Monday, June 11, 2012
Sunday, June 10, 2012
St. Anthony of Padua - High Ridge
Happy Corpus Christi!
I've been celebrating a friend's birthday this weekend (Mark over at Rome of the West...you should wish him Happy B-Day ;) ) so I was a little tired and had to find a late Mass that wasn't too far away. I ended up heading out St. Anthony of Padua in High Ridge.
St. Anthony of Padua was built in 1928. The exterior reminded me of a mission church from the Southwest. The inside was on the plain side, but the windows were very nice. In the back of Church there were two pictures of possible Sanctuary renovations.
The music was accompanied by a choir and either a piano or an organ (I was a little sleepy...). The choir was in an arm of a the church. The choir loft was turned into a cry room. (I don't understand why churches do that. The choir loft amplifies sound...)
Music:
Opening: Gather the People
Offertory: God's Holy Gifts
Communion: I Received the Living God
Closing: Alleluia! Sing to Jesus
Father used Penitential Rite A. There was a children's Liturgy of the Word. The Gloria was not sung, but the Our Father was. Father sang the Preface. I'm not sure which Eucharistic Prayer. It had oblation of Your church, prophetic unity and concord. There were bells.
And it will come as a shock to no one, the Sequence Laude Zion was not sung. Shocked I tell you.
Father's homily started off with a story. Most Catholics over the age of 55 remember the old Mass. The priest had his back to the people. That didn't matter much because Mass was silent and in Latin so nobody understood it. Avery Cardinal Dulles, before he became Catholic, visited a Mass and observed no signs of external unity. It was a dull and unconnected service. He failed to perceive. There was one point of unity. At the ringing of the bell, all eyes snapped to the front. The dramatic climax. Everyone had eyes riveted on the Body of Christ as it was raised. Children in Catholic schools learned what the words were that the priest says. Jesus embedded commands in His words. It is a meal. It is food. Jesus offers Himself as spiritual food, unlike other meals. It is sacrificial. Jesus is the true celebrant of the Mass. Jesus loved Jewish Scriptures. Jesus offered up Himself as a perfect unblemished sacrifice for our sins and the sins of many. Calvary became a present reality. The sacrificial meal is a covenant. Marriage vows are a covenant. When we share the cup, we are united with the Trinity. Joined in fellowship with all others in this sacrificial meal. The Eucharist makes us Church. It is a common banquet for all God's people. The Sign of Peace is not intrusion on personal prayer (personal space however....) It is central. We are present at the upper room and Calvary. We see him with our spiritual eyes. We share in Christ's sacrifice. It is a spiritual treasure. Are we really aware? Do we really Believe? Are we truly worshipping? Father ended his homily with a story from Dr. Kreeft about taking a Muslim student to a church and the student remarking that if he truly believed, he'd never get up from his knees.
St. Anthony will be celebrating the Feast of St. Anthony on Sunday, June 17. There will be a procession after the 10:15 am Mass.
Pictures:
Links:
Website of St. Anthony of Padua
I've been celebrating a friend's birthday this weekend (Mark over at Rome of the West...you should wish him Happy B-Day ;) ) so I was a little tired and had to find a late Mass that wasn't too far away. I ended up heading out St. Anthony of Padua in High Ridge.
St. Anthony of Padua was built in 1928. The exterior reminded me of a mission church from the Southwest. The inside was on the plain side, but the windows were very nice. In the back of Church there were two pictures of possible Sanctuary renovations.
The music was accompanied by a choir and either a piano or an organ (I was a little sleepy...). The choir was in an arm of a the church. The choir loft was turned into a cry room. (I don't understand why churches do that. The choir loft amplifies sound...)
Music:
Opening: Gather the People
Offertory: God's Holy Gifts
Communion: I Received the Living God
Closing: Alleluia! Sing to Jesus
Father used Penitential Rite A. There was a children's Liturgy of the Word. The Gloria was not sung, but the Our Father was. Father sang the Preface. I'm not sure which Eucharistic Prayer. It had oblation of Your church, prophetic unity and concord. There were bells.
And it will come as a shock to no one, the Sequence Laude Zion was not sung. Shocked I tell you.
