Youth Mass but standing around the altar?

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AmericanRose

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So the priest at my parish, he will sometimes have a Mass for the Confirmation students where we first sit in the pews for the liturgy of the word, and then stand around the altar for the liturgy of the Eucharist, to teach them about the parts of the Mass. I always feel so horribly uncomfortable during that part. I just don’t feel it is right for us to stand during the consecration, let alone be so near the altar. Any advice? I don’t want to say anything lest I stir the pot, so to speak, unless it’s absolutely necessary.
 
This thread may help you
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Standing around the altar during Consecration Liturgy and Sacraments
Curious on your thoughts about this. NOT looking for arguments but thoughts. By the way if that picture at the beginning of the article is real NOW THAT is truly disturbing to me. http://wdtprs.com/blog/2018/01/ask-...the-altar-during-eucharistic-prayer/#comments This post on Father Z’s blog got me thinking especially toward the end "Bottom line: the lay faithful (except those in liturgical serving roles) are not permitted to be inside the sanctuary,…
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Does this happen at every Mass that youth are at or only once in a while in the context of a “teaching Mass”?

If it is a “teaching Mass” it is allowed and there is no disrespect in going along.

If it is something that happens all the time, just to be inclusive, then it is a problem.

Remember, context is everything.
 
There are many times and many different ways to teach the parts of the Mass. In my children’s RE class, during class time, I use a set of cardboard cutouts that I purchased at a Catholic bookstore. I tell them the proper names of the things the priest uses and explain the order of the Eucharist. We also take a tour of the church. Mass is Mass, not a class. A more appropriate thing would be for the priest to be the youth group speaker and do a “show and tell” program about the Mass for the youth.
 
So says you.

Both my current and my previous Bishop allowed “teaching Masses” in limited circumstances.
Since it is his decision, and he didn’t ask me my feelings about it, I am going to assume it’s OK.
 
When I was in Catholic school, we had Mass every first Friday for the whole school. Usually, we went to the gym, and the priest had a portable altar, and we were in the bleachers, etc. Not really sure why we used the gym, rather than the church across the parking lot… but that’s how it was. 🙂

Once, though, I do remember our particular class (grade?) being allowed to stand around him at the altar. I want to say it happened around the time they let us set the altar and do sacristan duties. It wasn’t an ongoing thing, but more like a one-time experience.

I had forgotten all about it. 🙂

re: standing, if we’re in a situation where we’re unable to kneel for the consecration (health issues? sitting in bleachers?), we generally stand. Also, I want to say that it’s the normal default posture in at least some Asian countries?
 
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