The Noise Factor and Your Parish

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Comparing to other parishes I have been at, the one I go to now is relatively quiet at the Mass I attend.

PF
 
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brotherhrolf:
Far different story at the cathedral. The choir does not practice in church but in the parish hall. Five minutes before Mass starts, the organ plays softly. Just before Mass, the choir will sing a short choral introit. And cell phones going off in Mass get withering looks.
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That is another thing we do, as well. I’m in the choir in my parish and we practice in the school, then head over the Church with just about 2-3 minutes to spare, and up to the loft (often through the back). The organist may play a little before Mass, often to warm up herself and this is only doable in the Church. It is not distractive though like the guitars tuning up, or other things I know I was doing when I was in a folk group for years

(Uh-oh, the secret’s out, yes, I was in a folk group).
 
Praying in silence is so very important to me. I went to a parish (not my own) with a friend of mine last Saturday (the 4:00 Mass). It was a mad house before Mass started. I actually had to move once while waiting on my friend because the couple in front of me were talking so much, I couldn’t focus on my prayers at all. Please note this is a parish where the tabernacle is directly behind the altar.

I moved towards the back, my friend joined me and while he was kneeling praying a few older ladies behind us were laughing and talking up a storm. One of them was laughing so hard she had to excuse herself. 30 seconds later we left and decided we would go to my parish the following morning. What a difference. I attend the Cathedral here, its so quiet you can hear a pin drop. The choir warms up in the parish hall while the organist plays a little before Mass, very nicely I might add. There are no guitars, etc. thank God. We actually had a harpist and cellist for Christmas, it was the most beautiful music I’ve ever heard during Mass.

As I said, praying in silence before Mass starts is of the utmost importance to me. Visiting with one another should be done either before Mass outside of the church or after Mass outside of the church. Its just about being considerate to those around you.

If something is that pressing that you absolutely have to tell the person and disrupt everyone around you you should already have their phone number.
 
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Lorrie:
If something is that pressing that you absolutely have to tell the person and disrupt everyone around you you should already have their phone number.
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Well, and quite frankly, it is not much of a relationship if the only time they can talk is in Church. Why not meet for dinner - even if only at someone’s home, for a simple, cheap meal and “gathering” that way.

Aside from that - get it outside.
 
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Lux_et_veritas:
Well, and quite frankly, it is not much of a relationship if the only time they can talk is in Church. Why not meet for dinner - even if only at someone’s home, for a simple, cheap meal and “gathering” that way.

Aside from that - get it outside.
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Well stated. Thank you.
 
Our parish is fairly noisy before mass.

After Mass, it is very noisy, and I love it! People visiting and catching up with each other, talking about their week, their kids, their life. It was a little odd at first (I came from a quiet parish), but I realized that this is what community is. People gathering, communicating, sharing a little bit of themselves with others.

And what better place to do that than in Church, with the Real Presence right there, to join in it all. After all, the last time someone tried to shoo someone away from Jesus, he said “Let the children come to me.” (Has anyone heard of a quiet kid?).

I wouldn’t have it any other way! 😃
 
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cheese_sdc:
Our parish is fairly noisy before mass.

After Mass, it is very noisy, and I love it! People visiting and catching up with each other, talking about their week, their kids, their life. It was a little odd at first (I came from a quiet parish), but I realized that this is what community is. People gathering, communicating, sharing a little bit of themselves with others.

And what better place to do that than in Church, with the Real Presence right there, to join in it all. After all, the last time someone tried to shoo someone away from Jesus, he said “Let the children come to me.” (Has anyone heard of a quiet kid?).

I wouldn’t have it any other way! 😃
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After Holy Communion we all become God bearers and still are when we walk into the parish hall for chit-chat. Church should be kept quiet and reverent.
 
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arieh0310:
After Holy Communion we all become God bearers and still are when we walk into the parish hall for chit-chat. Church should be kept quiet and reverent.
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I don’t understand, what does God bearing have to do silence? If we are all god bearers, then aren’t we all the same? What is the difference in talking while bearing god in the church or outside?

We meet God in many different ways. Some meet God in interacting with others, others in silence. When I want silence, I stop by church during the week and look at god and he looks at me.

When I’m around my friends after Mass, I talk to them.
 
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cheese_sdc:
I don’t understand, what does God bearing have to do silence? If we are all god bearers, then aren’t we all the same? What is the difference in talking while bearing god in the church or outside?

We meet God in many different ways. Some meet God in interacting with others, others in silence. When I want silence, I stop by church during the week and look at god and he looks at me.

When I’m around my friends after Mass, I talk to them.
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The difference is that if those who like to talk after mass do so in church then silence doesn’t exist for those who prefer quiet contemplation after mass. If you want to socialize (and there is nothing wrong with that, I do it every Sunday too) take it to the parish hall or outside, it is respectful of those who cannot find sacred silence any other day of the week (like my wife who has to chase 4 kids around all day every day).
 
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arieh0310:
The difference is that if those who like to talk after mass do so in church then silence doesn’t exist for those who prefer quiet contemplation after mass. If you want to socialize (and there is nothing wrong with that, I do it every Sunday too) take it to the parish hall or outside, it is respectful of those who cannot find sacred silence any other day of the week (like my wife who has to chase 4 kids around all day every day).
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Ah, so its a matter of manners then. That’s different. Many other posts have made this into a matter of piety and that talking is somehow disrespectful to God by speaking in Church. (Still not sure why God would be offended by people having a conversation).
there are signs posted asking people to ovbserve silence in the Church out of respect for the Blessed Sacrament.
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I would imagine such parishes probably are noisy because if the Blessed Sacrament is not present, then certainly people would feel free to converse. But, how sad folks must head to a chapel for silence before the Blessed Sacrament.
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And the tabernacle is right behind the altar-so all this is happening right infront of Jesus; it’s like he’s being ignored by most, (though not all).
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I argue that talking and socializing is not disrespectful to Jesus.

