Worst Divine Mercy Mass Ever - What should I do?

[bluealtec]

Imagine the Golden Globes but less glitzy complete with round tables and table setting. Now imagine a table infront of it all - and that was how the Mass was celebrated with the table as the Eucharist altar. It was horrible! They even served water 5 mins before the mass. It was celebrated on an open basketball court because our community was celebrating a local feast thus not on our main Parish Church.

And to top it all, the nuns who sang the Psalm decided to change it. I confronted the organizers and they said that psalms can be changed when approved by the Parish Priest. Is that even valid?

What should i do so that this horrible event will not happen again?

 

[Monica4316]

change parishes?

 

[Cristiano]

Imagine the Golden Globes but less glitzy complete with round tables and table setting. Now imagine a table infront of it all - and that was how the Mass was celebrated with the table as the Eucharist altar. It was horrible! They even served water 5 mins before the mass. It was celebrated on an open basketball court because our community was celebrating a local feast thus not on our main Parish Church.

And to top it all, the nuns who sang the Psalm decided to change it. I confronted the organizers and they said that psalms can be changed when approved by the Parish Priest. Is that even valid?

What should i do so that this horrible event will not happen again?

What is wrong with serving water 5 minutes before Mass starts?
What is wrong in using a table as an altar for an outside Mass? Is a canoe fine?
Why do you complain about changing Psalms when you do not even know if it is allowed? You were already given an answer. What reason do you have to think that they lied to you?

The only thing that I see as wrong is to celebrate the Mass in the open unless there isn’t a possibility to celebrate it in the chapel.

 

[GKCT]

Call the Pope! Call the Bishop! Seriously, if I saw a Mass being celebrated that way, I certainly would not attend. This sounded more like an “event” than Mass, with organizers and all.
The liturgy cannot be changed.
I would call the Bishop’s office. Talking to the Pastor might help, but it seems he had already approved it. Also, you must have a parish council. You know what is said, “If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem.” Do something. Changing parishes is not a solution, it’s running away from a problem that might continue.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

Couple of questions. Was this actually a Mass or a special liturgy/service for Divine Mercy Sunday? (ie a benediction) There is no special Mass setting for Divine Mercy Sunday, so I’m not sure why the Mass couldn’t be celebrated in the church. If it was another form of liturgy, then things like round tables, water, and sung psalms are very likely fine.

Before you come here to complain, please speak to your priest. Not as an acusation but asking for help in understanding. Then if it is clear that an abuse took place (and just because the room was set up with tables doesn’t mean that one did), follow the normal procedure for reporting it. There is a sticky at the top of this forum with all the details.

If this wasn’t a Mass, but some other service, than simply be careful to avoid special services again – or get involved in planning them so they will be more reverant.

 

[ConstantineTG]

Water doesnt break the Communion fast so there are no issues there. Ive had priests who have water at the altar because their mouths and throats dry so easily. Its not a big issue. We are allowed water and medicine anytime prior to receiving Communion.

 

[DesDiamondS]

I’m gonna agree with Mrs. Sally and say that you should talk to your priest. Maybe he can explain to you why those decisions were made and what exactly was going on. If after speaking to him you still feel unsatisfied then I would let him know and report it.

 

[puzzleannie]

What should i do so that this horrible event will not happen again?

you did not tell us what was horrible, because you described no actual liturgical abuse.’

Was it Mass or the recitation of the Divine Mercy chaplet in the context of a Holy Hour. There is no “local feast” that trumps the 2nd Sunday of Easter so I don’t know what the church was being used for.

 

[Lynette77]

1. Water doesn’t break the fast for Mass
2. Any ordinary table once blessed can be used as an Altar
3. The people in charge of music at the Mass can change it (with priest permission).

The setting has nothing to do with the actual sacrament. The rules were followed and everything (from what you said) was a valid Mass. The rest may just come down to personal preference!

Pray for the people involved and let God do the rest.

 

[Phemie]

From the description, I’m imagining that the setting for this Mass was more like a wedding reception than Mass. The altar was the head table and the congregation were seated at round tables, set for a meal, with the waiters filling the water glasses just before the Mass began.

Isn’t it forbidden to celebrate a Mass in the context of an actual meal?

Redeptionis Sacramentum [77.] The celebration of Holy Mass is not to be inserted in any way into the setting of a common meal, nor joined with this kind of banquet. Mass is not to be celebrated without grave necessity on a dinner table[159] nor in a dining room or banquet hall, nor in a room where food is present, nor in a place where the participants during the celebration itself are seated at tables. If out of grave necessity Mass must be celebrated in the same place where eating will later take place, there is to be a clear interval of time between the conclusion of Mass and the beginning of the meal, and ordinary food is not to be set before the faithful during the celebration of Mass.