www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Parish Life & Evangelization Relocating Parish

Folks:
Our parish is exploring the possibility of moving to better demographics in our metro area. There are three overflowing Roman Catholic parishes (+7000 each/white collar)in the area we are proposing.

(1)Can anybody give us some ideas on how to get money for such an endeavor?
(2) Any recruiting ideas? Do Roman Catholics typically show any interest?

Pax Christi,
Scott

Dear Scott:

While I understand the situation your parish is in, it strikes me as odd, to say the least, that it seems your primary targets, unintentionally though it may be, for increasing your membership are the 3 neighboring Roman Catholic parishes bursting with members.

Yes, some, or many in fact, could be "interested" in joining your parish. After all, you are, also, Catholic, right?

However, does it ever occur to you that these Latin parishes must have started the way you are now, struggling just to survive? I am sure the original parishoners went out of their way to "recruit" non-Catholics into their fold and build up their parishes to what they are today.

Certainly, you may "recruit" these Roman Catholics and you will get some!

But please concentrate your efforts towards the non-Catholics in your area. There are so many Protestants waiting to be shown The Way!

We, Latins, are doing our part and we should be in this together!

More power to your parish!

AmdG

Dear Amado:

It sounds as though you might have some experience in recruiting new parishioners in your Roman Catholic Parish. How does your parish recruit? How does it raise money?

Pacem in terris,
Scott

Dear Scott:

No, I am not involved in recruitment in my parish. (Although, my wife was once a volunteer CCD teacher.)

Our parish, and the 5 surrounding parishes within a mile from us and each other, are "bursting" with parishoners. Double or triple that number for non-Catholic churches and other ecclesial communities but with smaller congregations. Many non-Catholics are admitted into the Catholic Church every year in our area, mostly Protestants!

Every Sunday, we contribute to the collection basket in whatever amount we have at that moment, in addition to the pledge each family has made for the year.

Despite the scandals that plagued the Catholic Church lately, the amount of collections, at least in the Chicago Archdiocese, has increased considerably according to Church bulletins!

So, it seems raising money is a definite function of numbers!

I pray for the success of your parish!

AmdG

Dear Amado,

There are a few 'marketing 'points to consider in regards to your first statement:

(1) The reasons why the Byzantine Catholics want to relocate to your neighborhood could be for the same reasons that you are there, for example; better jobs, housing, schools, access to good education, 'central' or 'suburban' location, etc.... Certainly you would not want to deny them these same opportunities and the right to worship in a sister Catholic church.

(2) It is possible that at least some of your parish members are byzantine (Greek), ex-byzantine, 'lapsed' byzantine, or come from byzantine or mixed heritage (ie: Ruthenian-Irish or Ukrainian-Italian). In all of these cases there is a distinct possibility that some of these parishoners fit into one or more of these categories and would feel more at home in a BC sister church. Again, there is no loss to the greater RC church just a shift to 'another department'. In the end the Catholic church is the winner.

(3) Just as some Protestants have joined your RC parish, some of your parishers may be looking elsewhere for spirituality. I have been to at least one small Ukrainian Catholic Church which attracted French Canadians from the larger RC church because they liked the more 'formal rituals' and divine liturgy. The BC option provides at least one alternative which remains within the Catholic fold.

Dear Hritzko:

Your "marketing" points are all valid and well-taken.

However, my first statement was a reaction, a reasonable one I think, to Scott's 2nd query, thus:



Is there such a pervasive attitude on the part of any given Eastern Catholic parish to feed on the larger Latin parishes?

Or, is the missionary efforts of Eastern Catholic parishes that anemic because of funds shortage, ethnic exclusivity, or just plain inadequacy to meet the challenges of a modern, diversified society?

No, I don't feel "threatened" at all by Scott's parish intended relocation to the Roman Catholic neighborhood.

Rather, I fear for an impending disappointment on the part of the BC faithful.

A parish (or in the much larger context, a Church) should stand on its own merit.

AmdG

Ave Amado:

I used Roman Catholics as an example because many of us are all in the same company just "different departments". Further, this might give potential respondents a birds-eye-view of the situation. This inturn might turn on a light. In fact, I'm seeking advise from non-Catholic & Orthodox sources.

As the originator of these questions and I would profess that my motive is to simply get ideas.

Pacem in terris,
Scott

Greetings!

Christ is Born! Glorify Him!

I have couple of points to make about this.