Now, you do raise a good point about being rude to a person trying to pray. I would reply, however, that such a person would find another parish to attend. As some others here have stated, they have found other parishs that suited their tastes better than their geographical parish. I actually could function equally well in either environment.

That’s all fine and good. Let’s not, however, pigeonhole those who do choose to attend a talkative parish as irreligious or sacriligeous.
 
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cheese_sdc:
Now, you do raise a good point about being rude to a person trying to pray. I would reply, however, that such a person would find another parish to attend. As some others here have stated, they have found other parishs that suited their tastes better than their geographical parish. I actually could function equally well in either environment.
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So, it is better to force people to drive 30-45 minutes to another parish that offers silence just so talkative members don’t have to walk 75 feet to the parish hall?
 
Which is exactly why I drive 25 miles to the cathedral rather than 5 miles to my geographical parish. Community is great but a respectful silence before and after Mass is better for those of us who want to pray…in church.
 
Better than condemning those who want to have a conversation as “sacrilegious”.
 
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brotherhrolf:
Which is exactly why I drive 25 miles to the cathedral rather than 5 miles to my geographical parish. Community is great but a respectful silence before and after Mass is better for those of us who want to pray…in church.
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I do the same thing, there are half a dozen parishes around my house and none of them offer respectful silence, so I am forced to drive 20 miles.
 
sighs

I guess it is not possible for you to see that conversation is okay, and can be a good and holy experience.

If you choose to drive, then that is your choice.

It has been interesting having our little conversation this afternoon. God Bless!
 
Maybe it would be a good thing if all the talkers, who feel what they have to say is of utmost interest to others forced to hear them, would take all that hot air outside! If ONE soul is quietly praying in the vicinity then silence is demanded.

When I talk with Jesus I want to be able to hear HIM alone.

This talking behavior is not just a matter of manners, although that would be enough if people are civilized, it is a form of self discipline and charity.

Does anybody know what it is to be corrected anymore, or do they want to continue stomping their feet and demanding attention?

Conversational enjoyment is recreation and has no priority in places of prayer.
 
Cheese, I am not condemning anyone for anything. Having grown up in Louisiana in a very Catholic culture and having gone to Catholic schools through high school, we were taught that when you entered into church you entered the house of God and you were to keep proper decorum and to maintain reverent silence in the presence of the Holy Eucharist. This was ingrained in me from childhood.

For me it is a matter of prayer. Before Mass and after Mass - in the presence of the Holy Eucharist. What you see as “community” is a very real barrier to my prayer. If the sanctuary sounds like the parish hall, it is a very real problem. If I want to pray, I want to pray. If I want to socialize, I’ll walk the 75 feet to the parish hall and have coffee and donuts with everyone else.

Silence in church was the norm for much of my life. I would have to go and look it up but I believe that in Habakuk, scripture says something to the effect of “Let all be silent in the presence of the Lord”. Can you honestly tell me that it is OK for two elderly people (who ought to know better) to discuss their hemmerhoids (sp?)!
 
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brotherhrolf:
Cheese, I am not condemning anyone for anything. Having grown up in Louisiana in a very Catholic culture and having gone to Catholic schools through high school, we were taught that when you entered into church you entered the house of God and you were to keep proper decorum and to maintain reverent silence in the presence of the Holy Eucharist. This was ingrained in me from childhood.

For me it is a matter of prayer. Before Mass and after Mass - in the presence of the Holy Eucharist. What you see as “community” is a very real barrier to my prayer. If the sanctuary sounds like the parish hall, it is a very real problem. If I want to pray, I want to pray. If I want to socialize, I’ll walk the 75 feet to the parish hall and have coffee and donuts with everyone else.

Silence in church was the norm for much of my life. I would have to go and look it up but I believe that in Habakuk, scripture says something to the effect of “Let all be silent in the presence of the Lord”. Can you honestly tell me that it is OK for two elderly people (who ought to know better) to discuss their hemmerhoids (sp?)!
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No, you didn’t, but others did.

And scripture also speaks of “shout to the Lord” and “make a joyful noise”.

Gotta go.

P.S. I’m from Louisiana, too. Grew up in small town parishes where you could hear a pen drop. Moved to Baton Rouge and found myself in a wonderful parish where everyone talks. I grew to love it. I can function in both equally well, but to say one is more respectful than the other is just wrong.
 
Cheese: I suspect we’ll have to agree to disagree. I know of one other poster in the BR area who drives from the north many miles to attend St. Agnes and I drive 25 miles from the east to attend the Cathedral (actually I’ve been a member of the Cathedral parish since 1983 when I drove 20 miles from the southeast for exactly the same reasons). I’m not against community and I daresay when Providence (the Cathedral’s organ), the brass, and choir speak at Easter - we know how to make a joyful noise too.

But, I firmly believe that we need silence to allow God to talk to us in that “still, small voice”.
 
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cheese_sdc:
And scripture also speaks of “shout to the Lord” and “make a joyful noise”.

.
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And I encourage my children to make a joyful noise as well. Where it is appropriate.
 
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