Happy Birthday at Mass?

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Ace86

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Okay, the choir at my parish sings Happy Birthday after Mass on Sunday for the choir members who had birthdays during the week. They sing it after the recessional and I’m not sure if it is appropiate. They sing after the priest proceeds down the aisle once Mass has ended. The organist even pulls out the stops (something which she doesn’t do during Mass!) I find it annoying and bothersome that people want to pray after Mass, and there they go celebrating themselves instead of the Lord. Any suggestions?
 
If it happened after the recessional, it was definitely after the Mass since the Mass ends at the Dismissal. As for the appropriateness of it, I do not it was, but that is a personal preference.

PF
 
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Ace86:
Okay, the choir at my parish sings Happy Birthday after Mass on Sunday for the choir members who had birthdays during the week. They sing it after the recessional and I’m not sure if it is appropiate. They sing after the priest proceeds down the aisle once Mass has ended. The organist even pulls out the stops (something which she doesn’t do during Mass!) I find it annoying and bothersome that people want to pray after Mass, and there they go celebrating themselves instead of the Lord. Any suggestions?
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Find a new parish.
 
Mass has truly ended. Even the Recessional hymn is NOT part of the mass. So happy birthday was sung outside of mass. I find absolutely nothing wrong with that. And I am about as orthodox 👍 👍 narrow minded as they come when it comes to the liturgy.
 
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decn2b:
Mass has truly ended. Even the Recessional hymn is NOT part of the mass. So happy birthday was sung outside of mass. I find absolutely nothing wrong with that. And I am about as orthodox 👍 👍 narrow minded as they come when it comes to the liturgy.
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It doesn’t belong in Church. If they want to do it after Choir practice, if they practice in another room, that is fine, but it does not belong in church.
 
This is a hard one as I see the several posters so far are evenly divided. Although it is still after mass, this in the church, with (I hope) Jesus reposed in the tabernacle. I hate to be a party-pooper, but it seems that this is one more check mark on the side of decreased reverence in church, before Jesus present in the Blessed Sacrament. I’m sure others would disagree. The vast majority of parishoners in my otherwise wonderful parish walk right by Him in the tabernacle without even breaking stride, let alone to stop for two seconds to make a sign of reverence, that they believe that He is there, that they love and respect Him.

I don’t think that we need to be ultra-somber, we should be happy and joyous after worshipping and especially moments after receiving Him! But the singing Happy Birthday to another person is out of place to me. Go out to brunch afterward, or get together at someone’s house, and sing there.
 
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decn2b:
Mass has truly ended. Even the Recessional hymn is NOT part of the mass. So happy birthday was sung outside of mass. I find absolutely nothing wrong with that. And I am about as orthodox 👍 👍 narrow minded as they come when it comes to the liturgy.
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So why just the choir members? Why not every member of the community. And add every anniversary, every raise and A in school.

Seriously, Happy Birthday to the elderly Priest is great, to any member of the community needs to be limited to the Fellowship Hall.
 
well its an ultra-modern looking parish building. The tabernacle is in a back room. There is no Latin (its Novus Ordo). It’s just that they sing happy birthday when some are trying to pray. Of course people are talking as they are leaving as well. But nonetheless, shouldn’t there be as much respectful silence at the beginning as well as the end. It just bothers me cause the choir sings haugen/haas (and not even very well at that) and then they go sing happy birthday. It just doesn’t seem respectful. Thanks for the (name removed by moderator)ut.
 
In most parishes, reverence before and after Mass has disappeared. Those of us who wish to pray are a minority, and probably should be bringing ear plugs to wear before and after Mass, so we can hear ourselves talking to God.
 
