Father Michael White
Why Small Groups?
Father Michael White Comments Off on Why Small Groups?
In our new book, “Rebuilt Faith” (Ave Maria Press, $18.95), my co-author, Tom Corcoran, and I, in part, explore the purpose and value of small faith-sharing groups in the life of the parish and the experience of participating parishioners. Our group program, here in our parish, has become an integral part of our discipleship efforts. Read More
Rebuilding Your Parish
Father Michael White Comments Off on Rebuilding Your Parish
The National Eucharistic Revival (NER), sponsored by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, entered its second phase this past summer. It is styled the “Year of Parish Revival.” This effort could be an important opportunity for parishes looking to finally move on from our collective COVID-19 setback or reignite energy and enthusiasm in the face Read More
Simplify Your Schedule
Father Michael White Comments Off on Simplify Your Schedule
When I arrived at my parish, the expectation was that the pastor does everything, from unlocking the front doors on Sunday mornings to changing the toilet paper in the men’s room (I’m not sure who took care of the ladies’ room). Furthermore, my presence was absolutely expected and, in fact, demanded at absolutely everything that Read More
Five Common Responses to Declining Attendance
Father Michael White Comments Off on Five Common Responses to Declining Attendance
Preaching to an empty church in the early days of the COVID-19 crisis was jarring, to say the least. I knew the cameras were rolling, but was anyone really watching? Losing my congregation was disheartening, even though we knew it wasn’t a permanent loss … at least not totally. COVID didn’t introduce declining church attendance, Read More
The Livestreaming Question
Father Michael White Comments Off on The Livestreaming Question
We are in interesting times, to say the least. As the COVID-19 crisis has waned, parishes that went online have been faced with a choice: continue to stream Masses online or turn off the cameras. There are still so many unanswered questions, chief among them: Will churches that embraced online livestreaming (like ours) fall behind Read More
Responding to Current Events at Church
Father Michael White Comments Off on Responding to Current Events at Church
More than ever before, we experience major world events collectively. Raw footage and intensely personal stories of victims are immediately available to us through the news media. Local events and tragedies take on increased significance, too, in local communities where more and more is communicated over widely distributed social networks. These major events are defined Read More
‘Wow-ing’ Guests with Hospitality
Father Michael White Comments Off on ‘Wow-ing’ Guests with Hospitality
The COVID ordeal has added new urgency to the question that was already pressing pre-COVID: How do we get people to church, or back to church? I believe that one major key to unlocking this puzzle will be renewing our understanding of what hospitality is and who it is really for. Literally, the word hospitality Read More
My Church Is for Me, Not about Me
Father Michael White Comments Off on My Church Is for Me, Not about Me
I am often asked what was the single most important thing we did, the decision made or the turn we took that had the greatest impact on the renewal and rebuilding of our parish. Typically, I say there was no silver bullet; rebuilding is about adopting the right strategy and staying committed to it over Read More