John A. Monaco

Byzantine Catholic layman. Dominican tertiary. Husband, & father of 3. Doctoral candidate in theology, seeking the true, good, and beautiful.

[John A. Monaco @johnamonaco]

If you want to revitalize a Roman Catholic parish, here’s what you have to do:

Priests (and when applicable, deacons):

1) Offer frequent times for Confession, and no, not just “by appointment”.

“But why would I offer more confession times when people barely come to our Saturday half hour slot?” Just offer it. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen priests increase the opportunities for Confession even when it wasn’t in response to a demand, and somehow, people not only started filling up the Saturday time slot, but the others, as well!

2) Offer the traditional Latin Mass, if possible. If not, offer the Novus Ordo as reverently as possible, by following the GIRM and infusing within it any traditional elements, as allowed. The Mass is the most important part of a priest’s life, and its worthy celebration will pay dividends for the life of your local parish. Move away from the 4-hymn sandwich. Prioritize a schola cantorum and the organ. If you can’t yet sing the Propers in Latin, sing them in English!

3) Offer perpetual Eucharistic adoration, if possible. If not, offer Eucharistic adoration frequently. Many people think that the key to fixing a parish is by implementing programs, doing all sorts of activities. There is no pastoral plan greater than the worship and praise of the LORD in the Blessed Sacrament. Put that first, and watch everything fall into place.

4) Preach brief, often, and well. The brevity of homilies allows for people to grasp 1-2 concepts clearly. Info-dumping everything you learned in seminary is not going to result in a successful take-home message. But preach whenever possible: at baptisms, funerals, daily Mass, parish Vespers. Work on your Sunday homily throughout the week. Pray on it. Consult secondary literature, such as biblical commentaries. Don’t avoid preaching on controversial topics.

5) Offer opportunities for parish fellowship. In between Sunday Masses, have coffee and social time. Be present for it. Promote it! In an era dominated by the digital, these sorts of in-person experiences allow authentic community to develop. Young adult (18-30) groups are great. Think also of marriage & family apostolates.

For laity:

1) Show up. Obviously, go to Sunday Mass. But as your schedule allows, attend parish lectures, Bible study, Lauds/Vespers, bazaars and festivals, etc. The American Catholic’s social life was once dominated by the parish. I think it’s time we bring that back.

2) Tithe, donate money, time, and your talents. As appropriate to your current situation, make financial sacrifices to allow the parish to continue its work. Don’t just throw $5 in the basket if you’re driving a Tesla Model X. A good rule of thumb: if you’re spending more money on fast food every month than you are in the collection basket, it’s time to reevaluate your discretionary income.

3) Join parish organizations, like the Knights of Columbus, choir, CCD/Faith formation. Many of the Millennial generation grew up thinking “eh that’s the stuff for the older people.” That’s how these things die (also, we’re starting to become those “older people”). Ask your pastor where your talents meet the parish’s needs.

4) Love your priest (even if you don’t like him!) Do not treat your priest like a sacramental dispenser. Find out his birthday, interests, favorite food. Invite him over for a family dinner or take him out to lunch. While respecting proper boundaries, invite him into your life as an important person. Thank him, and pray for him!

5) Invite someone to Mass with you: a friend, coworker, or even a stranger. You are the primary agent by which the parish engages the world. “Come and see”
___

Certainly, there are more ways to revitalize a Roman Catholic parish, so feel free to list them below. But in every healthy parish I’ve seen, these elements were present. As our Western culture continues to decline and fragment, the parish might be one of the few places we can rebuild it.

📍 Mission San Rafael Arcángel, California

[John A. Monaco @johnamonaco]

@peterswindal A devoted priest, gone too soon. Memory eternal.

[John A. Monaco @johnamonaco]

@EamonnClark Congratulations!!! Please pray for me as I attempt to finish mine soon

[John A. Monaco @johnamonaco]

@KatiePMcGrady Aw no… prayers for you all

[John A. Monaco @johnamonaco]

@Counteredlogos 👀

[John A. Monaco @johnamonaco]

@CullumSmith Oh yeah let’s start some DISCOURSE!

[John A. Monaco @johnamonaco]

@GovernorShapiro Abortion, by definition, is not health care. I hope this helps!

[John A. Monaco @johnamonaco]

@jdflynn Based Davey!

