Jesuit Center of Ignatian Spirituality, Malta



CIS Newsletter N.36 October 2006 Sunday Mass Attendance Census 2005 The publication of the Sunday Mass Attendance Census has made quite a stir in our Archdiocese and the Diocese of Gozo. The bottom line message is that almost half of the Maltese faithful have stopped going or do not attend the Sunday Mass on a regular basis. This report is a preliminary report. It is also a statistical report full of tables and graphs. Certainly the sociological and scientific aspect of this study must be taken seriously. However, what is important now is the interpretation of such data. The statistical report presented by Discern, (the diocesan Institute for Research and the Signs of the Times) need now to initiate a deep study to come to grips with the phenomenon. Reactions to the report have been forthcoming. We seem to have been caught napping! 48.4% of our baptised faithful do not seem to be bothered with attending the Sunday Liturgy. Why? What does it mean? What are those who are so conspicuous with their absence telling us? Are the ones who attend regularly stronger or more convinced in what they practice? How can we be sure that it is not only a habitual manifestation without real meaning? And those who are indifferent and passive to heed their "religious duties", would they be totally outside the Church… is it an expression of practical atheism? The report said that the 2005 census is the fourth one since the 60s. From the longitudinal perspective the survey is an important indicator that points to a change in the people's religious behaviour. Perhaps we were not surprised to note the lowest attendance rate belonged to the 15-24 and 25-49 age groups respectively. It is the present generation and those that are coming up which are showing a stronger shift with regards to their religious practice. It may be obvious to a critical mind that the crux of the matter is not simply that many are not physically present at the Sunday Liturgy. The local Church as a faith-expression is inserted in a social reality that is not homogenous. The Church finds itself in the present social reality which is highly secularised, pluralistic, liberal and full of diversity. Today's social reality is wider and highly influential. The Church represented by its priest is not the only "oracle" that guides our moral consciences. In the din of our modern means of communications the Good News is heard less and less. The summer petards and band marches that throng our village roads are fluff… an external expression of religious traditionalism that has lost its true spiritual meaning. What we experience during the summer does not point to a mature Christian life. The same could be said to so many forms of liturgical exterior expressions and experiments. However modern we try to render them our liturgical symbols remain an exterior phenomenon and ephemeral. They are failing to impact the interior life of those participating in them. The problem we are called to study is multifaceted. We cannot pin one reason that will explain the whole phenomenon. However, it seems to me that at least one important factor may shed some light to our discussion. Namely, I am referring to the fact that there is a lack of knowledge of our most important faith-tenets and values. If we want to be honest most of our faithful after Confirmation hardly ever bother to deepen their understanding of their faith. We never grow to be spiritually responsible of our important decisions in our life. It is true that in these last few years the Church has established a lot of "catechetical" institutes for the formation of lay people. Yet, evangelisation remains poor and ineffective. Many are so "ignorant" of the most basic evangelical values that should govern our life. There is a spiritual void which is being filled by other values that are more appealing to a philosophy of life that is concerned with self. Everyone will concur that there is much to be done. It is not simply a matter to stem the tide of church absenteeism. This is not a question of numbers. Parishes need to get their pastoral bearings right. Parish priest need to be courageous and bring about a change of pastoral priorities in their parishes. There needs to be a concentration of a holistic religious education that can reach all the members within a parish and not just the children. Church lay leaders need to be well instructed and formed. Good will is not enough to shepherd the flock. Having said this I do not think that the problem lies only within. We know only too well that we err and there are omissions… but then we are only mere human beings. We need each other to tackle the modern influences that are working against the faith. Above all we need to pray and trust the Lord… When he entered the house, the disciples asked him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?" He said to them, "This kind can come out only through prayer." Mk 9:28-29. Vincent Magri SJ Questions for Personal or Group Reflection: Do you have a copy of the Census? Are you following the discussion on the result of the Census? What is your personal or group opinion of the Census? What can you or your group do to answer the needs of the Church today? Links http://www.maltachurch.org.mt http://www.discern-malta.org