Father's homily started off with a story. Most Catholics over the age of 55 remember the old Mass. The priest had his back to the people. That didn't matter much because Mass was silent and in Latin so nobody understood it. Avery Cardinal Dulles, before he became Catholic, visited a Mass and observed no signs of external unity. It was a dull and unconnected service. He failed to perceive. There was one point of unity. At the ringing of the bell, all eyes snapped to the front. The dramatic climax. Everyone had eyes riveted on the Body of Christ as it was raised. Children in Catholic schools learned what the words were that the priest says. Jesus embedded commands in His words. It is a meal. It is food. Jesus offers Himself as spiritual food, unlike other meals. It is sacrificial. Jesus is the true celebrant of the Mass. Jesus loved Jewish Scriptures. Jesus offered up Himself as a perfect unblemished sacrifice for our sins and the sins of many. Calvary became a present reality. The sacrificial meal is a covenant. Marriage vows are a covenant. When we share the cup, we are united with the Trinity. Joined in fellowship with all others in this sacrificial meal. The Eucharist makes us Church. It is a common banquet for all God's people. The Sign of Peace is not intrusion on personal prayer (personal space however....) It is central. We are present at the upper room and Calvary. We see him with our spiritual eyes. We share in Christ's sacrifice. It is a spiritual treasure. Are we really aware? Do we really Believe? Are we truly worshipping? Father ended his homily with a story from Dr. Kreeft about taking a Muslim student to a church and the student remarking that if he truly believed, he'd never get up from his knees.
St. Anthony will be celebrating the Feast of St. Anthony on Sunday, June 17. There will be a procession after the 10:15 am Mass.
Pictures:
St. Anthony of Padua
Shrine of St. Anthony of Padua
View from the Back Pew
Website of St. Anthony of Padua
Sunday, June 3, 2012
St. John the Baptist
I hope everyone had a Blessed Trinity. I had to work, so I landed up attending the 4:30 pm Vigil at St. John the Baptist in South City.
St. John the Baptist is a lovely church built in 1925. The parish was founded in 1914.
For the first 15-20 or so minutes of Mass, I was the youngest, if not the youngest, person in the pews. I'm not all that young... This was kind of shocking...
The music was accompanied by a guitar in the choir loft. Instead of having the song numbers on the hymn board, the songs were announced at each point. Except I couldn't understand what they were saying. Think Peanuts adults.
Music:
Opening: Glory and Praise to Our God
Mass Setting: Mass of Christ the Savior
Offertory: God Beyond All Names
Communion: Pan de Vida (wow. I don't think I've heard this since high school...)
Closing: Holy God We Praise Thy Name
(I suppose it was too much to ask for to have a song about the Trinity...like O Most Holy Trinity)
Father's Homily:
This Sunday after Pentecost, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. This is a great mystery of our Faith. It is the foundation of our Faith. The Trinity is family. Scripture gives many explanations. There is a second mystery. (how about we get the first one cleared up...) First is the blessed Trinity. We remember this by making the Sign of the Cross. It is an easy mystery to express (but apparently not to explain...) The second mystery is we know who God is (we do?), but what is God in our lives, in the world (unloved by many I'm guessing...), in our lives (I'll buy that...God is a mystery in my life...). What is He saying to us? God brought us into the world to have an intimate (GOD WANTS TO GO STEADY WITH ME!!!) and personal relationship (oh. nevermind). He wants to dwell within us all our lives. We have been adopted by Him at Baptism. He has given us His divine love. He is talking to us (then why can't I hear Him?) It is all over the Gospels. He sent His Son to teach us. Then the Holy Spirit. To show His divine love. Work of the Blessed Trinity is personal. It is the most important relationship. As you get older, you might get it. It is very clear in the Gospel. It is very personal. I share my authority. It is a blessing of Baptism. He will give us power to carry out His mission into the world. Go to all peoples. Baptize them in the name of the Trinity. Teach them all I have told you. We are sent into the world to carry Jesus' mission. We have the power to baptize in an emergency. (YAY! I don't need to be a woman priest. I just need an emergency!) Teach young people to respect and do God's will. Seems like a lot of responsibility but don't worry. Jesus is with us until the end of the age.
Father used Eucharistic Prayer II and there were bells.
It was a typical South City Mass. Oh and the parish picnic is Wednesday, June, 6!
