Anyone attend a polka mass?

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Why is it that some get enthusiastic about ethnically-themed liturgies, but when it comes to Independence Day, they won’t tolerate the singing of American patriotic hymns at Mass?
 
I grew up in a Czech community in Central Texas. I’ve attended Masses where they sing songs to Polka music. It’s just the songs in the beginning of Mass, Communion, and the end. I normally don’t like anything with an accordion but the singers at this particular church do a great job. On the Sunday, my father passed away, my siblings and I attend Mass in our hometown and the music was polka. It was very touching to us because my Dad loved polka music. I saw no irreverence.
 
No real need to read all this. Just ask yourself are you going to Mass to be entertained? if you answer yes please go to and Adoration Chapel, spend some time with Jesus and pray for why you should really be going to Mass. it is not entertainment.

May Jesus and Mary always be there to guide you.
 
Are they going to use the setting with the melody of “Obladee, Obladah” for the Gospel Acclamation’s Allelujahs?
 
terrig said:
I grew up in a Czech community in Central Texas. I’ve attended Masses where they sing songs to Polka music. It’s just the songs in the beginning of Mass, Communion, and the end. I normally don’t like anything with an accordion but the singers at this particular church do a great job. On the Sunday, my father passed away, my siblings and I attend Mass in our hometown and the music was polka. It was very touching to us because my Dad loved polka music. I saw no irreverence.
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Good point. What might seem inappropriate in an English or American community can be quite moving and prayerful in another. And vice versa.
 
If it is irreverent to play the bagpipes mass too? My family is Irish and many feast day masses, weddings, and almost every funeral I’ve been to have had bagpipes. I see Polka mass with accordions as something similiar. It’s really a question of what’s reverent and acceptable in your culture.
 
Randy_Elmer said:
No real need to read all this. Just ask yourself are you going to Mass to be entertained? if you answer yes please go to and Adoration Chapel, spend some time with Jesus and pray for why you should really be going to Mass. it is not entertainment.

May Jesus and Mary always be there to guide you.
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I found this post to be beautiful and profound. Thank you so much for posting.

I have mentioned before that I do not go to church “to be entertained”. The reason I said this was in conversation about the musical group up front singing and getting the congregation to sing songs 10-15 minutes before mass begins. Some of us are trying to pray and pray the rosary. If we are to be attentive in prayer and try to hear the voice of God, which is a mere whisper, how are we to hear ANYTHING when there’s a music group up front singing and asking all of us to join in?

Sorry, but I find that to be very dis-respectful to those who are trying to pray. This time before mass is not time for sing-song but a time for prayer.
 
Some people like it and some don’t. Generally it is offered very infrequently and there are other mass options (times without polka)–
I like it as an occasional thing. It is joyous and it does lift up my heart to the Lord.

Growing up I had a very traditional priest who wanted us doing everything in Latin (BTW I’m in my late 20’s so this isn’t ages ago)–which was beautiful but at the same time many folks left and went to another parish with the traditional ‘american’ hymns when they should have just embraced it and maybe would have grown to love it.

When I came to college I attended mass on campus and thought “what is this! electric guitars, drums, clapping–yuck!” only to realize that it lifted up my spirit and prayer in a different way…so in other words it is quite possible to enjoy a polka mass, a Latin mass, and a “gift of finest wheat” mass LOL–people need to lighten up and find the reverence in the music–as I believe each can be.

My father took me to the last regularly scheduled polka mass in Chicago and I still remember what a wonderful thing it was for my family to participate in.
 
Polka Masses are, objectively, distasteful. Any Mass that uses guitars, or folk tunes, drums, whatever, is sacrilegious. I pray for the day when the Church will stamp out these Masses which mock the Holy Sacrifice.
 
ljsedivy said:
You know, the band could play in a more somber style during the mass, however, I will say again that these are not instruments suited for sacred worship of Our Lord, period. I have just come to that conclusion based on all the reading I have done and also asking my dear friend from Italy who is a deacon in MN. He is also the most intelligent Catholic I have ever personally met.

