Religious Landscape Study in U.S. (Pew Research 2023) Quote from Living as Missionary Disciples Consider all the people on the parish committees, councils, groups and ministries active in our parish. […]
Religious Landscape Study in U.S. (Pew Research 2023)
Without religious affiliation (Nones) 20-29%
Evangelical Protestant 25.4%
Catholics 20.8%
Mainline Protestant 14.7%
Historically Black Protestant 6.5%
Atheist 4%
Jewish 2.4%
Mormon 1.6%
Muslim 1.34%
Jehovah’s Witnesses 0.8%
Buddhist 0.7%
Hindu 0.7%
Quote from Living as Missionary Disciples
Consider all the people on the parish committees, councils, groups and ministries active in our parish. Engagement does not necessarily equate to missionary discipleship. It is important to regard these committees as small groups in need of evangelization and intentional spiritual formation, thus shifting the paradigm from maintenance to mission in the parish. (pg. 21-22)
What can you do to help your Family of Parishes reach its full potential
Embody the idea that it’s not about you, but instead about the person who isn’t even attending your church yet
Invite your unchurched friends.
Step up and serve. Don’t wait to be asked, just volunteer. If it looks like everything is covered, trust me, it’s not.
Give your pastor an umbrella of grace for all that they aren’t and pray for them on a regular basis. They can’t walk on water, but they can drown. Be one of their “floaties.”
Send encouraging emails. Clergy and staff do not get many encouraging emails. Most of the people who bother to email do so to critique. Send them a word to feast on to keep them going.
Talk about your church like gossip over the backyard fence, but in a good way—like a great movie you saw, or a good restaurant. Unleash positive public relations in your neighborhood and community.
Welcome those who come into your church with messed-up lives, screwed-up marriages, piercings, tattoos, addictions, divorce, homosexual orientation, children out of wedlock, roommates who aren’t their spouse… in other words, welcome everyone’s differences and scandals with the greater scandal of grace. Not affirmation, necessarily, but always acceptance so that they can experience that grace for themselves. It’s the Jesus way.
Grandparents Day Sunday, September 8th!
Yes, there is a special day for Grandparents! According to the calendar (and Hallmark) it is September 8 this year. Click on this link to learn how your Family can celebrate this in your parishes.
Alpha News
August 10- (in person) Alpha Training for Those Preparing to Run Alpha for Adults and Youth 9:00 – 3:00pm. This in person training will be on the nuts and bolts of running Alpha. Given by National Alpha staff. Location: St. Philip the Apostle, 950 Losson Road, Ckwga. NY 14227. Free.Click here to register
Renewal Mass: Sunday, August 25. 5:00 PM. St. Stanislaus Church, 389 Peckham Street. We will be commissioning the Families of Parishes that will be doing Alpha in this Fall or sometime in 2025. Please have someone present at the Mass to be part of the ritual. Click here for flyer.
Trending Data Diocesan Wide Past Trends 2012 2021 Practicing Households ——————– 130,000————- 90,000 Contributing Households—————– 118,000————- 70,000 Average weekend Mass attendance—— 155,000————- 60,000 Baptisms ———————————– 4,000 ————— 2,100 Number enrolled in Rel. Education —- 32,000 ————- 10,000
Want to Host a Workshop? I am looking for a parish to host a workshop called: Do You Hear What I Hear?” It will be held on a Saturday morning sometime in September. I would be training parishioners to put this program on in their parishes. To do the training I need a place to gather, a piano and someone to play the piano for me. If interested in hosting this training, please contact me asap. I am looking at scheduling this in early September. For more information contact Sr. Louise: lalff2@buffalodiocese.org.
