Talking in lobby during Communion

[CarmeliteGirl25]

The issue is that it isn’t before or after Mass though, it is during Mass, and they are loud enough that they can be heard inside the church proper during a time in the Mass when we are supposed to be praying quietly.

Exactly what I was planning to say.

 

[Beachcomber]

Here’s my :twocents:

If all of the goings on can be heard during Mass, it’s too loud. Maybe a pleasant letter to the priest mentioning this would be effective. An announcement about the loudness might help people become more considerate. It’s part of foster spiritual growth in his parishoners that the priest would want to bring this up.

And, too, I’ve always thought that a greeting before Mass started would be a better place for the Sign of Peace where it currently is. My parish tends to make it into a free for all; whereas at the beginning, it would be a nice way to welcome people to celebrate the Mass in fellowship together.

 

[DOShea]

The simple answer is to have the ushers herd these people inside and close the doors, and not allow people outside the doorway to “think” they are experiencing the Mass. This isn’t too hard, that’s what happens at a theater, a symphony concert, or even a movie. Why not simply talk to one of the priests about it and suggest the ushers take a bit more active role in helping to preserve the sanctity of the Mass and reverence for the liturgy?

 

[happilycatholic]

I always sit in the first few pews and so I also never paid any attention to what goes on behind me. Then there came the time that I’ll never forget. I was with my confirmation kids at a youth Mass that they are required to attend. By the time I rounded up all of the kids Mass had already started. Since I had two in my group stay in the vestibule I stayed back there with them. OH, for crying out loud. I experienced exactly what you described. It was absolutely unbelievable. In reality when I was an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion we would go back there and I saw the disruption but I never let it sink in as much as that time.

What can be done? You know it is very discouraging. I am fifty years old and I can still remember when Mass was solemn and no one talked even in the Church. Ladies covered their heads and men wore suits. Now I have to wonder if anyone even realizes what the Mass is? We’ve given in to wearing anything (what a distraction when some girl in front if me is wearing short shorts), talking all through the Mass, clapping for anything, and liturgies that seem to be an attraction rather than the re-presentation of the Paschal Mystery.

I’m not sure that you are going to find an answer to this. We lack heavily in catechesis and proper Mass etiquette. You can speak with your pastor and maybe the head usher but good luck. I know that I wasn’t any help but at least you know that I share in your frustration. I’m anxious to hear the other posters. Perhaps they have a remedy. God bless…teachccd

I have experienced some of the same things at our parish. Just this weekend, there was a couple with children between the ages of five and seven or so and they talked out loud and whined and threw fits the entire mass. I was devastated. I lost the entire experience. They even did this through the reading of the Gospel and Consecration of the Eucharist.

I did notice that our priest was none too happy so I won’t need to make it known to him. But I’m positive I would’ve done just that had it not been an obvious situation.

I have however, thought about mentioning the things I’ve been seeing people wearing to mass. Maybe I’m just old-fashioned (I’m 42) but I don’t like seeing these seethough, skimpy “shirt dresses”, for lack of a better description, that young people are wearing and I finally saw one on a girl at Church. I figured it was only a matter of time.

I’m not trying to be judgmental, but I do think this is an offense to Christian sensibilities and something we should not have to endure and surely something that’s not appropriate in the presence of our Lord.

Have some of us forgotten that Christ is with us and we are joining Him at His Table?



HC

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

The vestibule is not a part of the Church, that is it is separate from the body of the Church where the Liturgy is taking place.

How are those there to know what is going on?

No where does the Church state that those in the vestibule during a Mass should kneel.

I am sorry but I have to agree with what Cat said.

 

[Beachcomber]

The simple answer is to have the ushers herd these people inside and close the doors, and not allow people outside the doorway to “think” they are experiencing the Mass. This isn’t too hard, that’s what happens at a theater, a symphony concert, or even a movie. Why not simply talk to one of the priests about it and suggest the ushers take a bit more active role in helping to preserve the sanctity of the Mass and reverence for the liturgy?

That’s a really good idea. Wish I’d thought of it.

 

[teachccd]

I have experienced some of the same things at our parish. Just this weekend, there was a couple with children between the ages of five and seven or so and they talked out loud and whined and threw fits the entire mass. I was devastated. I lost the entire experience. They even did this through the reading of the Gospel and Consecration of the Eucharist.

I did notice that our priest was none too happy so I won’t need to make it known to him. But I’m positive I would’ve done just that had it not been an obvious situation.

I have however, thought about mentioning the things I’ve been seeing people wearing to mass. Maybe I’m just old-fashioned (I’m 42) but I don’t like seeing these seethough, skimpy “shirt dresses”, for lack of a better description, that young people are wearing and I finally saw one on a girl at Church. I figured it was only a matter of time.

I’m not trying to be judgmental, but I do think this is an offense to Christian sensibilities and something we should not have to endure and surely something that’s not appropriate in the presence of our Lord.

Have some of us forgotten that Christ is with us and we are joining Him at His Table?



HC

It all boils down to a lack of catechesis. When I was a kid (and before anyone jumps on me I know that these are “different times”) the priest would express concerns from the pulpit. Now it seems that we have to accept these less than respectful attitutes towards the Mass. I’ve heard that if we bug our kids to dress properly then they won’t want to go and at least it’s better that they are there.

