[Article] Sunday Mass and the new ‘Rep Your Jersey’ culture

Almost every person of good will is concerned about the dwindling Catholic population in many jurisdictions. Rightly so, some practicing faithful (ordained and ordinary priests) are seeking practical ways to assuage the seeming nosedive of our numbers.

The enthusiasm, often borne of goodwill, at times leads to some mistakes in action, word, and omission, which we all, in humility and charity, must constructively contribute to the (de)constructions, if the cure is not to be worse than the disease.

The concern of religious population though, whenever it condescends to the realm of mere optics and cosmetic numbers, as in many political rallies, without a proper consideration of maintaining and sustaining the numbers, and a simultaneous safeguarding of the Substance we seek to draw the numbers to, risks weaponizing the concept of evangelization against the very Church and Faith we seek to serve.

Indeed, God can take care of himself, but as it is also said, ‘we feed the gods, that they may take care of us.’ If I may say, this is not necessarily about the Object of our Faith, who was, is, and forever will be.

Directly, however, it is about the good of the Church as an institution, and how those Faithful who make up the Church can effectively benefit from the Object of the Faith. In this context, one of the ways to feed the ‘gods’ to benefit from ‘them’ is to preserve the right mystery surrounding ‘them.’

That is why, through some strange ‘innovations’ like the ‘Rep Your Jersey Sunday,’ it is troubling to see the subtle metamorphosis of the liturgical aura into that of a picnic.

Fulcrum of the Matter

The challenge with approaches like ‘Rep Your Jersey Sundays’ is not necessarily about the jerseys or whatever there is, but the grand distracting-psychological toll such decisions cast on the (un)conscious desire of the faithful to actively participate and benefit from the celebrated Mystery.

Just as it may be understandable for identified groups to fancifully appear for Mass (offered for various intentions) before their sports, entertainment, or whatever engagement, so also, it may be, when an individual fancifully wears a jersey, 1652 Wellington boot, etc. for a general Mass.

Psychologically, however, it is a different ball game all together when such particular intentions are institutionally facilitated through a conscious wiring of the minds of the faithful in a parish setting, especially on the primordial feast day (Sunday) for the celebration of «the “viaticum” par excellence» (Eucharist).

Worse of it is when the so called ‘Rep your Jersey’ or ‘Rep your School’ Sundays shortly happen after competitions like the National Science and Math Quiz or Manchester United and Chelsea. In such instances, almost every climate around the liturgy changes from Sacred to entertainment, and spectatorship.

Frankly, already as a celebration, the Catholic Liturgy for its very solemn character appears lethargic to some ordinary Africans due to our ‘musical culture of movements,’ and the many Pentecostal/Charismatic neighbors around.

Therefore, especially on the psychological level, great and conscious efforts are always needed if we are to appreciate, actively participate, and benefit from our sacred worship, as compared to other faith communities.

These novelties, therefore, if not tamed, would lead to gradual depletion of the sense of sacredness of the faithful, who often seek for a proper relationship with the metaphysical the world does not offer.

Therefore, during Eucharistic celebrations, not even to ourselves, or our favorite Asante Kotoko SC and Accra Hearts of Oak, but to the Great Mystery do we want to concentrate on!

As personally observed, on those ‘entertaining Sundays’, those who seek to benefit from the celebrated Mystery often have to invest more energies than the ordinary. That’s why in our part of the world, wisdom is found in the practice of apparent ministers like ordained priests, altar servers, lectors, choirs, etc., to wear vestments.

For whatever reason there may be, will it even cross the minds of the authorities of our struggling local league to encourage spectators to represent in kaftan? Every space has its own proper codes, and the Church should be respected for that.

As a matter of fact, the Church cannot entertain the faithful more than the National theatre. And so, in order to be We, without exaggerations and apologies, we must seek to increase, preserve and be sensitised about the distinctive character of the Sabbath Mass as St. Peter Julian Eymard encouraged: “Know, O Christian, that the Mass is the holiest act of religion.

You cannot do anything to glorify God more, nor profit your soul more, than by devoutly assisting at it, and assisting as often as possible.”

Right-Sustainable Options?

Whenever it is about the Mass, without sensationalism, we have to discern some prudent and sustainable measures to help the faithful, even when they do not immediately appreciate the necessity of proper devotion towards the altar.

If it is a ‘Youth Week,’ for instance, can we consider the many luxurious options outside of the Mass that duly befit such entertaining innovations, like we do on Easter Mondays and other paraliturgical forums?

And if the debate is truly about increasing our numbers, then amongst others, let us contemplate on reviving and resourcing our evangelization groups like the legionaries, Bible society, music ministry, and Catholic professionals; an intentional and purposeful catechetical structure and media presence.

An Office of human development that will intentionally show the human face of Jesus’ hypostatic nature through a spiritual and material contribution to the welfare of the youth, the sick, aged, needy, and lukewarm parishioners; strengthen our campus ministries since it is there that we often lose the youth through deliberate religious propaganda.

Show practical interest in the education of our SHS and Tertiary students (especially) by facilitating their entrance into the catholic schools they (in)directly contribute to build, and occasionally check on them through visits or phone calls by parish systems.

Locally facilitating sister parish relationships where abled parishes help smaller ones; encourage co-responsibility by involving the youth in ministry, listening, management, accompanying, and letting both the great and the small feel an integral part of the synodal Church, as the Spirit calls for through the present Pontiff, Francis.

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Conclusion
Prayerfully and practically, we need to Recover and Safeguard the already depleting sense of sacredness in God’s House that risks making us overly ‘Horizontalists’. Like the protozoan parasite is to the bones, till it eats deep into the point of having no substance to live for, concerns like this may appear to be of no or little substance.

And O, ‘the habit does not make the monk’ indeed, but it necessarily contributes to his personal awareness.

Kyrie eleison!