Something I witnessed at Mass last Sunday...What would you do?

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average_Joe

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Hopefully I put this in the right forum. It seemed like the right one, anyway.

Over the Thanksgiving weekend, my fiancee and I went to visit her family in Texas. On our way to Mass on Sunday, my future SIL warned me about the guy that does announcements right before the dismissal. She told me he likes to take a long time, make jokes, make it all about himself, etc. I thought, “Hey, how bad could it really be?” Oh, it was bad. He had a wireless mic that he used and paced back and forth across the altar. The first thing he did was insult the woman that had just finished speaking to us about the SVDP society. Then, instead of just reading the announcements, he had to make comments, tell stories, or make jokes about each of them. He even looked for people in congregation associated with the announcement to quiz them about the accuracy of the announcement or ask for more details. In the process, he also had the nerve to insult Father twice! It was like he thought this was the time to practice his comedy routine. After Mass I was pretty angry/horrified about what I had witnessed. I don’t go to Mass to watch someone do comedy hour, I’m there for the Eucharist. My future SIL told me that it leaves a bad taste in their mouth every Sunday and that plenty of people in the parish don’t like it either. However, no one seems to be willing to do anything about it. I’m seriously considering writing a letter to the bishop of that diocese about it. My question is, would that be too extreme? It’s not my parish or diocese, but I really think something needs to be done about it.
 
In this particular situation, I think the best course of action is to get a group of people together and approach the pastor of the parish. This is really a very parish-specific thing and it doesn’t need to go past that unless the priest is unwilling. Perhaps the reason the pastor hasn’t done away with him yet is because he thinks people actually like what the man says, which isn’t an excuse, but can be a precarious situation for a priest. You say that there are other people who are bothered by this, and rightly so, so you should get several of them together after mass sometime very soon, and approach father privately.

If that doesn’t work, write a letter to the diocesan bishop, with specific examples of what the man says. It would also add much gravity to your argument to get signatures on your letter from other parishioners, as many as possible. If you do have to go this far, don’t “teach the bishop” in your letter. He knows what mass is supposed to be like. Don’t criticize excessively. State mostly facts. If you have to inject your feelings, keep it to a sentence or less. Be objective. The most important thing to include, I think, is the part about the man insulting the priest. That is awful.

Mass is not social hour, nor is it a comedy show to make mockeries of sacred things. Announcements should be made in the soberest manner possible, and what this man does seems, so far, to be unacceptable.
 
Alternatively, just leave after communion but before the announcements - it’s a long standing Catholic tradition. You really shouldn’t leave early, but it’s been common for generations. Maybe if EVERYONE got up and walked out on him he would get the message, though self-centered boobs like that rarely do.
 
  1. Send this guy to the try-outs at a comedy club; maybe he’ll find an outlet for his “humour.”
  2. Remind everyone who does the announcements that no announcement should ever exceed 30 seconds, mention only the urgent things (“Christmas Pageant rehearsals take place immediately after this Mass; Ladies, your baking is due at the homeless shelter by 4:00 pm this afternoon. For the rest of the announcements, please read the bulletin - we have lots going on this week, so don’t miss out.”)
 
YoungTradCath said:
In this particular situation, I think the best course of action is to get a group of people together and approach the pastor of the parish. This is really a very parish-specific thing and it doesn’t need to go past that unless the priest is unwilling. Perhaps the reason the pastor hasn’t done away with him yet is because he thinks people actually like what the man says, which isn’t an excuse, but can be a precarious situation for a priest. You say that there are other people who are bothered by this, and rightly so, so you should get several of them together after mass sometime very soon, and approach father privately.

If that doesn’t work, write a letter to the diocesan bishop, with specific examples of what the man says. It would also add much gravity to your argument to get signatures on your letter from other parishioners, as many as possible. If you do have to go this far, don’t “teach the bishop” in your letter. He knows what mass is supposed to be like. Don’t criticize excessively. State mostly facts. If you have to inject your feelings, keep it to a sentence or less. Be objective. The most important thing to include, I think, is the part about the man insulting the priest. That is awful.

Mass is not social hour, nor is it a comedy show to make mockeries of sacred things. Announcements should be made in the soberest manner possible, and what this man does seems, so far, to be unacceptable.
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I’m sorry if I didn’t make this absolutely clear, but this was while we were visiting my fiancee’s relatives in Texas over Thanksgiving. We’re from Nebraska. So, we’re not going to be able to approach Father privately or get other parishoners to sign the letter. My future SIL told me it happens every Sunday and I’d like to try and do something to get it stopped since since no one else seems to be willing to do so. That’s why I’m wondering if I should write the letter or just let it go since it’s not my parish or diocese.
 
your relative should be the one to complain, and gather like complaints from other parishioners, if she hasn’t it must not bother her that much.

but yes as a visitor who has a genuine cause for concern you may certainly write to the pastor and give the impression one visitor received of his parish. What he does with the feedback is up to him.
 
average_Joe said:
I’m sorry if I didn’t make this absolutely clear, but this was while we were visiting my fiancee’s relatives in Texas over Thanksgiving. We’re from Nebraska. So, we’re not going to be able to approach Father privately or get other parishoners to sign the letter. My future SIL told me it happens every Sunday and I’d like to try and do something to get it stopped since since no one else seems to be willing to do so. That’s why I’m wondering if I should write the letter or just let it go since it’s not my parish or diocese.
Click to expand...
Oh, right. Well, if I were you, I’d pressure your relatives down in Texas to do what I just said.
 
average_Joe said:
Hopefully I put this in the right forum. It seemed like the right one, anyway.

Over the Thanksgiving weekend, my fiancee and I went to visit her family in Texas. On our way to Mass on Sunday, my future SIL warned me about the guy that does announcements right before the dismissal. She told me he likes to take a long time, make jokes, make it all about himself, etc. I thought, “Hey, how bad could it really be?” Oh, it was bad. He had a wireless mic that he used and paced back and forth across the altar. The first thing he did was insult the woman that had just finished speaking to us about the SVDP society. Then, instead of just reading the announcements, he had to make comments, tell stories, or make jokes about each of them. He even looked for people in congregation associated with the announcement to quiz them about the accuracy of the announcement or ask for more details. In the process, he also had the nerve to insult Father twice! It was like he thought this was the time to practice his comedy routine. After Mass I was pretty angry/horrified about what I had witnessed. I don’t go to Mass to watch someone do comedy hour, I’m there for the Eucharist. My future SIL told me that it leaves a bad taste in their mouth every Sunday and that plenty of people in the parish don’t like it either. However, no one seems to be willing to do anything about it. I’m seriously considering writing a letter to the bishop of that diocese about it. My question is, would that be too extreme? It’s not my parish or diocese, but I really think something needs to be done about it.
Click to expand...
I am surprised that no one talks about it to the fellow or to the priest.
Are you sure the other people do not enjoy the show?
As for you, there are emails, telephone calls, letters and so on…
But I think that first contacted should be the pARISH…
 
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