A "Skit" during Mass?

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Amie

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Hello! To anyone out there, I’d appreciate some help. My husband and I were out of town this past weekend, and had to attend a different Catholic church than our own. Okay, we start mass the usual way, sing, prayers, etc. We all sit down and wait for the first reading… this is when things get weird. A guy comes up, but instead of the first reading, begins to spout how he’s been with the parish 20 some years, yadda, yadda, yadda… and here’s Two GREAT parishioners (who happen to be actors on the side at a local theatre, etc.), who are going to talk about their own spiritual walk - RIGHT NOW! :bigyikes: They sit down at a little table IN FRONT OF THE ALTAR with a laptop and coffee mug for her, and a few books for him. And they just sit and talk about their own spiritual “walks” for the next 15 minutes. At the end, the woman gets up and says that we can all talk to God, if we just “Let go, and Let God!” I was already incensed at this point… but to end with a cliche’ just about killed me.

After that, mass went on as usual, except there was no offering baskets passed around during offertory (which was odd for a Sunday morning mass, although not as much for a weekday mass).

I walked up to the priest afterwards to get his point of view, very non-confrontational, but when I got around to asking about the GIRM, he said that the GIRM was up for interpretation by the pastor, and he decided this was fine, and so it was… and since you’re not a regular parishioner here, etc… So, I would like to know… where exactly did this mass go awry according to the GIRM? Any documents that anyone knows of where I can get specific clarity on this issue? Because #1 I’m going to ask the priest about it again via email and #2 I’m GOING to send my concerns to the local bishop. But, I want to make sure all my ducks are in a row first.

Thank you all for any help you can offer, and GOD BLESS!!!
-Amy
 
This was a direct violation of the GIRM, the Mass, and common sense! The time for the readings is for the readings, not for skits or performances or all holding hands and singing cum-by-ya! :eek:

And, individual pastors do not have the right to decide that the GIRM is “up for interpretation by the pastor”. This skit was completely improper and unnecessary. Mass is not the time to be putting on theatrical skits or allowing laity to spout about what they think true Christianity is or any other thing like it! :rolleyes:
 
The Synod of Bishops in Rome have this to say:

*The bishops also call for fidelity to liturgical rules.

“We are convinced that respect for the sacred character of the Liturgy is transmitted by means of fidelity to liturgical norms and to legitimate authority,” the message says. “No one should consider himself lord of the Church’s Liturgy.”*
from this article
 
The readings may not be substituted or changed. That’s all there is to it. Maybe when the pastor said the GIRM was up for interpretation he thought you were referring to his manifesto, “Guarantee I’m Really Misinformed.”
 
Thank you! I was beginning to feel like I was in Twilight Zone or something this past Sunday… and the way the pastor talked, I walked away wondering if I was wrong, but now I know my gut was right!!!

I’m still looking for quotes or places to look to formulate a response to this pastor… I don’t think he’d appreciate the “Guarantee I’m Really Misinformed.” item… but I DO!! 👍

-Amy
 
This type of thing…skits…is very common at evangelical churches…But…I have NEVER seen such a thing at a Catholic Mass…expcept possible once, a long time ago. My memoriy really isn’t clear on the matter, but I think it did happen.

This was, in my opinion, totally inappropriate for Mass…Waht was this pastor thinking?
 
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Amie:
I walked up to the priest afterwards to get his point of view, very non-confrontational, but when I got around to asking about the GIRM, he said that the GIRM was up for interpretation by the pastor, and he decided this was fine, and so it was… and since you’re not a regular parishioner here, etc… So, I would like to know… where exactly did this mass go awry according to the GIRM? Any documents that anyone knows of where I can get specific clarity on this issue? Because #1 I’m going to ask the priest about it again via email and #2 I’m GOING to send my concerns to the local bishop. But, I want to make sure all my ducks are in a row first.

Thank you all for any help you can offer, and GOD BLESS!!!
-Amy
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Hi Amy. The following is a direct quote from the GIRM:
The Biblical Readings
57. In the readings, the table of God’s word is prepared for the faithful, and the riches of the Bible are opened to them. Hence, it is preferable to maintain the arrangement of the biblical readings, by which light is shed on the unity of both Testaments and of salvation history. Moreover, it is unlawful to substitute other, non-biblical texts for the readings and responsorial Psalm, which contain the word of God.
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It does not sound to me that “unlawful to substite” is open to interpretation. To see the whole GIRM, go to the
USCCB website

I hope this helps.
 
I’d be fine if it was a skit done during the homily to demonstrate a point, which the priest would then elaborate on.

However, as it was done to 1. Replace the readings which are very explicitely required by the GIRM and 2. Allowed layity to give a form of homily, this is such a ridiculous concept…

Glory to God who brings all things into one in Him!

Even if it takes a little time…

Josh
 
That’s awesome. I’d like to see more skits at mass. Why must it *always * be about God?
 
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Amie:
I was beginning to feel like I was in Twilight Zone or something this past Sunday…
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Alas, this is how things are here in Michigan…I am convinced we have been blessed with some of the most orthodox, “GIRM-thumping” parishes, yet are also plagued by some of the worst as well*. *Many times, you may see such extremes even at adjacent parishes! :whacky:

Clearly, this pastor is horribly mistaken.

The GIRM makes this quite clear, right in Chapter 1:24. …the priest must remember that he is the servant of the Sacred Liturgy and that he himself is not permitted, on his own initiative, to add, to remove, or to change anything in the celebration of Mass.

