Use of powerpoint/lyrics on the wall!

[PatienceAndLove]

1. But the Pope has a bit more finances at his disposable than the average Catholic School.
2. Papal Masses are a big deal and people usually take the program home. Most school kids could care less about what they sang in mass that day
3. A projector and powerpoint greatly cuts down on copy and paper costs

 

[jmcrae]

I think its best to remain with the good old fashioned hymnal.

Or, just stick with hymns that most people know.

 

[Lorrie]

UGHHH!!! sounds like a parish I went to Mass at in Florida, near Clearwater where they had a huge movie screen and you would follow the bouncing ball to sing the lyrics .

Ken

Total insanity!! :bigyikes:

 

[JimR-OCDS]

You still have copyright “issues”.

And that’s another thing I dislike about the screens. All the non-essential stuff (author, publisher, copyright info) is usually much more emphasized on the screens, presenting a further distraction (“gee, I didn’t know he wrote this one.”, or “wow, was this really written in 1973!”) I just don’t have that problem with music-on-paper.

Copyright prevents music from being reprinted or copied. I wouldn’t think that visual display could be included.

At any rate, at first the newness of it would add to some distraction, but over time people would get use to it. Besides, many of the people in my parish are teachers, engineers and professionals who are use to power point presentations in their work.

I still think it’s a great idea!
Jim

 

[jmcrae]

Copyright prevents music from being reprinted or copied. I wouldn’t think that visual display could be included.

Then you’d be surprised. This actually comes under the copyright provisions for public performance. If there are not the same number of paid-for copies of the words and music as persons present at the public gathering, then you’d be in violation of copyright law.

If you get hold of CanCopy and/or LicenseSing, they’ll give you all the regulations around the performance and presentation of music in churches.

 

[Jlynch]

I love the use of powerpoint and contemporary music at mass. My church has utilizeed these tools/changes and have doubled our offering and added 500 new converts in 5 years. If done correctly it does not decrease the sacredness of the mass. Older parishoners have liked the lyrics being up on the screen We have choices of music at different masses but lyrics up on a screen has ben well recieved by even parishoners 70 plus in age.

 

[jmcrae]

I love the use of powerpoint and contemporary music at mass. My church has utilizeed these tools/changes and have doubled our offering and added 500 new converts in 5 years. If done correctly it does not decrease the sacredness of the mass. Older parishoners have liked the lyrics being up on the screen We have choices of music at different masses but lyrics up on a screen has ben well recieved by even parishoners 70 plus in age.

We have a very traditional gothic-style church - a powerpoint presentation with a slide projector and screen would clash horribly with the architecture and with the decor of the building.

I don’t even know where we would put such a thing, since every wall is covered in stained glass windows, statuary, icons, Stations of the Cross, etc. We don’t have a back wall, as such - we have a drapery along the back of the Sanctuary that covers up a wooden set of folding doors that opens out to make more room if we need it at times when there is higher attendance, such as Good Friday, Easter, and Christmas, etc.

We also have a rather large baldaccino hanging down from the ceiling that would get in the way of any screen, etc.

 

[tcraig]

We have a very traditional gothic-style church - a powerpoint presentation with a slide projector and screen would clash horribly with the architecture and with the decor of the building.

I don’t even know where we would put such a thing, since every wall is covered in stained glass windows, statuary, icons, Stations of the Cross, etc. We don’t have a back wall, as such - we have a drapery along the back of the Sanctuary that covers up a wooden set of folding doors that opens out to make more room if we need it at times when there is higher attendance, such as Good Friday, Easter, and Christmas, etc.

We also have a rather large baldaccino hanging down from the ceiling that would get in the way of any screen, etc.

Gee, are you trying to make the rest of us jealous?

Sadly, at many of the parishes I’ve belonged to over the years, a projector and screen would fit right in.

 

[jmcrae]

Gee, are you trying to make the rest of us jealous?

Hmmm, maybe I was …

I really like my church, though, and I wish that everybody got to worship in a place that is as nice as ours.

Sadly, at many of the parishes I’ve belonged to over the years, a projector and screen would fit right in.

Yes, that is very sad.

One of the reasons given for this is that “some day after we’re done using it as a church, we might want to use the building for something else.” I always think, “What? Are we going to need a really ugly community hall, after the Judgement Day?”

 

[Julianna]

When I was in jr. high in the Diocese of Springfield MA, in 1972, overhead projectors were used for the teen mass. The reason was “paper costs” money. Tranparancies could be erased (erasable marker) and reused.

