Видео

I saw so many comments on the workshop this week about how great this podcast is , I couldn't wait to watch it. This is such great information! Brandon shares so many ideas for measuring the health of the parish.

It wasn’t “a mockery of the last supper” the drag queens at the olympics were re-creating the feast of dionysus, not the last supper. and even if you thought it was a christian reference - what's the harm? why is it a "parody" and not a tribute? can drag not be christian too?

U keep saying vision, mission and values but u never once clarify what those are?

Wow, well said. and thanks for this podcast. it's a wonderful resource.

Thank you Melissa and Joe!

I love "Christian Combat Duty"! It's very appropriate language for teaching our youth to get ready to engage in the battle. Love it!

rachel thank you you were wonderful!!!

Absolutely amazing to hear Ed tell the origin story of Rebuilt and the power of the Rebult model. Ed is the OG!

fr white pearls of wisdom ty

fantastic daniel

Thank you for this series!

Thanks for the link Father Luke!

I really wish what these parish consultant-style businesses are doing were helpful. Perhaps it makes sense to modern day pastors who are bewildered stuck between the flock and the bishop to be following some institutionalized recipe. But then, as a lay faithful, programs have estranged me from the parish. Grace cannot be delivered by algorithms and market strategies. Kyrie Eleison!

This is so cringe. If I didn't know this was a Catholic parish, I would have sworn it was protestant. Why do you refer to the homily as a message, and the Mass as a service? Instead of using the treasures of the Church to rebuild, restore, and renew, you're using protestant things. And referring to the atmosphere of the church as being theater-like is truly awful. It's sacred space, and the sanctuary is the holy of holies. Heaven is made present at the Mass. To compare it to a theater setting, like you are being entertained, is shameful.

“The Orthodox churches and churches of the east still carry on their liturgy in that mystical fashion: there is chanting, there is use of different languages which are not spoken languages, then there is more incense…an aura of otherness happens and after the reforms of the Council, sometimes not because of the reformers but because individual persons decided to take matters into their hands and did things rather superfluously, the Church had gradually lost that mystical element, the element of the hidden. And that’s why our people are finding our liturgy…our prayer life…boring.” Cardinal Ranjith, Archbishop of Colombo

Gay crypto evangelicalism.

Maybe be honest and just become protests.

Does this include letting kids get raped by volunteers as recently happened at timonium?

Step .25 is asking your pastor what resources are available and getting to know who knows the parish youth best. Step .5 is contacting the local diocesan Office for Youth Ministry for courses and guidance and events. Step .75 is asking the parents/parishioners what they want out of the Youth Ministry.

Just the fact that you have a "Christmas Producer" is sorrowful.

Rewatching this again 4 years later- back then, I was resistent to his message because I was stuck on this blinding hell-bent traditionalism, but now that I've given up that ideology and began to just PAY ATTENTION to the Sacrament and the spiritual needs of our parish and my community, Father's message is vital. How to implement it might mean some trial and error (coffee shops etc) but as long as it brings people back to the Sacrament and focusing on WHY it's so central to our mission, then it's worth it... Especially compared with whatever most parishes are doing now

Delay the Chastisement from God. ruclips.net/video/d0sLlhe3hW4/видео.html

God is giving messages to those who hears Him to remind us again and again that our chastisement is imminent: three days of darkness without any lights, modernizations, anything be prepared physically and spiritually. Reconcile with God. Incessant prayers.............. ruclips.net/video/S1LQZ9DoLnM/видео.html

All good, but skip to to 3:23 for the FREE FOOD story.

Alternate title: "How to turn your Catholic craft-brew into Budweiser".

Where is Jesus? Where is Jesus? We have doughnuts and coffee after every Mass, have full Masses, and...GASP! They are both Extraordinary Form (TLM) Masses! And everyone remarks how friendly and inviting the parishioners are. My sister and law and her fiancé came to visit us this weekend and were blown away at what a beautiful parish it was, both in worship and in the people. By the way, we sang the 'Orbis Factor' (Mass XI) Mass, Credo III, a 'Jubilate Deo' by Mozart, and 'Sicut Cervus' by Palestrina. Holy Communion was received on the tongue at the rail, and we had a team of around 10 boys serving. I admire the desire to do well, but sometimes we just have to do what's right and have faith that good things will come. A marketing team has never walked on water, of that I am assured...

This is along the lines of the Cursillo movement who's motto is :- "Make a friend, Be a friend and bring that friend to Jesus." We already have Ushers to greet and seat people and we have an organ and a choir. We don't need a band. We already occasionally have free coffee and fellowship after Mass. What is this? A Social Club? Nothing was mentioned about the actual Mass which doesn't seem to be of any importance any more. We are supposed to be present at Christ's sacrifice on Calvary and witnessing His resurrection. He is giving us His body, blood, soul and divinity in Communion with Him and each other. Nothing is ever said about that fact. Few people even acknowledge Christ's presence by genuflecting. It's all about a meal at a table and fellowship. WE ARE NOT PROTESTANTS but few people know the difference . Do you realize that during the consecration you are actually spiritually present in Heaven and singing the Sanctus (Holy, Holy, Holy) along with the angels? You want to connect with new parishoners and keep them coming back? Show some reverence during Mass and if you want to socialize then start up a social club that is separate from Mass. I am disgusted at what is going on in our parish since our priests started this and it's going to get worse. I will be looking for another, more traditional parish to attend even if I do have to walk a couple of miles. Most of the older generation have already left. There is no Adoration, no Rosary before Mass any more. (We had to abandon the Rorary because of all the talking and socializing going on at the door. We couldn't hear when to respond). Few people go to confession because you have to go and look for the priest if you want to confess.

The way to attract souls to Christ: don't be jerks. Be heroically patient. Actually, follow the Gospel teaching. That's it. Holy, saintly priests and holy people attract disciples. Busy bodies, cliquey clubs that don't get out of the circle, dirty looks, and not enough confession time or consolidating and shrinking time for sacraments, and really bad acoustics due to crappy 50s and 60s buildings reduces the parish and sends people elsewhere. Sin sends people away. Temptation pulls people away. That's all. It is an ongoing battle; you can't get comfortable. Coffee, phony smiles, and useless/obnoxious ushers ain't gonna do it.

Did he say "band?" Did he say "theater?" Lord have mercy!

I'm just about finished reading the book Rebuilt. I've also recently finished reading Growing and Engaged Church, Divine Renovation, and Purpose Driven Church. All are excellent books and worthwhile reading whether we like everything they say or not. I have been a priest for 10 years. Everything Fr. White describes about his once dying parish I can relate to in every parish I've ever served or been a part of. Our American Catholic parishes were never really built for evangelization. We can't just wish and hope people join the Church. That's not a strategy. We have to discover and develop a strategy for evangelization. That's what Nativity has done. Did Jesus have a strategy? Perhaps a rereading of the New Testament with this question in mind could help all of us answer this question. After reading the comments below, I understand the worry about Catholic identity. Perhaps Nativity has gone to an extreme in attracting "the crowd" and it goes beyond some of our tastes and preferences, but I envy their new found life. It's their strategy. At least they have a strategy. They are not only attracting the crowd, but engaging them in a relationship with Jesus Christ through discipleship. As far as I can tell they haven't done away with the sacraments or allegiance to the Pope. Congratulations Nativity and thank you for sharing your experiences. May God continue to bless your work!

Although I am sure that this whole program is well intentioned, I can't but help notice that this is centered around the idea of making people feel welcome, like the music and the message. Yes, it is very important that people feel welcomed when they enter a church and that there be good quality in music and especially in the preaching of the homily, they make no mention of the source and summit of our faith: the Eucharist. Mass is first and foremost an act of worship of God and were we come together as a community to partake in Jesus' ultimate sacrifice which is re-presented on the altar. I'm sorry, but if the central focus of these "weekend experiences" is not that Eucharist and getting people to long for it that they return to the sacrament of penance or to come into the faith, then in my humble opinion there is something missing here.

From what I have seen of these people, they are so far from Catholicism it's not even funny! They are making a mockery of the Catholic faith, Church & life! I watched the "year in review" and was sick to my stomach! They have women in vestments! That is in NO way the Catholic Church that Christ built! I pray for the repose of their souls & that they find the error of their ways & that God shows mercy upon them. I also pray that they stop such sacrilegious behaviors!