Pictures:
Links:
Website of St. John the Baptist
Pictures from Rome of the West
St. John the Baptist is a lovely church built in 1925. The parish was founded in 1914.
For the first 15-20 or so minutes of Mass, I was the youngest, if not the youngest, person in the pews. I'm not all that young... This was kind of shocking...
The music was accompanied by a guitar in the choir loft. Instead of having the song numbers on the hymn board, the songs were announced at each point. Except I couldn't understand what they were saying. Think Peanuts adults.
Music:
Opening: Glory and Praise to Our God
Mass Setting: Mass of Christ the Savior
Offertory: God Beyond All Names
Communion: Pan de Vida (wow. I don't think I've heard this since high school...)
Closing: Holy God We Praise Thy Name
(I suppose it was too much to ask for to have a song about the Trinity...like O Most Holy Trinity)
Father's Homily:
This Sunday after Pentecost, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. This is a great mystery of our Faith. It is the foundation of our Faith. The Trinity is family. Scripture gives many explanations. There is a second mystery. (how about we get the first one cleared up...) First is the blessed Trinity. We remember this by making the Sign of the Cross. It is an easy mystery to express (but apparently not to explain...) The second mystery is we know who God is (we do?), but what is God in our lives, in the world (unloved by many I'm guessing...), in our lives (I'll buy that...God is a mystery in my life...). What is He saying to us? God brought us into the world to have an intimate (GOD WANTS TO GO STEADY WITH ME!!!) and personal relationship (oh. nevermind). He wants to dwell within us all our lives. We have been adopted by Him at Baptism. He has given us His divine love. He is talking to us (then why can't I hear Him?) It is all over the Gospels. He sent His Son to teach us. Then the Holy Spirit. To show His divine love. Work of the Blessed Trinity is personal. It is the most important relationship. As you get older, you might get it. It is very clear in the Gospel. It is very personal. I share my authority. It is a blessing of Baptism. He will give us power to carry out His mission into the world. Go to all peoples. Baptize them in the name of the Trinity. Teach them all I have told you. We are sent into the world to carry Jesus' mission. We have the power to baptize in an emergency. (YAY! I don't need to be a woman priest. I just need an emergency!) Teach young people to respect and do God's will. Seems like a lot of responsibility but don't worry. Jesus is with us until the end of the age.
Father used Eucharistic Prayer II and there were bells.
It was a typical South City Mass. Oh and the parish picnic is Wednesday, June, 6!
Pictures:
St. John the Baptist
St. John the Baptist
View from the Back Pew!
Holy Family Shrine
Station VIII
Links:
Website of St. John the Baptist
Pictures from Rome of the West
Sunday, May 27, 2012
St. Mary of Perpetual Help - Villa Ridge
Happy Pentecost! I hope you had a Spirit Filled Day!
This morning I attended 8 am Mass at St. Mary of Perpetual Help in Villa Ridge. This was a lovely little rural Church. Before Mass a rosary was recited.
The music was sung a capella without a cantor.
Opening: Come Holy Ghost
Offertory: Lord, Who At Thy First Eucharist
Communion: Silent
Closing: Mary Full of Grace
The Sanctus was in Latin, but the rest was in English.
And it will come as no surprise to anyone, the Pentecost Sequence was skipped. In the Liturgical Year, there are 5 sequences. So far, I'm 0 for 2. Here's the Pentecost Sequence. I don't have any hope of hearing the Dies Irae in a normal parish...
Father's homily started off a story about how he went to the Grand Canyon. It was winter and the Canyon was fog-covered. Every moment as the fog lifted, more was revealed. The Bible is the same. God reveals more every generation. He protected His people with prophets and those responsible for protecting them. Everything He has given us comes directly from the Father. Jesus has guaranteed us an Advocate, who will guide us. The truth has been revealed. You were given the 7 Gifts of the Holy Spirit at Confirmation (How about a refresher for those of us who's Confirmation is a dim memory...). He gives us all access to the Father. (It's like a special backstage pass. ROCK ON!) Today is the birthday of the Church (Thank God no one got the idea to sing Happy Birthday Dear Catholic Church...) It's 50 days after Easter. He has given us access. St. Ba (I don't know...Father talked really fast), a Church Father, in place of the Accuser, God has given us the Advocate. Once we are redeemed, God gives us full access. God has not abandoned us. He has given us the tools to get home. (A GPS??) We just need to ask. We have great hope. Ask for the fullness of the Holy Spirit. God will give us fullness.
