On this final Sunday of Advent, as we prepare to celebrate Christmas, I would like for us to focus on who will be coming to our Church Home of Corpus Christi for Christmas.
As Americans make their Christmas plans, slightly less than half say they usually attend a church service during the holiday season. A Lifeway Research study finds U.S. adults are split on whether they’ll be at church sometime this Christmas - 47% say they typically attend church at Christmastime, while 48% say they do not, and 5% aren’t sure.
“The very name ‘Christmas’ originates in the church’s celebration of Jesus Christ’s birth. In the mid-14th century, the words ‘Christ’s Mass’ were first merged as a single term for this celebration,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. “While 9 out of 10 Americans do something to celebrate Christmas, less than half typically attend church at Christmastime today.”
We plan for much larger crowds than normal at Christmas. If you want to avoid the large crowds, we encourage you to attend Christmas Eve Masses at 7:00 p.m. or 10:00 p.m., or Christmas Day Mass at 9:00 a.m.
Most of those attending church at Christmastime say they do so primarily because of their faith. 3 out of 5 people (60%) of those who typically attend church during this season say they do so to honor Jesus. Fewer say their church attendance comes from a desire to observe tradition (16%), to be with family and friends (15%) or to get in the Christmas spirit (8%). Fewer than 1% aren’t sure.
Christians who attend church less often are more likely to say their Christmas attendance comes from tradition. Those who rarely or never attend (22%) and those who attend once or twice a month or only on religious holidays (27%) are more likely than those who attend about once a week (10%) and those who attend more than once a week (6%) to say they show up to observe tradition.
Those who don’t typically show up at Christmas may simply be waiting for an invitation.
Most (56%) say they would likely attend church if someone they know invited them to attend with them during the Christmas season, including 17% who are very likely. Around a third (36%) say they’re unlikely, including 24% who are very unlikely. Another 8% say they’re not sure.
Who besides your family will you invite to attend Christmas Mass with you? A different motivation in the chorus of an African American spiritual appeals to everybody: ‘Go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born.’ This chorus suggests that the Hallelujah-inspiring good news of Jesus being born is reason enough to tell it on the mountain or on the city wall.” And if you are joined by family or others who do not normally attend Mass, PLEASE set a good example by giving them a copy of the handout in our pamphlet rack showing how to follow along at Mass, show them where the readings and music is in our books and by participating FULLY yourself.
We will also livestream our 7:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Mass and it will remain on our parish website for several days after Christmas. If you know of an elderly person or someone who is not able to physically attend with you, please encourage them to join you in prayer online.
Let us remember that we are to be Christ to others at Christmas, and many are coming home for Christmas in a Catholic Church. Additionally, let us also remember our manners and practice hospitality as we celebrate the Incarnation.
God Bless,
