Stations by clowns vent

[fullofzeal]

I understand and agree with you. We expect more from our
Catholic school, like reverence for a start. It’s confusing why
so many blatantly baffling things happen in Catholic school,
but wait. There are things happening in the Catholic school
that will never happen in the public school. One of the most
precious things is prayer. The children pray together and for
each other and are raised up for this to be a natural habit of
people. This is no small treasure to give our children. Now,
can you imagine a public school field trip to a church for a
mass? Yet they do it every week in Catholic school, and are
trained to have different jobs in the mass. The experience of
sharing mass with all your friends from school is invaluable
and not offered in public school where it might be thought
strange.

you’re right!

peace

There is no one who can cancel a clown stations of the cross
but you, and you can’t actually cancel it. But, you can give your
opinion to the principal of the school. Pray first, and you may
say something in that meeting that changes their mind for
future productions. Even with the clown stations of the cross,
the public school is not more holy. Even with all its problems,
the Catholic school is the holier choice. If I ever had the money
to use the Catholic schools again, I hope there would still be
some parents like you left.

I understand puzzle annie and want to agree, but I just don’t.
Jesus just doesn’t deserve the “honor” of being dressed as a
clown, especially when reenacting his death.

 

[revejj2000]

my two kids attend to Cath grade school. My daughter will be entering H.S. next year and the school she will be attending had the grade school kids over for a stations of the cross field trip. When they came home I asked them how the field trip and Stations were. My son said it was weird, like some kind of play that he really didn’t get. I said 'WHAT DO YOU MEAN AND THEY SAID IT WAS PERFORMED BY A CLOWN MINISTRY. THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS BY CLOWNS. I thought I read somewhere a document by the pope (recently) about these things…liturgical dancing and the like…does anyone know where I can find this…I thought it was a recent encyclical about the mass. I wonder what purpose and what the benefits might be, to be confusing childre ages 11-13 about the holiest events that have ever taken place…our Lords passion. I just can’t beleive it. The diocese of Cleveland needs many prayers.

peace

Did they perform the Stations in a Church or in the School Auditorium? If I recall, they do it in the high school Auditorium. This is their interpretation of the Stations of the Cross. The person who was once Christ in the Stations was a gentleman who had a major stroke and was in a wheel chair. He died in January of 2007. He represented the sufferings of Christ by his sufferings. Besides, most Catholic grade schools usually have a Stations of the Cross for their students sometime during Lent. (I should not assume this, I guess). So I hope that your children would have the experience of the traditional Stations also. I assume you and your family attendedStations on Fridays during Lent, either at your parish or one in your area.

Most schools send permission slips home telling the parents where their children are going on a field trip. I do not know what may have been said on the permission slip, but I think that it should of said the Stations of the Cross was being presented by the Clown Ministry. If this was mentioned, you could have told the school that your child would not particiapate in the field trip or not send them to school that day.

 

[fullofzeal]

Did they perform the Stations in a Church or in the School Auditorium? If I recall, they do it in the high school Auditorium. This is their interpretation of the Stations of the Cross. The person who was once Christ in the Stations was a gentleman who had a major stroke and was in a wheel chair. He died in January of 2007. He represented the sufferings of Christ by his sufferings. Besides, most Catholic grade schools usually have a Stations of the Cross for their students sometime during Lent. (I should not assume this, I guess). So I hope that your children would have the experience of the traditional Stations also. I assume you and your family attendedStations on Fridays during Lent, either at your parish or one in your area.

Most schools send permission slips home telling the parents where their children are going on a field trip. I do not know what may have been said on the permission slip, but I think that it should of said the Stations of the Cross was being presented by the Clown Ministry. If this was mentioned, you could have told the school that your child would not particiapate in the field trip or not send them to school that day.

