Ads for the Mad and the Curious
Church advertisements in the newspapers can do more than print service times, sermon topics, and a photo of a grinning pastor. Two fresh twists used by St. Monica's Parish in Moraga, California, apparently touched a responsive nerve among the unchurched. One ad, which ran twice in the local paper, read:
CATHOLICS
Inactive? Alienated? Retired? If you've parted company with the church over new changes, old rules, a marriage situation, hurt feelings, or any other reason, why not join us for an open meeting. …
"Sixty-five people came, some hostile," says Pastor Brian Joyce. "Since I was expecting only 15 or so, I had to play it by ear. On a large sheet of paper, I listed people's replies to the sentence: 'Church goers become inactive because … ' " Replies ranged from "offensive clergy" to "too little biblical teaching."
Says Joyce: "I was encouraged when 19 of those 65 asked for a personal visit with the pastor and are now attending services again."
A second ad invited the public to a 45-minute guided tour of St. Monica's Church, seeing the sanctuary, confessionals, and sacristy, and hearing an explanation of Catholic worship and tradition. "Everyone is welcome, no charge and no strings attached," the ad read.
"The teaching tour drew 15 people on Sunday afternoon and 18 people on Monday night," Joyce says. "There was a good exchange, fellowship, and seven unchurched persons joined us.
"These ads have helped us contact people we otherwise would have missed."
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