Now I Sell Jesus Christ…
October 29, 2012 3 Comments
Canadian priest’s unorthodox evangelization drawing people to the pews.
Over at The Deacon’s Bench:
Details, from the Catholic Register:
A financial analyst turned priest, Fr. Mario Salvadori is marketing an unorthodox and unapologetic formula of evangelization — and youth are flocking to it.
Salvadori, the only priest at Thornhill’s St. Joseph the Worker parish, jokes that he has “more degrees than a thermometer.” He has a bachelor’s degree in computer science, a master’s degree in theology and a master’s in business administration. Before he was a priest, Salvadori was a businessman. In many ways, he still is.
“I used to be able to sell a glass of water to a drowning man,” he said. “Now I sell Jesus Christ.”
His congregation in this Toronto suburb seems to be buying it.
“The numbers speak for themselves,” said Vlad Mamaradlo, the lay minister Salvadori hired to work with youth. Mamaradlo said every Mass is standing room only. “Even the foyer is full.”
And in the five years since Salvadori joined the parish, he’s paid off a $1.3-million renovation and $600,000 more off the mortgage.
Salvadori’s success stems from his approach to Mass. For him, evangelization is no different than marketing. “It’s just a different word,” he said. He and Mamaradlo look at Catholicism as a product they are selling. Something that, they say, the Church has failed to sell.
“In society, people are given options,” Mamaradlo said, “so let’s give them options.”
What Salvadori has given them is a refreshing twist on the traditional Mass. When he ordered the church renovation back in 2009, he made sure it would accommodate his style for delivering just that.
“We’re competing against 60-inch TVs, iPods and every other stimulation that’s out there,” Mamaradlo said.
So, Salvadori brought the technology to Mass. Every homily, his laptop is plugged into the pulpit, at the ready to bring up a clip on the two huge screens on either side of him.
He invites guest speakers and tackles current and controversial topics that many priests tend to shy away from — topics that weigh heavily on everyday life. One homily he delivered in May included a clip of U.S. President Barack Obama speaking about gay marriage. That homily has collected more than 300 views on YouTube as have some of his other videos posted on the site.
There are other options too, opportunities to connect with the congregation outside the now lessthan-traditional construct of Mass. There are trips downtown to feed the homeless, youth groups, parish events, even retreats in the United States that young people can sign up for.
About Fr Stephen Smuts
While it may be a little wild for me…they do have some good results…and I must say that some of our US parishes are considered dead beat parishes with no life to them, and are only filled with those people who are fulfilling an obligation to attend Mass, as they were instructed to do since childhood. Many of our parishes no longer have a school connected with them, therefore the youth no longer are seen in our pews. Also, anothe problem is that some pastors prefer a conservative setting, and unfortunately not attracting the youth today, and because many of the parishes have such a huge debt connected to the church, they can no longer pay for a youth minister as non-catholic churches do. And unfortunately, most volunteers get burned out after so long. So…in the end, we have dead beat parishes, and no youth. I speak from experience.
Just more protestant innovation being incorporated into the modernist Catholic Church. It’s already been done by the Methodists, Baptists, Assembly of God and especially the independent churches. Yes, it packs them in for a while, until the thrill wears off. Then they have to find a new gimmick. Thanks but no thanks. Been there done that.
At least this man works for Christ now. The only issue, then, becomes orthodoxy. I’ve seen one of this man’s sermons on YouTube and this priest is very energetic. Very different from the mild, soft-spoken priests I’ve seen. Maybe the only other priests I’ve seen with the same vigor is Fr. Corapi and Archbishop Sheen.