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November 7, 2018

 Before we get started

• Everyone is muted.
• There will be time for Q&A.
• This is going to be interactive.
• Introducing your facilitators:

Paul Jarzembowski and Marilyn Santos

identifying the moments of return

 Christmas – 68%  Ash Wednesday – 45%  Easter – 52%  Average Weekly Attendance – 26%

*Data from Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA), Georgetown University

• Nine in ten people in the United States

(91%) personally celebrate Christmas.

• Not all self-identified as Christians.

Who else celebrates Christmas?

• 63% think Christmas should include a visit

to a church… and 47% actually attend! (including some atheists and agnostics).

“Family traditions are the most important part of Christmas to me.”

• 1. Prepare the community.
• 2. Keep the momentum going.
• 3. Anticipate the next encounter.

 See crowded Christmas Masses as

your first Christmas gifts.

 Think of some creative ways to

welcome the newcomers to church.

 Reorient your ministries towards

invitation and accompaniment.

 Engage and resource the family

about Christmas and about faith.

 Develop service opportunities.  Connect with youth and young adults

and invite them to go deeper.

 Get to know your prospective “audiences”

and ways to connect them with your parish.

 Invest in Lenten resources.  Create a digital Lenten retreat

for busy yet spiritual people.

 It takes a team.  Christmas is a great place to start.  Be more conscious of the moments of return.  The USCCB has additional resources:

 www.usccb.org  store.usccb.org  www.catholiccurrent.org

 Register for the Catholic Current 101 webinar

December 6 at www.usccb.org/cc101.

 Visit www.usccb.org/catholiccurrent.  For questions, email catholiccurrent@usccb.org, or call

202-541-3049