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Scotty_PGH
Guest
I wonder if this attitude is typical of most so-called “extraordinary” ministers of Holy Communion.
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LilyM
Guest
OH puh-leeze!
I am a very occasional EMHC, and I can only answer for my own attitude - I am humbled and awed by the honour, thankful for it, and determined to fulfil my function as respectfully, reverently and correctly as possible.
The last thing I would call it is ‘playtime’. I take it seriously.
No-one, no EMHC, can possibly know the minds and hearts of their fellows to know what attitude is prevalent among them. It’s a silly question really.
I am a very occasional EMHC, and I can only answer for my own attitude - I am humbled and awed by the honour, thankful for it, and determined to fulfil my function as respectfully, reverently and correctly as possible.
The last thing I would call it is ‘playtime’. I take it seriously.
No-one, no EMHC, can possibly know the minds and hearts of their fellows to know what attitude is prevalent among them. It’s a silly question really.
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Sarabande
Guest
Knowing a few EMHCs, I know that they don’t consider it “playtime”. At the same time, having a mother who is Filipina and half of my family are Filipinos, while the other half is all European descent, I think “playtime” may not mean the same thing as what is construed. Filipinos tend to be very joyful people (at least all the ones I know) and they take great joy in life and in their faith, however deep or at least at the level they comprehend it which may not be as deep as desired. He may consider it playtime in that sense of the word, but he might have also meant that he is overjoyed to be a part of this and that doing this is better than any other kind of peacefulness. He did say after that quote that there was a “sense of peace” there. I’m not trying to say he was right in saying this, but I am giving him the benefit of the doubt. We really don’t know what he meant unless we ask him.
Also remember that English (although taught from an early age) is a second or third language. My mother knows three languages - her dialect, the national language of Tagalog and English along with some Spanish, although no longer fluent in it. She is often times misunderstood by how she say things. Having grown up in America and being very westernized, I’ve been able to bridge that communications gap between my Filipino relatives and my caucasion relatives. I sometimes get really frustrated and she would too when she is not communicating clearly, even though she speaks English very well usually. There were some communications problems between my parents because of this. So this might be the case with the Filipino native who had been quoted in that article.
Also remember that English (although taught from an early age) is a second or third language. My mother knows three languages - her dialect, the national language of Tagalog and English along with some Spanish, although no longer fluent in it. She is often times misunderstood by how she say things. Having grown up in America and being very westernized, I’ve been able to bridge that communications gap between my Filipino relatives and my caucasion relatives. I sometimes get really frustrated and she would too when she is not communicating clearly, even though she speaks English very well usually. There were some communications problems between my parents because of this. So this might be the case with the Filipino native who had been quoted in that article.
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Orogeny
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LilyM
Guest
That too - it’s their proper and official title when performing the duty, regardless of whether you think they’re overused or abuse their position or what have you.
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AJV
Guest
Perhaps he didn’t express himself properly and meant to say something like while others may go and play sports, or watch TV or something like that- he likes going to church.
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kage_ar
Guest
Have to agree with others - there seems to be a lauguage issue here.
I know that I would consider my time spent at the Parish as my relaxation time. I work in a crazy hectic stressful job, and find such peace and rest when serving others.
That seems to be the spirit of what the person quoted in the article is saying, that time at the Cathedral is calm, or a loose translation of a similar word.
I know that I would consider my time spent at the Parish as my relaxation time. I work in a crazy hectic stressful job, and find such peace and rest when serving others.
That seems to be the spirit of what the person quoted in the article is saying, that time at the Cathedral is calm, or a loose translation of a similar word.
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mercygate
Guest
Why would you not read this in the best possible light? Sounds like he meant “joyful” – he likes his job!
RELAX!
RELAX!
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George_Waters
Guest
Some people will never see legitimate practices in a favorable light either because of an abuse (real or imagined) or because it is not how it was done when they were young and as such must be the work of liberals and feminists. Pray for them.
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Sarabande
Guest
Anyway, although I can’t really know what was going on in Tomaso Tadeo’s mind when he said that quote, I believe we should give him the benefit of the doubt. Since he is a native Filipino, we have to remember that English is probably his second or third language, even though English is often taught in the schools from an early age. He probably speaks his native language, plus the national language of Tagalog and then English.
Just based on knowing my own mother who is Filipina and speaks three languages very well for the most part, there are still communication barriers. Also, based on how silly I sometimes sound when I’m being interviewed or asked questions without being prepared, I can’t really say that he meant the word “playtime” the way it could have been construed. The rest of the quote says “There is a sense of peace”, so he could have just meant that mass was his favorite time - not actually true “playtime” per say.
If he actually did mean “playtime” as how children play house, etc., then something needs to be corrected. But honestly, knowing many people from other countries and even myself when trying to speak languages that I’m not really fluent in, it’s very easy to say something you don’t actually really mean. It’s easy enough to do that when you’re speaking your primary language.
