Monsignor wants to get teens involved but

[turboEDvo]

Well, this weekend I attended my church’s Year II Confirmation Retreat as a teen leader. At dinner last night, I happened to sit at the table with our church’s Monsignor, and he began to express his interest in making the attendance at our teen Mass greater. His first point was that, with so many of the teens who play instruments well, that the church should have the teens do all of the music for the Mass, to make it more interesting and engaging to other teens. I initially liked the idea, but he went off on some tangent about getting about 35 teens up in the sanctuary singing and playing instruments, which seems rather disrespectful, and more of a public spectacle than a tool of worship in my opinion. Then, he said he wanted confirmed teens to administer Communion. I know that most of the teens in our parish do not have the respect they should for the Eucharist and I feel it would be wrong for them to do this. The Monsignor then went on to say that he wanted students to give testimonials at some point during the Mass, which seems quite ludicrous to me. What does the church say about these items, and what do you think? I highly doubt that he will be successful in making these changes but I still don’t that they are right.

Eamon

 

[Cherub]

It sounds to me like the Monsignor’s heart is in the right place, but the things he is proposing sound a little flakey. I think it would be more significant and meaningful to get the teens more deeply involved in the rich traditions of the Church instead of diverting them into the void of experimentation. (just my opinion. People will surely disagree.)

 

[Kielbasi]

The monsignor has some interesting ideas.** If **the teenagers want to do it that’s fine. But to make participation in this program mandatory or even highly suggested for recipiency of confirmation, just isn’t right.

Catholic lay people ordinarily don’t give public testimonies in church and aren’t ordinarily pressed into public speaking.

To require these children to do something like this for the sacrament is an unnecessary hoop that I don’t think should be permitted by canon law.

 

[_pro-life_teen]

As a teen, I totally agree with you that a huge choir like that would be totally disrespectful- more like a concert or something. They would be good at a teen retreat not held in the church building, though. Also, you are right to be cautious about teen EMHCs; however, I do know some teens who do this and are VERY reverent and holy, even more so than many adults that I know- it just depends on the person, but be careful with this, as it is a place vulnerable to abuses. Also, about the testimonies- they can be good at times, but only during the times they are allowed. for instance, the youth Mass at my church has some once in a while at the end of Mass, when announcements are said.

It sounds to me like the Monsignor’s heart is in the right place, but the things he is proposing sound a little flakey. I think it would be more significant and meaningful to get the teens more deeply involved in the rich traditions of the Church instead of diverting them into the void of experimentation. (just my opinion. People will surely disagree.)

I totally agree with this post!

 

[puzzleannie]

sounds like he was brainstorming with you, throwing ideas out for consideration for the kind of response you are giving here, why not share your concerns with him and others in this planning process. Confirmed teens should be trained and served as lectors, ushers, EEMHC (I know you liturgists have new terms for these don’t bash me) because the entire purpose of their Confirmation is to introduce them into full participation in parish life and service to the community, especially to the liturgy. They should have the same training and standards and requirements as the others who serve (which appear to be non-existent in my parish, the teens we have trained during Confirmation prep are the best we have).

As far as music, no choir or musicians should ever be in the sanctuary, that is reserved for the priest and deacon. Presumably you have a choir loft or other section where they sit now, that is where the musicians for the youth Mass should be. As long as their selections are liturgically and theologically sound, there is nothing wrong with choosing contemporary music and performing it properly.

In the context of a Mass for a retreat day, Confirmation prep or a special occassion there is nothing wrong with testimony (limited, and pre-screened, as it can get exquisitedly boring when speakers are allowed to ramble on) in the proper time and place, which is after the silence following communion, (where we normally have announcements). It actually works much better during the actual retreat or session itself. The MSGR may not have enough experience to realize how boring and deadening teens often find such testimony unless it is very carefully used, and elicited from someone who genuinely has something to say.

 

[puzzleannie]

your dear Msgr is falling into a fundamental fallacy, but I bless him for being willing to offer a youth Mass and for his concern and involvement with the teen program, especially Confirmation. The fallacy is that being the entire Life Teen program mentality: the Mass must somehow be changed to be “relevant” to teens. That usually translates as “entertaining enough to compete with MTV”.

To have teens engaged in liturgy, it is necessary that they have what all Catholics of any age need and crave: understanding the fullness of what the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass really is, a participation in the Paschal Mystery. they must understand the fullness of the gospel and what is contained in the Paschal Mystery. They must understand the parts of the Mass, the dialogue among people, priest and God, what is going on, why we do it, where it came from, how to fully participate, and what is supposed to happen to us internally, and in our lives.

The Mass is already relevant, understandable and the Eucharist is the source and summit of worship, catechesis, and grace. There is no need to dress it up. What is needed is proper celebration of the Mass, the rites, the essentials all done properly with all the sacred vessels, vestments etc. used of the finest quality, music of the most reverent and sublime.

Teach them chant, you will be amazed at how much they respond to its beauty. Beautiful reverent liturgies properly celebrated and parishioners who are passionately in love with Christ and who recognize Him in the breaking of the bread are the secret to making Mass “relevant” to the new generation.

 

[katherine2]

turboEDvo:

What does the church say about these items, and what do you think? I highly doubt that he will be successful in making these changes but I still don’t that they are right.

Eamon

Eamon,

Your posing of the two questions (1.)What does the church say; and (2)what do you think? I think can be very illustrative.

