Should Priest conduct Mass the way he wants, despite popular wishes of parish?

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If the priest wants to conduct the Mass a certain way, within the directives of GIRM, and the majority of the parish wants to keep it the way it’s being done, which is also within the bounds of GIRM, then should the congregation fight the change or go along with the priest and his preferences??? 🙂
 
I didn’t vote because the question is too vague. What’ s the priest doing? What to the faithful want?
 
A Pastor is required to care for the souls of the Faithful in his parish. Within the GIRM there is not much if any room to add personal touches. However if the parish for instance wants the altar rail re-installed he should do it but should not require anyone to kneel to receive Holy Communion. Because the GIRM prohibits him from instituting this requirement.
 
Our parish priest retired, and now we have a new priest, who likes to make changes, without (name removed by moderator)ut from the parishioners first. We ended up with a Movie Screen in our church, and thankfully it is gone now, and he is asking for Musicians so we can have a Contemporary Mass with a Band every Sunday. Unfortunately it’s the Mass I go to, so I will have to go to a different one.

It would be very nice if the parishioners had (name removed by moderator)ut on the Priests ideas.

:blessyou:
Annie
 
Good Morning Church

I see the Priest as a Spiritual Father sent by the Holy Spirit for the Parish. Hopefully, he is there for awhile and not to be transferred out in the near future. Spiritually, folks should grow there.

If this is the case, Father has Pastoral gifts that should be used and appreciated. He receives these at Ordination but he also has his own particular inborn talents. His own insights.

I vote on him maintaining his authority but like a good father, always being open to his spiritual family. Be willing to talk and to listen. In the end though, he is the final answer.
 
While the priest is in charge of the parish, it would be best if he tried to take the piety of the congregation into account. Whether it be through some formal process or just knowing his parishoners, he should try to make sure that his personal preferences don’t obstruct their worship. That said, he must always remain obedient to the GIRM and have the wisdom to discern whether the preference of the congregation will truly benefit it.
 
I think that any priest should be sensitive to and respect the wants and need of his ‘flock’….”I am the good Shepherd, I know my sheep and they know Me”…. (Of course within the framework of the GIRM).
Annunciata:)
 
It depends on the parish – If the faithful want a new age mess or a Latin Mass.
 
It is so difficult to accept change! Nonetheless, I believe that before instituting changes in how Mass is celebrated, I think the Priest needs to discuss it with the Parish Council, and generally investigate what has always been done previously. It is so important that the congregation’s concerns are respected, as well as the Priest’s.
 
I voted for #2. The Celebration of the Mass is the right and responsibility of the Priest.

I would be a nice gesture for him to seek (name removed by moderator)ut from the Parish Council, but that is (name removed by moderator)ut only, which the pastor is entirely free to accept or disregard.
 
I think the Mass should be celebrated the way the Church wants.

When there are optional sections I think it is up to the priest to decide but with (name removed by moderator)ut from the laity.

I am against liturgical commitees.
 
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ByzCath:
I think the Mass should be celebrated the way the Church wants.

When there are optional sections I think it is up to the priest to decide but with (name removed by moderator)ut from the laity.

I am against liturgical commitees.
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Byz, if we didn’t have liturgical committees, what would we do for penance?
 
I am really curious as to how it was discerned that “the majority of the parish” wanted something different from what the priest was directing? Was a poll taken? Was everybody asked, or only a percentage? How were the questions of the poll structured?

My suspicion is that the issue was the Kiss of Peace. Was it being instituted, and previously skipped? Or the opposite; now done away with?

Was there explanation as to why the changes was made, beyond “This is what we are going to do?”

If an explanation was given, what were the reasons for not wanting to do it (make the change), other than "That’s the way we always have done it’?

And where does obedience come in?
 
I guess it really comes down to authority. Our last pastor (we don’t have one now), had the attitude that he was the servant of the parish (not unlike Jesus’ attitude of service to the apostles). He took (name removed by moderator)ut from the parishioners, through surveys, meeting, and councils. However, he always had the final say. He needed to make sure that everything that was done according to the GIRM and Church teaching.

As a result, we have different “styles” of Masses for every taste. I attend the Life Teen Mass which features a praise band. We have a traditional choir at one Mass, a folk group at another. We have several spanish Masses, and a Latin Trinintine Mass. It’s a wonderful mix. I wouldn’t want it any other way.
 
I do believe that we are called to be obedient and submissive in all things to the church. Since the priest is our spiritual Father representing God, we must obey even when it is uncomfortable or not according to our personal likes or dislikes.

Having said that, a good Father does not rule with an iron hand, but loves his children just as our Father in Heaven loves us. A wise Father does not provoke his children, it says in Proverbs. And a wise priest does not make unnecessary trouble stirring the seeds of discontent.
 
None of the above.

The Mass should be celebrated according to the rites of the Catholic Church. Even if the priest doesn’t like it. Even if the parishioners don’t like it.

It’s not the priest’s Mass.

It’s not the parishioners’ Mass.

It’s the whole Catholic Church’s Mass.
 
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davidc2:
None of the above.

The Mass should be celebrated according to the rites of the Catholic Church. Even if the priest doesn’t like it. Even if the parishioners don’t like it.

It’s not the priest’s Mass.

It’s not the parishioners’ Mass.

It’s the whole Catholic Church’s Mass.
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I agree wholeheartedly. In my opinion, priests should say the Mass exactly as the Church dictates, and the faithful should assist at Mass in the exact manner dictated by the Church.

Since Vatican II there has been so much experimenting with the Mass by bishops and priests that the unity of the liturgy of the Universal Church has been comprimised. In my opinion, this is not at all what Our Lord desired when He prayed that we be one as He and the Father are One.

For this reason, I am especially drawn to the traditional Latin Mass. Even the language of the Mass is the same–regardless of country.
 
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mercygate:
Byz, if we didn’t have liturgical committees, what would we do for penance?
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What are you talking about? All you need is a confessional and a priest willing to sit in it for hours listening to the sins of Catholics. I don’t want some liturgical committee listening to ym sins. No siree bob
here’s a picture of one
www.st-catherine.com/holy-week-schedule.htm
 
Ecce Homo:
I agree wholeheartedly. In my opinion, priests should say the Mass exactly as the Church dictates, and the faithful should assist at Mass in the exact manner dictated by the Church.

Since Vatican II there has been so much experimenting with the Mass by bishops and priests that the unity of the liturgy of the Universal Church has been comprimised. In my opinion, this is not at all what Our Lord desired when He prayed that we be one as He and the Father are One.

For this reason, I am especially drawn to the traditional Latin Mass. Even the language of the Mass is the same–regardless of country.
Click to expand...
True, true you have spoken truth!!
TO further reiterate what he has just said
Try to guess what this prayer is[its from Traditional Mass,said in a shortened form at the NO Mass]:

Oczysc serce moje i usta moje, wszechmogacy Boze, ktorys usta Izajasza proroka kamieniem oczyscil ognistym: aby mie Twoje laskawe zmilowanie raczylo oczyscic bym swieta Ewangelje Twoja godnie mogl oglaszac. Przez Chrystusa Pana Naszego. Amen
 
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