Of the Mass census and Christian relevance

It was inevitable for the Balzan Annual Parish Assembly that was held on October 19 and 20 to include on its agenda the results of the census on Sunday Mass attendance held on November 27, 2005.

The parish actually figures high in the rankings, registering fourth place in Malta with its 2,256 Sunday Mass participants representing 65.6% of its residents.

Of course, the figures are preliminary ones, and the definitive results will only be known when the number of parishioners hearing Mass at another location and the number of faithful from other parishes hearing Mass at Balzan are respectively added and subtracted from the November 2005 figure.

The discussion considered various suggestions, among which having more ad hoc Masses for children and young people than the present once a month.

But the main point made was that, especially in the case of children, the problem of non-attendance lay with adults who will simply miss Mass because of some other commitment, as if going for a family outing, visiting parents away of the village, celebrating an anniversary and other social occasions or commitments were to be equated with attendance at Sunday Mass.

One participant observed that it was difficult, in a packed church as is normally the case of the 11 o'clock Mass on Sundays, to find a couple ready to carry the offerings after the Gospel.

Why the reluctance? Was it not a sign that so many of the congregation do not understand the significance of the Offertory procession? Was not the decision to forego Mass for a family outing a sign of people having the wrong priorities? Does the problem lie with the Mass or with living one's faith?

These are a few of the challenges that have to be faced in this regard.

On a personal note, I would say that, even in its preliminary form, the overall picture resulting from the diocesan census looks like being rather dim, but does not lack rays of hope.

For example, going through most of what has been written on the subject, I am amazed that there has been no mention of the fact that 22% of Maltese and 26.1% of Gozitans attending Mass on Census Day belong to Catholic organisations. Now is not that good news?

In terms of numbers it means that 33,285 of the 169,480 Maltese, and 5,250 of the 20,117 Gozitans who answered the questionnaire feel that they have to be active participants in the Church. Of course, their level of involvement on an individual basis does vary. But there is certainly a strong base that can, and should, be used for a new effort to re-evangelise their 'lapsed' brethren.

I qualify the word lapsed because I would say that a substantial percentage of Maltese and Gozitans non-Mass-goers still cherish their Christian roots. Their problem lies mainly in finding a relevance for the faith of their fathers in their own lives.

Here lies the challenge for the Maltese Church, as also for the Church in Europe and elsewhere: to show that Christ and His Church are still relevant.

The malady that has caught Europe has been coming ever since Descartes announced his "I think, therefore I am", placing reason above faith and opening the way for a multitude of - isms that have ultimately led to today's relativism.

This chasm is today being addressed by Benedict XIV in his recent speeches on the compatibility and complementarity of faith and reason. Modern man has to be led to understand that faith is in no way a competitor, or rival, of reason, and it is the responsibility of those active in the Church to witness to this truth by their way of life. That is the role of the committed Christian of today, the same role of the few who Jesus gathered around Him to become the leaven of mankind.

But he has to operate within a framework that provides him with formation and pastoral training. He calls for a Church that is oriented towards those in moral and social need, that speaks the people's language, led by a future archbishop whose pastoral role comes first and foremost in his personal priorities.

Some of these thoughts were shared with a substantial number of active parishioners attending the Balzan Parish Assembly held on October 19 and 20.

As one would suppose, Church attendance was only one of the subjects discussed by the five workshops dealing with:

A community built of formation and evangelisation

A community which get its strength from communion and dialogue within itself and with society

A community which serves and promotes solidarity with the emarginated

A community which celebrates in the living way

A community which gives particular attention to the family, adolescents and youths.

The basic documents for the Assembly and these workshops were prepared by the Parish's Commission for the Implementation of the Synod.

All organisations, movements and groups represented on the Parish Pastoral Council submitted reports on their performance in the past year, and put forward proposals for the next two-year Pastoral Plan. These were analysed by the CIS and presented to the Assembly which was opened by Fr Joe Galea Curmi, the driving force behind the Synod's implementation on a diocesan level and who happens to form part of the Balzan Parish clergy.

Fr Galea Curmi dwelt on the need of human participation within God's plan for His Church. He emphasised the concept of service that should inspire Christians in their commitment to spread the Good News. And the total immersion of man in God's will.

Dwelling on the performance in the past year, it was noted that parents are receiving instruction before the baptism of their children, an annual marriage preparation course is organised every May, monthly scripture discussions are held, the Mother and Child Club has celebrated its tenth anniversary, Balzan citizens who live in government and private homes for the elderly are visited regularly, the Balzan Youth Club is very active and caters for over 80 members, and a summer club for children was successfully organised during the summer holidays.

These, and several other activities of a spiritual and social nature, form part of the current Pastoral Plan on the results of which the forthcoming two-year plan will be based, following an analysis of the suggestion made by the workshops.

A lot of emphasis was made on the need for proper formation of leaders and active members of the parish community, as also of the need for family and youth oriented initiatives that will strengthen the parish's pilgrimage towards the Creator.