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One of the things that we continually look at as a parish is ways we can improve ministries for everyone and encourage people to live out their faith. To do this, we have to look at our resources, and also at the question of what will be the best fit for our parish.
The most important things that happen at any parish are the sacraments, in particular the celebration of the Mass on weekends. It is here that the community comes together.
With that in mind, after consultation with the trustees, staff and the parish council at large, I have decided to make an adjustment to our Mass schedule this fall.
Specifically, we will be moving the 6 p.m. Mass on Sunday night, to an early Mass on Sunday morning at 7 a.m.
There are a few reasons for this change.
First is attendance. We do Mass counts at each Mass, and we have consistently found that the Sunday night Mass is about a third of the attendance at the other 3 Masses. While this would be fine if this Mass catered to a specific group (e.g., a "youth" Mass), it does not.
Second, we also consider the Mass schedules at nearby parishes. Saint John Neumann, about a 5 minute drive from our parish, has a 6 p.m. Sunday evening Mass. Saint Thomas Beckett, which is also 5 minutes from Saint Joe's, has a 5 p.m. Sunday evening Mass. Finally Risen Savior also has a Sunday evening Mass October through April. However neither one of these parishes have an early Mass - the earliest offered is 8 a.m. Some people do have a lot of activities going on on Sundays in their family, so this would give people an option who would like to start their day early.
Third, we each have different worship styles, meaning our prayer experiences that are most impactful differ based on the individual. With that in mind, what will be a little unique about the 7 a.m. Mass is it will be more quiet. Other parishes have a Mass on Sundays that do not have singing. While this will also make the 7 a.m. Mass shorter, it will also make it unique for those who prefer more quiet at Mass.
Lastly, for years our parish has had a retired priest assist on weekends. Unfortunately Fr. Bob's recovery from surgery has not gone as expected, and there are currently no plans for a second priest. Though I am admittedly more of a night person than morning person, having the 3 Masses closer together will also help me personally have a lot more energy for all of them.
While I know some people really do enjoy the 6 p.m. Mass, I really do think this will be a positive change for our parish. Thank you for your support for our parish and for living out your faith by coming to Mass.
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