Must Catholics attend mass?
Would Catholicism fundamentally change if Catholics no longer feel that being a committed Catholic requires going to Mass every week?
Source: youth.catholic.org.au [Photo creator: Dig It Photography. Copyright: Daniel Hopper Photography]
In February 2007, the Pastoral Projects Office of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference published a report titled “Catholics Who Have Stopped Attending Mass.” The report identified 10 reasons why Catholics stopped attending Mass.
Church-centred reasons.
The irrelevance of the Church to life today.
The misuse of power and authority in the Church.
Problems with the priest in the parish.
Lack of intellectual stimulation.
Concerns related to the parish as a community.
A sense of being excluded by Church rules.
Structural factors.
Particpant-centred reasons.
Family or household-related issues.
Crisis of faith.
Going to Mass simply not a priority.
Interestingly, the Report also noted that Australian Catholics no longer attended Mass because they “No longer feel that being a committed Catholic requires going to Mass every week” as the main reason.
Source: Catholics Who Have Stopped Attending Mass, 2007.
The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC) responded to this report by developing pastoral strategies centred around Community Identity, Personal Identity, Leadership and Mission. [Catholics who have ceased attending Mass – Pastoral Strategies]
Almost a decade later, the Australian Catholic Mass Attendance Report 2016 [pdf], Mass attendance continues to fall. In 1996, about 18 per cent of the Australian Catholic population attended Mass. In 2016, it was down to about 12 per cent.
Interestingly or ironically, the Church Life Profile for The Catholic Church in Australia 2016 [pdf] report identified that Catholics most value ‘Celebrating the Eucharist/receiving Holy Communion and Traditional style of worship or music (Attending Mass) about Church.
Source: Church Life Profile for The Catholic Church in Australia, 2016
This report also identified the demographic profile of Catholic church-goers in 2016.
Source: Church Life Profile for The Catholic Church in Australia, 2016
Given the demographic profile of the Church, and the 2007 report on the main reason why Catholics do not attend Mass, i.e. “No longer feel that being a committed Catholic requires going to Mass every week”, is there a need to understand the role of the Mass and the parish?
Is there a need for new strategies from ACBC that engage committed Catholics who do not attend Mass?
Greg Lopez