I don’t find this strange at all that some churches are going to powerpoint. And especially at schools where to keep tuition affordable some cuts have to be made.

After a while you just memorixe the whole mass and paper and misselettes get obsolete.

 

[John_Lilburne]

Perhaps screens and televised images are what the Pope has in mind here, in the 2007 Apostolic Exhortation Sacramentum Caritatis vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_ben-xvi_exh_20070222_sacramentum-caritatis_en.html :
“**Large-scale concelebrations **
61. The Synod considered the quality of participation in the case of large-scale celebrations held on special occasions and involving not only a great number of the lay faithful, but also many concelebrating priests. (181) On the one hand, it is easy to appreciate the importance of these moments, especially when the Bishop himself celebrates, surrounded by his presbyterate and by the deacons. On the other hand, it is not always easy in such cases to give clear expression to the unity of the presbyterate, especially during the Eucharistic Prayer and the distribution of Holy Communion. Efforts need to be made lest these largescale concelebrations lose their proper focus. This can be done by proper coordination and by arranging the place of worship so that priests and lay faithful are truly able to participate fully. It should be kept in mind, however, that here we are speaking of exceptional concelebrations, limited to extraordinary situations.”

Perhaps what he means is that for Mass at World Youth Day it makes sense to have a big screen with televised images so people can follow what is happening. But with the last sentence he is highlighting that such approaches are exceptional, to deal with exceptional situations.

The General Instruction of the Roman Missal does not mention a screen. But it does mention other things that should be central, or the focus of attention. For example, GIRM approved for the USA, which can be accessed from romanrite.com/girm.html :
“296. The altar on which the Sacrifice of the Cross is made present under sacramental signs is also the table of the Lord to which the People of God is called together to participate in the Mass, as well as the center of the thanksgiving that is accomplished through the Eucharist.”
“*The Ambo *
309. The dignity of the word of God requires that the church have a place that is suitable for the proclamation of the word and toward which the attention of the whole congregation of the faithful naturally turns during the Liturgy of the Word.”
“310. The chair of the priest celebrant must signify his office of presiding over the gathering and of directing the prayer. Thus the best place for the chair is in a position facing the people at the head of the sanctuary, unless the design of the building or other circumstances impede this …”.
“314. In accordance with the structure of each church and legitimate local customs, the Most Blessed Sacrament should be reserved in a tabernacle in a part of the church that is truly noble, prominent, readily visible, beautifully decorated, and suitable for prayer.”

So a concern with a screen is that is would tend to be a distraction from these elements which are described as important.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

When I was in jr. high in the Diocese of Springfield MA, in 1972, overhead projectors were used for the teen mass. The reason was “paper costs” money. Tranparancies could be erased (erasable marker) and reused.

I don’t find this strange at all that some churches are going to powerpoint. And especially at schools where to keep tuition affordable some cuts have to be made.

After a while you just memorixe the whole mass and paper and misselettes get obsolete.

Springfield MA eh? I’m just north east of there in a small town called Ashburnham. The people who own a summer home across the street from me are from Wiburham. The wife works for Monsanto in Springfield.

Jim

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Then you’d be surprised. This actually comes under the copyright provisions for public performance. If there are not the same number of paid-for copies of the words and music as persons present at the public gathering, then you’d be in violation of copyright law.

If you get hold of CanCopy and/or LicenseSing, they’ll give you all the regulations around the performance and presentation of music in churches.

You’re right, what was I thinking? To get into power point, you need to copy it, which is a violation of copyright laws.

I was thinking if you could project the song right from the hymnal,
then you’re not copying it, so this wouldn’t be in violation, right?

I should just ask my brother, who use to work for ASCAP.

Jim

 

[Michael_Welter]

I run the Audio/Visula Ministry for my parish, and we project the song lyrics onto large screens at the front of our church. I’ve done a great deal of research into this, and believe i’m qualified to answer many of the concerns here.

1. Copyright Issues: As has already been pointed out, a parish can buy a CCLI license. It’s an annual fee based on the size of the congregation. This gives the parish permission to reprint, or project, the lyrics to tens of thousands of songs. OCP also has a similar license for thier songs.
2. Projecting words saves money on printing, or songbook costs. For a parish the size of mine, the savings is significant. Our church seats 1,400 and we have six Sunday Masses.
3. Projecting words also saves paper, and makes us better stewards of the earth that God has given us.
4. The sound is significantly better when the congregation is singing while looking at the screens, rather than looking down into a book or songsheet.