Father used Eucharistic Prayer II and there were bells. The Prayer of St. Michael was recited.
There were a host of announcements, most notably is that the pastor is now the pastor of St. Mary, St. James and St. Bridget. Wow. (Hey where can I find out who's getting moved and where?)
Pictures:
Link:
Website of St. Mary of Perpetual Help
This morning I attended 8 am Mass at St. Mary of Perpetual Help in Villa Ridge. This was a lovely little rural Church. Before Mass a rosary was recited.
The music was sung a capella without a cantor.
Opening: Come Holy Ghost
Offertory: Lord, Who At Thy First Eucharist
Communion: Silent
Closing: Mary Full of Grace
The Sanctus was in Latin, but the rest was in English.
And it will come as no surprise to anyone, the Pentecost Sequence was skipped. In the Liturgical Year, there are 5 sequences. So far, I'm 0 for 2. Here's the Pentecost Sequence. I don't have any hope of hearing the Dies Irae in a normal parish...
Father's homily started off a story about how he went to the Grand Canyon. It was winter and the Canyon was fog-covered. Every moment as the fog lifted, more was revealed. The Bible is the same. God reveals more every generation. He protected His people with prophets and those responsible for protecting them. Everything He has given us comes directly from the Father. Jesus has guaranteed us an Advocate, who will guide us. The truth has been revealed. You were given the 7 Gifts of the Holy Spirit at Confirmation (How about a refresher for those of us who's Confirmation is a dim memory...). He gives us all access to the Father. (It's like a special backstage pass. ROCK ON!) Today is the birthday of the Church (Thank God no one got the idea to sing Happy Birthday Dear Catholic Church...) It's 50 days after Easter. He has given us access. St. Ba (I don't know...Father talked really fast), a Church Father, in place of the Accuser, God has given us the Advocate. Once we are redeemed, God gives us full access. God has not abandoned us. He has given us the tools to get home. (A GPS??) We just need to ask. We have great hope. Ask for the fullness of the Holy Spirit. God will give us fullness.
Father used Eucharistic Prayer II and there were bells. The Prayer of St. Michael was recited.
There were a host of announcements, most notably is that the pastor is now the pastor of St. Mary, St. James and St. Bridget. Wow. (Hey where can I find out who's getting moved and where?)
Pictures:
Link:
Website of St. Mary of Perpetual Help
Sunday, May 20, 2012
St. Patrick - Wentzville
Good Afternoon.
I attended the 9 am Mass at St. Patrick in Wentzville.
The Church was built in 1987. I am now more convinced that the oldest Baby Boomers have no taste. I'm not following this paneling in the Church thing.
Music was accompanied by an organ, piano and choir.
Gathering: Hail the Day That Sees Him Rise
Gloria: Heritage Mass
Offertory: Dwelling Place
Communion: Worthy is the Lamb
Communion Meditation: Hail Mary
Recessional: City of God
Music people and pastoral assistants who put the Mass together..can't decide on whether or not to sing the Sanctus in Latin or in English? Well, who says you have to make a decision when you can sing both at the same time! Why yes! Encourage that active participation in the pews by encouraging parishoners to sing in whatever language they want! I kid you not. The Sanctus was sung in two languages at the same time. It sounded like the sopranos (grumble. they get all the good parts) were singing in Latin.
At this Mass there was a Children's Liturgy of the Word, so all the children gathered, were blessed and then left, while being sung "Children go to hear God's Word" because clearly, if they had stayed in Mass, they weren't going to hear God's Words. They were going to hear what the rest of us heard, which was the word of Luke, Paul, and Mark. Clearly not God's Words.
