Thursday, 30th October 2008

Church needs new model, Archbishop says

Matthew Xuereb

The future of the Church lies with modernising it and snapping out of the old mentality that it has some "privileged position", Archbishop Paul Cremona stressed yesterday.

While statistics show falling numbers of churchgoers, people should not be disheartened. The Church, he said, is concentrating on small communities rather than on the masses.

Mgr Cremona was speaking at a press conference on his arrival from the three-week Synod of Bishops held in Rome on the theme The Word Of God In The Life And Mission Of The Church.

During his address to the General Assembly, he described the fact that many Maltese Catholics were nostalgic about how the Church used to operate in the past as "a stumbling block" for the programme of new evangelisation.

"Many of our faithful still live with a sense of nostalgia and compare the present situation to the model of the Church of some 30 to 40 years ago. Since the Catholic Church has not retained the privileged position it had then, they live in an atmosphere of shock when the Church, or its pastors, are challenged. Many times they stand in fear of speaking openly before this often hostile culture.

"We need to come out of this traumatic experience to enter into a new evangelisation. We have to help the faithful recognise that this kind of Church does not exist anymore and it cannot be proposed again in this changed world. We cannot continue comparing our reality to that reality," he said.

Asked about this part of his speech, Mgr Cremona said the fact that the number of churchgoers was falling was undeniable, so a change in mentality was needed. He said the Church had to concentrate on small communities in each parish and use people to bring the message of the Lord closer to the people.

"We have to propose a new model of the Church and the model which corresponds most to today's reality is the primitive Christian community as described in chapters two and four of the Acts of the Apostles and brought to life in the other writings of the New Testament. We have to compare the Church today to, and shape it on, that community."

He said that, just like a person who had a specific football team at heart and unleashed this passion when this team was playing, the same had to happen with one's faith.

The model of the Church to be proposed should be made up of small communities where the Word of the Lord and the Breaking of the Bread could be shared through the personal experiences of those who had encountered the Lord.

"This is where the future of the Church lies," he said.

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Article © Allied Newspapers Ltd., printed on Sunday, November 8, 2009. This article is for personal use only, and should not be distributed.

Comments

Marvin Mizzi (on 31/10/08)

First of all the church in Malta needs a leader that can unite and lead like the Good Shepherd.

Alex Borg (on 31/10/08)

Whenever the Church feels threatened it becomes reactionary. Vide Pope Ratzinger's constant ranting about the secularism and relativism. Just like the counter-reformation led to an exacerbation of the dreaded Inquisition and the horrors that it perpetrated! I hope that this "new evangelisation" is not another example of such an exacerbation. If it is, it will no doubt lead to more young people distancing themselves from the Church, especially the Maltese one, which is yet even more conservative and fundamentalist than the Roman one.

Marie Claire Cutajar (on 30/10/08)

@ John M. Grima Qouting you °I'm of the oppinion that the church in Malta is still very strong and traditional. Unlike some other western countries, who, after Vatican ll, were very eager to srip the church of statues, candle holders and other reminders and decorations people grew up with.°
If the Church does strip it down it will do such a great thing according to the commandments which you will find in the Bible Exodus 20:4,5 it states clearly that Gods command is not to have graven images and also not to bow down and worship them! why do we need those riches in the churches and besides The Lord does not dwell in churches made by hands, the Lord dwells in us, we are his churches check your Bible Corinthians 6: 16 Acts 17: 24 & Acts 8:48,49,50.
Traditions yes traditions that the Lord hated so much started with the feasts Malachi chapter 2 verse 3 and 4 Mark 7: 13
Colossians 2 chapter 2:8 °Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the traditions of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ !

John M. Grima (on 30/10/08)

By all means, modernise the church just enough to keep to-day's generation interested. However, do not make the mistake of forgeting about the old generation, who is still used to the old tradition. Such as that of receiving the Host in their mouth as opposed to their hands. The latin mass, etc. The church has lost many old tradinitionlists since vatican ll already through modernisation.

I'm of the oppinion that the church in Malta is still very strong and traditional. Unlike some other western countries, who, after Vatican ll, were very eager to srip the church of statues, candle holders and other reminders and decorations people grew up with. That modernisation, among other reasons, caused many people to reduce their attending church.

"You can't teach an old dog new tricks". Not the majoity of them anyway.

I wish Malta God's perpetual protection.

Graham Waterfield (on 30/10/08)

AWESOME COMMENTS Monsignor !

This is the reason people like myself (and many others) Are called to these Islands.

To speak the word of TRUTH from the BIBLE, To re-educate those stuck in tradition and religion into the Gospel Truth that comes from hearing the Inspired WORD of GOD.

I urge anyone on these Islands to take a fresh look at their Faith as suggested by Mgr Cremona, There are already a growing number of CHRISTIAN Fellowships around the Islands of Malta and Gozo, with Spirit Filled Christians ready and willing to share the way of our Lord Jesus !

BRAVO Monsignor Cremona !!!!!

And May the Spirit of the Lord be with you Always!

Joseph A Borg (on 30/10/08)

good, at last! Now let's start discussing how the church can be an equal participant in the social arena. How are you going to tackle the intolerant right-wingers that hide behind your coat-tails? I have fond memories of my catholic childhood, but as a liberal, it is difficult to engage with a church that believes in diktats hailing from above.

Anthony Mercieca (on 30/10/08)

As a Christian, it is relief to note that the Archbishop is more than aware of the changing times and the need to address the issue of belief. My objective query is the return to roots concept and return to the primitive style of church (sect?). I do not see that this would solve or provide solution to the fact that people are not practicing their faith. I believe more that the Church should address the issue by actually looking straight inside itself and clean up all unrelated traditions, concepts and elements which are more institutionally related rather than values. This would be a painful exercise but will render the church more authentic without excluding that in spite of its divine institution it is still run by erring humans

L. Theuma (on 30/10/08)

Oh! The Church in Malta is aware that the harvest is great. Yet it seems that it is content with the minorities going around. Shall it pray the Lord to send new workers in His field, while engaging itself to reach the masses and convey to them the Lord's message of hope?

Church needs new model, Archbishop says

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