Flash Mob Appears at Ash Wednesday Mass

[1holycatholic]

Flash Mob Appears at Ash Wednesday Mass
SIOUX FALLS, SD - Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent . It a time for penance, reflection, fasting and apparently, dance for one group of catholic students. We attend one Ash Wednesday Service that was interrupted by an unexpected, but emotional flash mob.

Not long after receiving the ceremonial ashes and final blessing, a flash mob broke out during the Ash Wednesday Mass at St. Mary Catholic Church in Sioux Falls. The name of the song was “Where you go I’ll go” by Chris Tomlin. A timely tribute for the beginning of the lenten season.

“We had done it for our talent show and it had such a powerful message behind it/we had a lot of people asking could we transform it into church or mass,” St. Mary Teacher Julie Kolbeck said.
…

 

[BusterMartin]

I think I agree with your smilie…to me, at least, Mass is not the place for this…before Mass, after Mass, at a special gathering somewhere, but not in the middle of Mass. I’m really surprised this was even allowed by the priest. I imagine this breaks some sort of rules…am I wrong?

 

[centurionguard]

Flash Mob Appears at Ash Wednesday Mass
SIOUX FALLS, SD - Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent . It a time for penance, reflection, fasting and apparently, dance for one group of catholic students. We attend one Ash Wednesday Service that was interrupted by an unexpected, but emotional flash mob.

Not long after receiving the ceremonial ashes and final blessing, a flash mob broke out during the Ash Wednesday Mass at St. Mary Catholic Church in Sioux Falls. The name of the song was “Where you go I’ll go” by Chris Tomlin. A timely tribute for the beginning of the lenten season.

“We had done it for our talent show and it had such a powerful message behind it/we had a lot of people asking could we transform it into church or mass,” St. Mary Teacher Julie Kolbeck said.
…

I share your sad sentiments. There shouldn’t be any kind of dancing anytime during Mass. It doesn’t do anything for me. Disturbingly; I (“might”) have even walked out of the Church. Sadly this kind of thing really reflects on the parish priest in what he allows to happen in his parish.

 

[TBolt1000T]

I think I agree with your smilie…to me, at least, Mass is not the place for this…before Mass, after Mass, at a special gathering somewhere, but not in the middle of Mass. I’m really surprised this was even allowed by the priest. I imagine this breaks some sort of rules…am I wrong?

If nothing else, it shows a grave lack of reverence for the Eucharist, and I don’t think it’s at all appropriate for an Ash Wednesday Mass. They should have been singing something like “Attende Domine” instead of some contemporary song which may have had a driving drum beat.

 

[Dale_M]

If nothing else, it shows a grave lack of reverence for the Eucharist, and I don’t think it’s at all appropriate for an Ash Wednesday Mass.

It certainly seems questionable for Ash Wednesday. I couldn’t hear the lyrics, but the jumping up and down and ribbon waving didn’t fit at all. I wonder if it shouldn’t have been saved for Easter.

They should have been singing something like “Attende Domine” instead of some contemporary song which may have had a driving drum beat.

I didn’t hear a driving drum beat. The song sounded more in the style of singer-songwriter rather than thumping pop.

I think I agree with your smilie…to me, at least, Mass is not the place for this…before Mass, after Mass, at a special gathering somewhere, but not in the middle of Mass.

I don’t think it happened during the middle of Mass. The news report said that the final blessing had been given, in which case wasn’t the Mass over? (even if the priest hadn’t yet processed out)

 

[Elizium23]

Extreme liturgical abuse, looking at the video now. The children are all crowded into the sanctuary around the altar and tabernacle, while the priest is still sitting there. Recorded music being used in the liturgy. Not to mention the “dancing”…

 

[Brendan]

I think I agree with your smilie…to me, at least, Mass is not the place for this…before Mass, after Mass, at a special gathering somewhere, but not in the middle of Mass.

From the article, it seemed to have happened after Mass had ended.

Not long after receiving the ceremonial ashes and final blessing,a flash mob broke out

Mass ends at the Ete Missa Est, so Mass was over at that point.

When the reporter stated that this happended during Mass, that would have been incorrect if it was after the final blessing. Chalk it up to the media not knowing diddly about the Mass.

 

[BusterMartin]

From the article, it seemed to have happened after Mass had ended.

Mass ends at the Ete Missa Est, so Mass was over at that point.

When the reporter stated that this happended during Mass, that would have been incorrect if it was after the final blessing. Chalk it up to the media not knowing diddly about the Mass.

My mistake. Thanks for the correction. I only watched the video and didn’t see the article, so all I saw was the priest sitting up in the sanctuary so I assumed Mass was still going on…I should never assume.

 

[centurionguard]

From the article, it seemed to have happened after Mass had ended.

Mass ends at the Ite Missa Est, so Mass was over at that point.

When the reporter stated that this happended during Mass, that would have been incorrect if it was after the final blessing. Chalk it up to the media not knowing diddly about the Mass.

