Singing "Happy Birthday" before the final blessing during Mass

[blaskoman]

During last Sunday’s mass, right before the final blessing, the priest announced the birthday of a particular parish volunteer. Spontaneously, it seemed (dont know if the priest prepped the choir beforehand), the choir broke out in the “happy birthday” song (with music).

I found this to be exceedingly inappropriate during mass. Should I bring this to the attention of the Monsignor at my church?

 

[Joe_5859]

During last Sunday’s mass, right before the final blessing, the priest announced the birthday of a particular parish volunteer. Spontaneously, it seemed (dont know if the priest prepped the choir beforehand), the choir broke out in the “happy birthday” song (with music).

I found this to be exceedingly inappropriate during mass. Should I bring this to the attention of the Monsignor at my church?

I certainly agree that it was inappropriate to do at Mass, but I’d hesitate to make a big deal out of it. One can only assume it was spontaneous. I wouldn’t assume that the priest had any foreknowledge or orchestrated it (and I certainly wouldn’t want to pass on such speculations to the pastor). If it became a regular thing for the choir to sing “Happy Birthday” at Mass to every parish volunteer, there would be cause for concern. If this was just one more example in a long string of liturgical abuses, then you could add it to the list. But, by itself, it seems that it would be best to just forget it.

If it happens again, then things might be different. Of course, whenever you talk to your pastor about such things, you want it to be in a non-confrontational, friendly way.

 

[japhy]

During last Sunday’s mass, right before the final blessing, the priest announced the birthday of a particular parish volunteer. … the choir broke out in the “happy birthday” song (with music). I found this to be exceedingly inappropriate during mass.

If this happened at my parish, I would also find it inappropriate. I would speak to the pastor afterward and charitably express my concern. That sort of secular thing is more appropriate in a parish hall than in the liturgy of the Mass.

 

[NPC]

If it was indeed spontaneous, I’m surprised that the Director of Music went along with it by providing the music. I personally would never agree to play ‘Happy Birthday’ on the organ! If the priest really felt that he had to mark the occasion in some way, he could have mentioned it during the announcements or if it was a particularly significant birthday, it could have been printed in the Parish Newsletter.

I have been asked for worse, however - and by priests! At the end of an annual novena given by the Redemptorists at our cathedral some of the mission priests feel we should sing certain well-known traditional Irish songs! I have always refused saying that it is inappropriate & that even if I had the sheet music I still wouldn’t play it! A fellow organist, at a special children’s session of the novena, was asked to play some tunes that the young kids would know - “Barney” etc…

I’m not really sure what you should do at this stage. I know once is enough, but if this really is an isolated incident, as Joe said, there may not be a huge cause for concern - if it becomes a regular occurrence, then definitely speak to the priest…