3,000 Parishes...

[M.SIGGA]

Just have faith and don't worry about it; vocations will come and everything will be taken care of because God is in control.

[Paladin D]

[quote name='amarkich' date='Apr 27 2004, 04:04 PM'] I agree with some previous comments. The best way to increase vocations is to make the Priesthood honorable again in the eyes of young men. Another problem that I have recognized with friends who might otherwise be Priests--the permanent Diaconate. Most of the guys I talk to look at this 'solution' as the best of both worlds--they get to have a wife and kids while still helping at Mass (and without most of the sacrifices, but I think they are still required to say the Breviary, correct me if I am wrong). Also, this can certainly be said for Nuns as well. What woman would want to sacrifice her whole life of children, a family, etc, when she can do more as a layman liturgically than she could ever do as a Nun (e.g., Lector, Extraordinary Minister, etc). If we make these vocations a place of honor, as they once were, and treat them with proper honor and respect, we will certainly see an increase in vocations. Also, putting restrictions or putting an end to the "best of both worlds" options would help (we never had these things before the vocations crisis and there were many more vocations). God bless. [/quote]
[b]Word.[/b]

[Philippe]

[quote name='M.SIGGA' date='Apr 29 2004, 02:18 PM'] Just have faith and don't worry about it; vocations will come and everything will be taken care of because God is in control. [/quote]
He will always provide hmm a vocation sounds nice... if only my parents were more open 2 it

[tnsmittenkitten]

[quote name='PedroX' date='Apr 27 2004, 09:27 AM']
I think some parishes should probably be closed, starting with the annoying suburban ones.  [/quote]
Speaking as someone whose "annoying suburban Parish" was closed after our 75 year old priest who ran 2 parishes died, closing a parish is really hard on people, even when necessary. Most of the people in my parish were 50+ in age, and had gone to that parish their whole lives. While we as Catholic are a universal family, there is something about worshiping as an adult with the same people who were there for you in your youth.

In large, mega churches, be it Catholic or protestant, sometimes people tend to feel like only a number, and that can lead to apathy or spiritual sloth. So automatically shutting down small churches is not necessarily the answer.

[Hananiah]

I agree. I love the fact that I know almost everyone I go to Church with.

[the_rev]

Our dioceses has 77 priests, and over 125 parishes. Closer parished are banning together, so we can cope with the priest shortage.

[Aloysius]

the topic poster... i just can't understand how such extreme flip flops happen so fast

anyway, hopefully my new program Altar Call will help combat the problem! the_rev , you could be part of the solution since you're the PR guy. If you get us on Life on the Rock you can come on too with me and confessionator.

let's try to collaborate and you can start this program at your diocese as well.

yeah, seeing those stats really made me realize how much this program truly is needed!

praying for vocations is the best. How did Jesus put it? ask the Lord of the Harvest to send more workers, or something like that.

Pax Amorque Christi

[the_rev]

Hey Al,

If you get your website up, can I make a sister site? Adopt a priest?

[Aloysius]

i'm gonna get a free server at catholic-church.com

do you mean use my server? or just have the 2 sites be bro and sis... hehehe.

sure thing, that's an awesome idea as well! priests always need prayers!

i grow more and more vocationally excited!

Pax Amorque Christi

[the_rev]

I would prefer using your server? Would that be possible?

Or do you think your priest writing the letter would write a letter for the adopt a priest program?

[Aloysius]

by the way, should it be altarcalling.org or altarcalled.org

or introibi.org? maybe we can try to colaborate and form an umbrella organization called INTROIBI that will support the response to God's call. work to get ppl to be priests and then when they are priests have ppl prayin for em! sweetness.

if we both do fundraisinig type things and all that...

anyway, i'm gettin off on schemes, what do you mean by sister site again?


can you get a priest to write you a letter? i have yet to get one to respond, i presented the idea to a couple and await their response.

but yeah, you can use my server if i get it. that'd be soo phat if i could get Introibi.org as the umbrella for both of these projects, and have the server for it be catholic-church.org

Edited May 19, 2004 by Aloysius

[Good Friday]

[quote][b]Aloysius writes:[/b]
the topic poster... i just can't understand how such extreme flip flops happen so fast[/quote]
To clarify, the "flip flop" was already starting when I posted this thread. It was originally intended to initiate a debate over female priests and mandatory celibacy, but knowing that it would get moved to the Back Alley and that it would do no good, I decided to say "nevermind" and that never happened.

[personal attacks are not permitted]

Edited May 19, 2004 by cmotherofpirl

[littleflower+JMJ]

thats the reason why we need Jesus, we all fall short of His glory, and we can't do it alone......for without Him we are nothing, it is when we are with Him that we obtain all......