Bringing in the New Year - in Church, with Mass!

[Lux_et_veritas]

All my life I have said that it would be nice to bring in the New Year in Church. I got my wish for the first time in 43 years.

I’ve only been at Assumption Grotto in Detroit for 8 months and I keep getting surprises. I found out just over a week ago that there is a tradition there of bringing in the New Year in Church.

Mass was at 11:00 and it was wonderful. In addition to the celebrant, there were 5 concelebrants. 13 altar boys showed up impromptu. There was no music other than singing the Kryie, Gloria, etc.

The parish is situated in a rough neighborhood. We knew when it was midnight because automatic gunfire was all around us just as we got back to our seats following Communion.

That was followed by Exposition in the Church as we prayed the Rosary and the pastor consecrated us to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

It all ended around 12:30am with Benediction.

Then we went to the Church hall where a huge potluck dinner was arranged. I would say there were about 150-200 people at the Mass and slightly fewer at the potluck.

Bringing in the New Year this way, never felt more right.

Was anyone else able to do something similar? I wish more parishes did this.

 

[Lorrie]

I went to Mass on New Year’s Eve two years ago. It was so special, we had a “champagne breakfast” afterward. Last year I stayed at home and privately said the rosary while it turned midnight. This year I did the same (as the previous year). I would’ve gone to the Mass I went to a few years ago, but I don’t particularly care for the parish its held in. I’ll definitely be going tomorrow of course to our Cathedral - oops, its today technically, I need to go to bed!!

I agree wholeheartedly with you though, there’s no better way to bring in the New Year, Mass is so special to me.

 

[Sean_O_L]

New Year’s 10:30 Mass at Sacred Heart Parish, Croydon, Melbourne conducted by the approx. 30 year old curate who spoke on the apparition of the Sacred Heart to St Margaret Mary. Edifying.

 

[SummaTheo]

At my parish, we had Midnight Mass with Benediction and the Rosary before.

 

[Brendan]

Our parish had a special Holy Hour from 11:00pm to 12:00am, with a Eucharistic Procession and Benediction at midnite.

 

[the_phoenix]

At my old parish, I once decided to go to the Perpetual Adoration Chapel to bring in the New Year and make a visit to Our Eucharistic Lord but found myself walking in on a Neocatechumenal Way Mass. This caused an embarrassing situation because they invited me up into their circle and I had to publicly turn down receiving Communion in front of all of them because I had not known that Mass would be celebrated at 11:00 p.m. so I did not fast for the previous hour.

At my new parish, we do not have a Midnight Mass to ring in the New Year. However, the Noon Mass was very reverent and the priest gave an intellectually satisfying sermon on Mary, the Mother of God in relation to her role as “theokotos”, with plenty of historical background concerning Church doctrine.

~~ the phoenix

 

[Morning_Glory]

**Diane,

If I didn’t have to work that night, I would have been right there with you!

What a wonder way to spend bringing in the New Year, the Baptist church near my house was in full swing at 11pm (on my way to work then), and I couldn’t help but think how lucky they were to be in church to celebrate the New Year.

I was 5 minutes late to Mass the next morning (extra work from those who didn’t show for shift), and all I could think of was, “What a way to start the New Year, late for chruch.”

I’ll have to request it off next year and join you at the Grotto **

 

[Lux_et_veritas]

**Diane,

If I didn’t have to work that night, I would have been right there with you!

What a wonder way to spend bringing in the New Year, the Baptist church near my house was in full swing at 11pm (on my way to work then), and I couldn’t help but think how lucky they were to be in church to celebrate the New Year.

I was 5 minutes late to Mass the next morning (extra work from those who didn’t show for shift), and all I could think of was, “What a way to start the New Year, late for chruch.”

I’ll have to request it off next year and join you at the Grotto **

Do come; all that is requested is that you bring a dish to pass for the afterglow. Of course, if you just come for Mass, you are only requested to bring yourself.