Santa Claus during the homily

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BrownEyes123

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So we have a new parochial vicar in our parish, just ordained last month.

So happened to be at the mass he had for Christmas Eve. Saw the deacon there getting ready, but he did not process in. At that point I assumed he just helped Father get ready, and then he headed off to another mass in the parish.

So time comes for the homily. Father starts out saying he’s so brand new that he needed help with his homily, and found someone great to do so. Cue from the back ho, ho, ho and Santa walking down the aisle 😥😥. Fr. did call him St. Nicholas, but it was a mainstream Santa Claus suit–it was the deacon dressed up.

So they continue to do the whole homily together. It was mainly deacon as santa speaking, answering father’s questions. Talking about how he had a busy night, to bring children gifts, etc. They of course talked about Jesus as well, and prayed together before the crèche. Santa then left, and the deacon vested back up normally and came out and participated in his normal parts of the mass. There was no other part of the homily, it was just the santa stunt 😧

Of course the whole time people around us were laughing, commenting how great this was, etc. clapping ensued when santa said bye, and more clapping at the end of mass. We heard quite a few people telling father he was so creative, etc. after mass.

Myself and family were appalled. I really felt like leaving, stayed to the end though. It did feel good that my children felt the same, must be teaching them something right!

This especially feels horrible as our last PV was very reverent and traditional minded. We miss him greatly. Our current pastor is fairly new to us as well (1.5 years) he isn’t as traditional as his predecessor, but tolerable. The previous PV was the one really holding some things in the parish as he was here with the previous pastor, and was continuing with as much as he could. Not sure what the current pastor thinks about the santa stunt. My guess is some people spoke to father already, not sure if I should add my own thoughts.
 
Was it, by any chance, a children’s Mass? Not that that would make it perfectly okay, but it would be one way to get the kids to listen to and think about the Gospel. Santa praying before the crèche is a wonderful idea.
 
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From what I’ve read and seen Christmas Eve seems like a dangerous time to go to Mass. It seems to be lacking in reverence. Also, it seems Christmas Eve has replaced Christmas. Our parish has more Christmas Eve masses, not even counting Midnight Mass, than it does Christmas masses.
 
He did this same homily at both the 4:00 and 6:00 Masses. Neither were children’s Masses. For Christmas Eve the parish this year had (4) 4:00s and (1) 6:00. We have (6) churches, and (2) assigned priests, plus there are a couple retired ones that fill in. The 6:00 was actually the only mass besides midnight that incense was used (advertised in the bulletin). So was expecting it to be reverent, not a show.
 
This reminds me of the late and saintly Monsignor Dezso Torok. One Christmas Eve Mass he ripped into Santa. “Not Santa Claus” is how he ended every sentence of that homily. It was pretty clear how much he detested the commercialized Christmas.
 
I can see why you are troubled. I hope some good comes of it.
 
My kids were serving at this mass. I took my oldest to midnight mass later where the pastor celebrated mass, knowing that it would definitely be the pastor.

There were also 4 other Masses Christmas morning. With 6 churches some did not get both a Christmas Eve and Day Mass. I know Christmas Day is typically not as well attended, this year there was a snowstorm that started overnight, and no visiblility (towns telling people they weren’t plowing roads until they could see it was so bad).
 
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It is, kids masses and things…

The thing I don’t like about it is that that is when a lot who don’t come very often to Church come to mass, will them seeing it made a joke of bring them back to the reality of what is happening? I am.doubtful
 
NNNNOOOOOooooooOOOOOOOoooOOOOOOOO. Must be a complete sentence.
 
I’ve thrown away a couple of those, I find them the most schmaltzy thing on earth (and I LIKE schmaltzy)
 
I know at our Children’s Mass Santa Clause comes after the mass starts and sits near the back of the Church in a pew and participates in the Mass. He does not commune. After Mass he tells children he’s glad they came to Church briefly and then disappears.

At first I thought it was odd but now I’ve seen it a few years I think it’s ok and have grown to like it. The kids seem to get a sense that this is a “Santa in Church” not to be disturbed.

