Outside the Mass, Inside the church

[JLG622]

What is accepted inside the church but after the Mass? Is a memory video presentation for an 8th grade Catholic school graduation ok or do we offend God when we do such a thing? Are awards, certificates, candle ceremonies? Anything other than the Mass for graduation acceptable? This is an extremely important question to me at this time. Any insight would be very appreciated.
God Bless All.

 

[SMHW]

What is accepted inside the church but after the Mass? Is a memory video presentation for an 8th grade Catholic school graduation ok or do we offend God when we do such a thing? Are awards, certificates, candle ceremonies? Anything other than the Mass for graduation acceptable? This is an extremely important question to me at this time. Any insight would be very appreciated.
God Bless All.

Is this a fairly traditional church with tabernacle up front?

 

[SacredHeartFan]

What is accepted inside the church but after the Mass? Is a memory video presentation for an 8th grade Catholic school graduation ok or do we offend God when we do such a thing? Are awards, certificates, candle ceremonies? Anything other than the Mass for graduation acceptable? This is an extremely important question to me at this time. Any insight would be very appreciated.
God Bless All.

I believe it is the most respectful graduation ever! You have decided to invite Christ to see off your students and bless them as they go into the world! As long as the students don’t try to pull any pranks that is.

 

[JLG622]

The church is fairly modern with the tabernacle in view but behind a split wall. It can be seen from many angles in the church.

 

[SMHW]

Well my eighth grade graduation was held in the church. And that was back in the early 1970s. I don’t think we had a video presentation back then… I think we had a Mass however.

My daughter’s high school graduation award ceremony/baccalaureate ceremony was recently held in a church but I don’t know what that proves.

 

[JLG622]

I just want to know for fact if it is sinful or offensive to God to have the candle ceremony at the beginning of Mass, the awards after the Mass and the DVD after the awards. Does anybody know if there is something in the Catechism that might clarify this?

 

[1ke]

I just want to know for fact if it is sinful or offensive to God to have the candle ceremony at the beginning of Mass, the awards after the Mass and the DVD after the awards. Does anybody know if there is something in the Catechism that might clarify this?

Consult your priest if you are concerned.

There does not seem to be any problem with the things you have listed in conjunction with a special mass for graduates.

 

[JLG622]

I would love to consult my priest but at the moment our parish is in turmoil and we have a temporary priest who wants to change everything without any basis or reason. Without getting into the grief that I personally have undergone within the last year and a half, trust me when I say going to my priest is not an option at the moment. I have no priest that I trust at my parish. The trust factor is on sabbatical at the moment. That is why I’m reaching out in this forum…in the hopes that I can get an honest, factual answer. If you can’t pick up on the sadness in my words believe me, it’s there. This may seem like an insignificant trivial question, but in my world, these days, it is not. Thanks again all who have responded.

 

[JLG622]

Consult your priest if you are concerned.

Our prior priest allowed it for two years. The new temporary priest is not allowing it because he says it isn’t liturgical.
Which priest is correct?

 

[BamaRider]

It might be just me, but showing a video etc, in the presence of the Tabernacle seems a little over the top.

I’d vote attending Mass, and then walking over to the Parish Hall for the other stuff. My :twocents:

 

[1ke]

Our prior priest allowed it for two years. The new temporary priest is not allowing it because he says it isn’t liturgical.
Which priest is correct?

**Both **can be correct, because pastors are the bosses of their parishes. The canon law that applies here is this:

Can. 1210 Only those things which serve the exercise or promotion of worship, piety, or religion are permitted in a sacred place; anything not consonant with the holiness of the place is forbidden. In an individual case, however, the ordinary can permit other uses which are not contrary to the holiness of the place.

Giving out certificates, candles, and playing a video all in conjunction with a Mass for Catholic schoolers all seem to meet the criteria of promoting worship, piety, or religion. Nothing you listed is contrary to the holiness of the place.

However, it is up to the pastor to decide the way he wants things done.

 

[Ted_in_Charlott]

I believe it is the most respectful graduation ever! You have decided to invite Christ to see off your students and bless them as they go into the world! As long as the students don’t try to pull any pranks that is.

I agree whole heartedly. Jesus wants to be part of ALL of our lives. And it does bring a certain sacredness to the event. We ask God to bless them as they go forward into life.

Why do we as Catholics welcome Jesus to our weddings, funerals and weddings, but not to other important events and even simple things.

It’s funny, the Isralites in the desert carried the Tabercacle around with them everywhere they went, especially to battle. Why do we leave Him at church alone the rest of the time?

