Need Mass Advice

[crobynb]

I am struggling with something and am not quite sure how to approach the situation.

We have a new priest at our church. He is a wonderful and holy man, whom I think so highly of. He has instituted a few new changes in our parish that I think are great. Fresh ideas are something I always welcome - to a certain degree.

Well, something I do not really welcome are a few changes to our music portion of the mass. I do not believe that Fr. has directly put these changes in force - I think our musicians asked if it would be okay for them to do some different things and he said ok. All of the sudden our traditional parish - which I like!!! - is now singing songs in the mass that involve rythym sticks, a tambourine, guitar, and everyone being asked to Clap! and participate. Basically they are jazzing it up. We no longer sing the regular Gloria; Holy, Holy; or Lamb of God. They are all obscure versions that are frankly a little too protestant-feel-good flashy for me. I do not think all masses should be solemn - but for petes sake they should not be so . . . busy Every Sunday! I like tradition and ritual and more subdued worship. I do not want to have to clap along for 3 songs during mass. My husband is - to say the least - not impressed with these changes either. You can tell many of the older generation members do not appreciate this behavior either.

I know that this sounds like complaining, but I really am uncomfortable with where this is heading. Is it within my right to express my dislike of this to the priest (respectfully and tactfully) or should I keep my mouth shut and start clapping? Ugh, I do not want to change churches because I do love my parish. But if I wanted all this new wave pop culture music I would be at a Church of Christ or someother contemporary church. I wish he would offer a poll or something to involve us members to see if the majority would rather go back to our traditional music service. I think many, many people would agree with me - but are too hesitant to speak up.

Help. Thanks!!!

 

[Catholic_Heart]

There is no reason why you should not voice you concerns to the new pastor. He will welcome your feedback, I’m sure. If no one says anything, the practices you described will continue, and probably escalate…So…Speak up!

We have one Mass in our parish that is definitely a Praise and Worship Music kind of Mass…The people who like it go to it, and the rest of us choose one of the other Masses…I sing with a small group at the seven-thirty a.m. Mass, and love it. Maybe you could suggest that the “new” music be used for only one Mass…

 

[paramedicgirl]

I would definitely talk to the priest. And to the choir director. It sounds like the beauty and reverence of the music has been altered to say the least. But then, I don’t think hand clapping to music has any part in a Catholic Mass. I cringe whenever it happens.

 

[aurora77]

You might tactfully talk to him. I would also weigh the pros and cons–do all of the good things he does with and for the parish out weigh the music issues, or is the music a sign of things to come? Is this at every Mass or just one?

 

[yinekka]

Before you approach your priest do your homework.

1. Has your bishop written anything about music/hymns at Mass? 2. What does the GIRM say about music/hymns at Mass 3. What does the US Bishops’ Commission say about music/hymns at Mass? 4. Look at Vatican II document onstitution on the Sacred Liturgy - Sacrosanctum Concillium 120 5. The Sacred Congregation for Rites Musicam Sacram is worth a look. Notitiae 3 - 1967 87-105, 63, DOL 4184 5. Go to the Adoremus site, they should have all appropriate documents there. 6. Google ‘Ratzinger/Benedict XVI music Mass’ and see what comes up.

Good luck. Let us know what happens. I’ll keep you in my prayers.

 

[crobynb]

Thank you all for your advice and insight. I will continue to welcome more from anyone wishing to give their (name removed by moderator)ut.

I have decided that I am going to talk to a trusted parish friend first. She is very involved with things and usually knows what is going on. I will talk to her before going forward to our priest. I think he is wonderful and I know he provides so many good things for our church. But this irreverant music is a big distraction to me. I am an EMoC and my hubby and I are also ushers, so I may have our serving schedule changed at the turn of the year to another mass time. I do not really want to give up the mass we have always attended, but if they are not playing that jazzy stuff at one of the other masses then it is worth it to me to switch.

It is just kind of bittersweet - you become friends with certain people and look forward to seeing them every Sunday at 10:30. Now I may have to change things up and start all over. Which, it is not bad to meet other parish members - but it still is hard to leave the ones I have grown attached to.

Well, we will see how it goes I guess. Maybe a talk with my friend and then Fr. could possibly eliminate the need to change mass times. Here I go . . .

 

[BayCityRickL]

It looks like you’re plunging ahead. Don’t keep us in suspense.
Let us know how things turned out.

Someone in my town at the council meetings complains about oligarchy in city government.

Oligarchy is “rule by a few” as best as I know it. That seems to be what goes on in your parish, evidently, as well as in many others.

I would not like what I’m hearing you say. The idea of church music is NOT that it is your or anybody else’s favorite style of music. I think “sacred music” should have a sacred style. Our church opened up its centennial year with a Polka Mass – just what it sounds like. And that grossly overlooks that there’s a lot of “sacred” music in Polish, already. The neighboring parish has a tradition of having Sunday Mass in the beer tent on the parish festival grounds. I went to that once, with the smell of beer reeking all around.

If I went to church anyway (that’s a different story), I guess I’d have to take a stick and a tin can, so I could join in with the music.

If there are Polish and German orchestras in heaven (and I don’t think there are), then perhaps we should be practicing here.