Now, let me also say that I am VERY concerned that the screens could become a distraction from what is happening at Mass. So, I have instituted guidelines for the PowerPoint slides that we use. they must be white, bold, Arial font, on a black background. No images, or patterns, may be used. In between each song is a blank, black slide. So, when songs are being sung, the lyrics come up on the screen, and when the song is over, the screen goes dark, so as not to draw any attention away from the Altar.

Someone mentioned the need to bring a computer to church. Well, the computer is already installed at the sound desk. The PowerPoint slides are prepared weekly and stored on a network drive at the parish. When the A/V Tachnician arrives for Mass, the simply load up the correct PowerPoint presentation from the network drive. Running it does not distract us from the Mass any more than the organist is distracted by reading music. It’s simply our ministry, and our way of serving God.

I hope this helps.

 

[PatienceAndLove]

Now, let me also say that I am VERY concerned that the screens could become a distraction from what is happening at Mass. So, I have instituted guidelines for the PowerPoint slides that we use. they must be white, bold, Arial font, on a black background. No images, or patterns, may be used. In between each song is a blank, black slide. So, when songs are being sung, the lyrics come up on the screen, and when the song is over, the screen goes dark, so as not to draw any attention away from the Altar.

Exactly. When I have seen PowerPoint at Catholic Churches, it is along these lines (although on Pentacost I have seen a red background with white letters).
One parish used some images when running announcements before Mass, but these had no sound, so they were quite easy to ignore.

 

[gwenred]

Thanks to all who replied - I appreciate your thoughtful responses, which have given me much to think about! And, you’ve demonstrated what I suspected - it is likely to be controversial if we do try it. Have a wonderful and blessed Holy Week!
Gwen

 

[Joysong]

There is a parish in Florida that uses a screen, and the celebrant held a remote control that caused it to recess so that when his homily was finished, the screen retracted totally out of sight for the remainder of the mass. They did not use bouncing balls, either.

It is good to note that this was a huge parish, and I have not seen this is my area where the parishes are small. The nicest thing I saw was that during his homily, everyone in the back of the church could watch the priest and lectors as they spoke; whereas without the screen, he was scarecely visible in the rear which could be a problem with attention for those who love the back (so they can gab.) Usually the only song was that was projected was the entrance hymn.

 

[lollyboehm]

Since the new English translation hit the US Catholic church, my parish has been taking advantage of the use of projectors and screens. We have all of the mass responses, readings and song lyrics projected for all to see clearly. There are advantages and disadvantages. I understand how people may feel that it detracts from the sacredness. I don’t deny that it looks different and modern. I am a young catholic and I embrace change. There is a reason those big ‘mega’ churches have so many followers. Technology attracts people. Especially young people. When you learn to use new technology in a way that does not overpower the mass and distract then it reall enhances the worship. I am our LifeTeen music minister and I also create the powerpoint for the mass that we have for our mass. I have intentionally created the powerpoints to blend into their surroundings. During the homily and the prayers of consecration the screen goes black so there is nothing else to look at but the priest/altar. They are simple yet effective and I believe using the powerpoints has enhanced the community worship at our mass as a whole parish. In the ‘mega’ churches, the projections are the main focus. We don’t have to make it that way! When you use technology well it works. When you use technology poorly, people notice and for me personally I get put off. There is an art to using projections at mass just as there is art in using music at mass. This is a ministry. As in all things, enter this ministry through prayer. I wish you well in your endeavors!

Your sister in Chirst:thumbsup:

 

[ilySHJ]

Seems that using a hymnal or even just a student hymnal for the year would conserve resources most effectively - both money and paper.

Two protestant services that I attended used a projector & screen - TACKY!

Having such a distraction would not lead me to contemplate the Mystery of the Mass. As a former high school teacher, my experience with teens leads me to think that such a system would be even more distracting for them.

 

[YoungTradCath]

Seems that using a hymnal or even just a student hymnal for the year would conserve resources most effectively - both money and paper.

Two protestant services that I attended used a projector & screen - TACKY!

Having such a distraction would not lead me to contemplate the Mystery of the Mass. As a former high school teacher, my experience with teens leads me to think that such a system would be even more distracting for them.

I agree. Speaking from a student’s perspective, this would be supremely distracting. I’d have to keep my eyes closed for the whole Mass.