Worship is best when done together—together with our Lord in the Eucharist and together with each other as the people of God. However, the long-term decline in Sunday Mass attendance complicates this. In this archdiocese alone, October 2023’s count revealed a troubling 29% decrease from just 10 years ago and a staggering 38% decline compared to 15 years ago. This trend reflects the broader challenge our Church faces in many regions worldwide.

As we approach Advent, a season of hope, renewal and preparation, it’s time to take action! Can you and I help reverse this trend? Yes! A simple, yet effective answer is to invite someone who hasn’t been to Mass in a while to come with you. That invitation could transform his or her life.

We Catholics often stop attending Mass for more practical than theological reasons: falling out of the habit or feeling disconnected from our community after a change in routine, such as a move, new job or shift in family circumstances. Rather than complex theological arguments or dramatic life conversion stories, it’s the warm and welcoming gesture that is needed. A cordial invitation from the parish—or even better, from a friend or family member—might be all it takes to help someone feel comfortable returning to Mass. Imagine the joy of being the one who brings a friend or loved one back into the fold of our faith! Trust Jesus to keep them coming back; all you have to do is extend His invitation.

Since the pandemic, the mindset that watching Mass online is “good enough” sways many to stay home. But our faith calls us to more! The sacraments are physical signs of deeper spiritual realities, and they require physical participation. At the heart of Catholicism and the heart of the Mass is the Eucharist, which cannot be received through a screen. The “Word became flesh” so that we can receive Him in the flesh to “taste and see” that He is with us always (Jn. 1:14; Ps. 34:9). The Sacrament of the Eucharist transforms us from a multitude of individuals to a true community, uniting us together as the mystical body of Christ.

The physical church building where we gather together for Mass is a special place. As we step into the church, we enter a sacred space where Heaven and Earth meet—where we come face to face with the living God! Here, in the company of other believers, we encounter Christ in a way unique to this space. Like a “city built on a hill [that] cannot be hid” (Mt. 5:14), a full church is a visible sign of our faith and a beacon for those seeking solace, hope and community. So, let’s all get in the habit of inviting others to join us in the pews that together we may say with the Psalmist: “Blessed are those who dwell in your house!” (Ps. 84:5).

Maybe you yourself have been inconsistent in attending Sunday Mass recently, perhaps watching a YouTube homily instead or struggling to prioritize other events and Mass. Now is the time to commit to again attend physically. And whatever your current life season, invite someone else to join you at Sunday Mass this November. Think of one person—maybe a friend or family member—who hasn’t been to Mass in a while. Your simple invitation could be the nudge they need to return to a church and reignite their faith. You never know whose life you’ll change.

This article appeared in the November 2024 edition of The Catholic Telegraph Magazine. For your complimentary subscription, click here.