How Did Things Get This Bad at Mass? (Not your typical "abuse" thread)

[centurionguard]

The key is Authority coinciding with Responsibility. The pastor needs to introduce the head of the Lay ministers to the group and explain the responsibility AND authority he has given them, including that of temporally suspending them from their ministry until they can receive additional instruction on specific practices and requirements. Noting that only the pastor can actually dismiss them. There have been many times I have heard people say “What does he or she think they are doing changing the way we do things, I’ve been doing it this way for 20 years!” It is also that they enforce the proper terminology, Instead of saying “doing the dishes” we must start saying “cleaning or caring for the Sacred vessels.”

Totally Agree.

Much of what is described in the OP’s original post takes place in the Sacristy after Mass in my parish. I retired from from being full time Sacristan for over a decade, seven years ago due to poor health. Most regrettably when Authority coinciding with Responsibility loses its meaning or interest from your own parish priest for what ever excuse or reason; rich Catholic Symbolism and the Blessed value on Sacred Vessels fall to disarray. We need so much to pray for our priests to be not just Shepherds but teachers.

 

[Bluegoat]

If complacency and taking things for granted is part of the problem, maybe a solution is to be found in another direction entirely - prayer and contemplation.

Not training for servers and altar guild people, but spiritual development.

It is so easy to get a little immune to the wonder of the Eucharist when you are doing laundry, washing, and so on. More so perhaps than for those who are not serving in such ministries.

What about a retreat for these people, one dedicated to appreciating the gifts of the Eucharist? Ideally it would include time for adoration and silent prayer, but also time to discuss how to serve in the own ministry in a way that is more spiritual, and how those ministries affect them. Perhaps Martha and Mary might be a good theme for such a retreat.

It could be done at a retreat center or even at the church with everyone going home at night, if that would increase attendance.

I can imagine this being a yearly event for servers and altar guilds, either apart or together.

 

[karennascargo3]

If complacency and taking things for granted is part of the problem, maybe a solution is to be found in another direction entirely - prayer and contemplation.

Not training for servers and altar guild people, but spiritual development.

That’s it in a nutshell, IMHO (but I’m new so take what I say with a grain of salt…lol). I’m only just coming into the church and even I know not to disrespect and properly care for the items in the church – especially those items used for the Eucharist. So it most definitely has to be a ‘spiritual’ problem.

On thing I’ve learned through my 50+ years of faith in Christ Jesus is that the only way to resolve spiritual problems in any church, of any denomination, is through prayer and contemplation. The motivation to change won’t work if coming from man; it has to come from God in order to really change the heart.