Seems like from a financial/mathematical standpoint, the fewer the (reported) numbers of registered members, the better for the parish.
Not exactly… advisors at the chancery also look at the median income for your zip code. We have some million dollar homes in our zip code. Maybe 1% of those home are Catholic households. But the Diocese seems to think we should be raking in much more dough. Because on paper, it’s an affluent area. In actuality, many of our families are from the low income zip code up the street. They compare that higher figure to the percentage per registered families and they are quick to point out that we’re not cutting it.
Exactly because raking in the money is much more important than saving souls! Especially when people are leaving the parish to go to others who are more traditional. I know lets introduce liturgical dance, sappy early 80s remakes of hymns and clown mass! Oh wait!Not exactly… advisors at the chancery also look at the median income for your zip code. We have some million dollar homes in our zip code. Maybe 1% of those home are Catholic households. But the Diocese seems to think we should be raking in much more dough. Because on paper, it’s an affluent area. In actuality, many of our families are from the low income zip code up the street. They compare that higher figure to the percentage per registered families and they are quick to point out that we’re not cutting it.
If you get taxed, and your people don’t cover it in the annual appeal, it gets taken from your collection. And then a pastor has less $$ to pay bills, hire staff, offer programs.
Priests hate to talk about money, but the Chancery has no problems discussing at length.
KiddingWell, yeah, money and the need for it is a huge problem.Exactly because raking in the money is much more important than saving souls! Especially when people are leaving the parish to go to others who are more traditional. I know lets introduce liturgical dance, sappy early 80s remakes of hymns and clown mass! Oh wait!
Color me dubious. :twocents:Yes and yes. I am a member of a parish that is not my ‘home’ parish, in fact I have a totally different bishop and riteand therefore completely different liturgy. I agree with the idea of going where you are fed, where you have access to a priest. I am not on hold anymore, and can actively and fully participate in the life of the church.
So…we can’t ever sing songs that quote Scripture?I went to the closest parish for a year, before I was baptized. When I decided to join RCIA, this particular parish wasn’t focusing on teaching, but feel good stuff. So, I went to a parish 30 minutes away to attend RCIA. I alternated for a while, going to Mass at one or the other, but finally settled into “my parish”, the one 30 minutes away, and have been going there for over 8 years now.
What I like about it is, little hand holding, Latin Credo, Gloria and Sanctus. Pews that are lined up on a flat floor. The other parish is stadium style, with a sloped floor. I always feel like I’m falling forward! And the music. The other parish isn’t too bad, but does have some issues there. By that I mean, songs that are sung in “God’s voice”, such as, “I am the bread of life.” No, I am not. Lord, you are the Bread of Life. It just bugs me to sing in “God’s voice”.
And, there was no sense of community for me at the parish that is closer. The ministries seem to all run during the day when I am at work. The parishioners all seem to be retired or families of the children that go to the school there.
Maybe when I retire I’ll go back to the closer parish, but for now, I haven’t determined that I should. The travel time makes it difficult to participate as much as I would like, but with a 70 mile round trip for my work commute, and working full time, putting in a lot of time at any parish has that limiter.
I guess that would eliminate all the psalms. Which are supposed to be sung.I think Rebecca might be referring to singing in the first person as if one really were God-thus the note about being uncomfortable singing as if she really were the Bread of Life, rather than a soul in need of that Heavenly Food.So…we can’t ever sing songs that quote Scripture?
Your right, but I did canonically transfer because my spouse entered through that rite.
Well there you go, then.
I can’t tell you if you are attending “outside” your home parish, but I can tell you that since you have canonically transferred, whatever Latin rite parish you may live within geographically is not your home parish.
)I realize what she meant…I was simply trying to point out that there are times when we quote Scripture in song and prayer…and it’s perfectly acceptable. That particular hymn goes on to say " Yes Lord, I believe that You are the Christ." Everything in context.I think Rebecca might be referring to singing in the first person as if one really were God-thus the note about being uncomfortable singing as if she really were the Bread of Life, rather than a soul in need of that Heavenly Food.
The Lord is my Shepherd would be an example of a psalm in which one acknowledges that the Lord is the Lord and the singer is not the Lord.
Thank you for the information about registering in the parish one attends-it’s helpful to have that insider’s knowledge.
The psalms praise God, and aren’t written in the first person.So…we can’t ever sing songs that quote Scripture?
Ok, everyone is misinterpreting my meaning, so I’m out.
I hope I didn’t come across as being harsh. It is just a personal preference of mine. The parish I go to has an extraordinary choir, that sing classical hymns and chants. I’m a classical music kind of person, and the contemporary arrangements I find just ok. But that isn’t me condemning what other people enjoy.
Many people sing Psalm 95 every day, to open their morning prayers. Listen to the last two strophes:
I find a difference between indicating, “listen to the voice of the Lord”, followed by what the Lord has said, to just starting out, everyone singing as we walk up to receive communion: