Now is our chance to choose the right side. God is holding back to give us that chance. It won’t last forever. We must take it or leave it. – C.S. Lewis
I was at the mass you are referring to. My 2 teens, as well. My kids weren't into the hat thing with Cory and complained after the mass that they want to start going to a different mass. Whoever is making the decisions with the teen mass is out of touch with our kids! Long and theatrical homilies aren't working. In my teaching experience, you have 1 minute to capture the attention of teens and 5 minutes to keep it. A lot can be delivered in these 5 minutes. A better approach to pulling rabbits out of hats might be to actually use this time as a teaching moment! Wouldn't it be great if our kids were actually CATECHIZED at mass? Hats off to anybody who can pull this off! We wish you well as we join the exodus to Addison- Alene's dismissal has proven to be the last straw for my family.
Theatrical is a great way to describe many of the homilies especially those by "the" deacon.You won't get them at the ABC churches;only great homilies by a priest or by deacon Dan on occasion at Campbell or Bradford.
Ok, my turn to finally chime in. The hat homily hit home with me. My son recently took a friend who was not catholic to mass with us. I overheard my son tell him on the way to mass; "you can't chew gum, you have to take your hat off and no texting. And you can't receive communion because you are not catholic". Now if my 16 year old can explain the mass rules to another 16 year old, those who were involved in the homily with hats have clearly missed the boat. The Church is a holy and sacred place. We need to reinforce this with our teens, not water it down.
Of course Jesus is happy to see kids at Mass. That's not the point. The point is that Jesus is worthy of all glory and honor and praise--and when Catholics (and most of Christendom) gather to worship Him in our culture, they express that by removing hats. Simple, really.
We impress upon our kids church "etiquette" but I'd rather see kids at Mass than not attend because of a hat. When I was growing up you didn't wear a hat inside any building. They do grow up, believe it or not. Simple as that.
What's the big deal? We all know that hats on guys in church is irreverant. Guys aren't allowed to wear hats at East or West during school hours!!!!Why would anyone try to defend otherwise. Sometimes adults underestimate the wisdom of kids. If we teach them that being in the church with the Blessed Sacrament is different than being in the school cafeteria or at the stadium or at the mall, they will get this. At the confirmnation retreat at IHM, my daughter was encouraged to walk on the backs of the pews as part of a trust game. When she shared this, even she was disturbed. What does this sort of behavior teach our kids? I don't allow the kids to walk on the furniture in my home!
If people chose not to respect the teachings of the Church, they can easily find another church to support their beliefs! I'm tired of people whose primary objective is to change the Catholic Church. They stay in the Church but find fault with everything the Church stands for. We are believers who stand firm on tradition. While in the Church, we don't wear hats, we genuflect, we honor Christ in the eucharist and on and on. It's really quite simple-let's not complicate it by sending mixed messages in homilies and most especially by allowing lay people to preach.
To an above poster; One could say that Jesus would be happy to see teens in church naked but we all know that this lack of attire would be inappropriate. What's wrong with teaching kids that we have rules and expectations? No hats. Period. It's called respect and this is a good thing.
Until we make the Church feel like a holy sanctuary, kids won't believe that it is. One way that we adults have contributed to the lack of respect is the constant chatter from the pews before and after mass. It's great to create a friendly atmosphere but we, myself included, have set a poor example for the kids. Let's consider talking at the back of the church or outside and use the church for quiet time before our Lord.
Yes, this is true. But at most of our masses there is no quiet time for prayer. The pre and post mass music has become a big distraction. There was a time when the church was the one place you could go to escape the noise of the world but not anymore. I vote for less attention to music and more to the Eucharist.
Same here. We haven't always set the best example for our kids. I will definitely take that to heart and endeavor to use the time before and after Mass as "quiet time before our Lord."
The reasoning this homily followed is that: people will stare at you if you come into mass and look different. Let's be honest, if you go anywhere and you look different people will stare at you. The "hat" was a great analogy for people unwilling to lay down their false idols for Christ. If your "hat" is that important to you it's not likely that Jesus Christ our lord and savior is going to take a high point on your list of priorities. I don't believe I have seen anyone in this parish give a mean glare from pew to pew. Maybe from pew to pulpit but never at one another.
I'm sorry that I missed the hat homily- it certainly has raised some feathers. The intention and message can be debated but the bigger issue is lay preaching. People outside this diocese are appalled that we allow lay preaching. Where is the obedience? And humility?
Not only are people outside the parish appalled- I am appalled. I almost walked out of the mass in question. this one is a quick-fix- no more preaching for Corey or anyone else who is not a deacon or a priest. He has to earn his stripes!!!
AMEN to that. Corry, Sister Joan, Trish LaFortune.....NO NO NO!!!!!!!! ONLY A PRIEST CAN DELIVER A HOMILY.. PERIOD. Follow the rules or join Protestantville. The madness has got to stop. We need to take back our church. If you start letting people in with baseball hats, gum chewing, tobacco use, etc....consider this. It will eventually lead to a very progressive, liberal and unrecognizable Catholic Church. You give an inch, they will take a mile.
Didn't witness the hat homily but do question why a lay person is giving a homily at all. Last I checked this was forbidden.
