St. Clement Parish Cincinnati, Ohio

UPCOMING EVENTS

We will celebrate the Bicentennial of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati after all Masses on June 19 & 20 with refeshments and fellowship.

From Fr. E.J. - - 

We live in a time of significant transition. Covid-19 restrictions are lessening everywhere while social aspects of our lives slowly approach normalcy -- even if “normal” is a little different. It would be logical to expect some increase in the communal worship of God at Mass. Yet pastors in our deanery are wondering, “Will that increase happen? To what extent? How long will it take? How can we help that increase along? Why would folks want to return to Mass? If not, why not? What should we be planning for?”

            I have been thinking and praying a lot about these questions. Recently, I got it into my head to do a little research about these questions with the Pew Research Center. This Center is widely respected in Catholic Church circles for useful planning information. It has a long history as a nonpartisan research center informing the public about issues, attitudes and behaviors that shape various groups of people. Issues of religion and spirituality are a major part of their research.

             I found a 2017 study by the Center regarding this question: Why Americans go (and don’t go) to religious services. Since Catholics comprise 23% of the population of the United States, I am assuming that the results of this study pertain to Catholics. 

            The top reasons U.S. adults give for attending religious services are (1) to become closer to God, (2) so children will have a moral foundation, (3) to make me a better person and (4) for comfort in times of trouble. The top reasons U.S. adults give for not attending religious services are (1) I practice my faith in other ways, (2) I am not a believer, (3) I haven’t found a church/ house of worship I like.

            Do these results satisfy you? They don’t satisfy me. I have a deep-down feeling that the reasons why Catholics do or don’t participate in Sunday Mass are more profound.  The reasons are not entirely about Covid-19 because the decline in church participation had been happening long before Covid-19 arrived.          It seems like the Sunday obligation to attend Mass is becoming less of a factor in Catholic lives. Yet at the same time, the invitation to return to the in-person celebration of the Mass is being renewed.  

            With the undoing of Covid restrictions, every parish in the Archdiocese, including St. Clement, has begun a plan called TOGETHER. This plan is designed to encourage and welcome back the Faithful to in-person worship and sacraments.        The plan’s three primary components are Catechesis, Evangelization and Welcoming. St. Clement has completed three of the five weeks of the Catechesis portion of “Welcome Back!” On our parish Facebook page, parish staff and leaders have been posting 10-to15-minute catechetical videos to increase our parish understanding, appreciation and desire for Mass.  I am presenting Mass as the Source and Summit of Christian Life; The Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist; Sunday: Day of the Lord; Our Obligation to Worship; and Physical Presence vs. Virtual Presence.  Deacons, parish staff members and other parish leaders are offering video reflections based on Sunday readings.  We invite you to view these weekly videos at any time convenient for you.  

                                    Have a good week everyone!  See you at Mass!   Fr EJ