In fact, this is not new. It comes directly out of Vatican II’s Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy (Sacrosanctum Concilium):22. …3. Therefore no other person, even if he be a priest, may add, remove, or change anything in the liturgy on his own authority.
 
Thank you for the clarification!!!.. especially the part where the priest cannot ADD anything to the liturgy…that’s important.

I would like to clarify however that after the skit, the same two people who “performed” did then read the readings, so they were not omitted from the mass. There was just this entire interlude where we were subjected to this “play” of sorts, and it completely threw off the mass. It was just odd, and I didn’t know if it was lawful or not… I mean, I KNEW it wasn’t right, but I needed to find the actual written documents…

Thank you so much… if anyone else has anything, I’d appreciate it. I’ll keep you guys updated if you’d like too.

God bless,
-Amy
 
This is why whenever I am going out of town and want to find a mass I either do net research or just simply ask around here where to find a good one. It would be nice if there was a net directory that reviewed parishes based on their liturgical faithfulness.

Scott
 
Scott, totally agree… if only. But who would admit one church is more “faithful” than the next? Aren’t they ALL faithful? 😃

Anyways, here’s what I wrote in a letter to the pastor at this parish.

Dear Fr.,
Code: 
        This past Sunday, my husband and I had the privilege of attending the 7:30am mass at your parish. However, at the beginning of mass, just after everyone sat down waiting for the first reading, a ministry person got up and introduced two parishioners, who then gave a ten minute “skit” on spirituality.  I was rather concerned by this, not because of the content of the skit necessarily, but of its timing during mass. Even though the readings were read after the skit, I was distracted by the timing of the performance, and its detraction from the sacrifice of the mass. Actually, I spoke with you about my concerns after mass, and you graciously listened to me. If you recall, you told me that the GIRM was up for interpretation by the pastor, or possibly the bishop.  I decided to take some time and to look up these documents in order to educate myself. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal, I found, is actually fairly specific and does not allow for the addition of a performance (or anything else) to the order of mass. The GIRM states the following:
Chapter 1: 24

…the priest must remember that he is the servant of the Sacred Liturgy and that he himself is not permitted, on his own initiative, to add, to remove, or to change anything in the celebration of Mass.

In fact, this is not new. It comes directly out of Vatican II’s Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy (Sacrosanctum Concilium):
  1. …3. Therefore no other person, even if he be a priest, may add, remove, or change anything in the liturgy on his own authority.
Moreover, the Bishops Synod on the Eucharist, going on now, recently reported the following concerning Fidelity to Rules: “The bishops also call for fidelity to liturgical rules. We are convinced that respect for the sacred character of the Liturgy is transmitted by means of fidelity to liturgical norms and to legitimate authority,” the message says. “No one should consider himself lord of the Church’s Liturgy.” nationalcatholicreporter.org/word/

Having read these documents, I want you to know that I am still very open to hearing a more detailed explanation, should you have the time again to graciously offer one. I know that I am not a regular parishioner at your church, but I am very interested in learning more about our beloved Roman Catholic church.

God bless you Father, and thank you for your response,
 
Scott Waddell:
This is why whenever I am going out of town and want to find a mass I either do net research or just simply ask around here where to find a good one. It would be nice if there was a net directory that reviewed parishes based on their liturgical faithfulness.

Scott
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This would also be a nice thing for new Catholics trying to find a parish or Catholics moving to a new area (or in my case in a few months - both combined, lol)
 
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Amie:
Thank you! I was beginning to feel like I was in Twilight Zone or something this past Sunday… and the way the pastor talked, I walked away wondering if I was wrong, but now I know my gut was right!!!

I’m still looking for quotes or places to look to formulate a response to this pastor… I don’t think he’d appreciate the “Guarantee I’m Really Misinformed.” item… but I DO!! 👍

-Amy
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It seems the priest thinks that the GIRM is really the GGRM (General Guidelines of the Roman Missal) - perhaps you should tell him he will find the General Guidelines of the Roman Missal in the same place he will find God’s 10 Suggestions!!
 
Joan… you’re right…😉 But, he apparently does not want to be bothered. The Respons to The Letter is…

Drum roll please…

"Dear Amy:

Thank you for your insight. Have a good day!

Fr. (personal identification edited)"

And that, as they say, is that.

I’ll forward it on to the Bishop… after all, I guess it was a good insight, and it should be shared, right?

Any other suggestions?

God bless
 
Aime, I think that some priests are surprised by the faithfulness of the laity. He may never do that again and it will be thanks to you.
 
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Fitz:
Aime, I think that some priests are surprised by the faithfulness of the laity. He may never do that again and it will be thanks to you.
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Fitz… thank you. I had another friend yesterday tell me something similar (I had just given him the whole story), and he also said that I was defending the mass and His sacrifice the best way I could… and it made me feel better, because I hate to make a fuss really. But if it helps this pastor to just even reconsider doing it again, to think that maybe his parishioners WILL speak up, then who knows? :cool:
 
tom.wineman said:
Ask if you can video the next one for the record.
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That would be a great idea…almost a bit evil too…hehe…😉 But, I’m not a parishioner there, so I don’t intend to go back… but, I was really upset by what happened, and just felt I HAD to do something about it!! Hopefully, a letter to help him understand that we’re not all idiots out there in the pews will make him reconsider. 🙂
 
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