I miss being part of my local parish

[DiZent]

I think that the OP knows what the liturgy calls for, and finds her parish sadly lacking. The typical North American “horizontal-based” liturgy of the 1970’s and 80’s is still alive and well in many places. Once someone has tasted steak, it is hard to go back to bologna sandwiches.

Hahaha. You are so right. They are serving bologna sandwiches at my parish, They are following the rubrics but the music is awful.

 

[Chatter163]

Has absolutely nothing to do with being “materialistic.” The fact that you equate it to that says a great deal about you. Many Protestant fellowships are under intense pressure for members. I see that manifested in many positive ways that are in no way “materialistic.”

Things like superior preaching. Superior welcoming of visitors. Superior music. Superior music participation. Superior ministering to individual members of the fellowship, etc. What’s the canned Catholic response? “We have the Eucharist!” To that I answer “yes we do, but it’s not a zero-sum game! Our parish lives do not have to be lacking in other areas because we have the Eucharist so please don’t infer that it does!”

Competing. Customer satisfaction. These are marketing words. Consumeristic words. In other words, the language of materialism.

 

[pnewton]

I guess not parish can satisfy all people all the time, if by satisfy you want something more than the Body and Blood of our Lord.

 

[opus101]

Richard320, I loved this original post! It realy made me laugh, and I feel so much better knowing that others go through the same thing as me! I used to belong to a Cathedral parish as well, and ever since I moved, I’ve been going through the same thing as you and your wife. The Coke commercial really made me laugh…Now, c’mon, what’s your problem with that, after all, in the credits at the end it said it was taped “on a hilltop in Italy”! Just not the right one.

 

[opus101]

Wow. Talk about a materialstic age in which we live. The problem with Sunday Mass attendance for Catholics is that it does not follow a market-based, consumer -driven model. Shopping around is the answer. Someone actually wrote this.

I am speechless. :banghead:

 

[opus101]

I guess not parish can satisfy all people all the time, if by satisfy you want something more than the Body and Blood of our Lord.

You have a good point here, but it is also important to show the reverence and respect that is due to that same Lord, by following the directives He has given us through His Church. Silliness and promotion of personal theological agendas is not to be part of the Sacrifice on Calvary. (I’m referring to the priestly gestures done by the people.)

The style of music is also not something that one would expect when we enter into the real , one and only Sacrifice which is the salvation of the whole world past, present and future.

 

[Jegudiel]

I think that the OP** knows what the liturgy calls for, and finds her parish sadly lacking**. The typical North American “horizontal-based” liturgy of the 1970’s and 80’s is still alive and well in many places. Once someone has tasted steak, it is hard to go back to bologna sandwiches.

“Lacking?” By whose standards? The Church’s or the individuals?

Even when the liturgy is “lacking” by actual Church standards, unless it’s a grave abuse it’s far better to ignore rather than fixate on things that bother people.

 

[Jegudiel]

Yes! I thought I was the only one who thought this… I love Gregorian chant

…though I do actually enjoy the hand-holding thing (I think it gets me to recognize the people I’m standing next to during Mass) but that may just be because I’ve always done that in every parish I’ve been in for my whole ‘long’ 23 years of life.

That’s a prime example of something people shouldn’t fixate on. Hold hands as you do, or don’t hold hands. That’s it. Don’t get angry because others do – that is nothing more than personal pride. And for those that claim others force them to hold hands I’ll simply chuckle.

 

[Jegudiel]

Competing. Customer satisfaction. These are marketing words. Consumeristic words. In other words, the language of materialism.

Malarkey. They are words of welcome. Words of hospitality.

 

[Jegudiel]

I wonder if most of those that post here realize it’s their personal pride and prejudices that upsets them why they get angry at Mass? In the original posting I saw the words/comments: “semicircular seating, stadium seating at that. And upholstered pews.” “OCP’s greatest hits, sung by aging hippies, accompanied by one guitar.”

One has to laugh out loud sometimes.

And by the way, was it stadium seating or pews? And what’s wrong with either one? Do they somehow become inferior when they are padded or arranged in a semicircular configuration?

 

[DiZent]

“Lacking?” By whose standards? The Church’s or the individuals?

Even when the liturgy is “lacking” by actual Church standards, unless it’s a grave abuse it’s far better to ignore rather than fixate on things that bother people.

Thank you!

 

[DiZent]

I wonder if most of those that post here realize it’s their personal pride and prejudices that upsets them why they get angry at Mass? In the original posting I saw the words/comments: “semicircular seating, stadium seating at that. And upholstered pews.” “OCP’s greatest hits, sung by aging hippies, accompanied by one guitar.”

One has to laugh out loud sometimes.

And by the way, was it stadium seating or pews? And what’s wrong with either one? Do they somehow become inferior when they are padded or arranged in a semicircular configuration?

I sometimes attend Mass at a parish in WV when I visit my dad that has a barn converted into a church. It is very modern, but beautiful in its own right. Stadium pews have a sloped floor so that the back pews are higher, giving those folks who sit in the back a better view.

