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

[Toni]

Annunciata:

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

I could not vote but agree with Annunciata, I have seen some awful things when a new priest comes in half the parish leaves.
If the priest is bouncing a basketball down the aisle, or putting a redwing emblem on his chausible, I am not sure if the girm covers these behaviors but I am sure in Canon Law these matters must be somewhere.

 

[kmktexas]

I have seen some awful things when a new priest comes in half the parish leaves.

This is not always a bad thing. My parish got a new pastor about six years ago. Father requires kneeling during Mass, he moved the tabernacle back into the sactuary and built a Confessional. Worst of all (tongue planted firmly in cheek) he actually talks about Confession in homilies and urges people to use the newly built Confessional. He holds Adoration hours and instituted the Knights of Columbus and Catholic Daughters. He allowed a Respect Life Committee to be formed. He sprinkles a little Latin into Mass during Lent and refuses to endorse either women priests or a married clergy. All of these things put him exactly opposite his predecessor. He did not make all the changes at once. About half of the regularly attending parishioners left. We are a much stronger parish though.

 

[InHisName]

Why is it always about what we want? Isn’t the most important thing what God wants? Priests were appointed by God, not us. We are not there hopefully because we like the sermon or how the priest conducts the Mass. We are there to honor Christ, not our personal wishes and preferences. If you were standing in front of the Lord would you turn and walk away from Him because you didn’t like his clothes, or the way he shook your hand? I don’t think so. If a priest is not departing from doctrine, or reality, I think parishoners need to remind themselves why they are there (at Mass).

 

[Brendan]

Toni:

I If the priest is bouncing a basketball down the aisle, or putting a redwing emblem on his chausible, .

What could possibly be wrong with wearing a ‘Red Wings’ Chausible

God forbid it be something heretical like Blackhawks or Av’s

 

[netmilsmom]

Brendan:

What could possibly be wrong with wearing a ‘Red Wings’ Chausible

God forbid it be something heretical like Blackhawks or Av’s

Sometimes it would be more appropriate to wear a Lion’s jersey. They need all the help they can get.

 

[harinkj]

kmktexas:

This is not always a bad thing. My parish got a new pastor about six years ago. Father requires kneeling during Mass, he moved the tabernacle back into the sactuary and built a Confessional. Worst of all (tongue planted firmly in cheek) he actually talks about Confession in homilies and urges people to use the newly built Confessional. He holds Adoration hours and instituted the Knights of Columbus and Catholic Daughters. He allowed a Respect Life Committee to be formed. He sprinkles a little Latin into Mass during Lent and refuses to endorse either women priests or a married clergy. All of these things put him exactly opposite his predecessor. He did not make all the changes at once. About half of the regularly attending parishioners left. We are a much stronger parish though.

How does a priest hear a confession without a confessional?

I have always been to churches that have confessionals.

Kathie :bowdown:

 

[Michael_Welter]

harinkj:

How does a priest hear a confession without a confessional?

Ummm . . . with his ears. A priest doesn’t need a confessional to hear confession. I’ve met with the priest in his office for confession. I’ve said confession outside with a priest. As long as no one else can hear, it can be done anywhere.

 

[mosher]

Technically option #1
Prudently option #2

 

[netmilsmom]

harinkj:

How does a priest hear a confession without a confessional?

I have always been to churches that have confessionals.

Kathie :bowdown:

Face to face.
In my old parish, the confessional was made into a closet. I never noticed until my older daughter was going into second grade CCD.

Then again, I thought a Group Pennance Service was all one needed.
Boy did our poor priest have an earful when I had to confess 10 years of sins!

 

[rwoehmke]

While I can understand why some people find liturgy committees distasteful, they can be very good if they stick to their areas of responsibility. Scheduling readers, EMHCs, choirs, decorating the church, training, etc. We have four or five different choirs and our liturgist puts up a suggested list of hymns and sung versions of the ordinary from which they can choose for a particular weekend. Things to which the GIRM pertains are the bailiwick of the priest celibrant. Interference by the committee in GIRM matters are discouraged. It wasn’t always this way and it led to lots of tantrums and uncharitable behavior. Since the proper assignment of responsibility it has been very peaceful and spiritually uplifting.

 

[Austin_CCD]

The 4th option is misleading. Traditions change and some, such as teh parish in Minneapolis, are not to be desired.

Besides, we are to follow our priests and the magisterium, not tradition for its own sake.

 

[mosher]

rwoehmke:

While I can understand why some people find liturgy committees distasteful, they can be very good if they stick to their areas of responsibility. Scheduling readers, EMHCs, choirs, decorating the church, training, etc. We have four or five different choirs and our liturgist puts up a suggested list of hymns and sung versions of the ordinary from which they can choose for a particular weekend. Things to which the GIRM pertains are the bailiwick of the priest celibrant. Interference by the committee in GIRM matters are discouraged. It wasn’t always this way and it led to lots of tantrums and uncharitable behavior. Since the proper assignment of responsibility it has been very peaceful and spiritually uplifting.

That is good to hear. The problem is always when the LC wants to tinker with the Liturgy.

 

[Dr.Bombay]

There are enough “options” in the Mass that everyone should be satisfied. Of course, maybe all those “options” are what leads to strife and division within parishes in the first place.

The priest should have the final say. If he’s an innovator, he should be approached in charity and asked to stop. If that doesn’t work, video tape one of his Masses, burn a cd and send it on to the bishop. If the bishop ignores it, find another parish. Yeah, I know. Gas prices.

And I wouldn’t wish a liturgy committee or, heaven forbid, a liturgist inflicted on any priest. Do you know the difference between a liturgist and a terrorist? You can negotiate with a terrorist. :bigyikes:

 

[WanderAimlessly]

The priest has total control over the Mass as long as it corresponds to the GIRM. It is not upto any “Liturgical Committee” to say how the Mass is to be celebrated. If a priest tries “please everyone”, noone will be pleased.

PF

 

[netmilsmom]

Dr. Bombay:

. Do you know the difference between a liturgist and a terrorist? You can negotiate with a terrorist.

Man, you owe me ANOTHER keyboard!

 

[Dr.Bombay]

Man, you owe me ANOTHER keyboard!
[/quote]

You must stop drinking the Diet Coke while reading the forums. :tsktsk:

 

[lyoncoeur]

This seems to me to be a matter of Obediance…and Chain of command…somthing that I think we Americans in general dont “do” very well.
We are the Catholic Church, we should all do it the same way…even if the people of the parish don’t like it… I don’t particularly like the “Novus Ordo” Mass, but since going to the “Tridentine” Mass is not always convient I go to a Mass I don’t exactly prefer out of obediance to the church and love for G-d.
The Priest is obligated to Serve Mass acording to the GIRM…nothing more…other then any licit modifications given by his local superior.