I would be uncomfortable with the scenario the OP mentioned for it seems inappropriate at Mass to parade Santa down the aisle and to talking of Santa bringing gifts to children, not all children get gifts due to economic hard times.

We have a Christmas tree with gift cards you can purchase for those family in need but I know not everyone participates.

Just my opinion.
 
BrownEyes123 said:
They of course talked about Jesus as well, and prayed together before the crèche.
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In my opinion, this could have made the whole stunt okay, depending on how much “talking about Jesus” they did and what was said. Santa is based on a saint, so it’s not like the Elf on the Shelf just injected himself into the mass.

I realize for some people, having Santa as part of the Mass at all is just not going to be okay, ever. So my thought would be to have this at a “children’s Mass” and then let people know when it would be, so people could decide whether to attend or not, and if they absolutely had to attend because no other time worked, they would not be taken by surprise.
 
Tis_Bearself said:
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BrownEyes123:
They of course talked about Jesus as well, and prayed together before the crèche.
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In my opinion, this could have made the whole stunt okay, depending on how much “talking about Jesus” they did and what was said. Santa is based on a saint, so it’s not like the Elf on the Shelf just injected himself into the mass.

I realize for some people, having Santa as part of the Mass at all is just not going to be okay, ever. So my thought would be to have this at a “children’s Mass” and then let people know when it would be, so people could decide whether to attend or not, and if they absolutely had to attend because no other time worked, they would not be taken by surprise.
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TB: A good and thoughtful post. When we realize that only 22% of all Catholics regularly attend Mass, one has to wonder if as society keeps moving away from faith, the Church standing still will simply lose more and more of its people. Is refusing to engage society a wise plan of action in trying to build up the church?

As TB stated, Santa Claus has its roots in the actions of a saint (Nicholas). The little ones I’ve had an influence on have learned from me that Santa Claus is a modern day extension of the Magi and the gifts they brought to the Christ Child. After all, it is a tenet of our religion (RCC) that we must see Christ in all men. Yes, any mention of Santa Claus in a RCC Mass is a bit of a stretch, but there are lessons that can be learned (especially for the very young) by properly placing Santa Claus in the understanding of the miracle of the Incarnation.
 
Santa standing at the back door after Mass to greet the children? Fine. Just not. ever. in. mass.
 
Not here. There were 3 Christmas Eve Masses (including Midnight Mass), but a full 7 Masses on Christmas Day… can’t speak for the full day, but the 11 am and 12:30 PM were packed.
 
Imaging being away from the Church for a long time, you feel that pull on Christmas to go to Mass, then it turns into the same message you an get at the Mall. Ho Ho Ho.

People do not want to be entertained at Mass. They long for more.
 
Our parish has a Santa Claus just before the final blessing, so that would make it during the Mass, assuming I understand correctly.
The pastor calls a very elaborately costumed man up to make a Santa appearance. The man waits at the back until called up and then appears in the main aisle.
 
Georgia said:
Our parish has a Santa Claus just before the final blessing, so that would make it during the Mass, assuming I understand correctly.
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At many churches this is considered the “announcement time” so it’s sort of an “anything goes”.
At the Holy Innocents feast day Mass today, the priest used this time (following one announcement about the funeral of someone associated with the church) to have a 10-minute prayer service to stop abortion. Then he did the final blessing.
 
TheLittleLady said:
Santa standing at the back door after Mass to greet the children? Fine. Just not. ever. in. mass.
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Absolutely NO Saints at Mass! Got it!

Better get rid of those statues of Mary ASAP. And St. Anthony! I mean, who do they think they are, with Saints at a Catholic Mass???

We had Santa at the end of our children’s mass homily. He didn’t speak, just came up to the altar, knelt and crossed himself in front of the altar/creche, prayed with Father, and then left. He left a scroll with Father, and Father read it…it was a very sweet poem reminding everyone that St. Nicholas is just a man who gives because he loves Jesus so much, and that it is Jesus who is the focus of everything he does. I thought it sweet, and a very good reminder for all the children.

My DH snakily said, when Santa crossed himself, “I didn’t realize Santa was Catholic!” To which I replied, rolling my eyes, “He is SAINT Nicholas, after all!” DH realized what a silly thing it was to have even said, and agreed.
 
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