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blaskoman
Guest
Is there really any point to this? I do not come to Mass to socialize but to share in the sacrifice of the Mass
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Pfaffenhoffen
Guest
I Mass, there is much going around that we do not like.Is there really any point to this? I do not come to Mass to socialize but to share in the sacrifice of the Mass
But we may in the private room or we may pray in the congregation.
In private, we may do whatever we like.
In congregation, we are subject to people, and people are not at all programmed…
J
Joan_M
Guest
I suppose that the priest is trying to encourage community, but, like you, I do not come to Mass to socialize.Is there really any point to this? I do not come to Mass to socialize but to share in the sacrifice of the Mass
As far as I am concerned, the time to meet and greet is after Mass and outside the church, not inside.
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trickster
Guest
I think so. The Mass is also a celebration of community…you can’t go to Mass by yourself…you at least need a priest to be there too…why must we divide our thinking about the mass in two camps, those who emphasis the sacrifice and those who see it as a communitiy function…it is indeed both…isn’t it?Is there really any point to this? I do not come to Mass to socialize but to share in the sacrifice of the Mass
Further, what about Jesus when he said something about remembering a wrong between you and another person you should go reconcile that and then go to Jesus…forgot the scriptural content of that…but I think it makes the point that Mass is both to recognize Our Lord in the faces of our brothers and sisters as much as it is about recieiving Jesus in the Eucharist…which should be the central poitn of our faith…
That’s my take anyways…
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trickster
Guest
Good point Joan…I think the meet and greet should be connected to Mass but not necessariy part of it…although I do like the shaking hands and exchanging the “peace of the Lord” part before communion I think that is very important to do…it also reminds us to get our human affairs in order before recieving communtion…I suppose that the priest is trying to encourage community, but, like you, I do not come to Mass to socialize.
As far as I am concerned, the time to meet and greet is after Mass and outside the church, not inside.
Bruce
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PerfectTiming
Guest
I think your priest has the right idea, encouraging people of the parish to socialise more and foster more of a sense of community. Our society nowadays is losing its sense of community, we don’t know our neighbours or our fellow parishioners anymore. Your priest may simply be trying to combat that. But perhaps before Mass is not the most appropriate time to do so.
In both my previous and current parishes we are lucky enough to have extra spaces so they hold drinks and refreshments after Mass which allows for fostering more of a community atmosphere. Obviously not all parishes have such facilities but there are other ways to foster community while letting people spend time in prayer before Mass.
In both my previous and current parishes we are lucky enough to have extra spaces so they hold drinks and refreshments after Mass which allows for fostering more of a community atmosphere. Obviously not all parishes have such facilities but there are other ways to foster community while letting people spend time in prayer before Mass.
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NewsTheMan
Guest
What? Who told you this lie? The Mass is not a celebration of community. Never will it be.The Mass is also a celebration of community…
Mass is not about socializing. That’s why we have parish halls and coffee and donuts. Mass is for one thing only, it is aimed at one thing only and it has as it’s end one thing only: God.
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Mudboots
Guest
How sad that we’ve let ourselves go this far.
Certainly the Mass is for the Mass, and that’s all. Socialization should be outside. The problems seems to be in our modern ego-centric culture. I experience a variety of encounters every Mass:
There are those who attend Mass solemnly, but are then so put off by modern society that they fear to socialize outside of Mass. Then there are some who have developed a sense of superiority/self-righteousness and seem to pass rash judgments on others, refusing to socialize with others, or give a dirty glance at those who dare to bring their children to Mass. Then there are those who have utmost respect for the Mass, for Christ, and they genuinely feel like they are doing the right thing in talking and catching-up right there in front of the Tabernacle of Our Lord…then I see some who maintain the utmost respect and take their socializations outside…and then others that go so far as to despise the solemn, such as condemning a woman who would dare wear a veil before Our Lord and Our God. It’s from one extreme to the other everyday.
The Priest then has the challenge of bringing us all together as a community, even though so many have become incompatible with one another.
We need to remember that he has charge of ALL of our souls in bringing us to Christ, not just the few. Christ himself will seperate the sheep from the goats; we are simply called to charity…
Pray for your Priest, that his humility be increased and that he may lead the souls of his parish to Christ.