The homily started off with how we were celebrating Ascension. Until a few years ago, Ascension was always celebrated on the 40th day after Easter, which was a Thursday (Actually that depends on your diocese or on your Rite for my EF friend.) Why did Jesus have to ascend? Why couldn't He have stayed? He could have. (Jesus Fanfiction could speculate...) If He didn't return to the Father, the apostles could not receive the Spirit, the Paraclete. The focus would not be on what the Church could do, but what Jesus could do. Jesus wanted to tell them it was time for them to continue the mission. We see how He brought them to the point being able to say goodbye. The Paraclete gave them gifts. They are different but they would be one. The Founding Fathers were thinking about this scripture when they came up with our National Motto, From the Many, One. They were thinking of all the different immigrants that would come and join our country. (Uhm. I hate to burst your bubble, but it was more like there were 13 separate countries being joined into one, but we can go with your interpretation....) Though the Church is many, we are one. One Liturgy (oh sweet Lord....where to even begin with this statement...), one Church. We are many and different. We are of One Faith. We form the Church as a whole. We are given different gifts, we are still supposed to share those gifts. All of us are called to follow. That is our mission in life. (YES! I am a follower! perfect!) To return to the Father like Jesus. Called to work in this life to go back to the Father. God gives us each day as a new start. Sacraments give us the grace to do this. To serve and be nourished. Up to us if we are willing to choose that. Where the Spirit leads to the Father.
Father used Eucharistic Prayer III and there were bells along with hand holding at the Our Father.
Pictures:
Links:
Website of St. Patrick
I attended the 9 am Mass at St. Patrick in Wentzville.
The Church was built in 1987. I am now more convinced that the oldest Baby Boomers have no taste. I'm not following this paneling in the Church thing.
Music was accompanied by an organ, piano and choir.
Gathering: Hail the Day That Sees Him Rise
Gloria: Heritage Mass
Offertory: Dwelling Place
Communion: Worthy is the Lamb
Communion Meditation: Hail Mary
Recessional: City of God
Music people and pastoral assistants who put the Mass together..can't decide on whether or not to sing the Sanctus in Latin or in English? Well, who says you have to make a decision when you can sing both at the same time! Why yes! Encourage that active participation in the pews by encouraging parishoners to sing in whatever language they want! I kid you not. The Sanctus was sung in two languages at the same time. It sounded like the sopranos (grumble. they get all the good parts) were singing in Latin.
At this Mass there was a Children's Liturgy of the Word, so all the children gathered, were blessed and then left, while being sung "Children go to hear God's Word" because clearly, if they had stayed in Mass, they weren't going to hear God's Words. They were going to hear what the rest of us heard, which was the word of Luke, Paul, and Mark. Clearly not God's Words.
The homily started off with how we were celebrating Ascension. Until a few years ago, Ascension was always celebrated on the 40th day after Easter, which was a Thursday (Actually that depends on your diocese or on your Rite for my EF friend.) Why did Jesus have to ascend? Why couldn't He have stayed? He could have. (Jesus Fanfiction could speculate...) If He didn't return to the Father, the apostles could not receive the Spirit, the Paraclete. The focus would not be on what the Church could do, but what Jesus could do. Jesus wanted to tell them it was time for them to continue the mission. We see how He brought them to the point being able to say goodbye. The Paraclete gave them gifts. They are different but they would be one. The Founding Fathers were thinking about this scripture when they came up with our National Motto, From the Many, One. They were thinking of all the different immigrants that would come and join our country. (Uhm. I hate to burst your bubble, but it was more like there were 13 separate countries being joined into one, but we can go with your interpretation....) Though the Church is many, we are one. One Liturgy (oh sweet Lord....where to even begin with this statement...), one Church. We are many and different. We are of One Faith. We form the Church as a whole. We are given different gifts, we are still supposed to share those gifts. All of us are called to follow. That is our mission in life. (YES! I am a follower! perfect!) To return to the Father like Jesus. Called to work in this life to go back to the Father. God gives us each day as a new start. Sacraments give us the grace to do this. To serve and be nourished. Up to us if we are willing to choose that. Where the Spirit leads to the Father.
Father used Eucharistic Prayer III and there were bells along with hand holding at the Our Father.
Pictures:
St. Patrick - Wentzville
St. Patrick
View From the Back Pew
The Holy Family
Station VIII
Sacraments of Initiation?
Jesus with Children
See the black head child in the red outfit totally being ignored by Jesus?
Yeah, that's how I feel.
Eucharist?
Links:
Website of St. Patrick
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)