Synod: Attracting youth to church crucial

Opinions varied on a variety of issues but during a synod meeting at St. John the Evangelist Church in Plaquemine all agreed on the importance of attracting young people to the Catholic Church.

The Feb. 16 synod was one of nine held throughout the Diocese of Baton Rouge in response to Pope Francis’ call for a worldwide synod titled “Toward a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, Mission.” 

Vicar General Father Jamin David opened the meeting explaining the difference between a synod and synodal and said data collected from dioceses and archdioceses throughout the world would be sent to the Vatican.

As with all of the synod meetings, attendees were allowed two minutes to respond to a total of nine questions broken down by the theme of the synod title. 

“From my perspective as I’ve seen and experienced in my church through the years, there seems to be a drawing away from the younger generation,” said Roy Quezaire a parishioner at St. Catherine Siena Church in Donaldsonville.

He suggested a concerted effort to try to bring the youth back to church and do an indoctrination of church teachings but through a progressive perspective. 

“Today is a different world,” he said. “We have to give them something of substance that will lead to sustainability whereby they can plant the seeds to their children and their generation and make it as holistic and complete as possible.”

Another St. Catherine parishioner said she believes the least included group in the church is the youth and recalled how the parish previously had a youth choir, a youth group and even liturgical dancers.
“We need the youth to participate,” she said.

St. John parishioner Patricia Ebert credited St. John pastor Father Greg Daigle for having bulletins printed geared toward children and distributed after Mass.

“(The children) look forward to receiving a bulletin,” Ebert said. “It might encourage kids to attend Mass if they had something to look forward to.”

Also discussed were traditional church teachings, opening the church to all regardless of sexual orientation, ethnicity or background, groups who might be overlooked by the church and how to move forward.

Several members agreed emphasis should be placed on the family, with several people agreeing the family is under attack in modern society.

Quezaire pointed out how the makeup of modern households has changed, many with no fathers thereby leaving mothers and grandmothers to raise children 

“The male is absent. We have to embrace those (families), teach them everything we have learned,” he said.

“There are so many things we need to work on but I think family is the most imminent,” said Father Eddie Martin, pastor at St. Philomena Church in Labadieville, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Plattenville and St. Anne Church in Napoleonville. “We have single mothers trying to raise families.”

He said attempts to redefine marriages and redefine families are proving disastrous.

Felix Sternfels, a parishioner of St. Jules Church in Belle Rose, voiced his concern that the church is not reaching out to such groups as parents home schooling their children, assisting those who have concerns regarding the COVID-19 vaccine and Catholics who attend the Latin Mass.

“I do believe the local church could do a better job of incorporating them into the local or diocesan community,” Sternfels said. “Unfortunately, the church seems to be only respecting those on the left (including the gay community).” 

Countered Ebert: “We have to accept people as they are. We have to reach out to them and don’t turn our backs on them.”

Ed Blouin, a resident of New Orleans East who drives more than one hour each way to attend Mass at St. Catherine on Sundays, said all Catholics are called to be disciples who have a missionary calling to God.

“We need to be examples as Christians,” he said. “We are all on a life journey to God. When we have an opportunity to speak out, we should. 

“That’s what Jesus did. He could not do it all by himself.”

Suggestions were also plentiful regarding ways to attract fallen Catholics back to church. Apologetics was suggested so Catholics could learn more about their faith and why certain practices are followed.

St. Catherine parishioner Debra Robinson suggested a possible revival, with different types of programs that would include Black history that could be attractive to young Catholics.

“I have nothing against any other denomination but I can sit and tell you that interdenominational churches bring a certain flavor to the table that is attractive,” Quezaire said. “It’s viable. It’s relatable. It’s current. And  there’s a chemistry that just can’t be beat. 

“The situation and the need is urgent; we have to develop a sense of urgency and go after designed goals and prioritize them in order and don’t rest until we accomplish these goals and objectives.”

One St. Catherine parishioner said she believes Catholicism does not emphasize the Bible as much as other denominations and the “Bible is the word.”

Noting recent success at a Baton Rouge church, Sternfels suggested Latin Masses be celebrated with more frequency to attract more people. 

Additional synods designed to meet with designated groups will be scheduled during the spring.