First, it is not allowable to actively proselytize among Catholics of other Sui Iuris churches. It is always acceptable to invite them for a visit, they may be timid at first, so any efforts you make to help them feel welcome would be a very positive effort.

Some visitors may wish to return occasionally, their small contributions on those pilgrimages could really help your newly relocated parish balance the books.

There are quite a few Roman Catholics with Byzantine and other eastern Catholic roots, if they become aware of your presence the curiosity about it might be great enough to encourage them to think about visiting great-grandmas church. Most Roman Catholic parishes will cooperate with notices in the bulletin if they are not afraid that you are raiding them. Plan cultural events, build up the choir and offer to sing at the other parishes.

Secondly, you could locate where the Roman Catholic parishes are because that's probably where everyone is moving to!

Burger King moves in right between Wendy's and McDonalds for a reason. If the area is growing and people are populating new neighborhoods everyone is going to locate there. The banks, the grocery stores, the cleaners and the churches.

But the truth is you could do the evangelizing now, before the move, right in the neighborhood the church sits in now. Go door to door, pass out little flyers and be sure to let everyone know how much you would like to see them worship with you!

Tell them about the traditional liturgy, the venerable teachings of the ancient church, the openness and love everyone shares there.

Tell them if they are not yet Catholics, they are very welcome to come and pray, to experience the joy in praising the Glory of the Lord.

And when they show up on Sunday, greet them warmly and show them a seat (they expect that) and offer to sit with them if they would like someone to explain what's going on. Hand them a pew book, and show them how to follow it.

Then, if you ever need to build a new parish, you'll already know how to fill it!

Michael

Dear Scott:

Christ is Born!

A great source of recruitment ideas is found in attending one of the "Antiochian Department of Missions and Evangelizations Conferences" that are held annually on the Labor Day weekend. The next one is slated for Santa Barbara, California. However, I must caution you that most Catholics who attend these well presented conferences usually convert to Orthodoxy.

I did attend one and here are a few ideas:

1. Develop a speaker's bureau with some of your most talented young people giving talks on how they found Jesus. The young people and young married adults are the ones you really want to reach.

2. As you get funding, approach the more popular Priests in your diocese who can speak at an event.

3. Work with your local university and develop a Byzantine Club for college students. The Newman Club is for Roman Catholics so it is best to form a separate group unless the Newman Club is willing to work with you. My prayers.

4. Rent space in a mall or industrial park in which to start a book store/chapel. Here you can have coffee hours to read the latest books put out by Byzantine authors. These are the gatherings to which you could invite the public. To start, you may ask a parishioner if he has a space you could borrow from time to time. Ask for community rooms in local banks. Rent a room in a hotel. Can your Church use its fellowship hall. Would people come if you had a good event?

5. Develop a public relations committee that can get out good press releases. Is anyone in your parish an attorney (to review these releases)? Are their any advertising executives in your parish?
Catholic Churches that are large have these people.

6. Get conversion stories from your teenagers and adults. Publish their stories or have them speak at the events. People love to hear these stories, however, you must train the speakers by having them speak at smaller gatherings - perhaps at your youth groups or young family groups.

7. Do you have any Sisterhoods or Ladies Society who can help you?

I'll look for more ideas, but will this help?

Yours in Christ,
Elizabeth

P.S. Roman Catholics pass out tracts and visit protestant books stores to actively recruit. They also have apologetic courses. Orthodox Christians are doing the same. You should do likewise.

Check with the Melkites -- they have ready made tracts. All you have to do is print them out at a local print shop or copier if you have one.

Two suggestions. On evangelisation, invite Antony Dragani to come and speak with your existing parishioners - he's good, he's inspirational, and he's likely to move people to do something.
On fund-raising: forget the gimmicks and work on tithing. It succeeds beyond your wildest dreams and it will not either dull your moral sense or leave you feeling guilty and uncomfortable. Incognitus

Scott,

Where are they thinking of moving? Since I still visit from time to time (when in Indy), it now has me curious.

Thanks!

Henry

Justinian,

The RC's have more problems than anyone can manage. Do you wish to import those? While it is true that many may wish to leave the RC's in order to pursue an authentic spirituality I would not look to the RC's for anything but prayers.

I like the idea of inviting Anthony Dragani in. The Antiochian OC has wonderful programs as Maria has pointed out. But seriously, if you really want to establish a Church you must get out of your comfort zone. Go visit door to door. In fact, if you visit door to door now where you are you can probably develop a thriving Church right where you are. If you don't go door to door no matter where you move the effort will be still-born.

Get out there where the people are.

Dan L