MERGED: Vatican preparing guide for priests on how to celebrate Mass

  • Thread starter Thread starter jwinch2
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
Lucky7 said:
I think it is sad that any pastor should have to worry about alienating parishioners when he encourages the idea that mass is not “entertainment”. Sometimes I think our priests worry too much about this in general including not saying things that need to be said in a homily.

Having said this, I am glad this is coming out, but it’s amazing that it even has to be done. Here’s hoping it actually works.
Click to expand...
In general I agree with you, but the reality of the world is not that simple. Any pastor, particularly a new one to a given parish, who tries to ramrod changes down the throat of the laity is going to find themselves fighting a very hard battle. There are a given number of people who are willing to invest their time and energy helping out the parish. If you **** all of those people off, you are in trouble. People like leadership, but they usually don’t like being pushed. Human nature is such that if someone feels that they are being backed into a corner

In our own parish situation, I have noticed our pastor, who has now been here 18 months, gets more and more of what he wants to happen pushed through. However, he has been very smart about it. He made no changes at all for the first 6 months as he was getting the lay of the land. Then, he started with small things here and there which led to bigger things. Then, after a year he changed the Mass schedule and is now working to implement changes to the Liturgy. His homilies have gotten longer and he calls things out more than he used to, which I see as good. He has also started to implement reforms in sacramental preparation, both for the kids, but also their parents.

We have families in our parish that stuck with things when, for 40 years, there was no church building. They had to celebrate Mass in the gym of the elementary school. The new building was only completed a few years ago. Had our pastor tried to do all of those things noted above right away, he would have been dead in the water.

I imagine you know all of this stuff anyway, so I apologize if it comes across as condescending.
 
jwinch2 said:
In general I agree with you, but the reality of the world is not that simple. Any pastor, particularly a new one to a given parish, who tries to ramrod changes down the throat of the laity is going to find themselves fighting a very hard battle. There are a given number of people who are willing to invest their time and energy helping out the parish. If you **** all of those people off, you are in trouble. People like leadership, but they usually don’t like being pushed. Human nature is such that if someone feels that they are being backed into a corner

In our own parish situation, I have noticed our pastor, who has now been here 18 months, gets more and more of what he wants to happen pushed through. However, he has been very smart about it. He made no changes at all for the first 6 months as he was getting the lay of the land. Then, he started with small things here and there which led to bigger things. Then, after a year he changed the Mass schedule and is now working to implement changes to the Liturgy. His homilies have gotten longer and he calls things out more than he used to, which I see as good. He has also started to implement reforms in sacramental preparation, both for the kids, but also their parents.

We have families in our parish that stuck with things when, for 40 years, there was no church building. They had to celebrate Mass in the gym of the elementary school. The new building was only completed a few years ago. Had our pastor tried to do all of those things noted above right away, he would have been dead in the water.

I imagine you know all of this stuff anyway, so I apologize if it comes across as condescending.
Click to expand...
Not at all,…I understand. I guess I’ve seen one too many priests who are not new to their parish not wanting to ruffle any feathers.
 
Lucky7 said:
Not at all,…I understand. I guess I’ve seen one too many priests who are not new to their parish not wanting to ruffle any feathers.
Click to expand...
I haven’t been Catholic long enough to see that too much, but I have no doubt that you are correct.
 
Excellent. I hope and pray that it is received warmly by our priests and bishops.
 
I’ll be interested to see what is says about returning sacred silence and mystery to the mass.
 
itullian said:
sad that its even needed at all.
Click to expand...
Considering all the powers of evils and adversities facing priest in the world today; they need all the help the Church can afford at its very most to assist them in being better faithful and loyal priest, for their benefit and ours their sheepfold.
 
Usige said:
I’ll be interested to see what is says about returning sacred silence and mystery to the mass.
Click to expand...
Indeed, some days when I leave Mass, I feel like the Grinch in “How The Grinch Stole Christmas” ALL THE NOISE, NOISE, NOISE!!! :eek:
 
SandraAnn said:
Indeed, some days when I leave Mass, I feel like the Grinch in “How The Grinch Stole Christmas” ALL THE NOISE, NOISE, NOISE!!! :eek:
Click to expand...
:rotfl:
Almost fell out of my chair after reading that. Now I know what that throbbing feeling in my head is after mass. 🙂
 
I hope it puts us on the rite path on how to celebrate the mass reverently and worthily
 
Usige said:
:rotfl:
Almost fell out of my chair after reading that. Now I know what that throbbing feeling in my head is after mass. 🙂
Click to expand...
A certain Sunday afternoon Mass I frequent, I feel the same way. I keep expecting someone to yell “Bingo !”
 
what i herd about it this manual should put the mass how it should be done
 
Saints_Alive said:
A certain Sunday afternoon Mass I frequent, I feel the same way. I keep expecting someone to yell “Bingo !”
Click to expand...
Usually the early morning Masses are the quietest. Babies are all still home. 😉 Perhaps you can switch your Mass times.
 
Mrs_Sally said:
Usually the early morning Masses are the quietest. Babies are all still home. 😉 Perhaps you can switch your Mass times.
Click to expand...
I think for most a baby or kids aren’t the noise we object to. Its the need some feel to interpose noise for the sake of noise (i.e. music during and after communion, chatting in the nave before/during/after mass). That is the type of noise that makes my head throb. I have no problem with a child’s whisper or the crying of a baby. Are those not the joyous sounds of a healthy parish?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top