 

[benedictgal]

**Both **can be correct, because pastors are the bosses of their parishes. The canon law that applies here is this:

Can. 1210 Only those things which serve the exercise or promotion of worship, piety, or religion are permitted in a sacred place; anything not consonant with the holiness of the place is forbidden. In an individual case, however, the ordinary can permit other uses which are not contrary to the holiness of the place.

Giving out certificates, candles, and playing a video all in conjunction with a Mass for Catholic schoolers all seem to meet the criteria of promoting worship, piety, or religion. Nothing you listed is contrary to the holiness of the place.

However, it is up to the pastor to decide the way he wants things done.

However, you cannot be adding things to the Mass. The actual graduation ceremony should happen after the Mass, along with the lighting of candles and the video.

6.] For abuses “contribute to the obscuring of the Catholic faith and doctrine concerning this wonderful sacrament”.14 Thus, they also hinder the faithful from “re-living in a certain way the experience of the two disciples of Emmaus: ‘and their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him’”.15 For in the presence of God’s power and divinity16 and the splendor of His goodness, made manifest especially in the Sacrament of the Eucharist, it is fitting that all the faithful should have and put into practice that power of acknowledging God’s majesty that they have received through the saving Passion of the Only-Begotten Son.17

[7.] Not infrequently, abuses are rooted in a false understanding of liberty. Yet God has not granted us in Christ an illusory liberty by which we may do what we wish, but a liberty by which we may do that which is fitting and right.18 This is true not only of precepts coming directly from God, but also of laws promulgated by the Church, with appropriate regard for the nature of each norm. For this reason, all should conform to the ordinances set forth by legitimate ecclesiastical authority.

[8.] It is therefore to be noted with great sadness that “ecumenical initiatives which are well-intentioned, nevertheless indulge at times in Eucharistic practices contrary to the discipline by which the Church expresses her faith”. Yet the Eucharist “is too great a gift to tolerate ambiguity or depreciation”. It is therefore necessary that some things be corrected or more clearly delineated so that in this respect as well “the Eucharist will continue to shine forth in all its radiant mystery”.19

[9.] Finally, abuses are often based on ignorance, in that they involve a rejection of those elements whose deeper meaning is not understood and whose antiquity is not recognized. For “the liturgical prayers, orations and songs are pervaded by the inspiration and impulse” of the Sacred Scriptures themselves, “and it is from these that the actions and signs receive their meaning”.20 As for the visible signs “which the Sacred Liturgy uses in order to signify the invisible divine realities, they have been chosen by Christ or by the Church”.21 Finally, the structures and forms of the sacred celebrations according to each of the Rites of both East and West are in harmony with the practice of the universal Church also as regards practices received universally from apostolic and unbroken tradition,22 which it is the Church’s task to transmit faithfully and carefully to future generations. All these things are wisely safeguarded and protected by the liturgical norms.

Unfortunately, there is a misguided view that the Mass needs to have something tacked on to it. As special an event as graduation is, it is not a sacramental rite. There is no ritual for such a thing to occur during the Mass. Therefore, what the OP described is best reserved until after the Mass has concluded.

 

[1ke]

However, you cannot be adding things to the Mass. The actual graduation ceremony should happen after the Mass, along with the lighting of candles and the video.

Well, of course. The OP stated the candles were before Mass and the certificates and video were after. It was not my understanding that the graduation would take place during or even on the same day as the Mass. It seems they are having a Baccalaureate Mass to honor the graduates and they want to do the candles, certificates, an video in conjunction with the baccalaureate.

Sounds like the current pastor has said “no” and therefore they need to make other arrangements for these items.

 

[JLG622]

Thanks all. I appreciate the replies and the canon quote.

The candle (torch passing) happens before the Mass and the awards/DVD happens after Mass. There is no room to house the underclassman and family members other than inside the church as our community room will be set up for a brunch for the kids and families.

My big concern was offending God or sinning in this act and I get the feeling that neither one of those things are happening with what I have stated as the event. I am so sad the pastor will not allow this in the church and we will have to squeeze into the Community Room (without the underclassmen), as this has become something the families look forward to as do the underclassmen. It really will take away from the effect.

I guess he gets to be the boss of it. Our parish has been in a state of sadness for over a year now with our pastor being removed and this just adds another kick. Without going into the details of it all, please say a prayer for our parish.

Thanks for all of your (name removed by moderator)ut. God bless you all.