Book Review: The Screwtape Letters By C.S.Lewis To me C.S. Lewis's "The Screwtape letters" was the most subtle of eye-openers. Ever seen anyone laugh out loud and then just laugh and then ponder and then make a serious face? Well that was a picture of me leafing through this brief, yet powerful collection of letters (naturally hypothetical) sent from one wise old devil (Screwtape) to his inexperienced nephew (Wormwood). At first you wouldn't know what to make of it; but then letter after letter the words of advice and reprimands given out from uncle to nephew slowly shed light onto the weakest points of human nature. Indifference and complacency in our everyday life erode the very foundations of our faith, just as silently and as surely as the elements have eroded mighty bastions and fortifications over the years.	The bottom line is always to be prepared steer your boat away from the big tempests, also bearing in mind the dangers posed by all those seemingly innocuous cracks which keep letting water in day after day. It finally all clicks and you realize that its time to shake off that false sense of security gained over the years simply by not doing what is wrong. The time has come to start walking that extra mile; to oppose what is wrong by doing what is good; to stop wasting precious time and to get into action! And as Mark Twain said "Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect." Richard Borg ISBN 0_00_628060_9 Harper Collins
Rom 9: 31-39 "With God on our side, who can be against us?" (Let us not forget to pray for the illegal emigrants or refugees all over the world and those who dedicate their time to minister to their needs). In Camp II at Pakan Baroe in Sumatra, more or less on the Equator, and unpleasant, I used to preach every Sunday to all and sundry, all races and faiths. Men in adversity instinctively seek God, sometimes unknowingly. It was some time in July and the Collect that day said "Oh God, your Providence rules all things with unfailing wisdom, take away all that harms us and give us all that is for our good". Alongside the spot where I used to preach there were two long bamboo huts, dignified with the name Hospital, in which lay dozens of men, mostly young, wasting away with all manner of tropical diseases and never enough to eat, and scant medicines. They lay side by side on wooden platform, with no mattresses and often no blankets. Hygiene was primitive. Down the centre were about ten camp beds, where lay the men next to die. They were put there because it was easier to minister to them but they knew they were not going to live. I buried them nearly every evening. Patrick Rorke S.J. from Greatness of Heart, Sermon in a Prison Camp. From the CIS Diary Mulej, Ghallimna Nitolbu Huwa l-Ispirtu ta’ Gesù li f’qalbna jqanqalna biex nitolbu. Izda ahna rridu naghmlu l-parti taghna. F’dan l-irtir nitghallmu flimkien metodi differenti ta’ talb. *Data:* Mill-Gimgha 27 ta’ Ottubru 2006 fis-7.00 ta’ filghaxija, sal-Hadd 29 wara l-pranzu. *Post: Dar Manresa - Ghawdex Imexxu:* Ms Rosaline Scicluna,Ms Mary Xuereb, Fr. Paul Zammit SJ Weekend Seminar (in English) Select Themes from the Book of Job And the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola Everyone knows the book of Job as the book of suffering! It is a difficult book of the Old Testament yet it contains many messages on the mystery of suffering, prayer, God’s omnipotence, doing God’s will…themes similar to those found in the book of the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius of Loyola. During the seminar important themes will be explained. There will be time for prayer and reflection. The seminar will be conducted in English by Prof. Anthony J. Frendo a scholar in Arabic and Middle East studies. He also lectures in Scripture, Biblical Archaeology and Classical Hebrew. *Date:* From Friday 27th October, at 6.30pm till Sunday 29th, 5.00 pm *Place:* Mt St Joseph Retreat House, Mosta *Given by:* Prof. Anthony J. Frendo (Professor in Scripture and Biblical Archaeology) We would like to remind you that the Centre for Ignatian Spirituality offers personal spiritual direction to all those who would like to have any kind of spiritual experience like Ignatian retreats in every day life. Retreats can be tailored according to the needs and circumstances of the retreatant. CIS can call on experienced Jesuits, other religious and trained lay people to accompany retreatants through these experiences. Anyone interested can contact the Director on 21344349 or 99864561 or email vince@maltajesuitretreats.com.