I do want to thank everyone that responded as you have been of GREAT value to me in this issue. I’m going somewhere else to worship this weekend.

Peace, Love & Joy!
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I didn’t realize God had a particular taste in music. Must have missed that scripture reading at church.

I frankly don’t care what kind of music you use in worship. I have my partuclar tastes (as does everyone else). But really how can a kind of music be wrong? If it’s appropriate for the setting (somber during Lent, Joyful during Easter, etc) then who cares if it’s chant or organ, or folk, or rock and roll? (and I’m not suggesting using modern pop songs at Mass, but rather songs written for worship, but in that genre).

Lastly, on the Polka Mass, most every one i’ve heard about has been tied to Polish parishes. The parish my parish is clustered with is a Polish parish, and every Christmas Eve has a Polka Mass (which I’m sure is technically the Polish American Mass or whatever it was called). Their parish, their ethnic background, their choice, who are we to judge?
 
NewsTheMan said:
Polka Masses are, objectively, distasteful. Any Mass that uses guitars, or folk tunes, drums, whatever, is sacrilegious. I pray for the day when the Church will stamp out these Masses which mock the Holy Sacrifice.
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Read my last post. Same question your direction. Why are certian musics disrespetful to the Mass? Is music in general not just an enhancement of the Mass? Does it really matter if that’s being enhanced by a choir or by a guitar? (personal preference aside)
 
pilots13 said:
I didn’t realize God had a particular taste in music. Must have missed that scripture reading at church.

I frankly don’t care what kind of music you use in worship. I have my partuclar tastes (as does everyone else). But really how can a kind of music be wrong? If it’s appropriate for the setting (somber during Lent, Joyful during Easter, etc) then who cares if it’s chant or organ, or folk, or rock and roll? (and I’m not suggesting using modern pop songs at Mass, but rather songs written for worship, but in that genre).

Lastly, on the Polka Mass, most every one i’ve heard about has been tied to Polish parishes. The parish my parish is clustered with is a Polish parish, and every Christmas Eve has a Polka Mass (which I’m sure is technically the Polish American Mass or whatever it was called). Their parish, their ethnic background, their choice, who are we to judge?
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Well, if it’s the opinion of the POPE it’s good enough for me. Poke around the Vatican website and read. It’s where I get most of my direction.

If you understood the spiritual influence of music, then maybe you would care. But, unfortunately, that’s the problem. People only see with their temporal eyes.
 
ljsedivy said:
Well, if it’s the opinion of the POPE it’s good enough for me. Poke around the Vatican website and read.
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It is good enough for me, too. And as the Holy Father has not specified certain instruments as unsuitable for Mass, then that is good enough for me too.
 
pilots13 said:
Lastly, on the Polka Mass, most every one i’ve heard about has been tied to Polish parishes. The parish my parish is clustered with is a Polish parish, and every Christmas Eve has a Polka Mass (which I’m sure is technically the Polish American Mass or whatever it was called). Their parish, their ethnic background, their choice, who are we to judge?
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I agree with you, but know there are many Polophones who could do without the Bobby Vinton-type Polka in or after the Mass. It depends on how it’s performed. One has to be there and test the reaction if he wants to judge.

By the way, Christmas Eve is a most special occasion for the Poles as that is where they exchange the opłatki. It’s a communion of unconsecrated bread which has very deep meaning for them.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_wafer
 
ProVobis said:
I agree with you, but know there are many Polophones who could do without the Bobby Vinton-type Polka in or after the Mass. It depends on how it’s performed. One has to be there and test the reaction if he wants to judge.

By the way, Christmas Eve is a most special occasion for the Poles as that is where they exchange the opłatki. It’s a communion of unconsecrated bread which has very deep meaning for them.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_wafer
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My grandparents still bring oplatki to our Christmas Eve family get together every year. Cool tradition I’d like to pass on some day when that family get together breaks up.
 
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