Are there any Parishes out there doign things "right"?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Melchior_1
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
M

Melchior_1

Guest
Between this forum and the Traditional Catholicism section, you’d think that every parish in the world today is filled with abuses and everyone is doing something wrong.

Rather than run down abuses after abuses, I ask; in your opinion, what is your parish doing right?
 
Yes,
My parish in Northern California is definitely doing things right. Wonderful pastor and wonderful priests. I am proud of my parish and I consider it a privilege to attend mass there. Thank you for asking this question!
 
I would have to be hard pressed to find any of the liturgical abuses most complain about here at CAF at my parish or most of the ones surrounding our area. We have been trying to visit the different parishes in our diocese, about one new church a month and I have yet to experience abuses in those parishes as well, except for maybe the hand holding during the Our Father.

But I love my parish, I love my priest. He seems to really be enjoying his job and it does affect the whole parish. His sermons are topical but rich with applying the faith to current news headlines. He addressed the modesty clothing issue for mass at the beginning of summer. When he must address financial issues in the parish, and once again ask for more money, he takes the time to explain why and his goal is to always keep the parish viable and thriving. We have weekly adoration.

That’s just some of the items I feel our parish gets “right.”
 
Yes, we have a wonderful parish and I have always felt at home here even though it is a couple thousand miles away from my hometown. And every new pastor here has brought his own special talents and qualities that contribute to making our parish what it is today.
 
Yes! St. Stephen Roman Catholic Church in Pensacola, FL. The ONLY Latin Mass Parish in the Tallahassee-Pensacola Diocese. They give the The Low Mass every Thursday with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, and holy hour, and of course low and high mass every Sunday. God bless Fr. Perez!

ststephenrcchurch.squarespace.com/
 
I thank you, also, for posting this thread. We are constantly inundated on CAF by those who see NOTHING but the negative – those actions in the Liturgy that they deem “abuses.” I get so tired of reading what starts off with an interesting premise and ends up with someone running to the Bishop because the priest blinked three times instead of the requisite two.

I’m also in Northern California and enjoy very holy, “valid” and God-centered liturgies every day of the week, and with wonderful music for weekend Masses. People participate to an admirable extent in each Mass. The church is so popular that we just split to form a daughter parish, in addition to supporting a mission parish 25 miles away.

Our parish has very thorough catechesis opportunities, supports a Catholic grammar school, has programs for every age range and inclination to serve. The parish is active in pro-life activities, in diocesan educational and charitable programs and actively promotes fellowship within its parish and with other parishes. It also has a very active Parish Council that is a real part of the administration, not just a robot entity for “Father says.” I don’t think I could ask for more.

I’m sure that if one of the CAF liturgical watchdogs visited, he/she would find something to complain about – maybe the presence of the Spirit in the mass and the priest not consulting the GIRM for every movement?

Thanks again for the thread – I’ll LOVE to read positive comments here.
 
PatriceA said:
I would have to be hard pressed to find any of the liturgical abuses most complain about here at CAF at my parish or most of the ones surrounding our area.
Click to expand...
This applies 100% in my parish and diocese as well. Fantastic priests celebrating reverent Masses and a laity that appreciates both priests and Mass.
 
Mater Dei Catholic Church in Irving Texas does things “right.”
 
The parish I grew up in, St. William of York in Stafford, VA (Diocese of Arlington), has always been blessed with excellent priests. Currently, my parents have the pleasure of attending the masses of Fr. DeMartino and Fr. Maggatt, who is one of the best homilists I’ve ever heard. Together, they have shown a dignity to the mass that I found lacking at so many other churches I’ve been to. They are by the book, conservative, and make it quite clear where they are leading their flock - precisely what I loved and continue to love (when I visit home) about St. William!
 
I would say as a whole, the Diocese of Arlington, VA does everything right. I’ve been to several parishes in the diocese, and there has never been an issue with liturgy.

I’ll also say that our priests don’t beat around the bush when it comes to bringing up the hard teachings (ie abortion, contraception, divorce) in their homilies.
 
Mine does.

After reading so much about liturgical abuses and the divisions between the traditional Catholics and more modern/progressives I’ve come to realize that the vision of what Vatican2 was suppose to be is lived out in my parish.

It’s very Catholic. But in the spirit of Vatican2 .

I am so grateful to my pastor for his understanding of what that counsel had in mind.
 
Melchior said:
Between this forum and the Traditional Catholicism section, you’d think that every parish in the world today is filled with abuses and everyone is doing something wrong.

Rather than run down abuses after abuses, I ask; in your opinion, what is your parish doing right?
Click to expand...
My parish had a priest that is as traditional as you can get in an OF parish.

