Life at your parish just hasn’t been the same. Attendance is falling, rumors are spreading, and morale is sliding. Like a sinking ship, you decide it’s time to abandon parish!
There are plenty of valid reasons for wanting to change parishes. Moving to a new town, switching your child to a Catholic school, or a parish offering services in your native language. So before I move forward, let me say this: there is nothing wrong with switching parishes.
There may be nothing wrong with switching parishes, but is it right?
It depends on your reasons. It’s a question that you have to answer for yourself. When it comes down to it, it’s your life and your faith, so only you can decide. But before you abandon parish, let me pose an idea.
Your parish may be facing struggles, and you may feel that it is time to move on. But what if God has placed you there to help bring about change? What if you are the catalyst your parish needs?
Just by reading this blog, I know that you are a part of the 5 to 8% of Catholics that take their faith seriously. You are not the norm at your parish. And based on that simple fact, you may be a leader among your fellow lay Catholics.
God may be calling you to stay the course and help lead your parish in a new direction. It might be your job to re-vitalize your community. What skills do you have that can help bring about change?
There are two options for a parish that is struggling:
- Adjust course and get the ship right again.
- Let the parish sink until it’s just a vacant building.
There are few things more sad than a vacant church. If you had to drive past a once thriving parish turned abandoned building, how would you feel? Would you be okay knowing that you had the opportunity to make a difference but chose to abandon parish instead?
I say this from personal experience. My parish leaders have remained strong on social issues, and it has driven people away. Office turmoil has spilled into the pews – driving others away. And a nearby parish with more funds and resources continually attracts parishioners away from us.
So my wife and I are left with a decision. Abandon parish and follow the crowd, or stay and be a part of the solution.
I’ve never been a follower – except of Christ, of course. We’re staying.
My wife and I have resolved to stay. We want to help bring new life into the parish. I would rather take the chance of being the last two in the pews than give up on the place I was confirmed, the altar I first received communion, and the threshold I crossed after marrying my wife.
My choice doesn’t have to be your choice. If your community seems hostile, or if staying at a given parish may damage your faith, by all means, leave. But if there’s even a possibility that you can stay, then do it.
When you decide to stay, just remember that change rarely happens quickly. Turning a big ship can take a lot of time and effort, but there will be a great deal of satisfaction when you finally get going in the right direction.
Your local church may be struggling, and you might be tempted to “abandon parish.” Before you grab a vest and head out to the life boats, ask yourself one question: Have I done everything I can to help this parish stay afloat and get back on course again?
Copyright © 2013, Chad R. Torgerson
Chad R. Torgerson
Chad R. Torgerson works as an IT Analyst for a Catholic publishing group. In his spare time, he enjoys writing and sharing his faith on his website, Waking Up Catholic, a guide to the Catholic RCIA process. and is also the Co-Founder of Assisi Media, a new Catholic publishing company focused on using new media to reach everyday Catholics. His new book, Waking Up Catholic, is available in eBook and paperback formats.
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