Young people come out for "Mass mob"

By Tanya Connor | The Catholic Free Press

The congregation was made up mostly of young adults, whom Bishop McManus called to be apostles.
The bishop was preaching to about 40 people at the diocese’s first “Mass mob” Saturday evening at St. Paul Cathedral in Worcester.
Mass mobs, a play on the term “flash mob,” are to gather people ages 18-39 for Lord’s Day Masses and socializing, according to Timothy T. Messenger Jr. He is director of the diocesan youth ministry office called New Evangelization Worcester for Youth & Young Adults, which is organizing these gatherings.
Young adults will be invited to attend a regularly scheduled Mass at a different parish each month, so they can experience different parishes, Mr. Messenger said. A variety of after-Mass activities are being considered. This month the young adults simply socialized over refreshments in the cathedral cenacle.
The next Mass mob is scheduled for 4 p.m. Feb. 24 at Holy Family of Nazareth Parish, 750 Union St., Leominster.
“Anyone is welcome” to the Masses, Mr. Messenger said, but the socials are for young adults.
“The main thing for me is just to build the community,” he said. He wants young adults to know they have peers out there. He said he also hopes this will help establish groups for young adults in different parishes, or at least regions, of the diocese.
He asks them for their contact information so he can inform them of future Mass mobs and Theology on Tap, monthly talks and socializing at The Compass Tavern at 90 Harding St., Worcester.
In his homily Saturday, Bishop McManus said that stories of Jesus’ miracles are very important, but he considered the night’s Gospel (Mk 1:14-20) equally important. He noted how it told of Peter and Andrew leaving their livelihood of fishing when Jesus called them to be fishers of men. James and John left not only their livelihood, but their father as well, to follow Jesus.
Jesus was laying the foundations of the Church and needed followers to carry on his mission, Bishop McManus said. He asked why Jesus chose fishermen and said fishing is hard and requires patience, and courage when storms arise.
The bishop noted that, in the Creed, Catholics profess faith in the “apostolic Church,” which was founded on the apostles.
“But apostolic also means … each of us,” he said. “We are called to be apostles” so the Church will continue to grow.
He suggested that the young people pray the following prayer: “Lord, give us the strength to be your apostles, to make the Church alive in the world today.”