Stopping side conversations during communion

[VAC]

This topic has been mentioned in other threads.
I’m asking for specific ideas, tactful if possible
We started reciting the rosary before every mass partly in an attempt to end all the yip yap. It isn’t working. The other week I was almost yelling the ‘Hail Mary’ into the microphone and folks were treating us like we were in the background. Our choir coordinater actually came over and turned me up louder.
Father did make an announcement before mass, politely asking them to be quiet, but this side noise is still happening.

We meet in a local high school cafeteria awaiting a building, and our sound equipment is portable and not the top of the line, but we can be heard well throughout the cafeteria once folks shut up.

CCD is every 2 weeks, so those masses are packed with 400+ people.(double the normal crowd) The noise before communion from the crowd is truly irreverant. As the choir leader, I’ve been given a good suggestion of having something instrumental played while the choir receives, Would it be liturgically incorrect of me to make an announcement to invite the people to sing with us or pray quietyl in the real presence???
Father has interrupted communion in the past to tell people to pipe down. I think our music helps drown out the side conversatoins, but they don’t really go away…If the meditation song ends early, they start right back up again.

OK, rant over for now… Ideas???

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

This topic has been mentioned in other threads.
I’m asking for specific ideas, tactful if possible
We started reciting the rosary before every mass partly in an attempt to end all the yip yap. It isn’t working. The other week I was almost yelling the ‘Hail Mary’ into the microphone and folks were treating us like we were in the background. Our choir coordinater actually came over and turned me up louder.
Father did make an announcement before mass, politely asking them to be quiet, but this side noise is still happening.

We meet in a local high school cafeteria awaiting a building, and our sound equipment is portable and not the top of the line, but we can be heard well throughout the cafeteria once folks shut up.

CCD is every 2 weeks, so those masses are packed with 400+ people.(double the normal crowd) The noise before communion from the crowd is truly irreverant. As the choir leader, I’ve been given a good suggestion of having something instrumental played while the choir receives, Would it be liturgically incorrect of me to make an announcement to invite the people to sing with us or pray quietyl in the real presence???
Father has interrupted communion in the past to tell people to pipe down. I think our music helps drown out the side conversatoins, but they don’t really go away…If the meditation song ends early, they start right back up again.

OK, rant over for now… Ideas???

The pastor needs to send a letter to every member of the parish going over his expectations for Mass behavior. It would not ne in appropriate to post signs noting that even though this is a cafeteria during the week it IS liturgical space on Sunday mornings. You have the microphone USE it! Tell them quiet please while preparing for Mass, if you must carry on a conversation please take it outside!

 

[Crumpy]

There is something in our culture that is lacking in a respect for what is sacred, and this is a prime example.

I had to look and see where the OP’er was from. Well, the same thing happens in suburban Chicago and up here in central lower Michigan. There is simply a detachment from whatever is going on.

Well, I think it’s what happened to us culturally in the 1980’s – you know? the “me” decade? As far as a lot of people are concerned, they are the center of the universe, and everything revolves around them.

Watch some of the news commentary programs on cable, and you will be watching people simultaneously speaking and arguing, and it’s incoherent to me, a viewer. But, that’s the same phenomenon, of lack of impulse control, in great measure.

And, add to that, our cultural tendency to be competitive and independent. It is in striking contrast to the teaching of scripture, if anybody cares about that anymore, where God says “my house shall be a house of prayer.”

I think it’s comparable to a medical “vital sign” that people act like they’re in a bar. There’s no respect for others’ praying or for the location. There’s no sense of holy joy about being in the presence of God.

This same thing has been happening in funeral homes in my home town, where the conversation becomes so loud, it’s just a racket.

Locally, the priests foster all this, by their own loud talk and joking in the church, particularly in places where the tabernacle has been removed. They laugh at their own jokes, and their laughter just echos off the walls, where more heavenly sounds were heard in decades past.

And, let’s not forget that the teaching sisters are long gone, who had the thankless job of keeping the kids in line behaviourly, in church. The priests’ jobs were a lot easier then, because of the sisters. Now, the priests misbehave mischieviously as if they were merely boys.

Even when I was a kid, even some of the old priests had to keep people in line, in church. But, you don’t see a lot of that any more.

U.S. Catholic magazine had a cover about this maybe ten years ago. They showed a wild bunch of people doing everything imaginable in the pews. They took notice of it and their comment was, it’ll never go back to the way it was, so get used to it.

Almost 50 years ago in my home town, I went to the Saturday matinee, which was packed with kids. The first thing they’d do is have a big stern lecture about the kids behaving themselves. If the kids weren’t reasonable, they’d threaten and actually would turn off the movie and turn on all the lights.

People aren’t respectful and humble enough. Things are wild in Africa, too. My friend was doing missionary work there recently. They keep the organ locked up in a closet, to prevent damage and theft. The ushers were carrying in the electronic organ in during the bishop’s homily.

Get used to it. We’re all crazy.

 

[VAC]

I had to look and see where the OP’er was from. Well, the same thing happens in suburban Chicago and up here in central lower Michigan. There is simply a detachment from whatever is going on

.South Florida

I think it’s comparable to a medical “vital sign” that people act like they’re in a bar. There’s no respect for others’ praying or for the location. There’s no sense of holy joy about being in the presence of God.

I’ve been told that people will be more respectful once we have a real building of our own.

And, let’s not forget that the teaching sisters are long gone, who had the thankless job of keeping the kids in line behaviourly, in church. The priests’ jobs were a lot easier then, because of the sisters. Now, the priests misbehave mischieviously as if they were merely boys

. This is a children’s mass, we expect fidgeting and baby noises. There are a few unruly children, but it’s minimal and much less distracting than what’s coming from the adults!

