirmands rarely or never attend Mass. At least they used to come to Mass until they were confirmed and then fall away! Something is wrong, and something should be done.

I propose that we do away with “class” sacraments. If we are going to handle Confirmation as a rite of passage into adulthood (which is theologically suspect anyway) let’s leave it to each young person to come forward when he or she is ready and voluntarily enter a period of formation. Those who choose to attend Mass, attend catechetical sessions, and undergo some sort of spiritual direction could be confirmed at the Easter Vigil. Just say no to the sacrament mill!

By: Linda Reid

Linda Reid — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 15:12:50 +0000

I comment here as a long time advocate of Evening Prayer in my (RC) parish and diocese. Of course, there is good and beauty in attending many forms of prayer, (we are doing this currently with our RCIA class) but I think there is another reason for having confirmation and 1st Eucharist candidates “sign in” to prove attendance.
It is the case in our parish, where many of the children who come for the sacraments have not developed a habit of coming to church. Church has not figured at all, in some cases, in the family activities, but parents want the children to make these “landmark” sacraments. Church is not part of their routine as individuals or as a family. So the “signing in” is an attempt to develop a habit of mass attendance and participation.
It has been our experience that if the family does not even attend Mass ( their obligation as Catholics) they are far less likely to attend any other para-liturgy. If they do not even attend mass, they regard the Church as another consumer entity that should give them what they want when they want it.
So, while it seems like Mass attendance is all that is important, in many cases it is the starting point of (hopefully) a journey back to regular church attendance and participation in all the liturgies and para-liturgies the parish has to offer.
That having been said, I think the finger printing is a bit of over kill -!!

By: Karl Liam Saur

Karl Liam Saur — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 14:12:57 +0000

No Child Left Behind comes to Poland.

By: Gideon Ertner

Gideon Ertner — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 14:08:56 +0000

I hadn’t heard of that episode until I read your comment. Sure it isn’t April Fools? What a completely stupid way for a Pastor to operate, especially because of this:

“if they attend 200 masses they will be freed from the obligation of having to pass an exam prior to their confirmation…

Whether we attend Mass or not is a matter for our conscience. If we do attend Mass, we ought to do it to fulfill our religious obligations towards God and grow in holiness. We should not do it to get a mark in Father’s book or avoid an exam. Conversely, if we do not attend Mass even though we are obliged to do so we should be saddened because it is a sin, not because Father will force us to take an exam.