PERMISSION SLIP SAID NOTHING ABOUT CLOWNS. IF IT HAD I WOULD HAVE PASSED. INDEED WE ATTEND STATIONS AS DO THEY AT SCHOOL DURING LENT. I MET THIS GENTLEMAN OF WHOM YOU SPEAK A LONG TIME AGO AND HE AND HIS WIFE CHANGED A LOT OF PEOPLE THROUGH THEIR EXAMPLE OF LOVE AND FIDELITY. ALSO, WE ALL SUFFER IN SOME WAY. YEARS OF CONSTRUCTION HAS RACKED MY BODY AND I LIVE WITH TERRIBLE CHRONIC PAIN ALL OVER. (PRAISE GOD)
SO ALTHOUGH THE INTENTION OF DOING GOOD ON THEIR PART IS MERITABLE, CHRIST ALSO SUFFERS IN **ALL **OF US OR WITH US, AS IT WERE, AND ALL OF OUR CROSSES ARE HEAVY…IT DOESN’T MEAN THAT IT’S PRUDENT TO PRESENT THE REAL SUFFERING IN ANY OTHER WAY THAN IT’S MEAN’T TO AFFECT US. IN OTHER WORDS CLOWNS DO WHAT CLOWNS DO…GAGS AND SCHTICK… IT’S WHAT THEY ARE…THEIR IDENTITY. HAS THE IDENTITY OF A CLOWN EVER BEEN ANYTHING ELSE?
SENTIMENTALITY ASIDE, OUR ONLY SENTIMENT WHEN IT COMES TO THE CROSS OF CRIST IS THE FACT THAT IF WE DON’T CARRY OURS, EVEN THOUGH WE MAY THINK IT LICIT TO REINTERPRET HOW WE PRESENT THE CROSS, WE ARE DOOMED. THERE IS NO MIDDLE GROUND REGARDING THINGS HOLY. BY GIVING GUIDELINES FOR INSIDE THE CHURCH IT SEEMS THE CHURCH WOULD EXPECT US TO OPERATE ACCORDINGLY OUTSIDE THE CHURCH. LIKE I TELL MY KIDS “IF YOU WANT TO PRACTICE VITUE, LIVE THE HOLY LITURGY AFTER YOU LEAVE”.

PEACE

 

[fullofzeal]

The Stations Were Never Mean’t To Be Entertainment, And Clowns Who Don’t Entertain Cease To Be Clowns, It Would Seem, Especially To A Child. They Appear As Some Sort Of Unhappy Clown… That Which The Child Doesn’t Understand…and That’s Not Very Reverent.

Peace

 

[gvogt4]

No matter what else is said here, the below says it all for me (from Webster Online) - don’t see anything in there that says to me, “Yeh, this is perfect for the Stations of the Cross!”.

Main Entry: 1clown
Pronunciation: 'klaun
Function: noun
Etymology: probably of Low German origin; akin to Frisian klönne clumsy fellow, Old English clyne lump of metal
1 : FARMER, COUNTRYMAN
2 : a rude ill-bred person : BOOR
3 a : a fool, jester, or comedian in an entertainment (as a play); specifically : a grotesquely dressed comedy performer in a circus b : a person who habitually jokes and plays the buffoon c : JOKER 1b

 

[fullofzeal]

sorry about my typo’s…( Christ, Virtue, and all the messy CAPS)

Peace

 

[QuietTimes]

I know. I’m in favour of artificially shifting the tectonic plates to force California out into the ocean.

At least someone spoke up. I would have bellowed my head off until my vocal chords gave way in order to disrupt that mass.

Let me know if this ever happens I understand your frustration. I think that abuses are happening everywhere:blush: it is very sad and annoying.

 

[red8510]

What is wrong with you?

I just saw the clown Ministry perform the Stations of the Cross yesterday and it was amazing. Those kids put their heart and soul into the performance and there was not a dry eye in the auditorium. They raise thousands of dollars for charity each year and sacrifice their time and energy because they are so deeply dedicated to what they do.

When you hear “clowns” you think they are smiling and laughing and making fun, but it is the exact opposite. They perform songs about with the most serious looks. They look almost sorrowful, and during some songs, they themselves are so moved, they also find themselves crying.

The Clown Ministry is amazing and has been amazing for 24 years. I cannot wait to see it again next year.

 

[Jimsdun]

Call me a little crusty, but I have hated clowns since I was a little kid. They had distorted, grotesque faces, but I found an even greater reason to dislike them after I’d studied some history. Certain martyrs in Protestant England who were to be executed were often first forced to watch a clown or jester put on vestments and mock the Holy Mass. Not that the average bozo who twists balloons for children thinks like this, but I find the concept of clowns in a church particularly distressing.

That brings back an old memory. I was “terrorized” by a clown when I was 3 years old, and I still remember it almost half a century later

 

[chicago]

There are quite a number of people involved in various forms of ‘clown ministry.’ The idea isn’t to be silly or just ‘dress up like a clown.’ Rather, it is to represent something which speaks of human traits or emotions, our human failings, along with the vast range of experience in a unique manner that gets us thinking outside the box.

