Dear Editor, In his article following on from his trip to Los Angeles (IC 25/02/2016), I think that Michael Kelly is missing a critical point when he writes of the “vibrant” liturgies that he experienced in his visit. A key contributor to this environment of vibrancy and life is the strong connection of the families of the parish with their parish church in the United States.
In Ireland, we largely devolve faith formation to the schools, most of which operate under Catholic patronage and with a Catholic ethos. Other than on the days of reception of the sacrament or in the one or two events that precede this, children’s involvement and participation in the life of the parish is limited. What is even more damaging is that no ongoing and developing relationship or connection with the parish is formed.
In the US, and apart from the very small minority of private (read, expensive) Catholic schools, the vast majority of Catholic children attend the public school system that is devoid of any faith formation. The result is that children attend catechetical classes in their local parishes from an early age and through to Confirmation, typically at 15-16 years of age. So much of this is linked into Sunday liturgies and so the connection with parents and the wider family.
We lived in the US (Massachusetts) for a number of years. This was our experience, and parish life there bore no comparison with what is often, in Ireland, dull and uninspiring. Why – because so many families are absent in Ireland.
I am a committed Catholic in every possible way; as a couple, we have reared three daughters through Catholic education. I want to be part of a living, joyful parish. However, I am certain that as long as we leave faith formation to the schools, irrespective of notional ethos, then there is no possibility of the vibrancy of which Michael Kelly writes ever returning except in very few and rare instances. And how sad is that?
Yours etc.,
T. Gerard Bennett,
Bunbrosna,
Co. Westmeath.
