I said yesterday that if the Church in Ireland wants to keep young people in the pews, they need to offer a profound sense of the Sacred, not a man-made ‘Sacred Space’ but an interior participation. For too long now, we (the Church) have been offering young people rock bands, ‘Gospel Masses’, and all kinds of experimentation in the Liturgy.
I know that many in the Church will disagree, but these things, to put it plainly, simply do NOT work! I can offer many reasons, but here, at least, I will only offer one. These ‘Youth Liturgies’ only satisfy for a short while, the novelty soon wears off. As some young people have said to me: “if I want to hear disco music, I’ll go to a disco – at least there it will be good disco music!”
Why not try offering them the same Liturgies that have worked in attracting people to the Church for 1,900 years. Don’t dumb it down because they’re young! Give them an experience of what the Heavenly Kingdom is like, what the Liturgy is actually supposed to show us! And above all else, give them a Mass that is directed toward God, not us here on earth! This is the most important, do this an you will offer them a sense of the Transendant One, and believe me they’ll find it hard to leave!
Below you will see a few pictures from the Pilgrimage to Chartres, notice all the young people (Irish among them!) Young Priests, Nuns, Brothers and Faithful, wouldn’t you like your Parish to be like this? Irish Bishops/Priests listen and look at the pictures, the proof is there!
Young Seminarians - Leading the way to God
Youth at Chartres
They Gather in multitudes
Irish Youth - Banner of St Patrick