[John A. Monaco @johnamonaco]

@JuliaJuliagulia Gonna drop this one at our next faculty meeting lol

[John A. Monaco @johnamonaco]

@carleolson @BishopBarron I spent way too long thinking about what “my wife is married to the guy who-“ meant

[John A. Monaco @johnamonaco]

Yes, I agree that was bad. But I don’t recall this same standard being held with other presidents, including Catholic ones, attack core teachings of the Faith. Yes, you can argue Trump does this too, but him doing so doesn’t mean he should not be prayed for or with.

Either we pray with public leaders who contradict the Faith or we go not. If we don’t, I will need to see a consistency applied to Biden, Obama, etc. But I suspect you don’t see that as an issue (along with Hale)

[John A. Monaco @johnamonaco]

@CatholicKyle @ComeHometoRome Great response.

[John A. Monaco @johnamonaco]

@timothypomalley Absolutely true. Even as Headmaster and finishing a dissertation, I still teach 2nd graders in preparation for Holy Communion, because that was my first experience of teaching and gets right to the fundamentals.

[John A. Monaco @johnamonaco]

@capybaraclem Happy birthday, brother

[John A. Monaco @johnamonaco]

There is definitely an element in which Benedict XVI’s vision will be realized. Greater access to TLM, the traditionalizing of the NO, the fact that most recently ordained priests skew conservative… we’ll be okay. Obviously the trad dream of the pre-Pius XII reforms being the norm for the entire Latin Church won’t likely happen… but the NO looking like how it is celebrated at EWTN, etc… not a bad place to be in, all things considered.

[John A. Monaco @johnamonaco]

@Kc8wzm Prayers for you both!

[John A. Monaco @johnamonaco]

@cxgonzalez It’s certainly possible to fix the culture of SF, but there are even better ways to do it.

[John A. Monaco @johnamonaco]

@ApisBocce Go on. I think we agree but I want to hear this developed.

[John A. Monaco @johnamonaco]

I expect a few responses to this:

First, you’ll have the Fr. Ripperger fanbase saying “LIBERAL bishop silences FAITHFUL PRIEST but the hierarchy does nothing about JAMES MARTIN SJ!”

Second, you’ll have the anti-Ripperger crowd say “Thank GOD the good, pastoral bishop is taking action over this lunatic, anti-Francis renegade exorcist!”

I’d like to offer a better way to read this.

I’m wary of “celebrity priests” in general, and think exorcism-talk requires prudence and reservation. Talking about the intimate details of an exorcism might lead one to the vice of curiositas, an unregulated, disordered appetite for spectacle and “hidden secrets “. But that said, Fr. Ripperger’s ministry has helped tons of people come to knowledge of the Catholic faith, especially on topics not frequently discussed by most public teachers of the Faith.

This “one-year fast from public speaking and interviews” might be a good thing for him and his Society of the Most Sorrowful Mother, insofar as it reminds us that the Christian life is a combination of contemplation and action. Perhaps the bishop has noted that Ripperger’s run on the podcast circuit has distracted the Society from its main goals. Perhaps he wants to test Fr. Ripperger’s obedience and see if he’s truly docile to episcopal authority.

I think Fr. Ripperger is virtuous enough to obey this directive, even if we bystanders might see it as unjust. I would like to see some other bishops or religious superiors ask for a “one year fast” (or in some cases, perpetual) for other popular personalities with an audience, but that’s a tweet for another day.

[Mason-Dixon Latin Mass Society @MDLatinMass]

🚨FATHER CHAD RIPPERGER SILENCED BY HIS BISHOP

"Denver Archbishop James Golka has ordered Fr. Chad Ripperger to cease all public ministry — no talks, no preaching, no writing — for one year."

🎩 @LifeSite @CatholicSOTC
https://t.co/ZnftNJ16Po

[John A. Monaco @johnamonaco]

@SmallCapChains I don’t know much about Golka. I’m not one of those people who follows bishop voting records like it’s NFL stats. I literally give credit to Fr. Ripperger for bringing so many to the faith. Why would I be envious?

[John A. Monaco @johnamonaco]

@RealJohnDios Agreed. A lot of the stuff on @Sensus_Fidelium is great. Him going into the specifics of what the demon said to him (to an audience of millions) is probably the unwise move, and perhaps this is the bishop’s way of reining it in