 

[DiZent]

That’s a prime example of something people shouldn’t fixate on. Hold hands as you do, or don’t hold hands. That’s it. Don’t get angry because others do – that is nothing more than personal pride. And for those that claim others force them to hold hands I’ll simply chuckle.

We pretty much stopped holding hands during the Swine Flu scare a couple of years ago and now we “extend a sign of peace by word or gesture.” Other parishes I visit still do it. I don’t mind, but my sister hates it because she is a germiphobe.

 

[Jegudiel]

I sometimes attend Mass at a parish in WV when I visit my dad that has a barn converted into a church. It is very modern, but beautiful in its own right. Stadium pews have a sloped floor so that the back pews are higher, giving those folks who sit in the back a better view.

It amazed me that some people denigrate churches because they have sloped floors (to better see the sanctuary), stadium seating (far more comfortable with far better support – very important for some) with padding/upholstery. That’s just nonsense.

 

[wondrousgnat]

I visited two parishes in the next diocese and neither one had kneelers. Went to a third and people gave me dirty looks when I was the only one kneeling.

Then I moved to that diocese and now live two blocks from a parish. We have kneelers and some people kneel and some do not. Interesting to me that a 94 year old man kneels but many in their 30s don’t. In my former parish I was active in numerous activities, in some cases leading. My new parish has nothing to get involved in. Now I find myself going to my wife’s Protestant church because they have bible studies, dinners, etc. to get involved in.
I understand why so many in her church are ex-Catholics. Last week I was sad to see that a WW2 vet left the Catholic church to join theirs.
But I always attend mass and never go to communion at my wife’s church.

 

[pnewton]

The style of music is also not something that one would expect when we enter into the real , one and only Sacrifice which is the salvation of the whole world past, present and future.

Of all things, this is the one we can probably least come to a consensus on, this side of heaven.

I can only imagine what reality will show then.

youtube.com/watch?v=N_lrrq_opng

Some of us are more like King David and others more like Isaiah. This is why I wish there was a wider use of a more traditional Mass. We are different and such things matter to us. Maybe it is our weakness that is unable to see beyond such thing, but it is the way we are. We all have a tendency for the “happy, clappy”, meaning physical sensation and emotion. For many, this is found only in a very solemn, traditional setting. I believe judging this man on his opinions and shortcomings in this area is not right. We all have the same common failing, just in different areas. Instead, if we were to heed the words of St. Paul, we would rather seek the good of others rather than look after our own needs at Church.

 

[wondrousgnat]

I visited two parishes in the next diocese and neither one had kneelers. Went to a third and people gave me dirty looks when I was the only one kneeling.

Then I moved to that diocese and now live two blocks from a parish. We have kneelers and some people kneel and some do not. Interesting to me that a 94 year old man kneels but many in their 30s don’t. In my former parish I was active in numerous activities, in some cases leading. My new parish has nothing to get involved in. Now I find myself going to my wife’s Protestant church because they have bible studies, dinners, etc. to get involved in.
I understand why so many in her church are ex-Catholics. Last week I was sad to see that a WW2 vet left the Catholic church to join theirs.
But I always attend mass and never go to communion at my wife’s church.

Also, the diocesan paper from the new diocese has good articles but nothing else and comes out once every two months (I believe that is how often). I still after 4 years subscribe to my old diocese’s paper which is weekly and provides information. Such as bible studies, Cursillo, fairs, marriage prep, etc. My new diocese does not (I don’t think we have Cursillo). My old diocesan paper lists activities “beyond the diocese” which means I learn of some activities in my new diocese from elsewhere.

 

[Tietjen]

“Lacking?” By whose standards? The Church’s or the individuals?

Well, actually by YOUR standards according to your earlier posts.

What’s the canned Catholic response? “We have the Eucharist!” To that I answer “yes we do, but it’s not a zero-sum game! Our parish lives do not have to be lacking in other areas because we have the Eucharist so please don’t infer that it does!”

This is your statement defending the idea of the Church becoming more like the Protestant Churches in order to be… what was the word??? … more “competetive.”

 

[maryjk]

Why not just give up your Sunday event so you can attend at your old parish?

Or since you claim that your old parish is 400 miles away, give up your weekly event to attend a different Mass at the same Parish?

You can only attend one of two Masses offered. Saturday night or early AM on Sunday. And only on Sunday if the Mass is quick.

Maybe you could make more time for Mass on Sunday. And attend a Mass that is more to your liking.

 

[Richard320]

Or since you claim that your old parish is 400 miles away, give up your weekly event to attend a different Mass at the same Parish?

You can only attend one of two Masses offered. Saturday night or early AM on Sunday. And only on Sunday if the Mass is quick.

Maybe you could make more time for Mass on Sunday. And attend a Mass that is more to your liking.

Maybe you could read the whole thing again and see what I wrote. I don’t have the time constraints every week. But you know, life happens, and sometimes one has outside obligations that necessitate attending Mass at a different time or parish.