(Why I didn’t want to get back into substantive blogging over here…I throw out half-assed thoughts poorly expressed and end up having to take more time to clarify…because of my initial sloth…ah well.)
I obviously didn’t mean to hate on the concept of “a small group of Christians sharing fellowship and formation.” Or some such. I meant to hate on the idea – all the rage back in the 80’s and some of the 90’s – that every parish must be divided up into cells or groups and real Christian community can’t arise in a Catholic parish until everyone is in a one of those small groups meeting weekly and sharing and such…
Some of you might not remember that…but I do.
What what was in my head was the truth I really believe that this laudable end – enabling Christians to engage in smaller settings – can happen in an organic way in a parish when the effort is rooted in Catholic stuff. Eucharist. Devotions. The works of mercy. Let me repeat – the works of mercy.
It’s my contention, moreover, that lots of parishes have lots of small groups already happening in which the goals of “small groups” flourish. It’s just that in our Catholic ways…we don’t invite. We don’t see those groups – sodalities, rosaries, and so on – as missional, but rather as enclaves.
And to expand on my central point – I stick to my guns on defining daily Mass as the original “small group.”
When I go to daily Mass in this town, where ever I go, there are at least fifty people there. During Advent and Lent, far more.
Think about it – in your parish, during Lent, probably 200 people gather daily in a “small group.”
They enjoy catechesis through the language of the liturgy itself, the Scripture readings and the homily. They enjoy the deepest fellowship of all through the Eucharist – being joined not only to the others present but to ever Catholic throughout the world, in heaven, and to Christ himself.
That catechesis, grace and fellowship are real. The power of the fruit depends on our receptivity and disposition, true. It is not magic or a vending machine. But honestly – when I go to noon Mass at the Cathedral here and see folks from all walks of life: business people, students, homeschooling families, drifters like me…I am awed by the moment. Awed that the members of this small group will walk out of the church building into the world, filled with the grace of Christ. Some of them greet each other and stayed behind to chat. Some rush away. Still others stroll outside, study the sky, and wandered off – perhaps in a different direction than they thought they’d be going before Mass started.
I don’t know where they’re going. I don’t know how their lives were impacted by the experience. I won’t be taking a survey of effectiveness. Even if I were in charge – I wouldn’t be doing that. I wouldn’t know, I couldn’t tell. I’d just trust that God had brought them there and now they’re off again..a bit more conscious and grateful for God’s graciousness and mercy than they were before, and perhaps a little bit stronger and braver to share it.
So…you are dismayed by low turnout at adult ed? (Not saying that’s not a legitimate concern)
You’ve got dozens of folks showing up every day for Mass to be nourished by Christ.
That’s a good thing. It’s not something to be waved away and taken for granted.
Starting with the reality of daily Mass as our foundational “small group” also releases us from ego. It provides a corrective to the trap of placing our own efforts and plans at the center of parish life. It works against the temptation to judge the “success” of a ‘small group” (or any parish activity) by how people respond to our efforts or by what we can see.
Sure…there should be more in a parish. It’s not a simplistic answer. Not everyone can go to daily Mass. There’s more that other types of gatherings can offer – more targeted and specific catechesis. More particular ministry to..the young…parents..the old…the sick. Traditional Catholic parish life is and always has been rich and diverse. But it all starts with prayer.
So I’m saying that when considering “small groups” in a Catholic parish…start with daily Mass. Thank God for what happens there…build on it…stop trying to invent, invent and invent some more.
…and maybe follow the old guys for their after-Mass coffee at McDonald’s and then their morning at the St. Vincent de Paul thrift store. Fellowship? Check. Works of Mercy? Check.
It all starts here.
(First church picture I could pull from my computer. Good Samaritan in Ellijay,Georgia)
I’ve been in a church where small groups were emphasized, and generally speaking I’ve enjoyed the small groups I’ve been in. Occasionally small groups were emphasized as a way of building “community”, which usually translated into “helping people to get to know each other.” But I maintained then, and continue to maintain now, that small groups that have “building community” as their aim will fail. Community arises from people working together toward a common goal, whether it’s faith formation or feeding the poor.
(Which is to say that I agree with you.)
Thanks for the comment!
I would add that the whole emphasis on “building community” is subtly non-Catholic. Because in the Catholic understanding we *are* in communion via our baptisms – a communion deepened in the Eucharist.
When we start from “Wow..there’s no community in this humongous parish..how do we create and build it?” we are rather subtley declaring our dis-believe in the sacramental life of the Body of Christ. It should be more “We are in communion with each other and with the whole Body of Christ. That is so amazing and fantastic! How can we live this out and be Christ to each other and the world? How are we called to be like Christ crucified and poured out in love?”