But really even if it had happened after the Mass had ended what did it really achieve?

Don’t get me wrong…I’m all for stirring up musical spirituality in kids, especially teens.

However; it wasn’t exactly a music selection and dance you might here and see at a Children’s Mass. Shall we say extra curricular activities?

I’m not trying to sound off as being altogether negative here.

Peace
Chris

 

[JimR-OCDS]

OK, perhaps I must plead ignorance.

I thought the phenomena called “Flash Mobs,” were events put together on the spur of the moment using text messaging and are done at various places like shopping malls and such, without obtaining permission from anyone. Essentially, they are in-your-face events organized by those who desire to send a message of some sort.

So, if this was truly a flash mob, did the teacher who put it together do so without asking permission from the pastor first? Was he surprised as those in the pews?

I have a problem with this, regardless of it being at the end of Mass.

Jim

 

[Dale_M]

OK, perhaps I must plead ignorance.

I thought the phenomena called “Flash Mobs,” were events put together on the spur of the moment using text messaging and are done at various places like shopping malls and such, without obtaining permission from anyone.

Yes, when flash mobs were pioneered 20 years ago, I think that was true. However, in the past five years or so the concept has drifted to include any group event sprung on an unsuspecting public. As in this case, or that famous Hallelujah chorus in a food court, choreographed and rehearsed performances are now included. Even corporations use the idea as an advertising stunt.

I think “flash mobs”, even when not impromptu, can be charming when they are not disruptive. But they can also be tedious when out of place.

 

[Havard]

His Eminence Cardinal Arinze commented, “The difficulty is this: we come to Mass primarily to adore God – what we call the vertical dimension. We do not come to Mass to entertain one another. That’s not the purpose of Mass. The parish hall is for that. So all those that want to entertain us – after Mass, let us go to the parish hall and then you can dance.”

So he believes that it’s not only the Mass itself in which liturgical dance performances are inappropriate, but the venue of the church as well. I personally agree.

 

[TempleofTheSoul]

His Eminence Cardinal Arinze commented, “The difficulty is this: we come to Mass primarily to adore God – what we call the vertical dimension. We do not come to Mass to entertain one another. That’s not the purpose of Mass. The parish hall is for that. So all those that want to entertain us – after Mass, let us go to the parish hall and then you can dance.”

So he believes that it’s not only the Mass itself in which liturgical dance performances are inappropriate, but the venue of the church as well. I personally agree.

I love Cardinal Arinze and totally agree with his quote. There are appropriate places for this kind of stuff and inside a church is not one of them.

God bless and a happy Lenten season to all

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Dale_M

Yes, when flash mobs were pioneered 20 years ago, I think that was true.

I never heard of flash mobs 20 years ago, and cell-phones and text messaging didn’t exist.

Are you referring to something else?

However, in the past five years or so the concept has drifted to include any group event sprung on an unsuspecting public. As in this case, or that famous Hallelujah chorus in a food court, choreographed and rehearsed performances are now included. Even corporations use the idea as an advertising stunt.

I think “flash mobs”, even when not impromptu, can be charming when they are not disruptive. But they can also be tedious when out of place.

I think at a parish Mass, if they’re under the true meaning of “flash mob,” without the pastors permission, the teacher who organized it should be standing in the unemployment line the next morning.

This was inapproprate if done without permission from the pastor.

Jim

 

[Dale_M]

Dale_M
I never heard of flash mobs 20 years ago, and cell-phones and text messaging didn’t exist.

Are you referring to something else?

Perhaps or perhaps not.

Of course, they would not have been called such things back then, and they would have part of “underground” culture and not noticed by the mainstream media. But I witnessed such an event in a public space in San Francisco in 1993. I was stunned and tried to talk to some of the participants who quickly dispersed in all directions, but the one person I was able to follow and engage in conversation wouldn’t explain herself, grinning and telling me to just keep moving.

I don’t know how the participants were quickly called together for that event, nor could I categorize what happened until flash mobs became mainstream. However, cell phones did exist at the time. Granted, text messages to them were experimental at that point, consisting of a computer email message distributed wirelessly.

 

[CHRISTINE77]

Personally, I’m tired of flash mobs. They’ve lost their edge.
And no, I don’t think it’s appropriate at church.

 

[ProVobis]

But really even if it had happened after the Mass had ended what did it really achieve?

When you see the priest and deacon sitting up there like that, it is easy to presume it was part of the Mass. It gives it the appearance that that was liturgical dancing which is prohibited in the U.S. It was facing the people and the others seems to be well entertained as well. Totally people centered.

 

[centurionguard]

When you see the priest and deacon sitting up there like that, it is easy to presume it was part of the Mass. It gives it the appearance that that was liturgical dancing which is prohibited in the U.S. It was facing the people and the others seems to be well entertained as well. Totally people centered.

Yes indeed; it was people centered like most Flash Mob’s

It would have got my unrestricted attention.

Can’t say I would have been impressed though.

I’m not into liturgical dancing.

Peace
Chris