A different Sunday Mass

Much has been said about attendance during Sunday Mass. Some blame it on the Church authorities, others on the system or our way of life. Is Sunday Mass attendance set to keep declining?

I see myself as a typical Maltese church-goer, often missing that odd Mass on the spur of the moment. I admit that sometimes I find Sunday Mass a bore. When it comes to the sermon, I find myself studying and observing the frescoes, paintings, and architecture around me until the sermon is over. My ear throbs by the usual hum of the priest desperately trying to get his message across to the congregation. Is this what Sunday Mass has become?

Can something be done to make the Mass a truly meaningful experience where everyone can participate and get closer to God? Not all is lost.

Some time ago I happened to attend the 7.30 p.m. Mass at Paola parish church which had a totally different set-up than the usual Sunday congregation. This Mass was organised by a group of youths who enhanced the church with lighting that created a special peaceful atmosphere during Mass. PowerPoint presentations displayed messages and song lists so that people could easily join in. The priest was clear and to the point, and I managed to listen to and feel the word of God for the first time.

Since then I have been regularly attending this Sunday Mass and the priest still manages to make each Sunday a different experience which brings me closer to God. The Mass is supposed to be organised by youths and directed at youths. However I must admit that I have been noticing a number of people from different age groups who participate in this Sunday experience regularly.

Who knows? Maybe this priest has managed to bring the youth out of all of us! In the meantime, other priests from different localities are using similar approaches too.

Maybe it's not our way of life that is affecting attendance but people need something different. Sunday church-goers need an experience like this Mass which brings them closer to God. Can a group of youths make all the difference for us? If they made all this difference then we definitely need more of them out there.