Because of the lack of vocations to the priesthood, Abp. Burke has been handed the problem of consolidation of parishes. As he has stated numerous times before, addressing vocations is a primary goal of his.
I am certain he will also look at the issue of fidelity to the Churches teachings as part of the problem as well as the rampant "cafeteria" style Catholicism that exists not only in our archdiocese but across the US.
Some have suggested a return to 'male only' altar servers to help heighten the ability to discern a call to the priesthood. That, coupled with renewed profound reverence to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, would certainly seem to be a step in the right direction. Although some might think this is too 'regressive', I might add that I have seen few, if any vocations, coming from parishes which should be producing them. For instance, I am in a parish which has nearly 3500 families, yet there are no men (of which I'm aware) from our parish enrolled in the seminary. But then right down the street, so to speak, a parish of about 200-300 families has at least one seminarian and has had more.
In trying to look at this objectively, I see a marked diference between the two parishes:
The large parish engages in various sorts of liturgical innovation, including but not limited to: liturgical dance, gender neutering of the prayers and readings at Holy Mass, and other abuses specifically prohibited by the Holy See, etc. Plus, rarely do I see altar boys - it's almost always altar girls. Yet, the smaller parish is just the opposite. Coincidence? I think not.
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