Dom has a great idea!

Catechism #2290.

Why is it that women always seem to outnumber men (usually by quite a bit) at almost any Mass at almost any parish? That's how it seems up here in Maine's Diocese of Portland, at least. It has been this way for a long time now. I attended daily Mass one day last week and was the only male there. The priest actually referred to the congregation as "my brother and sisters".

I see nothing at all "unmanly" about God and the Catholic Church. It would make for an interesting sociological study. Anyone know of studies done on this phenomenon? Have any dioceses ever directly addressed this issue in a serious way?

Here's my data point: the only congregation I've never known where men outnumbered women (narrowly, according to our survey data) was at the Tridentine Mass in Boston. Draw some inferences from that, eh?

Apart from parish life, there are some men's ministry efforts around: the "Men of St. Joseph" in New Hampshire, for example, is comparable to Promise Keepers.

Opus Dei's approach presenting single-sex evenings of recollection has been successful too.

There's never a shortage of men at the Tridentine Mass in Sacramento either.

Two words regarding CCC 2290, RC.

Krispy Kreme.

See my comment over at Dom's, Sal! We're gonna have a Catholic donut club! Yum!

Given 24 hours to think it over, I've come to a few conclusions. The two parishes I have been a member of over the course of my life have been relatively conservative, although still following the tenets of Vatican II. However, on trips out of town, I have attended Mass in other places where things have become very touchy-feely. I also recall efforts to have such things included in my own parishes meeting with stiff resistance.

If the "warm and fuzziness" is as widespread as I suspect, then that may account for the drop-off in male attendance. I just don't want to turn and hug the person beside me as a greeting before Mass begins, or things like that. I realize that the Mass is people gathering in community before God to pray and celebrate Him, but there are certain lines across which the liturgy just shouldn't cross so that all can remain comfortable in worship.

When I moved to the area where I now live, I admit that I shopped around until I found a parish where I could feel comfortable with the people and their parish traditions. If I hadn't done so, my ability to fully concentrate on the liturgy would be compromised by my concerns about what awkward "huggy bear" thing was coming up next. Just give me a good old-fashioned handshake at the Sign of Peace thanks, unless you are my wife or child.

I absolutely will not hug anyone in church for any reason, no matter who asks. In the rare instances the congregation has been asked to greet each other before Mass, I have turned to my lovely wife and grimaced at her, and she at me. The people sitting beside us usually see those looks and leave us alone.

At the sign of peace, I also will not turn around to shake the hand of the person behind me. To do so is contrary to the rubrics; Christ's peace is to be offered to the person beside you at Mass.

One of my favorite Rite of Peace experiences happened when I was on retreat a couple of years ago: The priest omitted it. Now, there's a concept! Aren't we all at Mass for the same reason? Aren't we in communion with one another as well as with God? Isn't that more perfect than a handshake?