Choir at my parish

[tenfootpole]

I recently began playing a musical instrument at my parish during mass. I went to choir practice last night and found the entire group does things like say our mother in stead of our Father and whenever the liturgy refers to Him they say the Lord. It’s unbelievably frustrating, I’ve never noticed it before, its not appreciated by the priest but he feels theres nothing he can do. Maybe I should just try not to let it bother me? What to do?

 

[Jenlyn]

Doesn’t sound kosher to me. :nope:

 

[CarolAnnSFO]

tenfootpole:

…its not appreciated by the priest but he feels theres nothing he can do.

I wonder why the priest feels that way? He should definitely have the final word over what the choir is doing, especially when it involves an abuse like saying “Our Mother” instead of “Our Father”. Sounds like you have a problem of gender-inclusive language gone haywire. But the priest should speak up.

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[Eliza10]

CarolAnnSFO:

I wonder why the priest feels that way? He should definitely have the final word over what the choir is doing, especially when it involves an abuse like saying “Our Mother” instead of “Our Father”. Sounds like you have a problem of gender-inclusive language gone haywire. But the priest should speak up.

i agree! And further I could not in good conscience participate in a choir or music group that did this. I would leave, and tell them why.

 

[SMHW]

tenfootpole:

I recently began playing a musical instrument at my parish during mass. I went to choir practice last night and found the entire group does things like say our mother in stead of our Father and whenever the liturgy refers to Him they say the Lord. It’s unbelievably frustrating, I’ve never noticed it before, its not appreciated by the priest but he feels theres nothing he can do. Maybe I should just try not to let it bother me? What to do?

I take it that you mean the choir does this during Mass and not just at rehearsals.

I think your priest has every right to ask the choir to say the same words as the rest of the parish during Mass. It seems as if he’s more afraid of losing the choir than he is of inforcing the language.

That said, he probably can’t really demand that the choir refrain from using inclusive language in private prayer during rehearsals.

 

[catsrus]

I would leave, and tell them why.

Amen!

 

[ThyKingdomCome]

Perhaps the priest is distinguishing between their choir-related actions and the words they use in prayer as part of the congregation. He might feel like he can’t force a parishoner to pray the Our father correctly. (although if it were me, I’d require everyone in a leadership position who might be noticed to do that)And since the choir doesn’t lead that prayer, maybe that’s how he sees their role there. Of course, depending on how loud, unison, or obvious the choir is in this prayer, the rest of the congregation may or may not know they are doing it. I’d be very watchful about inclusive language in the songs though. And I guess you have to decide if your presence in the choir is going to add some faithfulness to the worship of the congregation, or if it is just going to drag you down. Personally, I don’t think I could stand being surrounded by the inclusive language - it really eats at me when I hear it. And if you do quit, I’d definitely tell the choir director and the priest why.