First Mass... ?

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Poco

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Actually, it’s my second. I got to go to a Mass to see Priests get ordained in the Cathedral in St. Augustine, FL. It was fabulous!
Well, I guess you can’t expect a Tuesday morning, 8:30 am Mass to compare to that. What I found disappointing was I wanted to talk to the Priest, but he left through a side door never to be seen again! This was the first “Worship Service” I’ve ever been to that the “leader” did not greet folks on the way out. Is this common? Is this just a weekday practice? Or could this be just this particular parish?
Just curious, not complaining. 🙂
 
In my experience it is typical at a weekday Mass for the priest to enter and leave from the sacristy rather than processing from the back of the church.
 
That’s awesome, Poco!

I live in St. Augustine… I am soon going to become a seminarian for the diocese of St. Augustine. I am glad you enjoyed the ordination! Did Bishop Victor ordain the men?

God Bless!

-Matt
 
Its typical in my parish for the priest to enter and leave by the door that leads to the dressing area at weekday masses. He does not greet the parishoners at the end of mass.
 
Poco said:
Well, I guess you can’t expect a Tuesday morning, 8:30 am Mass to compare to that. What I found disappointing was I wanted to talk to the Priest, but he left through a side door never to be seen again! This was the first “Worship Service” I’ve ever been to that the “leader” did not greet folks on the way out. Is this common? Is this just a weekday practice? Or could this be just this particular parish?
Just curious, not complaining. 🙂
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Though it does often happen, even on weekdays, it’s not a “rule” that the celebrant chat-up the congregation after Mass. Whether it’s done or not really depends. For example, in some places, it’s customary, in others, not. With some priests it’s customary, but with others it’s not. And even when it might otherwise be customary, sometimes the priest has an appointment (or has to prepare the church for a subsequent service, or whatever) and hasn’t the time to linger.
 
I think the ‘meet and greet’ might be something borrowed from Protestants. I don’t remember it at the Novus Ordo masses in my youth.

Doesn’t seem to happen at Latin Masses at all.
 
At my Church - the Parishioners always meet in the parish hall after Mass for Coffee. Most of the time the Priest comes to Coffee. On the first Sunday of the month we have a parish breakfast sponsered by the School. And last Sunday I sat with a Priest for well over a half an hour. He was telling us about what Sharia Law means for Catholics who live under Islamic domination. And that there are Cases of Public Schools in the United States where the Islamic Children are talken from Class to a room so designed and allowed to pray their prayers. He said it is ironic that Public Schoools see no problem fighting School prayer by Christian faiths however. But during the week - the Priests usually have a full schedule and not much time to socialize. They do have pastoral duties.

Pax
 
Our previous priest used to come and go through the sacristy. He often had appointments and went right back to the rectory. I would suggest stopping in the rectory after Mass or calling beforehand if you wish to meet with the priest. Our current priest doesn’t greet people after Mass, but is usually in the church for a while, and will speak with those with questions. If I do want to talk with him after Mass, I always ask him at the outset if he has time, or if he must leave for a meeting. Lent is a very busy time. Many people schedule Confessions, and there are added services and meetings, preparation of candidates and catechumens for Easter Vigil. We also have a group of children preparing for First Communion shortly after Easter. There are special liturgies for Holy Week and Penance services. It is a busy time for musicians. Still crazier for priests!

Welcome! I love Daily Mass. I hope you will go again. Have you been to Stations of the Cross yet during Lent? I would recommend that, too.

God bless.
 
At my parish the priest usually greets the people even after the morning daily mass.
But on occassion he has a pressing morning appointment and will “dissapear” as soon as he hits the door exit.

James
 
Welcome Poco;
I am so happy to see others walking over the Bridge that the See of Peter Built, please keep in mine that we are coming together with other Catholic from a different direction then they are use too. I have found good friends in the CC that we are attending and could not be happier in praising God for opening the door for us to walk through. Our local priest has welcomed us with open arms. If I have questions I have always found the answers, through this site, or through asking my priest, or asking my friends. The old saying Ask and you Will Receive is true, welcome, welcome, welcome.
 
