Question about Mass today

[grandfather]

The same thing happened at my parish. I’m sorry, but videos have no part being played in Mass. It is not appropriate. My husband and I were in the back, so we got up and left. Yes, I know that’s a mortal sin and I will confess it, but we couldn’t support that. Mass is about Jesus and what He did for us, not who some person wants us to give our money to.

Let’s see, the dioceses need money. What have they done with what has already been given the? Any accouniting been provided? How many billions have been paid out to cover the scandal settlements? How much for the lawyers? We hear the titles of programs, but does anyone get too look at where the money really goes? Yes, the diocesan accountants. We have been bilked and now are asked for more. We need a new crop of leaders. The ones who got us into such a mess will not get us out. Support seminarians directly. Donate to the poor directly. Anytime donations go through second and third parties they are skimmed.

 

[Uncle_Norbert]

Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. The Diocese assesses each Parish a percantage of their general collections. In addition, there is the CCA. The Diocese sets each Parish’s goal. If the Parish fails to meet the goal, the shortfall is added to the regular assessment. That is made brutally clear.

So, direct giving isn’t going to make Parish presentations go away.

My problem with the issue raised in this thread, is my understanding that recorded media during Mass was a violation of Canon Law.

Can anyone clarify?

 

[psr13]

I don’t know if it’s a violation. I just don’t find it appropriate at all.

Yes, I know they need money. That isn’t the way to go about it. Doing that turns a lot of people off of it. I live in a very well off area, so there shouldn’t be a problem getting money. If there is, a better way to go about it needs to be figured out.

 

[palmas85]

I don’t really a problem with it. After all the collection follows the homily anyway, and I’ve never been one that thought that a homily had to follow any set pattern to begin with. Maybe by inviting this other Priest to speak and show this video, they managed to actually touch some folks deeper than with the homily, which lets face it, often really has nothing in it of any concrete spiritual benefit and is often just some thin platitude about love.

At least this speech seemed to have some meat on it and was real instead of the fluff most of us get week after week.

 

[psr13]

At least in my parish it wasn’t a priest. It was a layman.

 

[cat123]

no you are not being picky. the eucharist is the center of the mass. participation in the holy mass is nothing to be taken lightly. and i feel fortunate enough to usually listen to good and meaningful homilies at my church. now i have no problem contributing to my church, my diocese, the poor, and legit charities. i am not a rich woman. i have literally given my last dollar to the church some weeks and God always provided for me. we should all support our church. i did however, change parishes a few years back because the one i was going to was offensive to me in the way they asked for money. the parish change really helped me to focus more on Christ and not feel annoyed and like i wanted to sometimes walk out of mass. by the way both parishes are in the same town which is middle class. the second parish has daily eucharistic adoration which i feel is a great blessing to the parish. sorry if that was rambling…

 

[Seatuck]

Hello:

This is a question I have regarding Mass that I attended today. This isn’t meant to offend anyone. I am just looking for clarity. I am always uncomfortable when money is being brought up during the Mass. It always reminds me of Jesus in the temple knocking over tables. Today after the Gospel, our priest invited another priest from the Archdiocese to speak about the annual appeal. This other priest even had a tape recording from the Cardinal. After the speech, the ushers passed out envelopes for everyone to fill out in order to pledge their donation. All this right in the middle of Mass! People taking out pens and filling out envelopes. There was no homily whatsoever. Now I am aware that the Archdiocese needs money and I am all for giving it…don’t get me wrong but is there a better way to ask for donations than right in the middle of Mass? It is extremely distracting when I am trying to listen and reflect on the Word of God. Am I just being picky? Should I write the Cardinal? Or talk to my pastor? Any advice would be great and if I am in the wrong feel free to let me know as well.

Thanks and God Bless!

Tell the truth , would you go to a meeting before or after Mass for this. Probably not and most other Catholics wouldn’t either. That’s what the church is dealing with . People who barely have time for Mass at all and arrive late or leave early. Not saying you are guilty of that -just talking about Catholics in general. Catholics as a group- again not saying anyone here fits the description- are the stingiest of all Christians for some reason. Not saying I like or approve of this tactic at all.

 

[BlyssfulDreamer]

This happened to me a year ago when a collection was being taken up. The ushers went around with baskets and envelopes and after Communion and before the dismissal we were supposed to fill out the envelopes and give them to the ushers when they came around with the baskets. It seemed a little unseemly to me to go to this extent. You were almost made to feel that if you didn’t take a pen and an envelope that you weren’t doing the right thing. I went ahead and made my pledge…feeling pressured into doing it while sitting in a pew and not wanting to stand out,…even though I could barely afford it at the time.

:heart:Blyss

 

[Seatuck]

This happened to me a year ago when a collection was being taken up. The ushers went around with baskets and envelopes and after Communion and before the dismissal we were supposed to fill out the envelopes and give them to the ushers when they came around with the baskets. It seemed a little unseemly to me to go to this extent. You were almost made to feel that if you didn’t take a pen and an envelope that you weren’t doing the right thing. I went ahead and made my pledge…feeling pressured into doing it while sitting in a pew and not wanting to stand out,…even though I could barely afford it at the time.

:heart:Blyss

That’s a shame . We are always told we can go home and prayerfully think about what we can give. Many of us who have donated before get a pledge card in the mail which we fill out and mail back or put in any collection basket . They do print an announcement in the bulletin on what the parish goal is and when we meet the percentage of goal that enables us to get a direct rebate from the appeal to our parish.