I'm beginning to wonder if God is awaking hearts to the reality of our times. My pastor, Fr. Francis, was on fire today, especially at the final Holy Mass of the weekend. At the earlier Holy Masses, when we have to travel between parishes, the opportunity to preach a long homily (20 plus minutes) is nixed. However, today Father preached for over 20 minutes strong, calling the parishioners to task, to faith, to avoid indifference, to the call of Adoration. The interesting fact is that Sunday attendance at Holy Mass at both parishes is on the upswing, but was really noticeable at the final Holy Mass at Christ Our Light. To tell you the truth, it was the highest attendance I've ever seen, apart from Holy Week services. He mentioned to me again to lengthen my homilies. Have any of you noticed such a growing trend in attendance?
Please God you are right, Terry, we need all the good news we can possibly get. I was at 8:am Mass this morning and I thought there was far more than usual. But I was away for a week and the Church attendance here is constantly growing, but there seemed to me far more, especially for an early mass on Sunday.
When priests speak such wonderful truth then absolutely. Around here I would say not so much although we have a new Nigerian priest who is filled with the Holy Spirit. I suspect we will see an upswing as the word gets out.
I've noticed it here in my FSSP parish during weekday Masses! Every Mass I've attended on a weekday at noon recently has been nearly full! It didn't used to be that way during the week... It's only been very full on weekend Masses and holy days of obligation.
I wish I could say the same here. Numbers down in country parishes, but we are blessed with alot of holy priests. Hopefully, that flame will spread Nice to hear the good news though. A definite good sign.
Here on the East Coast of Australia, Brisbane to Southern NSW, I have been fortunate to experience least 5 Nigerian priests. Their Faith always shines out. I remember many years of feel-good sermons that do nothing to change your life, but these priests deliver sermons that affect you, inspire you, teach you. They expound on doctrine and say mass like they mean it. The congregations increase, people coming from adjoining parishes. Unlike some foreign clergy, they speak English not hampered by accent [though even foreign priests with a strong accent inspire people if they preach Truth. One Vietnamese priests who spent years in solitary confinement, is amazing]. It's also notable how foreign orders offering Traditional devotion - I have the Pauline Fathers in mind here - not only draw in Catholics longing for Truth, but quickly pay off debts for expansion activities because people donate generously, even with large contributions in in their wills. In one place I know of they replaceed Altar Rails and the grat majority receive Communion in the traditional way. People "vote with their feet!".
Our priest at mass today avoided serving communion at the front of the church and went down the back, recently there has been an uptick in people receiving communion reverently and on the tongue, particularly last Sunday, I am pretty sure he was making a stand against that. We really need to pray for our priests.
