Personal Vent About Parish Community

[Jaz_B07]

I’m sorry but did anyone actually read what I wrote:

"Just to clear things up, my post wasn’t condoning such practices as holding hands. I was simply addressing some of those people who dont want to “get involved with lots of strangers”

Actually I should have just replied to that post. I don’t see how a community gathered in Christ is just a bunch of “strangers” that you want nothing to do with."

I never said that we should be touchy feely or anything like that. I was just responding to people who were acting like mass was just a one on one thing with no community aspect at all. Other people have said “well we can have community, but have it outside of mass” But the fact is, when we gather at mass, we are a community.

 

[DaughterSorrow]

It is funny how attitudes change. I would rather have less touchy-feely stuff too. But our parish had a rift in it and when the new pastor came in, there was a lot of healing that needed to happen amongst parishioners. So the new pastor fired everyone up. He is like a motivational speaker. I kind of liked him at first, but now I feel like I am not being nourished by his homilies. I am being nourished by our Lord and His Holy Presence in the Eucharist and the Word, and am learning to 'let go" of what I WANT out of the homily. Our associate pastor is very young and traditional and I feel a sense of excitement when I see he is celebrating mass because there is definitely more reverence and less “theatrics” during all parts of the mass.

As far as the holding hands thing, we have been doing that so long, it doesn’t bug me. The sign of peace does seem to last too long, but when I cantor, I just start the Agnus Dei quickly!

We are all in this together, brothers and sisters. The Catholic church is indeed universal. All are welcome in this place, and when we feel that the Holy Mass isn’t up to our expectations or wants, we must offer those feelings up to God and pray for the parish, the priest, and our hearts to be turned in reverence to God and not our own wants.

In Peace,
DS

 

[netmilsmom]

I never said that we should be touchy feely or anything like that. I was just responding to people who were acting like mass was just a one on one thing with no community aspect at all. Other people have said “well we can have community, but have it outside of mass” But the fact is, when we gather at mass, we are a community.

You missed the part that I highlighted in post 56.
Please do not tell any of us what we think.

When we gather at Holy Mass we are a community. All souls praying together and worshiping Our Lord in the Eucharist.
What other communal aspect are you speaking of?

 

[netmilsmom]

We are all in this together, brothers and sisters. The Catholic church is indeed universal. All are welcome in this place, and when we feel that the Holy Mass isn’t up to our expectations or wants, we must offer those feelings up to God and pray for the parish, the priest, and our hearts to be turned in reverence to God and not our own wants.

In Peace,
DS

Some of us have been offering this up for a long, long time. Now we are Warriors fighting for what is right.
Yes, pray for the misguided souls but don’t accept that which does not feed you.

Sorry DS, you can offer up and elude to the selfishness (and not our own wants, you say) of those who are living through liturgical Purgatory, but some of us are trying to right the wrongs of the Spirit of Vatican II. We are trying to get a leaner stronger church. Acceptance is not always a good thing. It leads to Barney Blessings and Halloween Masses.

 

[Jaz_B07]

You missed the part that I highlighted in post 56.
Please do not tell any of us what we think.

When we gather at Holy Mass we are a community. All souls praying together and worshiping Our Lord in the Eucharist.
What other communal aspect are you speaking of?

I wasn’t directing that at any one person. It was just the conclusion that I came to when reading some posts: that some people want mass to ONLY be about them and God, but in actuality we are gathered at mass as a community.

No other communal aspects. I was only responding to the word community itself and how people on here have used it. As if all the people gathered at mass are not a community. For the last time, i’m not saying that we should add anything to mass.

 

[netmilsmom]

I wasn’t directing that at any one person. It was just the conclusion that I came to when reading some posts: that some people want mass to ONLY be about them and God, but in actuality we are gathered at mass as a community.

No other communal aspects. I was only responding to the word community itself and how people on here have used it. As if all the people gathered at mass are not a community. For the last time, i’m not saying that we should add anything to mass.

Okay, so I still don’t understand and I’m not trying to be nasty or have an tiff.
I don’t understand what people have said in reference to “community”. From what I have seen, people are talking about reverence. That also is what you are stating.

I guess the simpler question is what would you do to make the Mass more communal?

