Yes, I’ve seen this happen in some parishes, too. I agree that it is very disrespectful of the Real Presence of Jesus in the Tabernacle.
It’s one of those things that, once it gets started, it’s hard to stop it. The parishioners become accustomed to it as “this is the way it is.” Only a deliberate action on the part of the pastor could change it.
I have heard those in favor of such a thing argue that it is better to have the parishioners build community through this socializing than to leave without ever talking to each other. In their mind, the only alternative to this loud pre- and post-Mass socializing is for the parishoners to enter and exit silently, solemnly and sullen-faced without ever getting to know anyone else in the parish. They further argue that Jesus would rather the parishoners build these communal bonds than to be in silence. That, they would say, is
really more respectful of Jesus.
Then one might counter that this socialization can easily take place in the vestibule or parish hall after Mass. But they would simply rebut that the vestibule is too small and most people won’t hang around in the parish hall: once they leave the church, they’ll be out to their car.
Of course, the
real antidote is to work harder to build community in the right ways. The volume of pre-and post-Mass talking is not an accurate way to measure the true communal bonds between parishioners. True bonding and empty small talk still can have the same volume. In addition, you can’t really have
true bonding without respecting and reverencing that Holy Communion which is the actual
source of our unity.
Those are my thoughts, anyway.
Any thoughts on this?
) and knelt there in prayer until I was the only one left. Then I genuflected and sort of made a pact with Our Lord without words that I would rarely, if ever! 
