Mass Yes YES's

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thechrismyster

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there are two polarized camps in the Catholic world. quite reflective of the real world. the pessimists and the optimists. There is another thread that lists the things wrong with Masses people have attended. WAYYYYY to much of a downer to read those dour and heavy threads that chronicle the things that are wrong with our Masses, those points of views, to me, are more part of the problem instead of the solution. Scrutinizing and nit-picky attitutes are a dime a dozen in todays world. they solve nothing and foster a mean spirit based on judgemental and non-constructive ways of thinking.

So this thread is for the optimists. What’s GREAT about your Church. What makes you happy about your Parish?

My old Parish was the best, the Children’s Choir was the greatest at the 10:00 mass. All those little voices trying their hardest, but the funniest thing was that 6 year old in the choir robe about to sing a little solo part who walked to the microphone and proceeded to say “hi mom and dad, i’m over here” before he started singing.

c’mon people, make us smile with your nice stories!
 
I love my new parish, we have 3 English language Masses and 2 in Spanish. The music is great, and I might get to be involved with the choir soon! We have a relic of the True Cross and it’s great to see the reverence and SMILES during Mass, because everyone seems very glad to be there.

And I love to hear babies crying at Mass, btw. A priest I know once said during a homily that children don’t care when it’s not the “right” time to sing out to God, they just do it. 🙂

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I love my priests. They are orthodox and do everything to the letter, and if you are doing something wrong they will call you out on it. And the ushers are very nice. And the musicians actually sing the correct Psalm for the mass. The people are reverent (most of the time) and there are lots of little children - just the way it should be!
 
I don’t actually have a parish…but at school, I love going to the evening Mass. They have a wonderful choir, and the students involved in it truly love praising God. And I just love seeing so many young people even GOING to Mass every week without their parents forcing them. That makes me think that maybe my generation has some hope afterall.
 
Until a few months ago, every morning at 6:30, when I showed up to pray the morning Hours before 7:00 a.m. Mass, 86-year-old Bishop Patrick Ahearn (white hair, blue eyes, always smiling, more handsome than Gregory Peck) would be there ahead of me. He always sat in the same pew, either praying his office or meditating.

One morning, I told him what an inspiration it was to see a bishop so attentive to his devotional life. He told me that years ago, his old friend and mentor, “Fulty,” counseled him that if a priest were to spend one hour a day :gopray: in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, he would never lose his vocation.

A few months ago, Bishop Ahearn moved to a senior center after a fall that shook his confidence. We all miss him very much.

Last week, I thought I would be cheeky and sit in “his” place. The minute I sat down, I realized that from that side of the church, only in THAT place do you have a clear unobstructed view of the Tabernacle.
 
What do I love about my Church?

I love our pastor who always manages to bring practical advice on how to apply the day’s readings to our lives.

I’m a simple minded soul and need practical advice in living my life in a more Christocentric way.

God Bless,
Maria
 
THutch04 said:
I don’t actually have a parish…but at school, I love going to the evening Mass. They have a wonderful choir, and the students involved in it truly love praising God. And I just love seeing so many young people even GOING to Mass every week without their parents forcing them. That makes me think that maybe my generation has some hope afterall.
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GOOD FOR YOU!! Brings back memories of a 2002 trip to Pittsburgh with our pastor (also from Pit), went Duquesne and Mount St. Mary’s. We had 30 teenagers, six adults and stayed at Holy Family Convent - winter and tuns of snow. We had the best time and stayed an extra day due to snow. The chapel at Duq. is beautiful. Keep it up - my prayers are with all the young Catholics.
 
I love that our pastor loves kids! He has said several times during mass, when a baby is crying, something to the effect of, “Now don’t go giving dirty looks to that parent. That baby is just praising the Lord the only way he knows how!” 👍 😃
 
Teakafrog said:
I love that our pastor loves kids! He has said several times during mass, when a baby is crying, something to the effect of, “Now don’t go giving dirty looks to that parent. That baby is just praising the Lord the only way he knows how!” 👍 😃
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Very cool:cool:
 
mercygate said:
Last week, I thought I would be cheeky and sit in “his” place. The minute I sat down, I realized that from that side of the church, only in THAT place do you have a clear unobstructed view of the Tabernacle.
Click to expand...
Amazing what we can learn from righteous men of God even when they are no longer with us!

Aren’t you glad you decided to be “cheeky”?

God Bless,
Maria
 
I love the famili-ness of our parish. I get really proud when my PSR kids do a great job when they are altar servers. I especially love my priest’s homilies, sometimes I’m wondering where he’s going with something he’s saying, but then BAM he gets to the point and it’s brilliant.
 
