I don’t think this is necessarily the reason… maybe the priest is just more traditional.
Actually it’s Κύριε ελέησον in ancient Greek. The modern Greek has a somewhat different meaning, I understand.
Perhaps. It would still bug me enough that I would likely choose to go to confession elsewhere. Whether I would choose to leave the parish over it is another matter.
You can attend Mass wherever you please, but you could not leave the parish if it is geographically your home parish. You would still necessarily be tied to that parish for any required Sacraments. Any family Weddings or Funerals would have to be celebrated in the home parish unless a special dispensation is granted by the bishop. People should understand that although he more than likely could use a little social refinement, he needs the love and caring of his new congregation to feel at home. Don’t bail on the guy when he needs you all the most. I’m sure if you let these things pass and pull together as a congregation, the closeness that you are used to will return sooner than you think.
Which is why I suggested earlier that the parishioners ask to sit down with him to share their questions and concerns and give him an opportunity to express his reasoning behind the decisions he is making.
Perhaps you can bring up ways to help the priest during your meetings. Don’t confront them, simply suggest a few things. “Since Father is new to the area, why don’t we put together a book of coupons to some local attractions?” Then “Since Father is new to the parish, why don’t we get our husbands to help him polish all those candle sticks he’s using now.”
He may have a sarcastic wit!We’ll see how it goes tonight – I offered to iron his vestments yesterday because his alb looked like he slept in it. The lady who did it for the last priest just quit doing it. I’m planning to do it before our meeting starts since it’s easier to do it there. That ought to start some conversation. I’m actually hoping someone will step up and offer to do the altar cloths (sorry I don’t know the right names) since I hate ironing.
P.S. In spite of his abrupt manner, he had no problem accepting my offer. In fact he asked me if I baked too. He is actually personable one-on-one. It’s when he’s in a group that the regrettable statements start. Example: a bunch of us women were cleaning the kitchen when he walked in and said, “It’s great to see women doing what they’re good at.” I said, “What do you mean, Father?” and he replied, “Well I know you’re all good at other things too.” Unfortunately it was too little, too late. He’s just nervous and I don’t know why they can’t see that.
In fairness, he was probably just trying to say “much appreciated ladies, you know how it is when men try to clean a kitchen”.I try to be as charitable as possible, but unfortunately I don’t think he was being sarcastic.
Coming from a parish that was traditional and then priest assignments changed to a very liberal “feeling” priest, I later found out that the former priest had specifically been sent to the parish to reform the congregation due to a pattern of liturgical abuses. It was not widely accepted and eventually the traditional priest was re-assigned to an old established parish that had a reputation for being traditional.