Sir, By way of this letter, I am doing something I have been meaning to do for a very long time. I would like to hear from mature, male fellow Catholics who would like to help formulate an answer to the following question "Why are we as a group so conspicuous by our absence from Mass, devotions, pilgrimages and religious gatherings generally?"
What finally prompts me to ask this question is due to the following extract from last week's Irish Catholic. The Diocese of Killaloe recently concluded a five week series of talks held in both Birr and Nenagh on the New Catechism. This is a move in the right direction, but the attendance was mainly female, and the average age was over fifty, which left a void."
If this is the situation in the diocese of the popular Bishop Willie Walsh, what must it be like in other parishes?
I am not sure that I would attend such a series of talks in my parish, as I too for many reasons would tend to be among the absent males. I would be happy to share some thoughts with other lay males who may feel they could contribute to this question, with a view to sending a report to our bishops by Easter. It would outline, very frankly, why such a major and significant group is not interested in turning up.
I hope there are some others to whom this question strikes a chord, and who would like to share some thoughts with a view to forming a consensus. The central idea is to hold a meeting. However if this is not convenient, due to long distances, a written submission with views will be gratefully received as grist for the mill. The main objective is to move sufficiently fast and accurately, so as to have a well prepared document ready for presentation by Easter. Yours, etc., Castlepark Road, Co Dublin.