Contrary to those constantly looking for “abuses” and violation of the norms laid down by Rome, many items are left to the discretion of the local community. The Church does not have rule that 35 instrumentalists are prohibited or that teenagers cannot be Communion Ministers. Lay people witnessing to their faith can only be a good thing, but would be after the end of Mass.

But your local community should prayfully discern if these practices are best for your particular community. And pastors should not be unilateral or authoritarian. They have an obligation to consult with the laity of the parish.

35 instrumentalists seems rather large, even if you have a huge basilica church. Certainly, this was a “fad” (if you will) for a time in the church’s history around the 18th century. But our modern sensibilities, partiucarly with the liturgical renewal, has turned away from this.

As for ministering communion, I don’t think the proper response is that they do not have proper reverence, but to get them to the point where they do.

Witnessing, again, should be encouraged, but outside of Mass – for example on retreat, at a teen club meeting or following Vespers.

 

[SouthCoast]

My church has a choir/band area, to the left side of the church (not in the sanctuary), where the band and choir play. Yes, the teenagers comprise most of the choir AND band at the Life Teen mass. There’s a music director (paid church staff), but there’s also teens who play flute, drums, guitar, bass and even violin. There are times when the teens stand on the steps of the sanctuary (they don’t go up to the altar) and lead the others in the songs. I don’t necessarily care for the practice, but it does seem to really enthuse the teens to coming back out of their own desire rather than their parents making them. On the other hand, I am completely supportive of having the band/choir comprised of teens. There’s some very talented kids there.

Also, if they are confirmed and meet all the requirements, there’s no reason a 17+ year old cannot be an extraordinary minister of the Eucharist. We have some of those as well. I’ve seen some reverence in some of these teens that is very commendable. Better than the adults in many cases.

-Michael

turboEDvo:

Well, this weekend I attended my church’s Year II Confirmation Retreat as a teen leader. At dinner last night, I happened to sit at the table with our church’s Monsignor, and he began to express his interest in making the attendance at our teen Mass greater. His first point was that, with so many of the teens who play instruments well, that the church should have the teens do all of the music for the Mass, to make it more interesting and engaging to other teens. I initially liked the idea, but he went off on some tangent about getting about 35 teens up in the sanctuary singing and playing instruments, which seems rather disrespectful, and more of a public spectacle than a tool of worship in my opinion. Then, he said he wanted confirmed teens to administer Communion. I know that most of the teens in our parish do not have the respect they should for the Eucharist and I feel it would be wrong for them to do this. The Monsignor then went on to say that he wanted students to give testimonials at some point during the Mass, which seems quite ludicrous to me. What does the church say about these items, and what do you think? I highly doubt that he will be successful in making these changes but I still don’t that they are right.

Eamon

 

[mike_orange]

Well, this weekend I attended my church’s Year II Confirmation Retreat as a teen leader. At dinner last night, I happened to sit at the table with our church’s Monsignor, and he began to express his interest in making the attendance at our teen Mass greater. His first point was that, with so many of the teens who play instruments well, that the church should have the teens do all of the music for the Mass, to make it more interesting and engaging to other teens. I initially liked the idea, but he went off on some tangent about getting about 35 teens up in the sanctuary singing and playing instruments, which seems rather disrespectful, and more of a public spectacle than a tool of worship in my opinion. Then, he said he wanted confirmed teens to administer Communion. I know that most of the teens in our parish do not have the respect they should for the Eucharist and I feel it would be wrong for them to do this. The Monsignor then went on to say that he wanted students to give testimonials at some point during the Mass, which seems quite ludicrous to me. What does the church say about these items, and what do you think? I highly doubt that he will be successful in making these changes but I still don’t that they are right.

Eamon

ok im sorry if i sound rude but you should talk to youre teens about the host because most of youre teens may just think its bread. oh im sorry by the way im 18 and am part of a fully teen ran mass thats why im saying this also i know this because 2 years ago i disrespected the host,but i was given a chance and i now understand the hose and that it must be treated with love and care. so what im trying to say is just give them a chance and god bless

 

[muffinmojo]

As a teen, I would just mention that me and all the other Catholic teens I know, and those non-Catholics who are interested, are turned off by those ‘hip’ things, the clergy and Church trying desperatly to make Mass ‘cool’. I’ve seen many of my cradle-Catholic friends drift away, because their church was so ‘relevant’ that they grew bored when they realized that there were things that are so much better at being ‘relevant’. Most teens, even though they can’t articulate it, need something to be them, to respect, to cherish. If you give them a Mass that strikes a chord with their deepest desire to have something that defines them, with a strong Catholic identity, and don’t try to make it ‘cool’ like the common media, it will succeed. The Christian/Catholic music that tries to be ‘hip’ is the target of ridicule…not a hook bringing people in.

 

[Joannm]

In the context of a Mass for a retreat day, Confirmation prep or a special occassion there is nothing wrong with testimony (limited, and pre-screened, as it can get exquisitedly boring when speakers are allowed to ramble on) in the proper time and place, which is after the silence following communion, (where we normally have announcements). It actually works much better during the actual retreat or session itself. The MSGR may not have enough experience to realize how boring and deadening teens often find such testimony unless it is very carefully used, and elicited from someone who genuinely has something to say.

We had the kids give testimony at a Sunday Mass following their mission trip to South America. The kids were amazing and the assembly was captivated by their description of what happened there and how it changed their lives. This year more kids signed up for the trip than we had room for and many donations came in for the mission parish. Probably it would have been different if the kids didn’t get up to talk. They even made a video which we showed after mass in the parish hall.

 

[KCT]

Our parish has a ‘youth’ Mass once a month. The kids are lectors, EMs, musicians etc.