Following communion but before the concluding rite, therewas the inevitable parade of lay people to the pulpit, each with a vital announcement to make, each little speech being met with enthusiastic applause. Sufficiently brutalized, I sought refuge in the side room reserved for the Blessed Sacrament (no tabernacle on or anywhere near the alter in this church, of course, built in the 90’s according to whatever liturgical-architectural whims were prevalent at the time). My intent was to say a Divine Mercy chaplet there, with a little peace and quiet. The tabernacle in this room was of heavy industrial design, looking as if it was meant to contain dangerous radioactive waste rather than the Real Presence. As Mass concluded with a rousing “going forth” ditty, the inside of the church erupted into a cacophony of happy voices as the parishioners greeted each other heartily at the top of their lungs and caught up on important personal goings-on of a significance far too important for them to wait until they had entered the lobby area.
Was the Mass I attended valid? Yep. Definitely. Was it, in my personal opinion, done in poor taste with less reverence than should be shown by faithful Catholics? Yes. Can they do better? Yes, they can! I’d seen them do a better job just a couple of days earlier.
May God bless those good people. I wish them well. And it makes me all the more grateful each and every time I step into my own parish church!
IMPORTANT CAVEAT: The picture accompanying this article (the one with the liturgical chorus line) was NOT taken at the parish I visited. It wasn’t that whacky..!