Bishop wants closer school, Sunday Mass connection

Bishop Adams said that some 7000 people attend Mass across Palmerston North Diocese, and almost 8000 children are in the Catholic school network there.

“These are two great pillars of light. I would love to see them brought closer together,” the bishop wrote in the diocesan newsletter.

“Our Catholic schools do tremendous work and I would like our parishes to be more involved in that work. At the same time, I would love to see the children and families in our Catholic schools more fully involved in parish life.

“Looking ahead, I would like us to consider how we can make Sunday Mass a natural and expected part of what it means to enrol your child in a Catholic school.”

Bishop Adams said that by a family choosing a Catholic school, “you are choosing to enter into the life of the Catholic community. That includes the celebration of Mass and the sacraments”.

Bishop Adams said he wanted to be “reasonable and pastoral about this”.

“Families get sick, they go on holiday and life gets complicated. I am not talking about imposing a stringent rule. I am talking about recovering an expectation and, more importantly, recovering a sense of what is being offered.

“Imagine a parish welcoming 15 or 20 new families from a new school entrance class. Imagine those families arriving at Mass together and being genuinely welcomed. Imagine a parish ready with children’s liturgy, opportunities for families to meet one another and a community that helps them find their place.

“That could be transformative for both the families and the parish.”

Bishop Adams noted that the culture is changing, and that presents a challenge.

“A generation ago, Sunday was much more obviously set aside for rest, family and worship. Today there are sports tournaments, shopping and countless other activities competing for our attention,” he said.

“To practise our Catholic faith today requires us to make deliberate choices. I don’t think that is going away. If anything, we are moving further from a culture that naturally supports participation in Church life.”

Bishop Adams concedes it is important to take “the long view” on the situation.

“I don’t want to sail through my years as Bishop without exploring this question. I would love to see us recover a spirit in which going to Mass is understood as a normal and joyful part of being Catholic.”

FULL STORY

From Bishop John’s Desk | The Wedding Feast is Ready (Tūmanako/Catholic Diocese of Palmerston North)