So, let me understand.. In this video you're talking about the importance of a priest... If that is so, & your church is supposed to be a catholic Church, then why on earth do you take part in such sacrilege? I saw a "year in review" and in those pictures, there was a woman dressed in vestments. I also saw a portion of your Easter service & I honestly was sick to my stomach in seeing such behaviors. Do you even realize how far from Catholicism you have gone? I pray that you do see the error of your ways & pray that you bring the Church back to your church...& that God shows you the ways of His Church as it was appointed by His Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ!

I'm curious...where in the Bible does it specify what worship should look like? I personally can't stand Grwgorian chants, so I guess that makes me a bad Catholic. Guess I'm doomed to hell. Oh and Latin, not a clue. The small part they do in Latin at our Church is still foreign to me. Like it, but don't what any of it means.

How disgusting!! But I guess your church is ugly! Campus!!! The church is the tabernacle of God's Real Presence. How is it charitable to lie and pretend that God is not the center of Catholic worship. Newcomers are not the center of worship. It is very discouraging to hear you use non-Catholic ideas. Do you realize that God is truly present Body , Blood, Soul and Divinity in the Eucharist? People are not who we worship.

The priest needs to administer the sacraments and teach, not serve food to rich parishioners.

We have the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, Gregorian chant and the best classical music. How come Catholics are being denied Catholic worship? The protestants have only scripture, song and fellowship, but not God. What a miserable substitute for Catholic worship! The most friendly, welcoming and most delicious food cannot satisfy the inner longing of every man for God! Theater, my foot! We have the Real Presence. Protestants talk about it, but do not have it. We have the Re-Presentation in every Holy Mass. Is the Mass about how we feel? A band has no place in a Catholic church and certainly not in the Holy Mass. As a former fundamentalist, I can tell you the about the endless seeking for the Real Presence that goes on, the confusions, the contradictions and finally apostatizing from the Christian faith, due to the lack of true spiritual guidance. I have seen it among friends and family. The fullness of truth resides in the Catholic Church and not in the emotions of people. The third commandment is to keep the Sabbath holy, not the weekend!

The two presenters seem awfully well-intended, but this ethos is tired. They are certainly right that parishes need to find ways of welcoming people in. But Re-constructing the "service" - previously known as Holy Mass- to reflect the "likes" of dimly conceived strangers is a mug's game. The Catholic Mass is supposed to be the re-presentation of Christ's saving action on Calvary, a propitiatory sacrifice, it is not a mere play-act aimed at producing a positive affirmation of "wherever you are" right now in life. This is the Osteen-like "Everyday a Friday" ethos grafted into the Catholic Church. The attempt to import an "up-to-date" parish experience will cause generational, political, and liturgical conflicts to multiply in the Church. The great "updating" of the Second Vatican Council gave my church experience growing up the smell and feel of the early 1970s. Trying to be up-to-date, rather than timeless, made the liturgy immediately dated. The Catholic Church seemed more like a Boomer-cult of self-worship to me. Not something worthy of my service or sacrifice. I go to a parish that is absolutely thriving, generating lots of small group activity, beautiful music - Gregorian chant, polyphony - great teaching. It has done this not by trying to ape mega-Church Protestantism, but by returning us to the truths, the vocabulary, and the Rites of our faith: the Latin Mass, public Processions, service to the poor. The true "weekend experience" of the Christian faith is the movement from the despair and sorrow of Good Friday to the joy of the Resurrection. It isn't an aspirational consumer experience lit like a Pottery Barn catalog, it's real life. If what you want to make of Church is just a positive SWPL experience - you might get people interested out of novelty, but when there's a good football game on, or a weekend experience involves whisky rather than lattes, they won't make it to your "service." You can be faithful, Traditional, and engaging and creative at the same time.

The stories in the bible are what made me become an atheist.

I was an indoctrinated Catholic child and now a proud apostate and atheist. I have reality, you have delusion... may you find your way as pleasant.

