Introductions

[Almeria]

At my parents parish, the cantor makes a big deal of going up to the lectern and announcing before Mass the names of those involved in that Mass–her name, the readers names, and the celebrant/co-celebrants. Then she segways into inviting everyone to join in the opening hymn. I personally find the introductions very jarring–if I needed to know someone’s name, I’d either look it up in the bulletin, call the parish office, or ask the priest after Mass. Is this practice becoming more widespread? Is it specifically encouraged or discouraged by the rubrics?

 

[Deacon_Ed]

Almeria,

I’ve seen this in a few parishes, but not many. There is nothing in the rubrics that would preclude doing this, nor is there anything that would encourage doing it. That being said, good liturgical sense says that one should go over any new music that is being used at the Mass, then have a period of silence for people to enter into the spirit of the Mass prior to the start of the entrance song/procession. If there are introductions to be made, it should be well before the entrance procession. Again, a period of silence should preceed the entrance procession to allow for people to, gasp, pray!

Deacon Ed

 

[John_Higgins]

Mass hasn’t started yet, so I guess the GIRM would have no comment.

John

 

[Annunciata]

Almeria:

At my parents parish, the cantor makes a big deal of going up to the lectern and announcing before Mass the names of those involved in that Mass–her name, the readers names, and the celebrant/co-celebrants. Then she segways into inviting everyone to join in the opening hymn.

This goes on every week in my parish. Only before the segway into the opening hymn we get: “In the spirt of Christian fellowship, let us greet our brother’s and sister’s in Christ around us”. Nice… but were all going to shake their hand again at the Sign of Peace… so it just seems to be a little redundant to me…(Am I being cranky?)
It also breaks my meditation for the preparation of the Mass…

 

[Kotton]

Annunciata:

“In the spirt of Christian fellowship, let us greet our brother’s and sister’s in Christ around us”. .

I ran into into this at a couplle of parishes, and yes, it’s redundant.

Kotton

 

[flick427]

When they introduce themselves and what they are doing, ou could say “Oh, good for you doing the readings…whaddya want a merit bagge or something”…

No really, don’t say that! But we have something like that at my parish too before Mass. Everyone inroduces themselves to each otherthey are sitting near right before Mass begins. I am at a military base so they do it perhaps because there are new people all of the time…but that is what the little coffe and donuts things are for after Mass. It kinda bothers me because I go to church to worship and pray to God, not to meet people. I think this is one of those distracting things like the hand shake of peace and tamborines in the choir.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Almeria:

At my parents parish, the cantor makes a big deal of going up to the lectern and announcing before Mass the names of those involved in that Mass–her name, the readers names, and the celebrant/co-celebrants. Then she segways into inviting everyone to join in the opening hymn. I personally find the introductions very jarring–if I needed to know someone’s name, I’d either look it up in the bulletin, call the parish office, or ask the priest after Mass. Is this practice becoming more widespread? Is it specifically encouraged or discouraged by the rubrics?

Mass should not have a “Playbill”. There should be quiet prayer and reflection preparing for Mass to begin., practicing songs, reading announcements, or “Playbills” should be avoided.

 

[Voice_Of_Reason]

Either that, or have the organ playing in the background with no singing. That’s how my parish is the few minutes before Mass and it really helps you meditate during pre-Mass prayers.

 

[HagiaSophia]

Almeria:

At my parents parish, the cantor makes a big deal of going up to the lectern and announcing before Mass the names of those involved in that Mass–

I always have an impulse to break out into “There’s No business Like Show business” whenever this is done. Can’t help it - just happens.

 

[Donna_Mc]

I have seen this done at the church we go to when on vacation,
and couldn’t figure out what the point of it all is. To be honest
it did remind me of a playbill!

 

[BrianDay]

At my parish, the cantor may read one or two sentences that describe the “theme” of the Mass (generally the major theme of the readings), announce who is the presiding priest, and invite everyone to sing the opening hymn “XYZ, number 123”.