Hello all.
I have been officially transferred back to St. Louis, effective today! YAY!
I have bought a house. YAY!!!! It's not quite in the neighborhood I want, but pretty close. It's actually in the parish of Epiphany. Barely.
I vaguely remember my last visit...after awhile, all the churches blend together unless something spectacular happens. (like dancing...)
I'd forgotten how plain the interior of the church was. All white except for the woodwork. There was stained glass but it was symbols and not people. It was all white....white...with a tiny tabernacle in the center of the whiteness.
I was sitting there going I can overlook the vast expanses of white if I am spiritually fed, if there is good music.
Hey did you know today is the first day of Advent? I don't think the music director got the memo. The closing song was Soon and Very Soon and then the Communion and Offertory was 670 and 671 in the Breaking Bread. The opening was by Marty Haugen...I want to say 587? No O Come O Come Emmanual? No Advent songs at all???
The homily was about some new scheme Father had to get money or people involved. Ah yes. It's in the bulletin. There are 3 advent goals for the parish. The gold goal...send some teens to Haiti to help the poor heathens. The Frankincense goal...write down what you want the parish to pray for. They will be placed in the "...frankincense container as reminder that as the smoke of the incense raises heavenly ward so does our prayers at each Mass." Incense? They actually use incense here? Oooo.."At each and every Mass as the gifts of bread and wine are brought forward we are invited to the bread and wine as a symbol of our hopes and dreams." (That Jesus guy...his blood and body...not so much...but hope and change...er sorry hope and dreams.. definitely....). Feel the squishy....feel it! The 3rd goal is the myrrh goal...seek out opportunities to die to oneself...we are being challenged to do something 1x a week or even 1x a day that is outside our comfort zone and to die to ourselves in the service of others. Like doing the dishes without complaining, or learning about the Faith. (Funny...protesting and participating in die-ins wasn't mentioned...). I don't know about you...but doing the dishes without complaint, especially when there is a dishwasher involved, doesn't seem so much like dying to myself....
The first part of the homily was about the word Watch. I don't know I wasn't paying attention. I was trying to imagine how if I infiltrated the parish council I could convince/coerce the parish that white...vast expanses of white, are bad....
Before I went to Mass today, I decided that I will give the parish 1 month. If any hugging breaks out though, I'm out of there. It's going to be a long month...
Showing posts with label Epiphany. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Epiphany. Show all posts
Sunday, November 30, 2014
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Epiphany of Our Lord -St. Louis
Happy Feast of Epiphany!
To celebrate the Feast of Epiphany (and to get my plenary indulgence :) ), I went to the 11 am Mass at Epiphany in South St. Louis City.
Epiphany is a rather vibrant parish in South City and is roughly middle class. The church building is in a classic style, but very plain on the inside.
There is a choir loft, but it is not used. The choir sits on the St. Joseph side of the sanctuary. The Mass was accompanied by an electronic piano.
The music:
Opening: The First Nowell
Gloria: Mass for John Carroll with the refrain in Latin
Offertory: As With Gladness Men of Old
Holy and Great Amen: St. Louis Jesuit Mass
Lamb of God: Isele (Lamb of God, Emmanuel, Prince of Peace)
Communion: Child of the Poor/What Child Is This (sang together at the same time)
Recessional: We Three Kings
There was a family that joined the Catholic Church today (HOORAY!) so Mass was much longer and the Homily incorporated the fact that there were Baptisms and Confirmations.
Epiphany is one of the many parishes that do a Children's Liturgy of the Word. This involves having the children come up before the readings, receiving a special blessing from Father (or the whole parish) and they go off to color somewhere. Epiphany sang a special song for the children as they left. I have to say that I'm slowly becoming convinced that separate liturgies for children are a bad idea. First, and probably the least important reason, is that it smack of being Protestant. Second, you mean to tell me the children can't listen to the Scriptures and Father's Homily? I don't think it is a matter of understanding, as I've had some homilies that I don't understand. Children need to learn how to behave in Church, sending them out of Church doesn't model the proper behavior for them. Third, it is incredibly disruptive to the flow of the Mass. This ties in with the fourth reason. Today there were Baptisms and Confirmations after the Homily. The children were still coloring and did not see the Baptisms. They were essentially excluded from the community of faithful and participating in this Sacrament. They came back smack in the middle of the Confirmation Rite. That's right, while the 5 people were being Confirmed, the children returned from wherever. This was a shame, because it was disruptive and it denied these children a chance to see what Confirmation is.
Father's homily addressed a variety of topics. He talked about how the Church is still celebrating Christmas unlike the rest of the world. Also, that the accounts in Matthew and Luke are different and the small details do not matter, but rather it is the big picture overall that matters. The story of the Magi illustrates the inclusive nature of God's call. Father hopes that we will all come to know (and love) Jesus Christ. Additionally, we need to be challenged in our Faith to keep it alive otherwise it just becomes an intellectual exercise. Throughout this, Father mentioned how this all connects to Baptism, Confirmation, Communion and Confession.
Next came the Baptisms and Confirmations. A family of five was brought into the Church. I have to admit, I'm throughly confused. Why were they all baptized now and not at the Easter Vigil? I thought that we had an RCIA program and that adults had to go through Scrutinies and stuff? I could understand why the children were baptized, so that perhaps they could be confirmed with their classmates. But they were confirmed today. The youngest was around 10, so it seemed odd she was Confirmed today, as I believe the norm here is 12-14. Granted, there are most likely reasons that I'm not privy to. I'm not saying it was wrong, it just seemed odd, given that the Easter Vigil is 4 months away.
Additionally, I was confused by the proceedings themselves. Admittedly, the last time I saw an adult baptized into the Church was Easter Vigil around when I was 13. However, I have been to my goddaughters' Baptisms so I know how that works. If what I saw today was correct, then adult Baptism is lame, lame and lame. When an infant is baptized, the baby isn't just dunked or splashed with water. The baby is also anointed with the Oil of the Catechumens on the crown of the head and on the chest. There's a phrase about being anointed priest and prophet. Additionally, there is part about being clothed in Christ and the baby gets a new white garment. There's an exorcism part too. Today, the members of the family were just splashed with water while the correct words were said. No anointing, no new garment of Christ. Now, granted the family was then Confirmed like five minutes latter, so maybe anointing isn't necessary. But when you are Confirmed, you are anointed with Chrism, which is a different oil. I'm all confused. I will say it seems like combining both Baptism and Confirmation is rather lame. Note: I want to make it clear that the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation are not lame and a very aweseome. However, the execution of those sacraments can sometimes be rather lacking. Additionally, call me greedy or whatever, but if you combine them, that's one less excuse to party and get presents ;)
Father said Eucharistic Prayer III and no bells at the Consecration.
Pictures:
Links:
Epiphany Parish, information for St. Louis Archdiocese
Exterior photo from Rome of the West
To celebrate the Feast of Epiphany (and to get my plenary indulgence :) ), I went to the 11 am Mass at Epiphany in South St. Louis City.
Epiphany is a rather vibrant parish in South City and is roughly middle class. The church building is in a classic style, but very plain on the inside.
There is a choir loft, but it is not used. The choir sits on the St. Joseph side of the sanctuary. The Mass was accompanied by an electronic piano.
The music:
Opening: The First Nowell
Gloria: Mass for John Carroll with the refrain in Latin
Offertory: As With Gladness Men of Old
Holy and Great Amen: St. Louis Jesuit Mass
Lamb of God: Isele (Lamb of God, Emmanuel, Prince of Peace)
Communion: Child of the Poor/What Child Is This (sang together at the same time)
Recessional: We Three Kings
There was a family that joined the Catholic Church today (HOORAY!) so Mass was much longer and the Homily incorporated the fact that there were Baptisms and Confirmations.
