Ways for Laity to Address Issues with Liturgy?

[theburns]

I am a life long Catholic and have a question as to how to address an issue with our mass. I belong to a church that used to be a small church in a small town. The town and the church has since grown (we have between 8000 and 9000 in attendance each weekend at mass). In any case, our director of music is more of a “song leader” than a true professional music minister. In short, the music is not good, and detracts from mass more than it adds to it. After the first song or two, I find myself dwelling on how bad it sounds instead of focusing on the beauty of the mass. For the size of our church and the amount of talent that we should have there, we should have an awesome music ministry, and we just don’t. I’ve talked to a number of the other parishoners, and they feel the same way.

Does anyone have any ideas how to address this issue? I’m afraid of bringing it up with one of our priests because of their loyalty to our longtime music director. I’m sure she was fine when it was a small church, but I think that the church has outgrown her, and we can definitely afford to do a search and find a professional director of music.

I would definitely be more than happy to help the process along, but don’t have any idea where to start. We supposedly have a parish council, but I think they are all appointed by the pastor and it seems to be pretty hush-hush.

I’m not sure how to address. Has anyone been through anything like this before or have any ideas?

Thanks!

 

[PatienceAndLove]

Write a letter, carefully and respectfully worded, expressing your disappointment/worries/etc. I am sure the priest(s) will appreciate knowing the feelings of the congregation.
It could go something like this:

Dear Fr. ________,
I have attending ______ for a long time (perhaps the length of time here?) and I have always enjoyed Mass. Lately, however, I have noticed that the music during Mass has been more of a distraction to worship than an accompaniment (perhaps another word? My brain isn’t working too well right now).
I know that ____ has been with the Church for quite some time, but perhaps it is time to update our music ministry so our Mass better reflects the wonder and majesty of God?
Thank you and God Bless!

---

 

[thistle]

I am a life long Catholic and have a question as to how to address an issue with our mass. I belong to a church that used to be a small church in a small town. The town and the church has since grown (we have between 8000 and 9000 in attendance each weekend at mass). In any case, our director of music is more of a “song leader” than a true professional music minister. In short, the music is not good, and detracts from mass more than it adds to it. After the first song or two, I find myself dwelling on how bad it sounds instead of focusing on the beauty of the mass. For the size of our church and the amount of talent that we should have there, we should have an awesome music ministry, and we just don’t. I’ve talked to a number of the other parishoners, and they feel the same way.

Does anyone have any ideas how to address this issue? I’m afraid of bringing it up with one of our priests because of their loyalty to our longtime music director. I’m sure she was fine when it was a small church, but I think that the church has outgrown her, and we can definitely afford to do a search and find a professional director of music.

I would definitely be more than happy to help the process along, but don’t have any idea where to start. We supposedly have a parish council, but I think they are all appointed by the pastor and it seems to be pretty hush-hush.

I’m not sure how to address. Has anyone been through anything like this before or have any ideas?

Thanks!

Have you canvassed everyone for their opinion to come to this conclusion or is this only your opinion that you want to push on everyone else? Maybe most people like it the way it is and for them it does not detract from the Mass.

 

[puzzleannie]

a better way to raise the issue would be a letter to the pastor that begins.

Mrs. Music Director and the present choir have service this parish faithfully for many years, even as we have grown from 1000 to 8000 members. Now we are asking them to serve many more people without any additional help. It is hardly fair to expect Mrs. MD and the choir to be the only ones to carry this burden of service.

Surely with a congregation of this size there must be many people with talent in music who should be invited to come forward and share in this ministry. Should we not thank this group for their dedication to the liturgy, but identify and recruit others who should be sharing in this commitment? I believe, and so do many others, that fuller participation in the Mass be encouraged by a vibrant, growing music ministry, and that our music would better enhance the liturgy if more people are invited come forward to contribute their talents.