Orthodox, but not Greek (we are all part of the same church, but we answer to different bishops: it's confusing). I'd be interested to know what you find out-- I have no idea if it's just our parish, or if it's the denomination more generally.
As of the last church census, the Greeks were not doing well (more funerals than baptisms--they tend toward ethnic insularity), but other jurisdictions were showing quiet signs of life, and word on the street is that even in the Greek church, there are some individual parishes that are doing well.
Whatever this current thing is, is nothing to do with whatever trends were going on at the last church census.
Our current parish is lovely, but we've only been there a year. From what I hear... until covid it had been very quiet, and shrinking a bit as the kids grew up, went off to college, and weren't replaced. Things have changed drastically in the last two years. Like, they hadn't had enough kids to do a Christmas pageant in seven or eight years, previously. But this year by golly we did it, because there are over thirty kids in the Sunday school suddenly, around twenty catechumens (adults who are not yet orthodox, but are taking the classes to find out what they'd be getting into). It feels a little bit like there's a flood coming, and people are scrambling for any ark that looks seaworthy. I'm thrilled to see them come aboard, but somewhat alarmed as well. What's coming?
Definitely curious about what you find! From what I'm hearing on the ground, I'd be shocked if the trad Catholics are *not* getting some of the influx of people who, over the past couple of years, have felt called-- or sometimes pursued-- to more traditional religion. I wish I were still in touch with some formal practicing Buddhists (the ones who support their local temple/monastery, rather than just "I read in a book on how to meditate") in the US-- so curious how far the phenomenon extends! Are mosques growing? Are Jews seeing a movement away from modern branches to the more conservative ones? What's going on out there? All I've got is the snapshot that is my parish.
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As of the last church census, the Greeks were not doing well (more funerals than baptisms--they tend toward ethnic insularity), but other jurisdictions were showing quiet signs of life, and word on the street is that even in the Greek church, there are some individual parishes that are doing well.
Whatever this current thing is, is nothing to do with whatever trends were going on at the last church census.
Our current parish is lovely, but we've only been there a year. From what I hear... until covid it had been very quiet, and shrinking a bit as the kids grew up, went off to college, and weren't replaced. Things have changed drastically in the last two years. Like, they hadn't had enough kids to do a Christmas pageant in seven or eight years, previously. But this year by golly we did it, because there are over thirty kids in the Sunday school suddenly, around twenty catechumens (adults who are not yet orthodox, but are taking the classes to find out what they'd be getting into). It feels a little bit like there's a flood coming, and people are scrambling for any ark that looks seaworthy. I'm thrilled to see them come aboard, but somewhat alarmed as well. What's coming?
Definitely curious about what you find! From what I'm hearing on the ground, I'd be shocked if the trad Catholics are *not* getting some of the influx of people who, over the past couple of years, have felt called-- or sometimes pursued-- to more traditional religion. I wish I were still in touch with some formal practicing Buddhists (the ones who support their local temple/monastery, rather than just "I read in a book on how to meditate") in the US-- so curious how far the phenomenon extends! Are mosques growing? Are Jews seeing a movement away from modern branches to the more conservative ones? What's going on out there? All I've got is the snapshot that is my parish.