Just based on knowing my own mother who is Filipina and speaks three languages very well for the most part, there are still communication barriers. Also, based on how silly I sometimes sound when I’m being interviewed or asked questions without being prepared, I can’t really say that he meant the word “playtime” the way it could have been construed. The rest of the quote says “There is a sense of peace”, so he could have just meant that mass was his favorite time - not actually true “playtime” per say.
If he actually did mean “playtime” as how children play house, etc., then something needs to be corrected. But honestly, knowing many people from other countries and even myself when trying to speak languages that I’m not really fluent in, it’s very easy to say something you don’t actually really mean. It’s easy enough to do that when you’re speaking your primary language.
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NewUlm1976_2000
Guest
He enjoys mass, he enjoys being an EM, “fun” means his approach to the ministry does not have to be all somber all the time. “Fun” can be whatever way he is personally spiritually enlightened.
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Scotty_PGH
Guest
There seems to be nothing extraordinary about the frequency with which they are used, including Masses with only a handful of communicants. So they should probably come up with a new title.
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Orogeny
Guest
Extraordinary refers to the fact that they are not part of the “ordinary” or ordained ministery. It doesn’t mean special, rare or unusual.
Peace
Tim
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Light_Seeker
Guest
Poorly worded paragraph, & poor choice of a word - he’s not describing his EMHC ministry as playtime, they’re discussing the Cathedral. It may bring him joy, happiness, content - the same as ‘playtime’ for my children after homework & chores.
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PaixGioiaAmor
Guest
Good job taking a quote out of context from a person who’s first language isn’t English.
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Scotty_PGH
Guest
What are you talking about? I provided a link to the story so this guy’s quote could be viewed in context. In fact, I originally posted the whole article here, and the moderators removed it, edited it down to the three paragraphs you see now, and re-posted it. I have no idea how they decided which paragraphs to provide, so talk to them about context, not me.
As for quoting the guy – I guess you would like us to give people an English exam before we are allowed to quote them?
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Sarabande
Guest
It isn’t about taking a quote out of context or giving someone an English exam. Tadeo obviously said that while being interviewed. There’s no question about that. The question is what Tadeo actually meant by what he said. I think what I and many other people on here are trying to say is that English is not his first language and he may not have actually meant what came across the page. I don’t think the OP is trying to do this, but I don’t believe it is fair to brand him as someone superficial in his outlook of being an EMHC or going to mass unless we actually really know what his intention was by saying that and looking at the rest of the quote.
Although I realize that in some parishes there is a need for EMHC’s, I personally will go to a priest or deacon for communion before going to an EMHC. But it doesn’t mean that EMHCs actually think of it as playing as if it isn’t serious. Based on the rest of Tadeo’s quote, I also don’t think he takes his part lightly as well, but he does enjoy it. It was just a poor choice of words. (I couldn’t do any better if I was speaking Ilongo or Tagalog.) People can enjoy doing serious and spiritual things - spiritual ecstasy - although I wouldn’t go so far as to say that being an EMHC gives one spiritual ecstasy.
Although I realize that in some parishes there is a need for EMHC’s, I personally will go to a priest or deacon for communion before going to an EMHC. But it doesn’t mean that EMHCs actually think of it as playing as if it isn’t serious. Based on the rest of Tadeo’s quote, I also don’t think he takes his part lightly as well, but he does enjoy it. It was just a poor choice of words. (I couldn’t do any better if I was speaking Ilongo or Tagalog.) People can enjoy doing serious and spiritual things - spiritual ecstasy - although I wouldn’t go so far as to say that being an EMHC gives one spiritual ecstasy.
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KathleenElsie
Guest
Maybe the use of so-called was because the fact is they are not ‘extraordinary’ but normal and used daily.
For something to be extra ordinary mean that thing is rare and not usual.
catholicinsight.com/online/church/liturgy/article_470.shtml
This link says it well and might help clarify the reasons that many feel they are abusing the use of these lay persons.
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Orionthehunter
Guest
The Church chooses and uses words very carefully. They don’t always conform to common vernacular. Oregeny has the proper context of the word as used by the Church.
Because it is a second language, we don’t know the person, we have an obligation to give the person the benefit of the doubt. Until someone talks to this person directly (esp. since he is not a public person or leader), I think it impossible for us to make any inferences of his intent except something positive about how he feels about his parish, Church and his ministry in service.
2478 To avoid rash judgment, everyone should be careful to interpret insofar as possible his neighbor’s thoughts, words, and deeds in a favorable way:
Every good Christian ought to be more ready to give a favorable interpretation to another’s statement than to condemn it. But if he cannot do so, let him ask how the other understands it. And if the latter understands it badly, let the former correct him with love. If that does not suffice, let the Christian try all suitable ways to bring the other to a correct interpretation so that he may be saved.
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