Even with all the changes we have made in our church practices in recent years, one thing is still the same. We are not a solitary people, we are a community. Some will say they do not feel nourished in their local parish, they complain of formalized ritual, minimal congregational involvement and poorly prepared homilies. Since the change in canon law in 1983, Catholics have permission to go to other parishes to worship. Thus, worship is integral to faith, and this may mean that we may have to go hunting for a place where we feel a part of a community that expresses our faith.
Religious loners have a hard time making it, even with the best intentions.
We need to be with one another, to be with others who struggle. We need to show by our worship that we acknowledge our dependence on God and our need for one another. We need nourishment too and God's Word and Eucharist are there to strengthen us in our journey. But worshiping our God involves much more than ritual. In this new community all must be treated justly, especially those in most need.