D
Duesenberg
Guest
I went to Mass tonight and it was nice – the PV did a fine job. It would have been better if the sanctuary had been tarted up a bit for such an important feast, but it was OK.
Mass ended, I put on my headphones, turned on my MP3 player and settled in for some after Mass prayers. Even through the music, something was going on in the sanctuary and I was in the first row so I looked up. The Hispanic contingent of our parish was overrunning the sanctuary!
The first thing I noticed were two large altar angels (each holding a large candle), with one being placed at each end of the altar. They were made by the Daprato Company of Chicago many years ago. NICE! Where the heck did those come from? They’re not in our parish inventory. Apparently one of the Latino members of our parish bought them at auction and had them restored in Mexico.
Then came the FLOWERS! More and more FLOWERS! At least 50 vases of flowers all artfully arranged and placed. I’ve been on location before for the filming of a movie and the transformation of the sanctuary reminded me of how they yell “cut!” and a huge number of people go into well-coordinated action. Everyone was working together very smoothy and it was just happening. It was awesome to witness.
The (Anglo) parish “liturgy coordinator” (who had been an EMHC at the earlier Mass) attempted to give some (name removed by moderator)ut (it was sort of painful to watch), but they just gracefully ignored her and kept working – they enjoy complete independence from Anglo meddling which was won many years ago. The coordinator kept pushing (apparently she was concerned that the altar cloth could be harmed as they were preparing their altar cross and 6 candles for the top of the altar ala Benedict.)
No worries, the fairly cheesy altar cloth was carefully stripped off the altar, replaced by a gold damask altar frontal that said “SANTO SANTO SANTO” on it. The parish liturgy coordinator left the building at that point, thanks be to God.
The real treat was the Marian side altar (dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe of course) they screwed together while I watched. The guys were running the screw guns like union master carpenters on a Disney sound stage – only better.
I couldn’t take it. I had to touch one of the altar angels (made by DaPrato of Chicago a LONG time ago) and the altar frontal (hand sewn in Monterrey, Mexico.) A few were surrounding the credence table so I walked over for a look and I got some goosebumps. THEIR planners had beautifully sketched the entire sanctuary showing the locations of all the additions – it was their detailed working plan. THAT’S why they were so coordinated! THAT’S why everything looked so good! I sure wish that level of talent existed on the Anglo side of the parish.
I think God wanted me to see this tonight – people working as a gleeful (and able) team without being bogged down by politics, turf wars or other hideous parish toxicities. I hope the sanctuary remains set up for a while. I am going to go to their Mass on Monday – then end of their “Novenario Y Fiesta A La Virgen de Guadalupe.”
Mass ended, I put on my headphones, turned on my MP3 player and settled in for some after Mass prayers. Even through the music, something was going on in the sanctuary and I was in the first row so I looked up. The Hispanic contingent of our parish was overrunning the sanctuary!
The first thing I noticed were two large altar angels (each holding a large candle), with one being placed at each end of the altar. They were made by the Daprato Company of Chicago many years ago. NICE! Where the heck did those come from? They’re not in our parish inventory. Apparently one of the Latino members of our parish bought them at auction and had them restored in Mexico.
Then came the FLOWERS! More and more FLOWERS! At least 50 vases of flowers all artfully arranged and placed. I’ve been on location before for the filming of a movie and the transformation of the sanctuary reminded me of how they yell “cut!” and a huge number of people go into well-coordinated action. Everyone was working together very smoothy and it was just happening. It was awesome to witness.
The (Anglo) parish “liturgy coordinator” (who had been an EMHC at the earlier Mass) attempted to give some (name removed by moderator)ut (it was sort of painful to watch), but they just gracefully ignored her and kept working – they enjoy complete independence from Anglo meddling which was won many years ago. The coordinator kept pushing (apparently she was concerned that the altar cloth could be harmed as they were preparing their altar cross and 6 candles for the top of the altar ala Benedict.)
No worries, the fairly cheesy altar cloth was carefully stripped off the altar, replaced by a gold damask altar frontal that said “SANTO SANTO SANTO” on it. The parish liturgy coordinator left the building at that point, thanks be to God.
The real treat was the Marian side altar (dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe of course) they screwed together while I watched. The guys were running the screw guns like union master carpenters on a Disney sound stage – only better.
I couldn’t take it. I had to touch one of the altar angels (made by DaPrato of Chicago a LONG time ago) and the altar frontal (hand sewn in Monterrey, Mexico.) A few were surrounding the credence table so I walked over for a look and I got some goosebumps. THEIR planners had beautifully sketched the entire sanctuary showing the locations of all the additions – it was their detailed working plan. THAT’S why they were so coordinated! THAT’S why everything looked so good! I sure wish that level of talent existed on the Anglo side of the parish.
I think God wanted me to see this tonight – people working as a gleeful (and able) team without being bogged down by politics, turf wars or other hideous parish toxicities. I hope the sanctuary remains set up for a while. I am going to go to their Mass on Monday – then end of their “Novenario Y Fiesta A La Virgen de Guadalupe.”
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