ReplyDeleteI was at the mass you are referring to. My 2 teens, as well. My kids weren't into the hat thing with Cory and complained after the mass that they want to start going to a different mass. Whoever is making the decisions with the teen mass is out of touch with our kids! Long and theatrical homilies aren't working. In my teaching experience, you have 1 minute to capture the attention of teens and 5 minutes to keep it. A lot can be delivered in these 5 minutes. A better approach to pulling rabbits out of hats might be to actually use this time as a teaching moment! Wouldn't it be great if our kids were actually CATECHIZED at mass? Hats off to anybody who can pull this off! We wish you well as we join the exodus to Addison- Alene's dismissal has proven to be the last straw for my family.
ReplyDeleteRight on! Great article.
ReplyDeleteTheatrical is a great way to describe many of the homilies especially those by "the" deacon.You won't get them at the ABC churches;only great homilies by a priest or by deacon Dan on occasion at Campbell or Bradford.
ReplyDeleteOk, my turn to finally chime in. The hat homily hit home with me. My son recently took a friend who was not catholic to mass with us. I overheard my son tell him on the way to mass; "you can't chew gum, you have to take your hat off and no texting. And you can't receive communion because you are not catholic". Now if my 16 year old can explain the mass rules to another 16 year old, those who were involved in the homily with hats have clearly missed the boat. The Church is a holy and sacred place. We need to reinforce this with our teens, not water it down.
ReplyDeleteI think Jesus is happy to see kids there and the hat is the last thing He is looking at.
ReplyDeleteOf course Jesus is happy to see kids at Mass. That's not the point. The point is that Jesus is worthy of all glory and honor and praise--and when Catholics (and most of Christendom) gather to worship Him in our culture, they express that by removing hats. Simple, really.
ReplyDeleteWe impress upon our kids church "etiquette" but I'd rather see kids at Mass than not attend because of a hat. When I was growing up you didn't wear a hat inside any building. They do grow up, believe it or not. Simple as that.
ReplyDeleteOh, you know of lots of kids who refuse to go to Mass because they insist on wearing a hat?
ReplyDeleteWater seeps its own level so my conversation with you is through.
ReplyDeleteWhat's the big deal? We all know that hats on guys in church is irreverant. Guys aren't allowed to wear hats at East or West during school hours!!!!Why would anyone try to defend otherwise. Sometimes adults underestimate the wisdom of kids. If we teach them that being in the church with the Blessed Sacrament is different than being in the school cafeteria or at the stadium or at the mall, they will get this. At the confirmnation retreat at IHM, my daughter was encouraged to walk on the backs of the pews as part of a trust game. When she shared this, even she was disturbed. What does this sort of behavior teach our kids? I don't allow the kids to walk on the furniture in my home!
ReplyDeleteIf people chose not to respect the teachings of the Church, they can easily find another church to support their beliefs! I'm tired of people whose primary objective is to change the Catholic Church. They stay in the Church but find fault with everything the Church stands for. We are believers who stand firm on tradition. While in the Church, we don't wear hats, we genuflect, we honor Christ in the eucharist and on and on. It's really quite simple-let's not complicate it by sending mixed messages in homilies and most especially by allowing lay people to preach.
ReplyDeleteTo an above poster; One could say that Jesus would be happy to see teens in church naked but we all know that this lack of attire would be inappropriate. What's wrong with teaching kids that we have rules and expectations? No hats. Period. It's called respect and this is a good thing.
ReplyDeleteUntil we make the Church feel like a holy sanctuary, kids won't believe that it is. One way that we adults have contributed to the lack of respect is the constant chatter from the pews before and after mass. It's great to create a friendly atmosphere but we, myself included, have set a poor example for the kids. Let's consider talking at the back of the church or outside and use the church for quiet time before our Lord.
ReplyDeleteYes, this is true. But at most of our masses there is no quiet time for prayer. The pre and post mass music has become a big distraction. There was a time when the church was the one place you could go to escape the noise of the world but not anymore. I vote for less attention to music and more to the Eucharist.
ReplyDeleteSame here. We haven't always set the best example for our kids. I will definitely take that to heart and endeavor to use the time before and after Mass as "quiet time before our Lord."
ReplyDeleteThe reasoning this homily followed is that: people will stare at you if you come into mass and look different. Let's be honest, if you go anywhere and you look different people will stare at you. The "hat" was a great analogy for people unwilling to lay down their false idols for Christ. If your "hat" is that important to you it's not likely that Jesus Christ our lord and savior is going to take a high point on your list of priorities. I don't believe I have seen anyone in this parish give a mean glare from pew to pew. Maybe from pew to pulpit but never at one another.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry that I missed the hat homily- it certainly has raised some feathers. The intention and message can be debated but the bigger issue is lay preaching. People outside this diocese are appalled that we allow lay preaching. Where is the obedience? And humility?
ReplyDeleteNot only are people outside the parish appalled- I am appalled. I almost walked out of the mass in question. this one is a quick-fix- no more preaching for Corey or anyone else who is not a deacon or a priest. He has to earn his stripes!!!
ReplyDeleteAMEN to that. Corry, Sister Joan, Trish LaFortune.....NO NO NO!!!!!!!! ONLY A PRIEST CAN DELIVER A HOMILY.. PERIOD. Follow the rules or join Protestantville.
ReplyDeleteThe madness has got to stop. We need to take back our church. If you start letting people in with baseball hats, gum chewing, tobacco use, etc....consider this. It will eventually lead to a very progressive, liberal and unrecognizable Catholic Church. You give an inch, they will take a mile.