Epiphany is one of the many parishes that do a Children's Liturgy of the Word. This involves having the children come up before the readings, receiving a special blessing from Father (or the whole parish) and they go off to color somewhere. Epiphany sang a special song for the children as they left. I have to say that I'm slowly becoming convinced that separate liturgies for children are a bad idea. First, and probably the least important reason, is that it smack of being Protestant. Second, you mean to tell me the children can't listen to the Scriptures and Father's Homily? I don't think it is a matter of understanding, as I've had some homilies that I don't understand. Children need to learn how to behave in Church, sending them out of Church doesn't model the proper behavior for them. Third, it is incredibly disruptive to the flow of the Mass. This ties in with the fourth reason. Today there were Baptisms and Confirmations after the Homily. The children were still coloring and did not see the Baptisms. They were essentially excluded from the community of faithful and participating in this Sacrament. They came back smack in the middle of the Confirmation Rite. That's right, while the 5 people were being Confirmed, the children returned from wherever. This was a shame, because it was disruptive and it denied these children a chance to see what Confirmation is.
Father's homily addressed a variety of topics. He talked about how the Church is still celebrating Christmas unlike the rest of the world. Also, that the accounts in Matthew and Luke are different and the small details do not matter, but rather it is the big picture overall that matters. The story of the Magi illustrates the inclusive nature of God's call. Father hopes that we will all come to know (and love) Jesus Christ. Additionally, we need to be challenged in our Faith to keep it alive otherwise it just becomes an intellectual exercise. Throughout this, Father mentioned how this all connects to Baptism, Confirmation, Communion and Confession.
Next came the Baptisms and Confirmations. A family of five was brought into the Church. I have to admit, I'm throughly confused. Why were they all baptized now and not at the Easter Vigil? I thought that we had an RCIA program and that adults had to go through Scrutinies and stuff? I could understand why the children were baptized, so that perhaps they could be confirmed with their classmates. But they were confirmed today. The youngest was around 10, so it seemed odd she was Confirmed today, as I believe the norm here is 12-14. Granted, there are most likely reasons that I'm not privy to. I'm not saying it was wrong, it just seemed odd, given that the Easter Vigil is 4 months away.
Additionally, I was confused by the proceedings themselves. Admittedly, the last time I saw an adult baptized into the Church was Easter Vigil around when I was 13. However, I have been to my goddaughters' Baptisms so I know how that works. If what I saw today was correct, then adult Baptism is lame, lame and lame. When an infant is baptized, the baby isn't just dunked or splashed with water. The baby is also anointed with the Oil of the Catechumens on the crown of the head and on the chest. There's a phrase about being anointed priest and prophet. Additionally, there is part about being clothed in Christ and the baby gets a new white garment. There's an exorcism part too. Today, the members of the family were just splashed with water while the correct words were said. No anointing, no new garment of Christ. Now, granted the family was then Confirmed like five minutes latter, so maybe anointing isn't necessary. But when you are Confirmed, you are anointed with Chrism, which is a different oil. I'm all confused. I will say it seems like combining both Baptism and Confirmation is rather lame. Note: I want to make it clear that the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation are not lame and a very aweseome. However, the execution of those sacraments can sometimes be rather lacking. Additionally, call me greedy or whatever, but if you combine them, that's one less excuse to party and get presents ;)
Father said Eucharistic Prayer III and no bells at the Consecration.
Pictures:
View from the Back Pew
The Creche
Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh
Mary
Jesus Meets the Women
Station of the Cross
Rose Window
These are some of the windows in the Sanctuary.
They are angels that are holding symbols of Jesus.
The yellow blue angel is holding a lamb.
The greenish one is holding a pelican.
The blue girly looking one is holding leaves.
In photoshop I can only make out the pelicans and lamb
I didn't realize they were angels holding things until I zoomed using photoshop.
Upper Windows
The upper windows had various symbols in them.
This one has grapes and lilies.
Etching on the Main Glass Doors
Father's Chasuble has these symbols on them,
only vertically.
Links:
Epiphany Parish, information for St. Louis Archdiocese
Exterior photo from Rome of the West
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