Easter Sunday: The Resurrection of the Lord - Mass Attendance

[JerseyCatholic]

The 9:30 mass at our church was packed, but as I watched the folks going up to communion I noticed that many bowed their heads and received only a blessing from the priest. This leads me to believe that many of these people aren’t Christian, but are very interested in Christianity and certainly believe that the blessing of the priest is worth receiving. I live in Japan, so I’m not really surprised that many of the folks at the Easter liturgy were not Christian. In fact, it makes me proud that Christians in Japan are so highly regarded that many non Christians want to know what our faith is all about. It is good to see so many people searching and hopefully finding faith in our Church. The Holy Spirit is indeed moving among the people of the Earth and the risen Lord continues to hold such a fascination for many people.

I do not mean to take this thread off topic, but do you think any of that has anything to do with the situation over there? Maybe more people are seeking God in the midst of such tragedy.

As for the topic altogether, I went to mass at 10:00 a.m. yesterday, and it was packed. It always drives me crazy when they come to mass only for Christmas and Easter, especially when they don’t know simple things like standing at the Gospel. It’s one of those times where I have to call on myself to focus on Christ and not what is going on around me.

 

[Sarabande]

Easter Sunday mass was packed with many people standing in the back. There were a lot of tourists, visitors, and family from out of town celebrating Easter with their families who were part of this parish. They sang the Easter hymns really well - both at the Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday - I was the cantor for both masses. Although I used the mic to sing the psalm, Gospel acclamation and for a couple chants, I didn’t have to sing into the microphone at all for the congregational music… just started them off, backed off the mic and let the congregation sing. They overpowered the organ who was pretty much “pulling out all the stops”. It was so full and robust and beautiful. I could hear the men’s voices, especially, for “Jesus Christ is Risen Today” and “Alleluia! Alleluia! Let the Holy Anthem Rise”, which seems to be a rare thing nowadays. I was also surprised that when I realized the organist was using the higher key for both hymns, the men and women were singing with no problem at all and with a certain kind of fullness I haven’t heard a congregation sing in quite a while - like every person in the congregation sang in their parish choirs. You could even hear the men’s voices sing out on the “high” note in “Jesus Christ is Risen Today”. The conviction you heard from their voices made me teary-eyed compacted with me almost losing it when I was really paying attention to all the texts of the hymns, the chanted exsultet, the solo music, etc. The entire mass was beautiful.

 

[CHRISTINE77]

Your post reminded me of what some priest refer to as the C & E people. Those who attend Mass on (“Christmas & Easter”)

My parish on Easter Sunday was jam-packed to the rafters. I usually arrive at my parish half hour before Mass; I couldn’t even get into the nave of the church. I had to settle for the atrium/foyer.

I have often wondered what part of the C & E people’s conscious feels comforted by going to Mass only on Christmas and Easter? Is it because they sense they have fulfilled some sense of calling?

I realize its a gift from God to feel a calling inside to come to Church Mass. Its not something any Catholic can boast or take for granted. Many Catholics can easily forget this aspect thinking it was only their own recognizance that brought them to Mass.

As brothers and sisters in Christ who choose to go regularly to Mass every week, all we can do is pray that the Spirit of God inspires the heart of people who only come to Mass on Christmas and Easter.

Peace
Chris

We call them the CEO’s (Christmas and Easter Only). Our mass was packed too, like sardines. I’m actually glad that normal Sundays aren’t so crowded, it’s kind of uncomfortable. But anyway it’s kind of nice that people do care enough to honor Christ at least twice a year. At the end of the mass our priest said “see you all next week!” Of course, that caused a lot of laughter!

 

[Tsuwano]

The 9:30 mass at our church was packed, but as I watched the folks going up to communion I noticed that many bowed their heads and received only a blessing from the priest. This leads me to believe that many of these people aren’t Christian, but are very interested in Christianity and certainly believe that the blessing of the priest is worth receiving. I live in Japan, so I’m not really surprised that many of the folks at the Easter liturgy were not Christian. In fact, it makes me proud that Christians in Japan are so highly regarded that many non Christians want to know what our faith is all about. It is good to see so many people searching and hopefully finding faith in our Church. The Holy Spirit is indeed moving among the people of the Earth and the risen Lord continues to hold such a fascination for many people.

I think your question is a good one and it is possible that the uncertainty surrounding the recent events in Japan have led some people to seek comfort in Christian churches. One thing to note concerning the Church I attend, is that we are quite far from the devastated areas of Northeast Japan, so I don’t think the disaster has had an immediate impact in our area. It would be interesting to find out if other religious bodies in Japan have noticed a growing search for spirituality among the Japanese as a result of the disaster. We did remember and prayed for those who continue to suffer from the disaster during our Easter service.

 

[pnewton]

Hi all,

I’m not so happy to see the church “packed” for Easter.

Probably true, but only if they don’t recieve Communion. It’s a mortal sin to miss Mass without good cause after all. And sacreligious communion is a very grave thing.

This is always what bothers me the most. I know there is little the priest can do. There are so many people visiting, it is hard to sort visitors from pascal-nativites (my version of C and E Catholics).

 

[felicity1984]

This is the first Easter Mass I remember being at. ( I have only recently returned to learning and trying to practice the catholic faith.) It was a beautiful experience, and I couldnt believe how many people were there. Usually most rows only have one or two people in them, it was so fully on Sunday. I didn’t realise that there would be such a huge difference in the number who attended Mass usually and on special occasssions.

 

[maryj]

Just imagine ,what a world it would be ,if all of these catholics came to Mass every Sunday. What a difference we could make in this world.

 

[CatholicZ09]

It would truly be a blessing for all those, who came to Mass at my parish this past weekend, would come every weekend. It was really beautiful - especially listening to all the singers!

 

[ConstantineTG]

We had a 3 hour service starting with Matins then Divine Liturgy. The parish was packed, lots of children. Its just sad that you never see most of these people at other Sundays of the year.

 

[BriaMarie]

I don’t go to Easter day services as a rule (I like the Vigil) partially because my parish turns into a circus on Easter. The 8.45 and 10.45 services are twice as large as they are on a regular Sunday, and on an average Sunday they’re already full. They have simultaneous masses in the hall as well, but people still wind up packed into the foyer.

 

[bcra]

there were very few seats left available. normaly on sunday its only half full. plus our church has a upstairs balcony. which i dont use.