– and I agree with you too. Daily Mass is the original small group. A young adult group in the parish?– Oops — you’re 36. Sorry! I have participated in some small group studies organized in the parish based on diocesan programs and they have been excellent; however, I have wondered how the books chosen for other small group studies are selected. I think small groups do have the potential to become cliquish.
I feel the same as you, Amy, about small groups, and I’m not a self-defined introvert. When I hear “small group” I avoid. I already have people in my life with whom I can share, and study on an informal basis. And I heartily agree with your statement on daily Mass. I, too, have often reflected on the variety of folks who come to Mass during Lent. I’m rather touched by it. As for other types of groups, whether they be devotional, educational, or works-based, I’ll bet that none of them would label themselves with “small group.”
It occurred to me about 20 years ago that there was something going on at daily (weekday) Masses that really wasn’t going on at weekend (Sunday) Masses. The preaching was more direct and to the point….and clearer. The people were more engaged. I used to travel a lot for my work and I’ve probably been to daily Mass at 300+ parishes all over the US. I’ve never felt excluded or unwelcome and the unity of the liturgy was always obvious. Sunday Masses are an entirely different matter: grandiose singing, long-winded and unprepared preaching and an unliturgical tone are all too common. This is not universal but it is not uncommon. The difference, I think, is reverence: Sunday is Mass is frequently “showtime”….daily Mass is usually about praying and reflection. In pre-V2 terms, “low” Mass is humble; “high” Mass is something else.
I see some of your points here Amy, but I wouldn’t have even come near daily Mass if I hadn’t been invited to a small faith sharing group first. They are a fantastic means of evangelization. Now, I know you’re not ‘hating on’ them as a whole, but it seems that you underestimate their capabilities of BRINGING people to Jesus. My small group experience has led me straight to Jesus, to Mass, to the Rosary. Of course it can become ‘cliquish’ as a commenter said above, just like anything can be done poorly. Since my parish has begun small group ministry, devotion to Mass and Adoration has increased, and there are babies everywhere. Our small groups are about friendships, changing hearts, and meeting Jesus. I’m sorry if that hasn’t been your experience.
Here is a quote from Ecclesia in America (JPII)
(140) One way of renewing parishes, especially urgent for parishes in large cities, might be to consider the parish as a community of communities and movements. (141) It seems timely therefore to form ecclesial communities and groups of a size that allows for true human relationships. This will make it possible to live communion more intensely, ensuring that it is fostered not only “ad intra”, but also with the parish communities to which such groups belong, and with the entire diocesan and universal Church. In such a human context, it will be easier to gather to hear the word of God, to reflect on the range of human problems in the light of this word, and gradually to make responsible decisions inspired by the all-embracing love of Christ.
God bless!
Krissy
I don’t disagree. I just think that there is more of that type of association that exists more or less organically in a typical Catholic parish and that grows out of Catholic tradition and traditions than we might suspect. We would do well to see those with missional eyes.
Miss Amy,
You’ve moved into a difficult topic here. I’ve noticed that parish mission statements usually define the parish in terms of these discussion groups, or social justice, or social services. We should probably move away from the mission statement approach, and towards the “pastoral plans” that canon law calls for. The proper goal of a pastoral plan is holiness, which the Vatican describes this way: “A truly pastoral promotion of the holiness of our parish communities implies an authentic pedagogy on prayer, a renewed, persuasive and effective catechesis on the importance of the Sunday and daily celebration of the Most Holy Eucharist, on community and personal adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, on the frequent and individual practice of the Sacrament of Penance, on spiritual direction, on marian devotion, on the imitation of the Saints, as well as on a renewed apostolic commitment to live the daily duties of the community and of individuals, proper pastoral care of the family, and on a consistent political and social engagement.” (The Priest: Pastor and Leader of the Parish Community, no. 27)
For this year’s New Year’s Day party, my wife invited about a dozen people from the daily Mass crowd. That was stimulating.
Indeed, daily Mass is a not only its own small group, but a springboard into other ones.
Amy, you write: “We don’t see those groups – sodalities, rosaries, and so on – as missional, but rather as enclaves.”
I’ve never regarded Rosary groups or sodalities as enclaves, although they might seem like that to the non-joiner. And since when isn’t prayer missional? Otherwise, one might have to regard the enclosed religious order as enclaves as well.
The real enclaves are those groups like Opus Dei and CL, etc., that really do stand apart from the rest of the parish, even though their charters might be missional in nature. But they are missional apart from the parish.
I never said that they were inherently enclaves..in fact my point was that they **are** missional and should be seen as such rather than trying to invent new stuff. But too many parishes don’t see it that way sadly