Bad homilies are a turn-off

by Letters Editor · October 17, 2009

My wife and I did our best to bring�our children�up as Catholics, but believe me it was a struggle, mainly because they say they found the Mass boring, being�so repetitive. I can understand this, but being older can also understand the need for our prayers.

I have long believed that the main reason for a lack of interest on the part of so many of the young and many others for that matter, is because the homilies delivered by many priests are so deadly dull and without meaning.

In fact I know so many adults who say they just switch off and hope the homily will not drone on for too long, whereas a man like the South African evangelist Angus Buchan draws thousands to his gatherings just to listen to his preaching.

After attending one of Mr Buchan�s gatherings,�my children, such reluctant Catholics, now have an entirely different attitude to Christianity and have become very devout.

My question is: why does our Church ignore such an obvious opportunity to attract the young and many others who are searching for Christian guidance?

I realise that Angus Buchan has a special gift, but surely Catholic priests could be found to train our priests to give homilies that will be�interesting and have a real meaning for all of us.

Roy Glover, Tzaneen