Some examples can be quite touching, and lead one to reflect upon the mysteries of Christ in light of our own human weaknesses quite effectively and in a manner that moves one to deeper devotion.

It can be done! There are plenty of clowns and other childrens’ entertainers out there who do it all the time. But the bad examples are often what stand out, garnering attention.

Clowns are not inherently bad. Nor necessarily creepy. The key is if their work is accomplished well. Too often clowns don’t look good, their presentations are well meaning, but faulty. And it leads people to think that they are to be avoided at all costs.

I’d like to see what kind of presentation this group did and allow it to be judged on its own merits or problems, rather than too simplistically dismissing it out of hand just because it was different and not what we would immediately think of as reverent.

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

There are quite a number of people involved in various forms of ‘clown ministry.’ The idea isn’t to be silly or just ‘dress up like a clown.’ Rather, it is to represent something which speaks of human traits or emotions, our human failings, along with the vast range of experience in a unique manner that gets us thinking outside the box.

Some examples can be quite touching, and lead one to reflect upon the mysteries of Christ in light of our own human weaknesses quite effectively and in a manner that moves one to deeper devotion.

It can be done! There are plenty of clowns and other childrens’ entertainers out there who do it all the time. But the bad examples are often what stand out, garnering attention.

Clowns are not inherently bad. Nor necessarily creepy. The key is if their work is accomplished well. Too often clowns don’t look good, their presentations are well meaning, but faulty. And it leads people to think that they are to be avoided at all costs.

I’d like to see what kind of presentation this group did and allow it to be judged on its own merits or problems, rather than too simplistically dismissing it out of hand just because it was different and not what we would immediately think of as reverent.

Thank you for your intelligent answer to an old (almost a year old) thread. Tomie dePaola has an excellent little book on the subject of the clown in the Church, called the Clown of God. Teachers with United Streaming access will find it in the Grades 1-3 literature section.

 

[PaixGioiaAmor]

my two kids attend to Cath grade school. My daughter will be entering H.S. next year and the school she will be attending had the grade school kids over for a stations of the cross field trip. When they came home I asked them how the field trip and Stations were. My son said it was weird, like some kind of play that he really didn’t get. I said 'WHAT DO YOU MEAN AND THEY SAID IT WAS PERFORMED BY A CLOWN MINISTRY. THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS BY CLOWNS. I thought I read somewhere a document by the pope (recently) about these things…liturgical dancing and the like…does anyone know where I can find this…I thought it was a recent encyclical about the mass. I wonder what purpose and what the benefits might be, to be confusing childre ages 11-13 about the holiest events that have ever taken place…our Lords passion. I just can’t beleive it. The diocese of Cleveland needs many prayers.

peace

There is someone in the diocese that you can (and should) contact regarding this issue. She is the newly installed director of the office for liturgy. If you hunt around only a minimal amount on the website, I’m sure you can find her e-mail and contact info.

Regardless of a few rogue communities, there are many priests, liturgists, and musicians in this diocese who are comitted to good, reverant, liturgy and devotions.

At the risk of speaking for our bishop, I can assure you that he does not condone these kinds of things.

 

[PaixGioiaAmor]

My mistake!

Why do people insist on dredging up year old threads?

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

My mistake!

Why do people insist on dredging up year old threads?

LOL, because newbies come on CAF, use the “search” feature, and comment away, not looking at the dates. Definitely an Emily laTella (remember Saturday Night Live, “Never Mind”) moment for all.

 

[red8510]

I saw the date, I know it was posted last year, but it doesn’t mean I don’t have an opinion on it, it doesn’t make it any less relevant.

And I’m so sure you used the words newbies.

 

[puzzleannie]

please note that OP never came back and told exactly what her children witnessed, only related a few words of what a couple of young teens reported, Until we know exactly what the production was, there is little point in protesting\ or even offering an opinion.

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

I saw the date, I know it was posted last year, but it doesn’t mean I don’t have an opinion on it, it doesn’t make it any less relevant.

And I’m so sure you used the words newbies.

This is a problem for you? Sorry if you’re offended. What’s wrong with the word “newbies”?

You are new. The thread was old. The OP hadn’t come back and told us what exactly his kids saw, and has only 76 posts since last April, indicating he hasn’t been back in a a while.

And as you saw, chicago and I reinforced your argument. Chicago made some intelligent replies. I gave a good reference on clowns in church (the building) as well as Church (as in, “We are the Church”).