November 6th

Dear Friends,
Each October all of the parishes in the Archdiocese count the number of people attending Mass on the weekend. As you might guess, we have been in steady decline for several decades (hence the closing and merging of so many parishes over the years). When I was ordained, I think we had 500 parishes in the Archdiocese. Seven years ago we had about 350 parishes. We now have about 260 (some with multiple sites, like ours). In 1990 (the year I was ordained) the average Sunday count in October was 582,000. In 2000, it was 561,000; in 2010 it was 457,000. In 2019, the Fall before the COVID pandemic, it was 365,000. In 2021 it was 214,000. Our parish average in 2021 was 422 (combined, all four Masses).

I am pleased to report that we saw an uptick in 2022, something that I’m sure you’ve noticed just by looking around. Here are the stats: The average for the 4:30 Mass was 96 people; for 8am Mass- 75; for 9:30- 181; and for 11- 179. The weekend average was 531 people. I am thrilled to see us increasing, and I will feel like we’ve turned the corner here once we double that- which I know we can do. 

Along with our Archdiocese having half the number of parishes and less than half the number of worshipping (practicing) Catholics since 1990, we also have about half the number of active  diocesan (parish) priests. 

Are we on a “sinking ship?” My faith tells me that the “Barque of Peter” cannot sink, though it is stronger in other parts of the world right now. To be sure, we have a number of very strong parishes in our Archdiocese, and there are some very strong dioceses in our country. Catholicism continues to grow in Africa and Asia, even while it is declining in Europe and North America. It is still strong in Latin America, although Protestant Evangelical churches now draw many former Catholics there. 

On another note: recall that we remember and pray in a special way during the month of November for those we love who have died. Our “Book of the Dead” is on a podium in the front of each church during this month, beside the Easter / Pascal candle (which is always lit for funerals). Feel free to inscribe the names of anyone who has died in that book, and we will pray for them at our Masses.

May your week reflect the encounter with Christ
we experienced at Mass today!