Jennifer, While many are viewing our church in a poor manner, I can't emphasize enough that our mission is to reach unchurched souls and to bring back the many ex-Catholics of our world. Our Pastor has spent much time is investigating how to do this without relinquishing the importance of the Eucharist and the sacraments. I too considered leaving the faith. I was not feeling much in my old old parish. I felt more like a robot, doing what I was told and showing up on Sunday morning. I left briefly to attend a non-denominational church. It felt like the description that "tads girl" gave of our church. I find that to be rather insulting. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I didn't feel right being a member of that church. They taught the commandments and that was it. No sacrament, no rosary, no confession, etc. Nativity does and encourages all of these. As I attended several Catholic parishes and listening to my non-Catholic friends, I felt as though I was part of a dying faith. The previous churches are almost devoid of members, except for the very old members who keep trudging along, unhappy with everything. Those of us who believe in our Catholic faith, have never felt closer to God than we do at Nativity. That is actually a very large majority of our 6 to 9 thousand parishioners!!!! I feel more love at Nativity than I ever did at those traditional Catholic Churches! The music is uplifting and beautiful to listen to. A young lady sang Ave Maria on Mother's Day and it nearly brought me to tears. Religion is a very sensitive matter and that is why our parents told us not to discuss it or politics. I respect all people and their beliefs. It doesn't mean I agree with them. I don't feel that God placed me on this earth to be judge and jury. That is his job. My God is a forgiving,loving God and He welcomes all who come to Him! You can't bring people to God without some kind of attraction. If the initial attraction of God doesn't do it, but the fellowship does, the faith will follow! I know many who have been completely turned off to God and many are exCatholics who experienced a punishing, judge mental God. They are also people who were judged by their Church and it's parish members. God wants all of us to come to Him! He loves all of us! Jesus associated with all people despite the beliefs and teachings of his time. Shouldn't we all be more like Jesus and maybe someday we can live in peace and harmony! This is what makes me love my parish with all my heart! I don't judge, I love everyone until they can love themselves and God! Pope Francis reminds me our Pastor! So if you love Pope Francis, then you should give our church a try!

Not Catholic, really? To all of you negative nellies, you are very narrow-minded! I was once a member of several dying parishes in the Baltimore Archdiocese. It was disheartening and heartbreaking. There was no life left in these parishes. While I loved my parish, I felt I was a member of a dying religion. It scared me! When I walked through the doors of Nativity, after church shopping in non-denominational churches, I felt as though God had brought me home! The vibrancy and life of this parish was overwhelming, to the point of bringing me to tears! You can say what you want, but without seeing it and feeling it first-hand, it is hard to take your opinions seriously. At our Matter Conference in November, there were clergy and parishioners from churches as far away as Oregon and Canada. Everyone I encountered wanted to know how to bring their Catholic Churches back to life! It was heart-warming and inspiring! Our church has between 6000 to 9000 members(not certain of actual number). I recently invited a friend, who is not Catholic, and within 3 months of attending, she wants to become Catholic. I don't know what else to say except that our church is bringing people back to the Catholic faith! Amen to that!

Not Catholic.

This is not Catholic. This is modernist garbage and pseudo-Protestantism. Shameful.

AMEN! I have to ask, do you run your meeting from a pre-published agenda? Even allowing for adding topics as it were, to make sure you address what is intended and to publish the 'purpose' of the meeting... How do you evaluate your meetings? What do you evaluate? This is great!

I recently purchased the book and have enjoyed what I've read so far. So unfortunate that apathy is so very common in the Catholic Church. We all need a newer and more vibrant Apostolic Zeal to truly be the messengers of God's Good News of love, hope, peace, and salvation.

Great advice!

"Service"?

... the pastor is in a few pictures without his clerical collar (reminds of several "Lutheran" churches in the area that are no longer part of the traditional Lutheran church) and Kristin, in the video uses phrases like, "tips and tricks" that could have probably been better articulated. Either way, let's continue the discussion and learn what we can, and most importantly, follow Pope Francis' lead towards sharing the meaning of the Eucharist and the Theology of our Catholic family.

I applaud them for giving a bigger voice to a much needed discussion, as my Catholic grade school and high school have both been shut down, and the average age of my childhood parish is about 70 - all the while non-Catholic churches are popping up every mile up and down our streets. Though I definitely understand concerns expressed here, (though the negative tone is a bit disappointing) - Nativity.tv doesn't say "Catholic" on the home page or in their logo ...