Do our Stats Tell The Truth?

From the Pastor:    Do Our Stats Tell The Truth?

       Several weeks ago I had a few moments of “free” time so I finally pulled out the most recent diocesan statistics on Mass counts and posted them in the church social hall. In case you have not yet seen them, below are a few numbers of interest. Before I get to them, though, let me first explain, for the sake of anyone new to the diocese, where we get these stats from. The Bishop asks each parish and mission to count the number of people attending Sunday Masses (this includes the Saturday evening Vigil Masses) every weekend in both February and October, averages the totals, and reports the numbers in a spreadsheet. This gives the diocese an overview of how the populations change in various parts of the diocese as well as in individual parishes. Such information is useful in many different ways, such as deciding when and where new parishes might have to be built, where others may have to be closed (shudder at the thought), or even which pastors seem to grow or wilt parishes at which they are assigned. There are probably dozens of other ways these numbers are used as well. I hope they are used to debunk the foolish notion that “nobody wants the Tridentine Mass”! I know that I have successfully used them in such a way when fellow priests complain that they have nothing but blue haired-ladies at their (Novus Ordo) parishes! Of course, I use the word “successfully” quite loosely, for, although I can present the truth to them, that doesn’t mean they have any belief that my parish is anything but an anomaly. After all, the stats showing that all Traditional Latin Masses have grown over the last 17 years, even during covid, is still seen as nothing but “disinformation” by a sizable portion of the clergy. They just can’t wait for the “bubble” to burst, for the “novelty” of Traditional prayer to wear off, and for people to once again realize that folk and rock music (along with feel-good sermons) is the cornerstone of a good, solid, Catholic “faith experience.”
       Just look at the kickoff ceremonies for the last round of the USCCB’s Eucharistic Revival, the Eucharistic Processions, that just tanked in Minnesota even with two big-name “celebrities” heading the marquee, namely, Bishop Robert Barron and Father Mike Schmitz. Thousands showed up, but they had expected thousands more. Did, perhaps, the thought of enduring the tortuous “praise and worship” guitar music ceremony that went along with the talks keep the other people away? That couldn’t possibly be the case, since that type of “music” and “entertainment” is what “everyone” keeps insisting is what attracts people to the Catholic Church! I am willing to bet that had they promoted the Eucharistic talks by this bishop/priest duo, along with a solemn Latin-schola-led Exposition/Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament before the Eucharistic Procession, the crowds would have exceeded expectations. It’s just a guess, mind you, but we will never find out, for “everybody” is certain that “nobody” wants solemnity, dignity, and reverence in front of Our Lord. Yet the reality is dawning even if they refuse to see it, for those promoting this big Revival’s closing Mass, which will certainly not be Traditional, have already lowered the expected number of attendees by 30,000! And that is with every bishop in the country giving away hundreds or even thousands of tickets! I have no doubt that if they announced today that the closing Mass was going to be a Traditional Latin Mass the numbers would skyrocket overnight. See the annual Chartres Eucharistic pilgrimage for an example of what could be expected. Of course, “those crazy people” making that journey actually believe what the Church teaches about the Eucharist. Sheez!
       But back to the statistics of the parish and the diocese. In February of 2024 Epiphany averaged 912 people attending Mass. That is a substantial increase from the 87 people who were counted in February 2015, six months before the TLM arrived here. It is also a slight increase from last year’s February count of 875. It is a very nice change from the 494 people we had during February of 2020, just before the terrible covid lockouts. As for that last number, this year shows that we are one of only 12 parishes that have finally reached once again the number of parishioners that they had before we told the whole world that dying without the sacraments was perfectly acceptable. Think about that. 68 out of 80 parishes have not yet managed to return to pre-covid numbers. The message was powerful: "You don’t need the Church." Will we learn from this fiasco (and we are counting souls perhaps lost for eternity, here, remember that always) when the next so-called pandemic is unleashed on the world? There was something different at Epiphany during that time, though, as we never lost parishioners but rather kept gaining. I wonder if any statisticians out there can figure out what the reason might be? Brainwashing by the cult-leader pastor? Forced attendance? Hmmm...
       This chart also shows that there are currently 37 parishes or missions with a smaller congregation than we have. In February 2015, again, six months before the TLM arrived, Epiphany was the smallest parish, smaller than even the missions. Our future looks pretty good, too, as you will also see from several charts posted next to the Mass Count chart. For the future of a parish to be bright, there must be a good increase in youth. These charted stats show that Epiphany is “outperforming” the diocesan average, per one hundred parishioners, in both baptisms and First Holy Communions. But “nobody” wants the TLM!

With prayers for your holiness,
Rev. Fr. Edwin Palka