A celebration of joy

Soon a Sunday Mass survey will be carried out. When the results will be announced many will, in all probability, be shocked. Sunday Mass attendance has been on the decline since the early Eighties when the first survey showed that over 80 per cent of the people of these Islands still considered Sunday Mass as an obligation.

During the past 20 years or so things have changed dramatically - obviously not for the better. Indeed, it would be a pleasant surprise if the forthcoming survey shows that Mass attendance reaches the 50 per cent mark.

Various factors have contributed to this decline. Top among these is that many today, especially those among the rising generation, do not really practise the faith. They are no more than nominal Catholics who go occasionally to Mass, generally on special occasions like weddings, baptisms or funerals.

There are other reasons, including the fact that more women now have jobs outside the home and on Sunday they try to do what they did not have time to do during the week.

However, if one were to be fair, one cannot deny that not a few who still go to Mass find it boring and a waste of time. Of course, this does not apply to all or most Masses. God forbid. But there are not a few cases where Mass is definitely not "celebrated" but simply said. And the blame here does not lie with the laity.

First of all how many regular Mass attendants really know the true meaning of Mass? How many really know that Mass is the life blood of the Church? How many are aware that the liturgy of the word - the first and second readings, the responsorial psalm and the homily - are just as important as the liturgy of the Eucharist?

How many really pay attention, follow and understand God's Word as recorded in the Holy Scripture from which the readings are taken?

The blame for this may not be entirely the congregation's. Most are not familiar with the Bible and quite often can make neither head nor tail of what is being said. Then there are the readers. Not a few of these can never manage to transmit the Word of God.

First because they themselves are not familiar with the text and do not understand what they are reading. Second, because they do not have the right qualities and training to do so effectively. Unfortunately, not much attention is given by parish priests to the choice of readers; anybody who offers to be a reader is accepted!

Then there is the singing. During many Masses the vast majority simply do not join in even though hymn books are available to all and hymns sung are familiar. More effort must be put to encourage the congregation to join in the singing, which is also, in this case, another form of prayer and makes the atmosphere pleasant and enjoyable.

Finally, there is the blessed homily. For many, Sunday's Mass means just one thing: the homily. "It's boring." "It's too long." "It's not relevant." "I could hardly hear him." "It didn't appeal to me... He wasn't prepared... He always repeats the same things..." And so on and so forth.

Of course, these are generalisations which, thank God, do not apply to the majority of priests. But they do apply to quite a few. Let's face it: not all are born communicators. But the vast majority can be good and effective preachers if they have the right training and if they give the homily the importance it deserves.

Holding the attention of a mixed (not always very receptive) congregation for 10 to 12 minutes (sometimes even more) and conveying successfully the message is no easy task indeed. But it can be done. It simply needs determination and a conviction that even the best of speakers and communicators must have time to reflect, prepare and pray.

Whatever the outcome of the coming survey, all concerned should make a concrete, united effort to make Sunday Mass truly a celebration of joy and thanksgiving, of unity and faith. Something to look forward to, the climax of the weekend.