Was this strange or am I overreacting?

[Convert95]

My wife and I attended mass at a church other than our own yesterday, Mothers’ Day. As the gospel was about to be read a group of 1st grade children from the church’s school ran up the aisles and stood in front of the alter. While the deacon read the gospel, the children began a series of arm and hand gestures apparently choreographed to act out yesterday’s gospel message on love. The kids were adorable, but being they were so young, some froze up and didn’t participate, some were little hams, and frankly the missus and I had no idea what we were watching at first. As cute as the little tikes were, it was frankly distracting. Afterwards, mass continued as normal. Later, after communion, the pastor stood up, walked over to the lectern and read a poem about mothers, in honor of Mothers’ Day. The organist began playing Ave Maria, and the pastor sang a solo. After mass we commented on what a fine voice the priest has, but we both found this to be a little…odd. Overall we liked attending mass at this church, and wonder if we are overreacting. I’d really be interested in your opinions.

 

[CaptCrunch73]

At the parishes near me one mass per Sunday is designated as the children’s mass. It sounds like you attended that parish’s children’s mass. Things like you described are not uncommon, at least in the Archdiocese of Boston. I don’t particularly care for things like that at mass so I just avoid children’s masses.

 

[dconklin]

I don’t suppose finding something odd is - odd. Sometimes it seems there are more parishes (parishioners) try to exclude children from the Mass, so having a pastor that tries to include them is refreshing. The singing part? I cannot say I have ever seen that. We had a priest once that would chant the Eucharistic Prayer.

 

[sacredcow]

normally the priest would not want to confuse his role with that of the cantor or choir, but in the case of mother’s day I see no issue with the priest honoring Mary and mothers in the way he did. It was a special occasion.

 

[SwizzleStick]

My wife and I attended mass at a church other than our own yesterday, Mothers’ Day. As the gospel was about to be read a group of 1st grade children from the church’s school ran up the aisles and stood in front of the alter. While the deacon read the gospel, the children began a series of arm and hand gestures apparently choreographed to act out yesterday’s gospel message on love. The kids were adorable, but being they were so young, some froze up and didn’t participate, some were little hams, and frankly the missus and I had no idea what we were watching at first. As cute as the little tikes were, it was frankly distracting. Afterwards, mass continued as normal. Later, after communion, the pastor stood up, walked over to the lectern and read a poem about mothers, in honor of Mothers’ Day. The organist began playing Ave Maria, and the pastor sang a solo. After mass we commented on what a fine voice the priest has, but we both found this to be a little…odd. Overall we liked attending mass at this church, and wonder if we are overreacting. I’d really be interested in your opinions.

I don’t wish to be contrary, but I think it is odd and I also think it would be very distracting and disruptive to have children parade up to the altar and be present gesturing during the actual reading of the Gospel.

In our church, the children have their own Liturgy of the Word in the church basement. After Mass begins, before the first reading, we pause to allow children to quickly gather in the center aisle of church and then process down in a line to the church basement for their own Children’s Liturgy. They return to their pews and rejoin their families after the homily. Most of the children are quiet and reverent as they gather to go downstairs (and when they return), but even that act of gathering together in that one space can be a bit distracting. I cannot help but wonder how distracting it would be to have a group of children gather by the altar and then wave their hands around, gesturing during the actual reading of the Gospel. I find that idea odd.

 

[InnocentFortune]

My wife and I attended mass at a church other than our own yesterday, Mothers’ Day. As the gospel was about to be read a group of 1st grade children from the church’s school ran up the aisles and stood in front of the alter. While the deacon read the gospel, the children began a series of arm and hand gestures apparently choreographed to act out yesterday’s gospel message on love. The kids were adorable, but being they were so young, some froze up and didn’t participate, some were little hams, and frankly the missus and I had no idea what we were watching at first. As cute as the little tikes were, it was frankly distracting. Afterwards, mass continued as normal. Later, after communion, the pastor stood up, walked over to the lectern and read a poem about mothers, in honor of Mothers’ Day. The organist began playing Ave Maria, and the pastor sang a solo. After mass we commented on what a fine voice the priest has, but we both found this to be a little…odd. Overall we liked attending mass at this church, and wonder if we are overreacting. I’d really be interested in your opinions.

In what way do you think you overacted? Because you thought it was odd? You don’t indicate that you ACTED on that thought at all. If it was me I would have dropped the check on the plate and walked out.

 

[Agape_Thom]

but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 19:14
English Standard Version (ESV)

 

[bmadamsberry]

My wife and I attended mass at a church other than our own yesterday, Mothers’ Day. As the gospel was about to be read a group of 1st grade children from the church’s school ran up the aisles and stood in front of the alter. While the deacon read the gospel, the children began a series of arm and hand gestures apparently choreographed to act out yesterday’s gospel message on love. The kids were adorable, but being they were so young, some froze up and didn’t participate, some were little hams, and frankly the missus and I had no idea what we were watching at first. As cute as the little tikes were, it was frankly distracting. Afterwards, mass continued as normal. Later, after communion, the pastor stood up, walked over to the lectern and read a poem about mothers, in honor of Mothers’ Day. The organist began playing Ave Maria, and the pastor sang a solo. After mass we commented on what a fine voice the priest has, but we both found this to be a little…odd. Overall we liked attending mass at this church, and wonder if we are overreacting. I’d really be interested in your opinions.