In today’s society there is a tremendous lack of respect for parents, teachers, law enforcement and the like. If our kids are experiencing this type of upbringing then they would think it odd that we would expect them to respect the Mass. Isn’t the home referred to as the domestic Church? If a parent deems it o.k. for their daughter to wear a skimpy “shirt dress” when she goes out then what will that same girl think when asked not to wear it to Mass?

This may seem like it is derailing the original post but in reality it is not. We have posters here disputing whether or not it is a vestibule or a narthex. We should have everyone here acknowledging that the Mass is the most solemn event that we have on earth and the Mass deserves the utmost respect. When I was a kid we used to make the Sign of the Cross in the street whenever we passed a Catholic Church since we knew that Christ was sacramentally present in the tabernacle. We need to do something. Can we even imagine how these children who are allowed to disrespect the Mass will raise their children one day? We will look back and say, " Remember the good old days when we only had people running around and talking in the narthex (vestibule)?" Oh the good old days… teachccd

 

[aliciar]

Now, having the priest tell everyone to say hello to each other is not bad. Isn’t like telling everyone to shake hands and wish them a blessed day after saying Our Father?

 

[CarmeliteGirl25]

The vestibule is not a part of the Church, that is it is separate from the body of the Church where the Liturgy is taking place.

How are those there to know what is going on?

No where does the Church state that those in the vestibule during a Mass should kneel.

I am sorry but I have to agree with what Cat said.

What you and ‘Cat’ failed to understand is that it IS part of the Church. It’s the cry room for our parish, and so parishioners are participating in the Mass. The reason there were that many people back there is because they were lined up waiting to receive the Eucharist. But I guess many had gotten bored and started talking.

It’s a very open space back there, and you can hear talking because it echoes. I think for the Mass, people should try to maintain a quiet atmosphere and refrain from talking. If it must be done, they can go outside.

 

[SMHW]

I would say that in general, the narthex is NOT where the Mass is happening so rules of behavior in the narthex should be different from rules of behavior in the nave of the Church.

That said, those in the narthex, whether they are there to participate in the Mass but have some reason to leave the nave of the church (such as the OP) or those who are there for some other reason, ought to show a certain amount of decorum, particularly while a Mass is going on. Those in the narthex ought not to be disturbing those in the nave. And I agree that those who are there to participate in a Mass ought to be in the nave unless there is a good reason (liturgical minsitry duties, restless child, bathroom break, etc.) to be in the narthex.

But I repeat again, those in the narthex should not be generally be held to the same level of behavior as those in the nave. This is not really a new concept; that’s why church buildings still have a narthex even though we don’t forbid non-Catholics from intering the nave now days.

 

[SMHW]

What you and ‘Cat’ failed to understand is that it IS part of the Church. It’s the cry room for our parish, and so parishioners are participating in the Mass. The reason there were that many people back there is because they were lined up waiting to receive the Eucharist. But I guess many had gotten bored and started talking.

It’s a very open space back there, and you can hear talking because it echoes. I think for the Mass, people should try to maintain a quiet atmosphere and refrain from talking. If it must be done, they can go outside.

Is it a cry room? Or do you mean it is used as a cry room? I agree that people who are attending Mass ought to act like they are attending Mass.

So there is no real place to go in your church for people who are not there for Mass? I find that problematic (unless maybe you go to a very old or a small church) but that does not excuse the bad behavior of those who are there for Mass.

Of course it is possible to decide to go to communion even if one is not there for Mass so long as one has not received communion earlier that day. And it is also a good idea spend some moments in prayer before doing so rather than talking.

 

[CarmeliteGirl25]

Please forgive me if any of my posts have seemed forceful or angry. I believe my passion for the Eucharist can be overwhelming sometimes.

 

[CarmeliteGirl25]

Is it a cry room? Or do you mean it is used as a cry room? I agree that people who are attending Mass ought to act like they are attending Mass.

So there is no real place to go in your church for people who are not there for Mass? I find that problematic (unless maybe you go to a very old or a small church) but that does not excuse the bad behavior of those who are there for Mass.

Of course it is possible to decide to go to communion even if one is not there for Mass so long as one has not received communion earlier that day. And it is also a good idea spend some moments in prayer before doing so rather than talking.

It is the cry room since we do not have a permanent one. The narthex is the ‘overflow’ area most of the time since we have a very large parish (1,500 families). I still do not understand why neither the builders nor the diocese decided to make a cry room. In my former parish, there was always a cry room separate from the nave and narthex, but still a part of the celebration of Mass. It reminded me very much of a waiting room.

 

[maryjk]

It’s a very open space back there, and you can hear talking because it echoes. I think for the Mass, people should try to maintain a quiet atmosphere and refrain from talking. If it must be done, they can go outside.

Can you hear the Mass?

 

[Mrs_Sally]

What you and ‘Cat’ failed to understand is that it IS part of the Church. It’s the cry room for our parish, and so parishioners are participating in the Mass. The reason there were that many people back there is because they were lined up waiting to receive the Eucharist. But I guess many had gotten bored and started talking.

It’s a very open space back there, and you can hear talking because it echoes. I think for the Mass, people should try to maintain a quiet atmosphere and refrain from talking. If it must be done, they can go outside.

Seems like your best bet would be to begin to pray specifically for those families. Perhaps offer your Masses for them.

I’m sure if there is no cry room, it is very hard on parents with little ones to be forced to stand all through Mass and to try to keep track of their kids in an open space like that. It would have been very difficult for me, when my kids were little, to maintain a devout frame of mind when I was also chasing kids around a big open space! And especially if I couldn’t hear or see the Mass very well.