IT seems Brisbane archdiocese’s “Come and Celebrate Christmas” again proves that the personal approach works wonders.
The pre-Christmas advertising campaign, targeting the more than 500,000 people in the archdiocese who identify as Catholics, but who do not have close contact with the Church, centred on a personal invitation from Archbishop John Bathersby for all Catholics to take part in Christmas celebrations in their local churches.
The idea appeared to work, with hundreds calling in response to the ads and some parishes reporting increased Mass attendances.
And many of those phoning were pleased to find a person, and not an answering machine, on the other end of the line.
It is a real challenge for parishes to find ways to welcome them in the ordinary times.
