What goes on in those pics, is “normal” for parishes in LA
Really. Interesting. I
live in LA and have attended Mass at seven different parishes within the diocese (St. Basil’s on Wilshire, St. Victor’s in West Hollywood, La Placita at Olvera Street, Mission San Buenaventura in Ventura, Mission San Fernando in San Fernando, St. John of God in Norwalk and the Cathedral). I’ve not seen a single liturgical dancers at any of the Masses I’ve attended. In fact, I’ll give a little review of the Masses I’ve been to.
Mission San Fernando was a TLM and it was beautifully done. No complaints whatsoever.
Mission San Buenaventura was a TLM by a priest who didn’t know what he was doing, so it took almost two hours to celebrate low mass. It got VERY tedious. Before the TLM, I attended the Pauline Mass and had found no liturgical abuses whatsoever…the only complaint was that the cantor sounded like a dying cow.
St. Victor, where I usually go, has the Pauline Mass celebrated with Gregorian Chant for the Kyrie, Gloira, Sanctus, Pater Noster and Agnus Dei. This is the Mass, IMO, celebrated the way it SHOULD be. It almost has the feel of the EWTN Mass. People even kneel after the Agnus Dei and there is an altar rail that is actually USED as an option for the reception of Communion. Only ONE EMHC is used and Communion is usually under one kind (I’ve not seen the chalice offered to the faithful).
La Placita is like a country Mexican church. Very devout people. Most of the Masses are in Spanish (there’s one English Mass on Sundays, the rest are Spanish) and the music in the Spanish Masses is usually Mexican in flavor. Aside from the flagon issue, no real abuses to speak of there.
St. Basil’s has a the army of EMHC’s that is just distracting. Also, the priest sits down while communion is still being distributed by EMHC’s and the chalice is offered to the faithful at EVERY SINGLE MASS, even weekday morning masses. This parish has the flagon issue as well.
St. John of God was celebrated mostly well except for the omission of the Gloria during a Saturday Vigil Mass. I don’t recall if I saw flagons at this mass but I believe they were present.
The Cathedral. Well, it’s the Cathedral. They have these incense bowls that they use during the offertory and it looks almost pagan the way the smoke billows up and over the crucifix (yes, they actually have one) from these bowls sitting on stands. The priest that usually celebrates is a total showman who walks around during the homily, makes grand, sweeping gestures during the liturgy and makes a show of the Words of Institution. Yes, flagons are there, too.
Five out of the seven parishes in LA that I’ve attended all celebrate Masses in accordance with the GIRM based on my observation with the exception of the consecrating the Precious Blood in flagons…which will be corrected once Mahony’s appeal is ultimately denied.
As for me, I’ll be attending a retreat before the end of the year at a Benedictine Monastery. I can’t wait. Sometimes I wonder if it’s wrong to get excited about big chunks of silence??? 
