Sacramental Year in Review This time of year, it is common to come across year in review articles and stats. Here is a quick look at our parish sacramental statistics from 2023 and a comparison to five years ago:
| 2019 | 2023 | |
| Baptisms | 45 | 50 |
| First Communions | 68 | 55 |
| Confirmations | 59 | 35 |
| RCIA Candidates | 7 | 6 |
| Marriages | 3 | 1 |
| Deaths | 32 | 33 |
| October Count | 1167 | 921 |
The last line is the total number of attendees at all Masses on a weekend in October. You can see the “sag” is in our young families (Communion and Confirmation) and in weekly attendance at Mass. Some got out of the practice of the faith during the pandemic and just haven’t gotten back in the swing of things. Do you know someone like that? What can you do to re-engage them? First of all, pray for them. The Holy Spirit will go before you to soften their hearts to the important conversation you will have. Next, simply invite. All we can do is propose the value of practicing the faith – in particular, of receiving the Sacraments. Lastly, make sure you stay committed to Mass. The Sacraments are outward signs of inward grace, instituted by Christ for our sanctification. Make them a regular part of your life as you invite others to receive these graces.