Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Was this really a CATHOLIC Mass??!	Kristin	Monday, November 4, 2013
Question: Dear Mr. Slavek, My husband and I are traveling out of state from the midwest and are now along the east coast. I attended Sunday Mass, but I left with hands shaking and knees knocking. There were no holy water fonts, only a large bowl of water set on a table near the door. No kneelers to be found, no pews, simple chairs. No missals, no statues, no tabernacle, no candles. When I walked in everyone seated was visiting loudly--I thought perhaps I had walked into a conference room! No reverence before Mass, just socializing! The children left after a childrens sermon for "Childrens Church". Beforehand, everyone held up their right hand over the children while a priest prayed a blessing on them. There were different times where applause was given for something said. During the Eucharistic prayers-which I'm not sure were complete, but can't say definitely since I don't know the new ones well enough-the priest was very quick and just seemed to be going thru the motions. At least there was a true crucifix hanging above. I really would have thought I was in a protestant service and left feeling so empty. It broke my heart. I can't get this off my mind. WHAT does one do when witnessing such abuse and stripping of our faith? Is this the norm in Virginia??
Question Answered by Mr. Jacob Slavek Dear Kristin, I not really sure what to make of this: sounds to me like it wasn't a Catholic parish. There are some other "churches" that have the word catholic in their name, are you sure it wasn't one of them? Usually even the most progressive (or as I sometimes call them disobedient) Catholic parishes at least have candles and a tabernacle. (please note though that some Catholic parishes have the tabernacle in another room) If you can remember the name of the parish I would encourage you to look it up and see if they have a website.. so that you can confirm that they are Catholic. If it in fact IS a Catholic parish, chances are that the diocese is already aware of the problem.. but the more voices that express concern, in other words, COMPLAIN, the better. As for your question "is this the norm in Virginia" I can tell you that it definitely is NOT the norm there, Virginia is actually well known for orthodox dioceses. :-) Thank you, Mr. Slavek Footer Notes: (a) A Eucharistic Minister is clergy (Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion). Laity are *Extraordinary* Ministers of Holy Communion and should never be called Eucharistic Ministers. (b) There is no such Mass called the Novus Ordo. The Current Mass is the Roman Missal of 2000, or the Oridinary Form of the Mass. The Tridentine Mass is the Roman Missal of 1962, or the Extraordinary Form of the Mass. Please refrain from using the term, Novus Ordo. Thanks. (c) The titles of Acolyte and Lector belong exclusively to the Installed Offices of Acolyte and Lector, who are men (only) appointed by the Bishop. These roles performed by others are Altar Servers and Readers, respectively.

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Was this really a CATHOLIC Mass??!

Kristin

Monday, November 4, 2013

Question:

Dear Mr. Slavek,

My husband and I are traveling out of state from the midwest and are now along the east coast. I attended Sunday Mass, but I left with hands shaking and knees knocking. There were no holy water fonts, only a large bowl of water set on a table near the door. No kneelers to be found, no pews, simple chairs. No missals, no statues, no tabernacle, no candles. When I walked in everyone seated was visiting loudly--I thought perhaps I had walked into a conference room! No reverence before Mass, just socializing! The children left after a childrens sermon for "Childrens Church". Beforehand, everyone held up their right hand over the children while a priest prayed a blessing on them. There were different times where applause was given for something said. During the Eucharistic prayers-which I'm not sure were complete, but can't say definitely since I don't know the new ones well enough-the priest was very quick and just seemed to be going thru the motions. At least there was a true crucifix hanging above. I really would have thought I was in a protestant service and left feeling so empty. It broke my heart. I can't get this off my mind. WHAT does one do when witnessing such abuse and stripping of our faith? Is this the norm in Virginia??

Question Answered by Mr. Jacob Slavek

Dear Kristin,

I not really sure what to make of this: sounds to me like it wasn't a
Catholic parish. There are some other "churches" that have the word catholic in
their name, are you sure it wasn't one of them? Usually even the most
progressive (or as I sometimes call them disobedient) Catholic parishes at least
have candles and a tabernacle. (please note though that some Catholic parishes
have the tabernacle in another room)

If you can remember the name of the parish I would encourage you to look it
up and see if they have a website.. so that you can confirm that they are
Catholic.

If it in fact IS a Catholic parish, chances are that the diocese is already
aware of the problem.. but the more voices that express concern, in other
words, COMPLAIN, the better.

As for your question "is this the norm in Virginia" I can tell you that it
definitely is NOT the norm there, Virginia is actually well known for orthodox
dioceses. :-)

Thank you,

Mr. Slavek

Footer Notes: (a) A Eucharistic Minister is clergy (Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion). Laity are Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and should never be called Eucharistic Ministers.

(b) There is no such Mass called the Novus Ordo. The Current Mass is the Roman Missal of 2000, or the Oridinary Form of the Mass. The Tridentine Mass is the Roman Missal of 1962, or the Extraordinary Form of the Mass. Please refrain from using the term, Novus Ordo. Thanks.

(c) The titles of Acolyte and Lector belong exclusively to the Installed Offices of Acolyte and Lector, who are men (only) appointed by the Bishop. These roles performed by others are Altar Servers and Readers, respectively.