Even when I was a kid, even some of the old priests had to keep people in line, in church. But, you don’t see a lot of that any more.

Our priest tries. Example: last year around Christmas time, he begged the congregation to give him the gift of showing up on time for mass. It worked wonderfully for a while, then folks fell into their old habit. There’s also a regular message in the bulletin about
‘love and respect for the eucharist’ ; dress appropriately, be on time, and resolve any marraige/ living together issuses not in line with church teachings; needs to resolve that situation before receiving. He’s also announced at the crowded masses that it’s a mortal sin not to attend mass on Sundays.

Get used to it. We’re all crazy

You’re probably right. Actually, I think I’d rather hear people praying in tongues than yacking during quiet times at mass. Maybe the acoustics in the new building will help:shrug:

 

[IrishAm]

I do think the “high school cafeteria” atmosphere contributes to your very real problem.

I would suggest having a priest do some “wandering” through the side aisles or other gathering places before Mass and during communion, if that is what it takes. A friendly tap on the shoulder and finger to the lips has a lot more impact when the reminder also wears a clerical collar.

Of course, I’m the one who thinks when children are out of control during mass (really out of control, not the normal noise and squirming of a wee one), an usher – or, better yet, my friendly man with the collar – should tap a parent on the shoulder and offer to show them a “spot at the back (off to the side, out on the street, around the block, whatever) where they can quiet the sweet little one.”

 

[Saint_Gemma]

I would suggest having a priest do some “wandering” through the side aisles or other gathering places before Mass and during communion, if that is what it takes. A friendly tap on the shoulder and finger to the lips has a lot more impact when the reminder also wears a clerical collar.

They should borrow our pastor. His stern manner and German accent would make almost anyone be quiet.

 

[DJgang]

Our Parish has just started leaving little notes in the pews.

Brightly colored paper, each week about a problem (and not being quite is definitely a problem)…each week…little square, bright hot pink, lime green notes on the pews, people can’t miss them…

It’s been a great idea because I’ve noticed a lot of changes in the people.

One week was about Modesty! Yes, I was shocked, however, it was a much needed note…if you know what I mean…

 

[ElectricMayhem]

“The noise before communion from the crowd is truly irreverant.”

I suppose it’s how you define irreverant. Is it possible that noise can be reverant?

 

[IrishAm]

No. Noise from the crowd cannot be reverent. Sound from an organ, from a choir, from a congregation lifting their voice as one in prayerful acclimation – THAT can be reverent. Not what OP is talking about, however . . .

 

[ElectricMayhem]

the crowd? Am I watching a show?

 

[VAC]

the crowd? Am I watching a show?

No, If you were watching a show, most likely people would be quieter if they had paid admission
Sorry if that was a poor choice of words. congregation is much longer to type, and I read in one of my resource books that the word ‘assembly’ is now the correct term; and it just doesn’t agree with me.

Do you have any practical suggestions for encouraging reverence at mass, now that you’ve corrected my choice of words?

 

[ElectricMayhem]

No prob

I am all for reverance, but I find the “irreverant” moments to be just as reverant.

I always ask myself. “Self, does Jesus become less present when my kids are screaming, the organ playing stinks, the choir is brutal and the furnace is broken?”

My answer always is “no”…I find that Jesus does not become less Jesus whether it is choas or quiet.

 

[VAC]

No prob

I am all for reverance, but I find the “irreverant” moments to be just as reverant.

I always ask myself. “Self, does Jesus become less present when my kids are screaming, the organ playing stinks, the choir is brutal and the furnace is broken?”

My answer always is “no”…I find that Jesus does not become less Jesus whether it is choas or quiet.

Of course Jesus is always present, in the mass or outside mass. Even when my oldest son cops the most horrible disrespectful attitude, and won’t come into the building with us, and my youngest needs to be reminded that he isn’t supposed to run and climb up the cafeteria tables, and the A/C isn’t working. (A BIG deal in South Florida,) all very recent real hurdles!!

Jesus is always present to us, it is we who move away from him…But I just thought it would be nice for people to limit their side conversations to emergencies and socialize over donuts and coffee after mass.

 

[IrishAm]

I am all for reverance, but I find the “irreverant” moments to be just as reverant.

I always ask myself. “Self, does Jesus become less present when my kids are screaming, the organ playing stinks, the choir is brutal and the furnace is broken?”

My answer always is “no”…I find that Jesus does not become less Jesus whether it is choas or quiet.

Maybe the question is not “Does Jesus become less present” but “Does Jesus feel less welcome?”

Just a thought.

 

[Hellisreal]

I have a way of dealing with problems that bother me.
The first thing I do is imagine the problem being worse.
Then, I turn my thoughts around to that. Example: I used to have a problem with what the Op talks about. Then, I realized- in my parish there were more people walking out right after holy communion than were distracting. Much more. So, I decided to pray for more to stay until the Mass was ended.
Guess what? I no longer notice the distractions, and I see my prayers are much more needed for a greater problem. I sit in the back now, and pray for everyone who passes by to leave early.

 

[Chatter163]

Well, I think it’s what happened to us culturally in the 1980’s – you know? the “me” decade?

I have always heard that the “me decade” was the 1960’s…

 

[Hellisreal]

I have always heard that the “me decade” was the 1960’s…

We are likely too old to be able recall that painful fact.

This new generation think they know everything that we already did, and got the T shirt.

 

[ElectricMayhem]

“I sit in the back now, and pray for everyone who passes by to leave early.”

At least they are there!

 

[Hellisreal]

“I sit in the back now, and pray for everyone who passes by to leave early.”

At least they are there!

I am glad they are there, but would be even happier if they fulfilled their obligation. Leaving right after communion does not satisfy their obligation, sadly they probably dont even know that, and the priest shoud mention it in a homily.

 

[ElectricMayhem]

At least they are there.