When it comes to evangelisation, attitude is everything, writes Andrew O’Connell
If full churches are the opium of the clergy, then many priests will be on a high in two weeks’ time as the ‘Christmas and Easter’ brigade pour through the doors of every church in the land.
Already the notices have appeared in parish newsletters announcing, ‘in the interests of comfort and safety’, the addition of extra Christmas Eve Masses, with overflow car parking in the local GAA club.
And so, for one night only, our priests and parish pastoral councils find themselves face-to-face with the folk we struggle to connect with for the rest of the year.
One priest admitted to me that the Christmas influx is challenging. The congregation is often restless, unfamiliar with the liturgy and easily distracted. And, in a spirit of honesty, there is a quiet relief, he added, in knowing this doesn’t happen every week.
Many regular churchgoers will understand what he means. But, as challenging as it might be, our attitude needs to change because, when it comes to evangelisation, attitude is everything.
The right attitude involves shifting our focus to these irregular churchgoers, even if that involves changing well-established behaviours.
It might mean, for instance, that the senior readers stand aside voluntarily on Christmas Eve to allow younger faces to be seen by a younger congregation.
The right attitude would mean that the regular churchgoers would be the first to surrender their seats when the church becomes full so that newcomers might experience some sense of hospitality.
New folk
Rather than arriving early to take the parking spot closest to the church door, the mission-minded churchgoer will park at the furthest end of the car park to facilitate the new folk.
Attitude is everything and in two weeks we have a golden opportunity to connect with a huge number of people.
This is an area where parish pastoral councils – and not the overworked priest – ought to be to the fore. Perhaps it demonstrates the need for parishes to establish an evangelisation team that focuses on making the most of these opportunities.
Pope Francis, in Evangelii Gaudium, calls for a “missionary spirituality” among Church folk. In the past Irish women and men travelled thousands of miles to work ‘on the missions’. In two weeks’ time, the mission will arrive at the doorstep of our own local church.
Nightfever success
It's not often that a gang of young women, dressed for a night on the town and balancing precariously on oversized heels, approach the altar rails of a Dublin church on a Saturday night to light a candle and pause for prayer.
But that has been a regular scene at St Teresa's Church, Clarendon Street, whenever it hosts the Nightfever experience. Last weekend the landmark Carmelite church off Grafton Street hosted its eighth such evening, while the Capuchin Friary in Kilkenny hosted its first, joining churches in Cork, Galway and Wexford who have now experimented with the initiative.
The Nightfever formula involves pairs of young people taking to the streets to invite passers-by to light a candle and experience an atmosphere of prayer. The Blessed Sacrament is exposed inside a darkened church while reflective music plays in the background. Visitors can leave a prayer petition, take a Scripture verse or have their confession heard. Thousands of people have now participated in the experience.
In spite of the great challenges we face in Ireland, it's important to name and celebrate these little successes. Nightfever is innovative, outward-looking and youth-led. Evangelisation projects like this are good news.
Vocations on video
Speaking of good news, with the Year of Consecrated Life now under way, a four-minute long YouTube video featuring the testimonies of five Irish religious is attracting hundreds of views online.
The video features the testimonies of four young religious: Sr Monica Boggan (Redemptoristines), Br Conor McDonough (Dominicans), Fr Alan Neville (Missionaries of the Sacred Heart) and Sr Louise OíRourke (Disciples of the Divine Master) and includes the wisdom and ministry of a well-known, older religious ñ Bro. Kevin Crowley (Capuchins). The tone of the piece is refreshingly joyful and upbeat.
Filmed and edited by Tiny Ark productions, it ranks as one of the best video productions I've seen emerge from the Church in Ireland.
It's going to be a great resource for discerners and also for use by teachers in schools. Search for 'Celebrating the Year of Consecrated Life' in the YouTube search bar and you'll find it.