 

[DaughterSorrow]

Some of us have been offering this up for a long, long time. Now we are Warriors fighting for what is right.
Yes, pray for the misguided souls but don’t accept that which does not feed you.

Sorry DS, you can offer up and elude to the selfishness (and not our own wants, you say) of those who are living through liturgical Purgatory, but some of us are trying to right the wrongs of the Spirit of Vatican II. We are trying to get a leaner stronger church. Acceptance is not always a good thing. It leads to Barney Blessings and Halloween Masses.

I meant no such harm in saying “our own wants.” Our own wants may indeed be congruent with the way the liturgy is supposed to be.

The Catholic Church, however, has a set hierarchical structure. What Vatican II changed - was that not accepted by the hierarchy as infallible teaching and doctrine? I’m no expert. It’s usually specific parish alternative liturgy pieces (not specific to Vatican II) that I get upset with. But I accept obediently what the church has changed in VII. Am I wrong?

In Peace,
DS

 

[marci]

I wasn’t directing that at any one person. It was just the conclusion that I came to when reading some posts: that some people want mass to ONLY be about them and God, but in actuality we are gathered at mass as a community.

Jaz, speaking for myself, I want mass to be about what it should be about and that is the Eucharist. It is not about me enjoying the homily, or the music, or the fact that I get to “visit” with friends.

As I have stated before, most of the people at my parish don’t speak english, and most of the time the masses I am able to attend are in spanish. What would I do if feeling “involved” with the community was the major motivation for my attending mass? I probably wouldn’t get to mass much.

My motivation for going to mass is because first, it is a mortal sin if I miss for no good reason, and second, becuase that is where Jesus is, in the Body and Blood. I need the Eucharist to give me the grace I need to make it in the secular world that we all live in.

I am a catholic, I don’t want to go to the protestant church, unfortunately that is more and more what alot of us get at our local parishes these days. Like someone else said in their post “watered down catholicism doesn’t stand a chance against protestant evangelicalism.” at least from the standpoint of “entertainment” is concerned.

So what? The Eucharist isn’t a good enough reason to attend mass anymore? Whether a mass for thousands in Rome, or a priest celebrating alone, the mass is not more or less powerful based apon how many hear it, or on how much dancing, singing, or hugging they do.

I am afraid that alot of what is abused in the liturgy today can basically be blamed on the lack of quality catechism. Too many catholics today are ignorant of the teachings of their faith.

In my son’s first communion catechism book (homeschool),
two of the first things he learned were;

Why did God make you, and
What must you do to be happy with God in Heaven?
I would venture to say that most catholics of my generation wouldn’t be able to answer these questions, at least not what the church teaches. But, I promise you my mother’s generation knew the answers to these questions and more, and could answer without even having to think about it.

Until catholic parents start to take seriously the great responsiblity given to them by God to bring their children up with knowledge and love for the faith, I am afraid the abuses of the liturgy will only continue to get worse.

P.S.

God made me to show His goodness and to make me happy with Him in Heaven.

and

To be happy with God in heaven I must know Him, love Him, and serve Him in this world.

Peace

 

[Jaz_B07]

Okay, so I still don’t understand and I’m not trying to be nasty or have an tiff.
I don’t understand what people have said in reference to “community”. From what I have seen, people are talking about reverence. That also is what you are stating.

I guess the simpler question is what would you do to make the Mass more communal?

Ok, basically I was just talking about people who were saying things like “I don’t go to mass to be with a community” Looking back on the posts, I can see that most people were talking about reverence, so that’s just fine. But i’m sure some people may have the mindset that mass has nothing to do with community. To them I would ask why even gather at mass as a community in the first place? I wasn’t talking about adding more to the mass to make it more communal. I was just simply stating that during mass a community is gathered. I just wanted people to acknowledge that. Hope I cleared that up.

 

[netmilsmom]

Ok, basically I was just talking about people who were saying things like “I don’t go to mass to be with a community” Looking back on the posts, I can see that most people were talking about reverence, so that’s just fine. But i’m sure some people may have the mindset that mass has nothing to do with community. To them I would ask why even gather at mass as a community in the first place? I wasn’t talking about adding more to the mass to make it more communal. I was just simply stating that during mass a community is gathered. I just wanted people to acknowledge that. Hope I cleared that up.

I see what you’re saying!
Thanks!