Certainly the Mass is for the Mass, and that’s all. Socialization should be outside. The problems seems to be in our modern ego-centric culture. I experience a variety of encounters every Mass:
There are those who attend Mass solemnly, but are then so put off by modern society that they fear to socialize outside of Mass. Then there are some who have developed a sense of superiority/self-righteousness and seem to pass rash judgments on others, refusing to socialize with others, or give a dirty glance at those who dare to bring their children to Mass. Then there are those who have utmost respect for the Mass, for Christ, and they genuinely feel like they are doing the right thing in talking and catching-up right there in front of the Tabernacle of Our Lord…then I see some who maintain the utmost respect and take their socializations outside…and then others that go so far as to despise the solemn, such as condemning a woman who would dare wear a veil before Our Lord and Our God. It’s from one extreme to the other everyday.
The Priest then has the challenge of bringing us all together as a community, even though so many have become incompatible with one another.
We need to remember that he has charge of ALL of our souls in bringing us to Christ, not just the few. Christ himself will seperate the sheep from the goats; we are simply called to charity…
Pray for your Priest, that his humility be increased and that he may lead the souls of his parish to Christ.
T
trickster
Guest
The Mass is the re-enactment of the sacrifice…the social element around community was a part of the Mass prior to the start of services…hope that clarifies…What? Who told you this lie? The Mass is not a celebration of community. Never will it be.
Mass is not about socializing. That’s why we have parish halls and coffee and donuts. Mass is for one thing only, it is aimed at one thing only and it has as it’s end one thing only: God.
Bruce
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trickster
Guest
Well said Mudboots…that pretty well summarizes the issue in my mind…How sad that we’ve let ourselves go this far.
Certainly the Mass is for the Mass, and that’s all. Socialization should be outside. The problems seems to be in our modern ego-centric culture. I experience a variety of encounters every Mass:
There are those who attend Mass solemnly, but are then so put off by modern society that they fear to socialize outside of Mass. Then there are some who have developed a sense of superiority/self-righteousness and seem to pass rash judgments on others, refusing to socialize with others, or give a dirty glance at those who dare to bring their children to Mass. Then there are those who have utmost respect for the Mass, for Christ, and they genuinely feel like they are doing the right thing in talking and catching-up right there in front of the Tabernacle of Our Lord…then I see some who maintain the utmost respect and take their socializations outside…and then others that go so far as to despise the solemn, such as condemning a woman who would dare wear a veil before Our Lord and Our God. It’s from one extreme to the other everyday.
The Priest then has the challenge of bringing us all together as a community, even though so many have become incompatible with one another.
We need to remember that he has charge of ALL of our souls in bringing us to Christ, not just the few. Christ himself will seperate the sheep from the goats; we are simply called to charity…
Pray for your Priest, that his humility be increased and that he may lead the souls of his parish to Christ.
Bruce
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ConstantineTG
Guest
You should, the parish is a community, not just people who happen to be in one place doing one thing. Its not like a theater.Is there really any point to this? I do not come to Mass to socialize but to share in the sacrifice of the Mass
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ConstantineTG
Guest
Um, did you read the OP and said that people should meet and greet BEFORE Mass? Which means it happens before the start of the Mass, not during. I don’t see anything wrong with it and I think its only right that those who worship together should at least casually know one another.How sad that we’ve let ourselves go this far.
Certainly the Mass is for the Mass, and that’s all. Socialization should be outside. The problems seems to be in our modern ego-centric culture. I experience a variety of encounters every Mass:
There are those who attend Mass solemnly, but are then so put off by modern society that they fear to socialize outside of Mass. Then there are some who have developed a sense of superiority/self-righteousness and seem to pass rash judgments on others, refusing to socialize with others, or give a dirty glance at those who dare to bring their children to Mass. Then there are those who have utmost respect for the Mass, for Christ, and they genuinely feel like they are doing the right thing in talking and catching-up right there in front of the Tabernacle of Our Lord…then I see some who maintain the utmost respect and take their socializations outside…and then others that go so far as to despise the solemn, such as condemning a woman who would dare wear a veil before Our Lord and Our God. It’s from one extreme to the other everyday.
The Priest then has the challenge of bringing us all together as a community, even though so many have become incompatible with one another.
