Opinions about this Priest

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16670

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We have a new assistant Priest at our Parish and he said his first Mass there this Past weekend. He started out ok but after the readings and the gospel he came down from the alter and was walking around and talking to people and asking them questions. He continued his homily from that area as well. He also would start out talking normal and then get real fast. Anyone else ever experienced anthing like this before? God bless
 
It seems in some areas some Priests are trying to make their homilies more involved and passionate. This is a good thing yet sometimes they might be borrowing too much from our Protestant brothers and sisters and getting into a showmanship mindset, instead of focusing on Christ.

This is very common in my diocese especially with the missionary type priests. They seek to engage the congregation by speaking more dynamically.

I do not think this is too bad, unless they start to get too showy and start to seek to bring themselves attention rather than engaging people to focus on Christ. I know speaking clearly and passionately is great and should be encouraged, as too often we get homilies that have not substance or character.

In Christ
Scylla
 
16670 said:
We have a new assistant Priest at our Parish and he said his first Mass there this Past weekend. He started out ok but after the readings and the gospel he came down from the alter and was walking around and talking to people and asking them questions. He continued his homily from that area as well. He also would start out talking normal and then get real fast. Anyone else ever experienced anthing like this before? God bless
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That appears his style, like the post above me mentioned, that style is some priests’ speaking style. It helps get people in the pews more involved. I have also seen some permanent deacons do this, as it is their style to walk back to halfway back in the church to reach out to people.
 
Someone should tell these chaps:
  • 5 mins max.
  • Repeat the main point a few times, and then at the end.
  • Give them Hell!
Just my opinion. I reckon you’d remember a sermon like that. I have the idea the more you try to ingratiate yourself with people, the more they draw back.
 
I have noticed it also. Its just different i guess. But I will say one thing it does make you pay more attention thats for sure. I guess all in all its just the way they choose to get their point across. I just thank God for them.
 
Layman said:
Someone should tell these chaps:
  • 5 mins max.
  • Repeat the main point a few times, and then at the end.
  • Give them Hell!
Just my opinion. I reckon you’d remember a sermon like that. I have the idea the more you try to ingratiate yourself with people, the more they draw back.
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The first two are pretty common, yet the last style point does not work with all parishes. Some want Hell (same as fire and brimstone?) intensity, some parishes prefer a bit of inspiration which is not “in your face”.
 
I for one don’t care for that style of preaching. I’m not at Mass for a show - I find it destracting.
 
dizzy_dave said:
I for one don’t care for that style of preaching. I’m not at Mass for a show - I find it destracting.
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I agree with this.
If it were me, I would maybe write a polite note to the pastor indicating my feelings on the subject. That I find it distracting and not particularly helpful. If this young assistant (I am assuming he’s young…) gets enough of this type of honest and helpful feedback it might help him develop a better style.

Peace
James
 
I’ve seen this only at school Mass for our elementary children…
 
16670 said:
We have a new assistant Priest at our Parish and he said his first Mass there this Past weekend. He started out ok but after the readings and the gospel he came down from the alter and was walking around and talking to people and asking them questions. He continued his homily from that area as well. He also would start out talking normal and then get real fast. Anyone else ever experienced anthing like this before? God bless
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I don’t know about asking questions of the audience, but our beloved Cardinal, Daniel DiNardo, always comes down and walks close to the people during his homilies. Personally, I find it engaging.
 
16670 said:
We have a new assistant Priest at our Parish and he said his first Mass there this Past weekend. He started out ok but after the readings and the gospel he came down from the alter and was walking around and talking to people and asking them questions. He continued his homily from that area as well. He also would start out talking normal and then get real fast. Anyone else ever experienced anthing like this before? God bless
Click to expand...
Our Pastor walks back and forth in the aisle while he’s giving his homily, and even yells amen sometimes. The Vicar however stays at the podium for his homily. It’s just a matter of preference and speaking style
 
pray for our priests… all of them! They need our prayers!

I have to remind myself at times, when I allow my preferences for one priest or another creep into my consciousness that ALL priests enable us to receive Jesus in the Holy Eucharist

an awesome power and responsibility…
 
We’re not really called upon to have opinions about priests–especially priests we’ve never met–are we?
 
Layman said:
Someone should tell these chaps:
  • 5 mins max.
  • Repeat the main point a few times, and then at the end.
  • Give them Hell!
QUOTE]

I attended a university that is also a seminary so many of my classmates were seminarians. I remember one of them mention the advice of his Sacred Eloquence professor on the subject of homilies: “If you haven’t struck oil after 5 minutes, STOP BORING”
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I have experienced all types over my lifetime, from those who treat the ambo as a castle and never move from it to those who “walk and talk” and I have seen it done by everyone from deacons to newly ordained to Cardinals.

To me, it is seldom about how the message is delivered but greatly about the message itself.
 
I enjoy that style every now and then for a change. Being from a protestant background, I guess I really enjoy a good, insightful homily. We had an older Sicilian priest (priest in residence) like that for a while and he gave lively homilies. And when he and our beloved old Ireland-born assistant pastor, a humble and reserved priest if there ever was one, teamed up to give an RCIA session last spring… Fr. Corapi could have come away with a few pointers…👍
 
TheDoctor said:
I have experienced all types over my lifetime, from those who treat the ambo as a castle and never move from it to those who “walk and talk” and I have seen it done by everyone from deacons to newly ordained to Cardinals.

To me, it is seldom about how the message is delivered but greatly about the message itself.
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Good one. And I agree with you, I think what people should especially take note with is you last sentence.
 
He is probably a bit nervous. I don’t mind interaction sometimes, our priest does it…I like the fact he is trying to teach as well as preach…I’d cut him some slack, they have one of the hardest jobs in the world…wouldn’t you hate to be judged by a room full of strangers ,for everything you did ,or didn’t do?
 
Layman said:
Someone should tell these chaps:
  • 5 mins max.
  • Repeat the main point a few times, and then at the end.
  • Give them Hell!
Just my opinion. I reckon you’d remember a sermon like that. I have the idea the more you try to ingratiate yourself with people, the more they draw back.
Click to expand...
I’d much rather listen to the ones that makes an hour seem like five minutes than the ones that make five minutes seem like an hour. But yes, just the one point, please. And not everything they can think to say about it. None of us have clipboards and pens.

The ones who give homilies which do not accuse and yet which give no room for self-satisfaction are the best. “The accuser of our brothers is cast out”…the idea is not to give 'em hell, but to outfit 'em for heaven! It is not the voice of the accuser, but the voice of the shepherd out beating the bushes for the strays that need to be carried back to the fold. 👍

What’s the difference between that and the ones who give 'em hell? The ones who get you ready for heaven let you know they are not just good homilists. They are good confessors, too, and you can tell. That’s the direction their passion lies.

But yes…don’t leave the strays out munching where the wolves prowl.
 
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