I am thankful for the 2000 of us who come to worship each Sunday. I am hopeful that each will invite a family member or friend to come with them to Mass, so next year we can be thankful for the 4000 who have come to worship.
The most recent published statistics had St. Al's with 27% (2,365/8,817) of parishioners at Mass, worst in our district. Regular readers might recall my recounting that when I went through discernment for our Parish Council in May of 1996, improving mass attendance the very issue I raised. That suggestion landed with a thud that probably still echoes through our rather empty "worship space". I learned that the Pastoral Staff was then, overall, afraid more people would mean more work and I see nothing to indicate there's been a change of heart since.
The problem with inviting people to Mass at St. Al's is the possibility of questions from visitors for which we have no good answers. At the new pastor's "town hall" meeting on liturgy, a couple of parishioners asked for more reverence at Mass, specifically asking the pastor to genuflect at the Consecration. He conceded that's what the rubrics required, but said he would not. He went on to give a brief course of gentle ridicule of kneeling, which included him shuffling around on his knees.
His theme was that St. Al's is "a shining light" for liturgy, and, if he means like the one warning of a reef, I agree.
Just like the lighthouses...
ReplyDeleteAbandoned, but still blinking.
Your pastor, whoever he is, sounds like a nut.
ReplyDeleteNo, the pastor - like so many of his mindset - sounds like a 'performer'. Which is something the Holy Father decried about many priests in celebrating Mass these past 40 years (cfr. The Spirit of the Liturgy). One of the reasons behind Summorum Pontificum, I believe.
ReplyDeletePriests and people need to recall what the Mass is really about - Him, not us. Also, whose 'worship space' the church is and why we are there. It is God's house and He is present there. Act accordingly.
Anonymous and GOR, not at all. He simply explained that he knows better.
ReplyDeleteAt the same meeting he also said if anyone genuflected to receive Communion, he'd have to correct them.
From the 'politically correct', O Lord deliver us...!
ReplyDelete