-The fact that pretty much every mass I go to the church is full.
-our priests are great: very friendly and welcoming, and give very nice homilies.
-our music group has a revolving set of instruments featuring piano always and then sometimes violin, flute, cello or sometimes recorder.
-people seem to genuinely mean it when they say “Peace be with you”
 
thechrismyster said:
there are two polarized camps in the Catholic world. quite reflective of the real world. the pessimists and the optimists. There is another thread that lists the things wrong with Masses people have attended. WAYYYYY to much of a downer to read those dour and heavy threads that chronicle the things that are wrong with our Masses, those points of views, to me, are more part of the problem instead of the solution. Scrutinizing and nit-picky attitutes are a dime a dozen in todays world. they solve nothing and foster a mean spirit based on judgemental and non-constructive ways of thinking.

So this thread is for the optimists. What’s GREAT about your Church. What makes you happy about your Parish?

My old Parish was the best, the Children’s Choir was the greatest at the 10:00 mass. All those little voices trying their hardest, but the funniest thing was that 6 year old in the choir robe about to sing a little solo part who walked to the microphone and proceeded to say “hi mom and dad, i’m over here” before he started singing.

c’mon people, make us smile with your nice stories!
Click to expand...
I love many of the new people I’ve met and all the volunteer and fellowship opportunities my parish has. I also love that we have Adoration weekly and exposition goes on from morning to night.
 
My parish is urban, very urban. We are not much of a family parish, well, we have families but the children are under 2 or 3 years old for the greater part. In our Masses one can see just about every type of person that can be imagined, all worshipping together.

My parish is known for precision in the liturgy, meaning, everyone knows their part and when to do it. The Liturgy flows, it moves a person. We have just hired a new Liturgy and music director, a process that took months because we wanted someone who understood the congregation as well as the Liturgy.

We have been blessed for many years of having a Pariti, Msgr Fiedler, at the forefront of our parish (though he has stepped down as Rector) and as a result, we have a fuller understanding of what Vatican II was trying to accomplish. The church itself was renovated a few years ago from a grotesque 50’s wrecknovation, into a more simplfied grandeur centered around the altar. The Tabernacle has a wonderful side chapel, that is open to the main church.

The simplicity of the interior inspires us to pay attention to the beauty of the Liturgy rather than the dressings of walls. So in effect, we have become enamoured with what worship is to call forth from all of us.
 
I love the fact that my parish’s average age is 34 (I’m 32) and 99% of the mass is done in an orthodox manner. I am a traditionalist and I am glad to see people my age feel the same. I also love the ladies in the church office. They are all so nice and so willing to help. They do a service for the parish that is sorely needed and rarely recognized. So for all of you that work in the your parish’s office, my next rosary will be said for you.🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
 
I have two favourite parishes. One I adore for its vibrant mix of people of all ages, nationalities, and types (from professionals in snazzy suits to SAHMs with young ones in tow and even streetpeople).

Also its six :eek: daily Masses (hourly on Sundays), long hours of confession daily, virtually non-stop exposition and TWO Novenas to Our Lady of Perpetual Help each Wednesday 👍

The other is our gorgeous 160-year old Cathedral - the building and fittings and furnishings are glorious. Masses are very reverent, in fact I’d love everyone who thinks Mass must be TLM or ad orientem and in Latin to see one. The music is never less than spectacular and homilies are usually excellent.
 
I LOVE my parish!

It is overflowing with families!!! On Sunday it is get there early or stand in the back. Who said Catholics are leaving in droves? Not at my parish!

Our Priest is the sweetest, most humble man & his homilies never fail to inspire me to try to do better.

Our Knights of Columbus make the BEST breakfasts and they offer a discounted family rate.
 
This may sound unfriendly, but the reason I stuck with the Mass I found at the church I attend is that we do not share the sign of peace except at Christmas! I’ve almost always had to attend church alone, so when the sign of peace came up, or even right before it came up, as the time approached, I would have a near anxiety attack!! Who do I turn to first? How many hands do I shake? When can I stop? The awkard moments when there’s two or three folks in front of you all ready to shake your hand… But most of all… the period immediately after the invitation to share the sign of peace where everyone turns to their loved ones first, and I stand there alone waiting for a stranger to take pity on me. ARG! When the time came at the first Mass I attended at my present parish, and the moment came and went without any general invitation, you have no idea the relief I felt. I knew right then and there I would return to that parish. Some folks still turn to their loved ones and share a kiss or an embrace, and I think that’s nice too.
 
My priest is so good to my kids! He will patiently listen to them and answer all of their questions about God, mass, etc. Even the silly ones, like “Where do you buy the communion wine?” and such.

He is also a wonderful confessor to me and the kids! They are not afraid of going to confession with him.🙂
 
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