At my new parish's new member orientation (once a month) there must have been some 15 plus looking to join. The pastor let everyone know that this was a traditional Catholic church based on the traditions/ authority from Rome. He said you wont hear us preach our opinions on the Catholic faith here. It may be difficult for some to hear but he said this is the only true way to salvation.
He stressed the reverence of the Mass here as well. I mentioned to him after the first Mass I attended that I was impressed how well trained the congregation was--especially observing his sign as you entered the church reminded all of a 'reverent silence.'
He also said I expect proper dress as well. I have heard that he has sent home parishioners showing up in less than appropriate dress.
He handed out prayer cards with the prayer to Saint Michael and a prayer to vocations. He said you will notice the congregation has them memorized--they are recited after Mass along with a hymn to Mary.
So, all very reverent and 'old school.'
I wonder why it took me so long to switch churches and even more so why making a change now during the month dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and to a church named Sacred Heart.
Gerry
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prayer to vocations
I heard Father Corapi on EWTN the other day say you must pray for vocations. If you are not praying then you cant expect the priest shortage to be corrected.
The pastor said they have someone from the parish who will become ordained a priest next year. They have had some new nuns in last few years. And i know they have had new priest as well in recent years.
They have some 97 altar servers (only boys) and he thinks he has at least a few discerning the priesthood as well.
Gerry
“Everyone needs thirty minutes of personal prayer time each day, unless they are too busy
Posted - 20 May 2007 : 12:39:58 Show Profile Email Poster Visit Gscheid's Homepage Edit Topic Send Gscheid a Yahoo! Message Reply with Quote
Do you think if I write to the Bishop of Baltimore he will tell me what parish I can attend and expect the Mass to follow the rubrics of the Catholic Church?
*Mass where there is reverence
*No altar servers wearing sneakers
*No lectors remaining on the sanctuary during the Liturgy of the Word
*No EME's taking and replacing Communion vessels on Altar
*No EME's blessing children during Communion
*Church where the lay parishioners aren't in charge
*Reverence on the Altar and during Mass
*Church were ordained/ lay really care and really believe
*Mass where parishioners aren't coming in late or leaving early or getting up during Mass
I know these places exist. I have been a parishioner to places like this in the past.
At present place of worship, I can expect most of these I mentioned on my list to occur each Sunday Mass. Dont think I can continue my growth in this setting. I dont believe it is healthy.
Gerry
'Great Success'
Looks like I found the reverent church I was looking for within a few miles from my home, officially in the DC diocese. I was told by a few other traditional Catholics to try this parish. I loved the 'reverent silent' sign as you walked in--been a while since I have been to a Mass where they adhered to a reverent silence. It takes a reverent pastor time to train the congregation unless they continued this from the pre-Vatican II days.
5 'old school' altar servers serving the pastor and his deacon, like they have on the EWTN Mass.
Hail Mary after the Liturgy of the Word.
Norm was to keep hands/ arms to your side not mimicking Celebrant or even holding hands for the Lord's Prayer.
Reverent Kiss of Peace and not reaching over 5 pews to exchange sport scores. Seemed they were instructed to exchange a sign of peace with their nearest neighbor like the Pope recently reiterated.
The norm also was to receive Communion on the tongue. I was told the Pastor had a Homily in the past where he also instructed before receiving to either bow or genuflect.
After Communion, congregation recited prayer to Saint Michael and hymn to Mary.
Yeah, it still bothered me that the tabernacle was off the Sanctuary and on the side (although in a chapel-like setting), Celebrants sat behind the altar (I thought throne-like), lay ministers (one lector and one EME (robed as well?)) sat on Sanctuary but on the side and was very easy to see that the Pastor/ priest were in control. Also, I don't see any mention of Adoration in the bulletin nor website. But, overall really minor things compared to finding a reverent Mass.
Especially, after speaking with a priest last week and was told that most of the churches in the area are really heading down the road to being very much like protestant churches or he thinks maybe even a US catholic church someday down the road. He said that the church I went to on Sunday was where he went for Confession every month or so--so nice props there as well.
Gerry
Sent: Thursday, May 31, 2007 9:48 AM
Subject: Sacred Heart Church - The Parish with Colonial Roots - since 1728
I think just the altar server manual alone says it all.
I asked the lady responsible for altar servers here at OLF about why the servers here are allowed to wear sneakers and she said since everybody else does including the priest.
Gerry
http://www.sacredheartbowie.org/altarservers_manual.php
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