The children’s part is a bit odd (having not been there, it is hard for me to say whether it was done reverently, or not. My guess here is not). The priest’s poem and singing, however, seems like it was done at an appropriate time (shortly before the final blessing). I also would say that it was a good idea to do the poem and song (it sounds wonderful, reverent, and appropriate).

 

[bmadamsberry]

In what way do you think you overacted? Because you thought it was odd? You don’t indicate that you ACTED on that thought at all. If it was me I would have dropped the check on the plate and walked out.

I would think that that would be an overreaction. Leaving in the middle of Mass for something that, in the grand scheme of things, is minor seems to me to be putting your ideology above the liturgy.

 

[InnocentFortune]

I would think that that would be an overreaction. Leaving in the middle of Mass for something that, in the grand scheme of things, is minor seems to me to be putting your ideology above the liturgy.

Yeah well I guess it is something graded on a curve I suppose because some of these masses clearly need to be walked out on. Minor is in the eye of the beholder.

 

[bmadamsberry]

Minor is in the eye of the beholder.

Sort of, yes. But to quote the Supreme Court “I’ll know it when I see it.”

A Mass that includes an abuse to the Eucharist would, indeed, be a reason to walk out. Also, a homily that supports gay ‘marriage’ or that states that Jesus was only/just a man would also be, I think, grounds to leave.

But abuses must be weighed against the fact that Mass is worship of G-d.

 

[InnocentFortune]

Sort of, yes. But to quote the Supreme Court “I’ll know it when I see it.”

A Mass that includes an abuse to the Eucharist would, indeed, be a reason to walk out. Also, a homily that supports gay ‘marriage’ or that states that Jesus was only/just a man would also be, I think, grounds to leave.

But abuses must be weighed against the fact that Mass is worship of G-d.

Yeah well I have a pretty low threshold. The problem with today’s catholic isn’t that he is not compromising enough but that he has compromised too much. I’ll err on the side of too high a standard of dignity for the sacrament.

 

[bmadamsberry]

Yeah well I have a pretty low threshold. The problem with today’s catholic isn’t that he is not compromising enough but that he has compromised too much. I’ll err on the side of too high a standard of dignity for the sacrament.

I’m probably pushing this too far, but you’d still be setting your ideology above that of the sacrament and the worship of Mass. Again, there are obvious exceptions, but I don’t think that the OP’s two things are one of those.

The same kind of talk that you give is similar to that found over at the National -]Catholic/-] catholic Reporter. In both cases, it’s setting ideology above worship. All abuses are not the same, and an abuse such as children coming up and waving their hands would only surmount to an abuse against the liturgy, not an abuse against the Sacrament of the Eucharist.

 

[BernadetteM]

At our parish several of the children, including those who had just made their First Holy Communion (wearing their Communion clothes) walked in the procession with flowers and laid them at the foot of the statue of the BVM.

It was simple and lovely, not distracting at all. Many of the children attend Mass with their parents, others attend CCD in another building during an early Mass.

The chior did sing two hymns dedicated to Mary.

Yours in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary

Bernadette

 

[Phemie]

I find it sad that someone felt the need to add to the Gospel.

There is nothing that will take people’s focus off the words being spoken more than a bunch of cute kids gesturing. If you MUST involve the little ones (and you don’t, it’s Mass not playschool) give them a hymn to sing at the end of Mass or something, don’t have them gesticulate during the Gospel.

For us, the nod to Mothers’ Day and the month of Mary, was that we were treated to “Hail Mary/Gentle Woman” at the Offertory. At least last week the nod was “Immaculate Mary” as the Recessional.

 

[Petergee]

It’s more than odd, it’s illicit. Nobody should eneter the Sanctuary unless he has a designated role there. The Holy See has made it clear that dramatisations of the Scripture readings during Mass are not allowed. Nor are “liturgical dances” allowed, except among ethnic groups where they are traditional part of the culture.

More widespread is the take-over of the Mass by Mothers’ Day and similar secular feasts.

Several times I have even heard priests say in the opening remarks at Mass, welcome us to the Mass that he is celebrating for Mothers Day! No you are not! Sunday’s Mass was the Mass for the 5th Sunday of Easter, NOT the “Mass for Mothers’ Day”!

There should be no special ceremony for Mothers’ Day during Mass, except perhaps the priest may say the Blessing of Mothers over the mothers present just before the Concluding Rite. The Homily must be based on the Scripture readings.

 

[Convert95]

It’s more than odd, it’s illicit. Nobody should eneter the Sanctuary unless he has a designated role there.

That’s the answer I was afraid of getting. This situation is so disappointing…I’ve been attending daily mass at this church for several months now (a great way to start the day before going to work) and the same priest, in fact the he’s the pastor, is usually the celebrant. His demeanor on week day mornings is so different from the, I hate to say this, show-bizzy style he showed on Mothers’ Day. It was our first time attending Sunday mass there, and we have been considering switching parishes. We’ll attend mass there again, I’m hoping that the kids on the altar and the jokey feel-good homily the priest gave was out of the ordinary. But hearing that this was illicit is troubling. Thank you all for your (name removed by moderator)ut, I really appreciate it.