Friday, January 10, 2014

Watching the readers

Our parish (St. Alphonsus, Greendale) has lately been keeping past weekly bulletins on its website longer. Our pastor fielded a question in his September 22, 2013 column (page 2).
"Someone asked why the Sunday readings are not in the Breaking Bread book. Readings are to be proclaimed and listened to. We are blessed to have excellent readers who actually rehearse the readings. When we go to a play or movie, we usually do not take the 'script' with us and 'follow along.' So, too, at Mass we need to listen attentively. If there is a hearing problem, we do have assistive devices available in the sacristy. For those who would like to read the readings in advance, they are available online. I hope this is helpful in understanding our custom."
For reference, here's the Breaking Bread Annual Subscription edition at Oregon Catholic Press, "Also available with full Lectionary readings...".

Our pastor is in that long period between announcing he will be retiring and the end of his term. Over on the secular side we referred to this period as "dead man walking". It's a time for, among other things, making lists of changes to pitch to the next person in charge.

By list might include suggesting to the next pastor that the anathema be lifted against those who genuflect when receiving Communion (See my earlier post Sailing the Pharisees.) Or at least that various references to being a "welcoming" parish should footnote this example, just so people know what they're getting into.

4 comments:

  1. it is interesting that there is a little bit of a difference here that is not strict. Even Archbishop lefebvre of the SSPX was not against the lectionary in the vernacular so people could understand it better. Although the context is that reading of the scriptures is not primaraly for our learning (why the orthodox and TLMers insist on it being said in the non vernacular) but as a reminder to God of all he has done for us we pray (sing at the high in prayer) these scriptures. I will admit that I was a little frustatrated when starting to go to st. stans that only the epistle and Gospel was given in the vernacular during the homily period, but he introit, collect ect. was not part of the homily ususally (with some exceptions). Some of this might be lazyness on the part of the laymen who can bring their inexpensive bibles along or can buy missals for cheap. It would be interesting to see the cost difference between the two forms of the Breaking bread missals.

    BTW, how is Father Aaron? And how did the pastoral recommendation thing go from what you can tell

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  2. "Dead man walking"
    Hahaha!

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  3. Mr. Kohn:

    When I see Father Esch at Mass, he looks well.

    Regarding the Consultation, having made the strategic error or asking for permission rather than forgiveness, I was told that being a parishioner did not qualify me to attend. It was apparently limited to the Parish Council and parish staff. The only report I have heard was when Father Jurkus passed along, at Mass, what some of his "spies" told him. Among other things, the Archdiocesan representative present said his in-laws (IIRC) belong to the parish so he has to be sure we get someone good.

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  4. well best of luck with that then

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