I too am quite surprised and disturbed sometimes by what I read here. But I guess those who are enjoying good OF Masses are not speaking out as much as those complaining of abuses, so you get that impression that almost all OF parishes are abusive.
 
challam2010 said:
I thank you, also, for posting this thread. We are constantly inundated on CAF by those who see NOTHING but the negative – those actions in the Liturgy that they deem “abuses.” I get so tired of reading what starts off with an interesting premise and ends up with someone running to the Bishop because the priest blinked three times instead of the requisite two.
Click to expand...
I agree…it is so tiring…and sad. We want more priests but we expect ABSOLUTE perfection out of them.

My parish in Keizer does things right IMHO…Fr. builds in sacred silence…he doesn’t rush through the Mass…his homilies are wonderful and God centered. I’m sure there are those that would take issue at EMHC at our services but we only have one priest so that’s what you get. I also like that we have perpetual adoration.👍
 
It’s a wonderful delight to read posts from those who are uplifted by their parish priests and the Masses that they celebrate…I agree often times here on CAF you hear so much of the negative and what is wrong that one can be mislead into what the bigger picture is…

It’s nice to know that not all parishes are drenched in liturgical abuses…

👍
 
I am very blessed as well to have a very good Preist. He has done a wonderful Job of correcting the small thing that were incorrecly being done and is continueing to move the Parish in that direction. he is a master at it as he is doing in reverse what those that brought the errors in did. one at a time and very slowly so that know one really notices. the first thing to go was the Glass gobblets for the Pericious Blood. :extrahappy:

I pray that God gives him the strenght to keep it up. The biggest problem is that there are so many that truely believe that these thing are ok and that VII really did make all the changes that we have seen.😦

All that to say the Holy Ghost is moving and to paraphare his Holiness Pope Benedict the Church may become smaller, but will be stronger.
 
The parishes that I have attended in our diocese have wonderful, abuse-free Masses led by loving priests who are devoted to their “spouse,” the Church. I am honored to be part of this diocese and very humbled that the Holy Spirit wooed my husband and me into the Catholic Church. Why us, and why not other Protestant friends and relatives? We don’t deserve this favor.

At any rate, our excellent bishop is a canon lawyer and takes an intense interest in preserving the liturgy. I’ve personally seen what happens when a priest decides to “add a little extra prayer” to the Mass–he does it for one week, or maybe two, but then it’s gone.

I would say that our music could use a little something more, but I understand why this is not a priority in the diocese. There’s only so much money, and there’s no way we can compete with Willowcreek right down the road and its megachurch spinoffs, so the bishop wisely decides to walk away from the music war and invest his time, energy, and the funds available for other work in the Church.
 
Oh I love our parish and the surrounding parishes also! First, our pastor offers Mass 3x a weekday and 7x on Sunday! The Masses are reverant and correct in form. One of our associates (parochial vicar) has a beautiful voice and often chants. On major feasts we have chant, incense, the complete number of readings and all the additional prayers (ie the announcment of Easter at Ephipany).

We have a huge parish so we do use EMHCs, but all the priests who are ‘home’ come to help at communion at every Mass. Even with 4 clergy, we do use EMHCs and communion can take over 20 minutes. We do not distribute under both species because our pastor is concerned about the safety of the Precious Blood. Purification of the vessels is done reverantly by the priest/deacon at the altar.

All the parishes in this area only allow boys to serve and they are well trained. The two closest parishes are smaller but each one has a wonderful aspect. One offers a weekly Extraordinary Form Mass (weeknight evening) and the other has a fabulous First Friday tradition with communion, Mass, and Benediction.

All in all we are very blessed in this area! 😃
 
My particular parish is right on target. :yup: Our pastor is a stickler for form. He even has a reputation for it. :blushing: There are six parishes within my city and in five of the six, the mass is a beautiful thing to behold, and yes, it’s OF. :heaven:

I did have the unfortunate experience to attend a vigil mass today in the sixth parish. To say I was shocked would be an understatement. :frighten: I couldn’t locate the tabernacle until I was leaving the church. Due to its location, most of the congregation has its back to it during mass. :crying: I actually heard incorrect words during the consecration. The music was “interesting” as well. I really felt like I was in a Protestant mega church. One of the songs was so close to one I’d heard in Jesus Christ Superstar, I couldn’t even try to sing it. Needless to say, I won’t be back. :sad_bye:
 
Mike5575 said:
Yes! St. Stephen Roman Catholic Church in Pensacola, FL. The ONLY Latin Mass Parish in the Tallahassee-Pensacola Diocese. They give the The Low Mass every Thursday with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, and holy hour, and of course low and high mass every Sunday. God bless Fr. Perez!

ststephenrcchurch.squarespace.com/
Click to expand...
I had the pleasure of meeting Fr. Perez last year when he visited my parish! I throughly enjoyed meeting him. He was passionate about the mass being celebrated reverently and was very complimentary towards our parish. I was very pleased that he thought we were doing things right. 😃
We have perpetual adoration, which I think is the best kept secret of the Catholic Church. People just don’t know what they’re missing.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top