Poco said:
Actually, it’s my second. I got to go to a Mass to see Priests get ordained in the Cathedral in St. Augustine, FL. It was fabulous!
Well, I guess you can’t expect a Tuesday morning, 8:30 am Mass to compare to that. What I found disappointing was I wanted to talk to the Priest, but he left through a side door never to be seen again! This was the first “Worship Service” I’ve ever been to that the “leader” did not greet folks on the way out. Is this common? Is this just a weekday practice? Or could this be just this particular parish?
Just curious, not complaining. 🙂
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We must remember that “weekday” morning masses are usually just the start of a busy day for our priests. So - greeting folks is just not part of his regular routine during the week.
I’m sure that if you were to mention this to one of the “regulars” the next time you go, they could help you contact him quickly.

Peace
James
 
Poco said:
Actually, it’s my second. I got to go to a Mass to see Priests get ordained in the Cathedral in St. Augustine, FL. It was fabulous!
Well, I guess you can’t expect a Tuesday morning, 8:30 am Mass to compare to that. What I found disappointing was I wanted to talk to the Priest, but he left through a side door never to be seen again! This was the first “Worship Service” I’ve ever been to that the “leader” did not greet folks on the way out. Is this common? Is this just a weekday practice? Or could this be just this particular parish?
Just curious, not complaining. 🙂
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Well, we don’t have worship services nor leaders. We have Masses and Priests. There is a big difference. Leaving through a side door as you call it is quite common in Masses, particularly daily Masses. He was going into the sacristy where he changes clothes. Priests are extraordinarily busy on weekdays and usually don’t have a lot of time to socialize. You could always make an appointment with him or even drop by the Rectory. They are usually willing to chat for a while, particularly if it is about something important.
 
many of the priests are must leave immediately after Mass to serve in their mission, attend diocesan meetings or be at their diocesan job (most pastors do at least double sometimes triple duty here) so meet and greet after daily Masses may not be possible. Our former priest had blood sugar issues and had to eat immediately after Mass so always went directly to the rectory even on Sunday. Why not assume a charitable interpretation of anything you observe in the behavior of any priest that does not meet your expectation? No it is not part of the rite of Mass to greet parishioners after Mass, although we certainly like it when it does happen. In light of this forum, I never remember any “meet and greet” after Mass when I was a child. Instant egress from the parking lot is the no. 1 priority for a lot of Catholics after Mass, unfortunately, now as back then.
 
Thank you, everyone! 😃

Matt - I’m sorry! :o I don’t remember who the Bishop was. Mostly I remember thinking (as an Episcopalian) “they do stuff just like us”. 😃 I’ve also been to a Baptist service and it was, well, different.
I’m not one that’s heavy into ceremony but that was a wonderful service! (I’m speaking of the ordination of the Priests)

palmas - I know you don’t have “Worship services nor leaders”. :rolleyes: I was just trying to make a general statement.

I apologize to the rest of you for not being able to resond individually.
Thanks again, and may God bless! 👍
 
Poco, good to see another Episcopalian “swimming the Tiber” 👍
I was also Episcopal for 10 years, found I was attracted to the High Anglo-Catholic form of worship. Eventually I made the jump and now finally feel I am where I belong, in a parish with the EF Mass.

However the Episcopal church was an important way station in my life that was on the path back to the Catholic church. I feel bad about the way that the Episcopal church is now imploding due to the Bishop Robinson issue and others, but perhaps at least we may gain some good converts from it.
 
LindaSK said:
Welcome! I love Daily Mass. I hope you will go again. Have you been to Stations of the Cross yet during Lent? I would recommend that, too.

God bless.
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The Stations are one of my favorite devotions & the Stabat Mater is one of my favorite hymns. One of my sons went through a hard time last year & I suffered with him at the time. One day, when I was feeling sorry for myself because of that, I silently recited the Stabat Mater & that pretty much stopped my self-pity. To THINK how Mary suffered watching what they did to her Son…unimaginable. We all recognize the horrible pain that Christ went through for us, but sometimes I forget how Mary must have suffered.

