3 Masses later...

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RodneyJ

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So, I’ve been to 3 Masses now and today I went to my favorite.

The Priest was much more upbeat. The music, though the same songs I’ve heard the last 2 weeks, was played with a guitar to a soft tune, and the overall feeling was a fantastic one.

My question is, if the first 2 churches I tried were nearly identical in the way things went, does that make the third service wrong?

I suppose I would describe it as a more contemporary feel.

www.ihmchurch.org

That’s the church I went to this morning. Maybe some info from there would be helpful in your answers.

If I am going to be a Catholic, I want to go to a good Catholic church! I am simply wondering if all are supposed to be the same or if it’s okay to be different.

Thanks for your help!
 
A parish tat has three priests and four deacons … WOW …

reading the bulletin, it looks like a vibrant parish … practices stewardship, is active in social justice and crosses many segments of society, youth [parish school youth ministry], the elderly *, amothers group, estate planning etc …

It looks like a wonderful parish … Keep in mind that this parish offers several mass times … and perhaps like my parish, the different masses may have different styles [all valid - but they have a different feel] … So you may attend the same parish at a different mass time and have a different experience … even at the parishes you first attended unless they only offered one mass … ???

Our saturday vigil mass typically has a piano/organist, cantor … they sing severall hyms [entrance prosessional, song during communion and recessional, in addition to the responsorial psalm]… a crossection of the parish

The 7:30 AM Sunday mass has a cantor * but they do not sing the responsorial psalm, nor to they sing anything that is optional … not a lot of families are at this mass, some… not a lot …mosty older …

The 9:00 AM mass has a guitar, cantor and piano/organist … They sing everything that is normally sung [this is a family oriented mass - childrens liturgy of the word his offered during the school year, etc]

The 11:00 AM mass has a full choir … with piano/organ … A mixed crossection of the parish

the 6:00 PM has a cantor and youth musicians it is a Life Teen Mass - lots of teens but a good cross section of ages … like all of our masses, everyone is welcome …

While we tend to pick a mass time that works generally for our family obligations [9:00 AM for us] we have attended every mass at some time or other 👍**
 
I attend the campus parish and it uses more of a contemporary style of music, like you described. I believe stringed instruments were in use for worship long before the organ was invented! 😉 The Mass itself is the same no matter where you go, so if you like the music stick around! 😃 I didn’t see anything on the website that set off any sirens in my head or made red flags wave.
 
Father says to us its important to find a place where you are most comfortable that each priest and church is different and you find the one that you feel most comfortable in and around.
Its good that you have a choice to be able to choose one that you feel comfortable going to, im lucky in the respect that i love our church but its what you personally feel comfortable with.
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I checked out their website and read several of their newsletters. It sounds like they are trying their best to follow the directives of the Holy See. They look like a good strong parish. As long as they they are following the guidance of the Holy See and you are happy there I say stay. 🙂
 
It’s settled then, I’ve found a home. 🙂

Thanks for your help and answers!
 
Your parish sounds like some of our parishes in the area (large, lots of priests and deacons, but has a more traditional look and feel – ours has 4 priests, but the oldest one is getting frail - he has a hard time walking as of late, it looks like). The one I go to has 4 Masses (7:30 with no music, 9:00 traditional (no, not Latin), 10:30 contemporary, 12:15pm with Bells/Choir). We had to give up our chapel (which I think was a large, open floor beneath the church) to make room for church offices. Personally, I like the traditional Mass.
 
RodneyJ said:
So, I’ve been to 3 Masses now and today I went to my favorite.

The Priest was much more upbeat. The music, though the same songs I’ve heard the last 2 weeks, was played with a guitar to a soft tune, and the overall feeling was a fantastic one.

My question is, if the first 2 churches I tried were nearly identical in the way things went, does that make the third service wrong?

I suppose I would describe it as a more contemporary feel.

www.ihmchurch.org

That’s the church I went to this morning. Maybe some info from there would be helpful in your answers.

If I am going to be a Catholic, I want to go to a good Catholic church! I am simply wondering if all are supposed to be the same or if it’s okay to be different.

Thanks for your help!
Click to expand...
I’m glad you’re enjoying attending Mass.

Just a comment though – it’s ONE Church – many parishes. Our faith is not based on our emotions – though “feelin’ good” from our liturgical experiences is a nice gift.
 
RodneyJ said:
So, I’ve been to 3 Masses now and today I went to my favorite.

The Priest was much more upbeat. The music, though the same songs I’ve heard the last 2 weeks, was played with a guitar to a soft tune, and the overall feeling was a fantastic one.

My question is, if the first 2 churches I tried were nearly identical in the way things went, does that make the third service wrong?

I suppose I would describe it as a more contemporary feel…
Click to expand...
Rodney, I’m so excited that you have attended 3 Masses. The main thing to remember is that no matter which style or rite of the Mass you attend, it is the same Mass. If you go to a Mass in Japan, the readings will be the same (although you might not know what they are saying, but you could follow along if you had the readings in English). Pretty cool if you think about it.

Some of the best Masses I’ve been to had no music at all. Sometimes, if too contemporary, I get distracted. I have been to some more charismatic Masses that I thought were very liturgical, but I have also been to a few that were not so much. I personally like the more traditional style of Mass. This is probably because I came from a non-denominational Church that played rock-worship and as I have grown in understanding of what the Liturgy is, the more rich Liturgical music has become for me.

So whether you like the more charismatic style of the Mass or the more traditional style, it really is the same Mass and there should always be a sense of reverence.

A good book that I have read on the subject of music and Liturgy is by a Lutheran author titled “Reaching Out without Dumbing Down: A Theology of Worship for the Turn-of-the-Century Culture” by Marva J. Dawn.
 
With Mass, there are some things that must be the same and some things that can be different. The style of music is something that can legitimately vary from parish to parish (or as some posters have mentioned, from Mass to Mass at the same parish). I think musical style is the most apparent and most prevalent difference you will probably see.

However, if they’re having the children act out the Gospel or using pizza and beer instead of bread and wine, then you have some problems!
 
Dear Rodney,

Seek a parish that pleases you because it is pleasing to God. In other words, what is not important is whether you like the tunes, but whether the tunes provide a proper message.

Go to Mass not for how it makes you feel, but strictly for God’s sake. He loved you enough to create you. Love Him back by giving him due worship regardless of how dynamic a priest may or may not be, or how the music makes you feel.

God will often lead us to Mass and even adoration with sweet consolations. But, when he tests us by withdrawing those consolations, we then have to persevere. This is where He tests our love. It is the same test endured by Mother Teresa for decades as she persisted in prayer in spite of the lack of sweetness. Sweetness is a grace we sometimes get from God to entice us to pray or worship, but we should never expect it or become dependent on it.

Most of all, look for a parish that is big on Eucharistic and Marian devotion. Where you find these things, you will find a culture rich in the true teachings of the Church. The Real Presence is what we must seek as it is really and substantially Our Lord Jesus Christ. Mary was the first tabernacle of Christ as she carried Him in her blessed and immaculate womb. She teaches us humble obedience to the will of God.

May God bless you on your journey in the faith!
 
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