My Awkward Confession
Look, I gotta be honest here. I’ve been a Catholic for 38 years, and I’m just now realizing how weird it is that we still sit in pews. I mean, really think about it. We’re all just sitting there, staring at the back of someone’s head, half-listening to the homily. It’s like we’re in a high school assembly, not a place of worship.
I was at St. Mary’s last Tuesday, and I couldn’t help but notice how many people were on their phones. Not praying, not even doodling in a missal. Just scrolling. And it hit me—this isn’t working. We’re losing people because we’re stuck in the past.
I mentioned this to Father O’Malley over coffee at the place on 5th. He said, “Mark, the pews are a tradition. They’re part of our heritage.” I asked him, “But at what cost?” He just smiled and said, “Change is hard, my son.” Which… yeah. Fair enough. But we can’t keep doing things just because we’ve always done them.
But What’s the Alternative?
Okay, so maybe pews aren’t the root of all evil. But they’re a symbol of a bigger problem. We’re not engaging people. We’re not making them feel welcome or involved. And honestly, it’s kinda shocking how little thought goes into the physical space of our churches.
I talked to a friend named Marcus about this. He’s an architect, and he said, “Mark, churches are like real estate. You gotta think about the experience.” He told me about this church in Austin that got rid of pews and replaced them with movable chairs. “It completely changed the dynamic,” he said. “People felt more connected, more involved.” I asked him if it was a big deal to implement. He laughed and said, “Not really. It’s just… yeah. It’s about being open to change.”
But here’s the thing—it’s not just about the furniture. It’s about the mindset. We need to start thinking about our churches as living, breathing spaces, not museums. And that means being open to new ideas, even if they’re a little uncomfortable at first.
A Tangent: The Real Estate Market and Church Spaces
Speaking of real estate, have you seen the real estate market news update lately? It’s wild. But it got me thinking—what if churches started thinking more like real estate developers? I’m not saying we should start selling off altars or anything, but maybe we should be more strategic about how we use our space.
I was at a conference about three months ago, and there was this one speaker who talked about how churches could be community hubs. “Imagine a church that’s open 24/7,” she said. “A place where people can come for prayer, for community, for support. It’s not just about Sunday mass.” I mean, that’s a radical idea, right? But it’s also kinda exciting.
But here’s the thing—it’s not just about the space. It’s about the people. We need to start thinking about how we can make our churches more welcoming, more inclusive, more relevant. And that means being open to change, even if it’s scary.
The Problem with Commitment
And let’s talk about commitment. Or, more accurately, the lack thereof. I was at a parish council meeting last month, and we were discussing why young people aren’t coming to church. One of the council members, let’s call him Dave, said, “They’re just not committed. They don’t understand the value of tradition.” I asked him, “But what if the problem isn’t them? What if the problem is us?” He looked at me like I had two heads.
But I’m serious. We can’t just blame the younger generation for not being committed. We need to ask ourselves why they’re not committed. And I think a big part of it is that we’re not giving them a reason to be. We’re not making our churches places where they feel welcome, where they feel valued, where they feel like they belong.
I was talking to a colleague named Sarah about this. She’s a youth minister, and she said, “Mark, young people want to feel like they’re part of something. They want to feel like their voice matters. And if we’re not giving them that, then we can’t expect them to stick around.” She’s right. It’s that simple.
But What Can We Do?
So, what’s the solution? I’m not sure. But I think it starts with a conversation. We need to start talking about these issues openly and honestly. We need to be willing to challenge the status quo, to ask the hard questions, to be open to change.
And maybe, just maybe, we can start by getting rid of the pews. Or at least thinking about it. Because if we’re not willing to change, then we’re not really living out our faith. We’re just going through the motions.
I’m not saying it’s gonna be easy. Change never is. But it’s necessary. And honestly, it’s long overdue.
So, let’s start the conversation. Let’s talk about how we can make our churches more welcoming, more inclusive, more relevant. Let’s talk about how we can engage people, how we can make them feel valued, how we can help them grow in their faith.
Because at the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about. It’s not about the pews. It’s not about the traditions. It’s about the people. And if we’re not putting them first, then we’re not doing our job.
So, let’s get to work.
About the Author: Mark Johnson has been a Catholic for 38 years and has spent the last 20 of those years writing about faith and spirituality. He’s a firm believer in the power of community and the importance of challenging the status quo. When he’s not writing, he can be found volunteering at his local church or exploring the great outdoors with his family.