As for the priest stopping to visit after Mass, that is never done after Latin Masses. Most of us stay & pray Thanksgiving for the Mass prayers, anyway. We do have a pot-luck dinner about once a month & that’s the time for visiting.

preces-latinae.org/thesaurus/BVM/SMDolorosa.html
 
CradleCath said:
The Stations are one of my favorite devotions & the Stabat Mater is one of my favorite hymns. One of my sons went through a hard time last year & I suffered with him at the time. One day, when I was feeling sorry for myself because of that, I silently recited the Stabat Mater & that pretty much stopped my self-pity. To THINK how Mary suffered watching what they did to her Son…unimaginable. We all recognize the horrible pain that Christ went through for us, but sometimes I forget how Mary must have suffered.

As for the priest stopping to visit after Mass, that is never done after Latin Masses. Most of us stay & pray Thanksgiving for the Mass prayers, anyway. We do have a pot-luck dinner about once a month & that’s the time for visiting.

preces-latinae.org/thesaurus/BVM/SMDolorosa.html
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We have Mass and Stations of the Cross tonight. I also like to walk the Stations on my own as a personal devotion. We sing the verses of the Stabat Mater acapella between Stations. Its beautiful. It is a perfect time to remember Mary’s faithfulness and suffering. The thought that always strikes me is that every time Jesus fell, Jesus got back up again.

God bless.
 
Layman said:
I think the ‘meet and greet’ might be something borrowed from Protestants. I don’t remember it at the Novus Ordo masses in my youth.

Doesn’t seem to happen at Latin Masses at all.
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No, it’s not borrowed from Protestants.

It has just been lost over time in the very large ‘cathedral-like’ parishes that are typical today.
 
I went to my first (well, first Catholic) Stations of the Cross service last Friday. I must say, I was quite moved!

You know, I’ve heard and read many stories of people who went somewhere or did something and were “overcome by the Holy Spirit” and life was great ever after! That’s never happened to me! Anyway, when the service was over and I had made an attempt to say a few prayers 🙂 , I was about to leave when I noticed the church was empty except for one woman sitting in a pew at the front of the chuch looking towards the altar. This reminded me of something I’d heard about Archbishop Fulton Sheen. Apparently he would sit for an hour each day in the church looking at the Tabernacle. Well, instead of leaving, I walked to the front of the church and just stared at the large Crucifix on the wall behind the altar. While I can’t say I was “overcome by the Holy Spirit”, there was definitely something going on! I haven’t felt that calm in a long time (lots of issues here 🙂 ).

Sorry to get off track of this thread! I was just trying to respond to the “Stations of the Cross” posts and got a little carried away! :o
 
Poco said:
I went to my first (well, first Catholic) Stations of the Cross service last Friday. I must say, I was quite moved!

You know, I’ve heard and read many stories of people who went somewhere or did something and were “overcome by the Holy Spirit” and life was great ever after! That’s never happened to me! Anyway, when the service was over and I had made an attempt to say a few prayers 🙂 , I was about to leave when I noticed the church was empty except for one woman sitting in a pew at the front of the chuch looking towards the altar. This reminded me of something I’d heard about Archbishop Fulton Sheen. Apparently he would sit for an hour each day in the church looking at the Tabernacle. Well, instead of leaving, I walked to the front of the church and just stared at the large Crucifix on the wall behind the altar. While I can’t say I was “overcome by the Holy Spirit”, there was definitely something going on! I haven’t felt that calm in a long time (lots of issues here 🙂 ).

Sorry to get off track of this thread! I was just trying to respond to the “Stations of the Cross” posts and got a little carried away! :o
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Congratulations - you are climbing Mt. Carmel and on your way to becoming a Catholic contemplative prayer warrior. If you really want to kick it up a notch - go sit in the front pew nearest to the tabernacle for 20 minutes (better to kneel at the nearest kneeler). Or else go to the chapel and do the same before the Eucharist that is normally on display in the monstrance in a side-chapel in most parishes that have 24-7 adoration. You’ll “be pumped and flooded with grace” and Catholic in no time. 👍

James
 
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