True, the Mass is OVER…but there are many people who wish to stay a bit to make a more private thanksgiving after Communion…especially if the period of silence is very short or non-existent. I also agree that "why just choir members? I have just recently “retired” from a volunteer music director position held for 15 years in my parish. When I first took over, the tradition for the newly formed parish was to sing Happy Birthday to the Pastor after Mass…I told the Pastor that I refused to do that, he gratefully agreed. The problem here in Florida, is that many of the wonderful retired residents, now think they are on an eternal vacation. The casual attitude is unbelievable and unfortunately has penetrated many church wall. I am blessed to be in a parish whose church building really looks like a church and not an all-purpose building. We have a large plaza out front and a rather large vestibule for visiting. Praying the rosary prior to every single Mass helps put one in a prayerful state once you enter the church. But I digress a bit…Happy Birthday doesn’t really belong in church. After choir rehearsal is a good time. Blessings to all. :cool:
 
Make a suggestion that they replace “Happy Birthday” with “Birthday” by the Beatles. It’s got a wicked guitar riff. Much more conducive to prayer. :cool:
 
Ace86,

At one of the parishes I regularly attend, the priest invites everybody (not just the choir) to sing Happy Birthday before the final prayer. Consider yourself fortunate to have this act of irreverence take place after Mass! 😉

I truly get sad for our Lord every Sunday that this takes place. Some might call me a party-pooper or defiant of the priest, but I refuse to sing or clap afterward. I just cannot bring myself to do it…
 
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paramedicgirl:
In most parishes, reverence before and after Mass has disappeared. Those of us who wish to pray are a minority, and probably should be bringing ear plugs to wear before and after Mass, so we can hear ourselves talking to God.
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Happy Birthday acknowledgements belong in chior practice or a fellowship hall. Many people like to linger after Mass to pray and meditate. The church should remain quiet for a respectable period of time after the last Mass, as well as between Masses.
 
in former parish pastor mentioned all those celebrating birthdays, quinceneras, anniversaries once a month during the announcements. After the recessional choir played mananitas. No problema. mass is over, music just takes a couple of minutes longer. then our rosary began right after Mass as usual. Personally I find the group rosary after Mass distracting because I would like to stay and meditate or pray LOTH, but I have no reason to object, so I didn’t. On vacation the parish we visit has a great organ, prof. organist, and after recessional he often plays Bach or other classical composition “with all the stops out”. What is the difference?
 
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puzzleannie:
in former parish pastor mentioned all those celebrating birthdays, quinceneras, anniversaries once a month during the announcements. After the recessional choir played mananitas. No problema. mass is over, music just takes a couple of minutes longer. then our rosary began right after Mass as usual. Personally I find the group rosary after Mass distracting because I would like to stay and meditate or pray LOTH, but I have no reason to object, so I didn’t. On vacation the parish we visit has a great organ, prof. organist, and after recessional he often plays Bach or other classical composition “with all the stops out”. What is the difference?
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Well I think the difference is who you are celebrating. Pulling out all the stops for the Lord is one thing. Doing it for someone else is another.
 
netmil(name removed by moderator):
Seriously, Happy Birthday to the elderly Priest is great, to any member of the community needs to be limited to the Fellowship Hall.
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I agree–although my parish also has the custom of singing “Sto Lat” (hope I spelled that right–it’s Polish, and I only know the sound, never saw it written) on the birthday & the anniversary of election of the Pope, even though the Pope is unlikely to ever visit (not that everyone in the parish wouldn’t dearly love to have him visit). But again, it is outside the Mass, though immediately after.
 
Yes, that I witnessed at my last parish, too. Before the final blessing, so still during mass, we were all invited to sing Happy Birthday if the occasion was there ( not every Sunday, but about once a month ). My new parish doesn’t do that, they just clap during singing…:rolleyes: I never really gave it much thought, but it really doesn’t belong into mass. Right after, how long do they sing? Just following the recessional? Then there’s quiet? I guess you could live with that, but everybody is different. You might have to find another parish or talk to the priest to have him announce not to sing Happy Birthday anymore, except for in the annex or community building.
Peace!
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msproule:
Ace86,

At one of the parishes I regularly attend, the priest invites everybody (not just the choir) to sing Happy Birthday before the final prayer. Consider yourself fortunate to have this act of irreverence take place after Mass! 😉

I truly get sad for our Lord every Sunday that this takes place. Some might call me a party-pooper or defiant of the priest, but I refuse to sing or clap afterward. I just cannot bring myself to do it…
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I agree with the suggestion that this be done during the choir’s rehearsal. If they don’t rehearse, maybe they could start? However, I will say that Happy Birthday after Mass is preferable to singing it during the opening rites which was done in my parish one time!
 
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