We need to remember that he has charge of ALL of our souls in bringing us to Christ, not just the few. Christ himself will seperate the sheep from the goats; we are simply called to charity…
Pray for your Priest, that his humility be increased and that he may lead the souls of his parish to Christ.
N
NewsTheMan
Guest
I was under the impression that the OP was complaining because the Pastor was encouraging people to have a chat in the Church mere minutes before Mass. That is how I read it (despite it being succinct and lacking in clarity).Um, did you read the OP and said that people should meet and greet BEFORE Mass? Which means it happens before the start of the Mass, not during. I don’t see anything wrong with it and I think its only right that those who worship together should at least casually know one another.
If he means that the Priest wants people to chat outside the Church in preparation for Mass and communal Worship then of course this should be encouraged.
M
MissRose73
Guest
I would rather that the priest let people know to have their conversations before and after Mass, and not in the actual worship space. Saying hello/exchanging pleasantries and shaking hands/hugging others is fine in the worship space but carrying on long time conversations in normal tones of voice when others around you may be trying to focus on some form of mental prayer / praying before Mass is rude in my opinion.
The EF Mass at a few different diocesan parishes I go to sometimes, I rarely hear any conversations going on before Mass starts. People either talk in the spaces outside the worship area or outside, or save them for the non worship space after. The only talking that goes on is a group of people reciting the Rosary & they tend to be in one area together.
The EF Mass at a few different diocesan parishes I go to sometimes, I rarely hear any conversations going on before Mass starts. People either talk in the spaces outside the worship area or outside, or save them for the non worship space after. The only talking that goes on is a group of people reciting the Rosary & they tend to be in one area together.
A
Anathama_Sit
Guest
Greetings NewsTheMan,What? Who told you this lie? The Mass is not a celebration of community. Never will it be.
Mass is not about socializing. That’s why we have parish halls and coffee and donuts. Mass is for one thing only, it is aimed at one thing only and it has as it’s end one thing only: God.
Thank you for responding this way. I am glad to see that I am not the only one that adheres to this.
God Bless You,
Anathama Sit
Shouldn’t this be in the coffee morning after Mass?Is there really any point to this? I do not come to Mass to socialize but to share in the sacrifice of the Mass
I don’t go for the social thing either but maybe there are some old people who don’t see anybody else all week except for when they come to Mass although they should wait until the coffee morning too.
C
ConstantineTG
Guest
The timing doesn’t matter, it would be the discretion of the priest. As long as its not during Mass, it shouldn’t be a problem.I was under the impression that the OP was complaining because the Pastor was encouraging people to have a chat in the Church mere minutes before Mass. That is how I read it (despite it being succinct and lacking in clarity).
If he means that the Priest wants people to chat outside the Church in preparation for Mass and communal Worship then of course this should be encouraged.
N
NewsTheMan
Guest
Haven’t we recently discussed this in a different thread or am I thinking of someone else? The GIRM says that there should be sacred silence before the celebration.The timing doesn’t matter, it would be the discretion of the priest. As long as its not during Mass, it shouldn’t be a problem.
I don’t know about you, but silence in front of Jesus in the tabernacle seems to me to be basic, simple respect. If that doesn’t concern you, at least acknowledge that once a week you come to speak to God and not to a friend - it can all wait. And if you don’t care about that, at least care for the fact that others care for it. The timing certainly does matter. If we were to chat in the Church except during Mass there’d by no need for Parish halls.
Don’t have idle, unnecessary talk in a sacred space. Especially not before Mass when you should be recollecting yourself to prepare for the Sacred Mysteries. That seems simple enough, and not too much to ask.
Z
zab
Guest
I seem to recall that a few years ago there was some talk of moving the “kiss of peace” to another part of the Mass. I wonder if this had something to do with it (Greet your neighbor before Mass so that the “Sign of Peace” does not turn into a Meet and Greet).
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bz5
Guest
Personally, I like to be able to pray or read the readings of the day before mass. I don’t like it when the choir drags us into practice singing, for example. As for the greetings before mass, I understand the idea of welcoming and very much appreciate the parishes we’ve belonged to that have a time after mass for snacks and socializing, but I’ve never ever ever gotten to know someone from the brief, awkward handshaking done in the church before mass. So, it may be a nice idea, but ineffective
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