Sunday, September 03, 2006
LIFE IN THE PEWS IN CLEVELAND - ST. EUGENE'S
The Opus Angelorum Day of Recollection at my parish was the swan song for belonging to it, or any other parish, for my husband and me. For one thing we are no longer willing to contribute financially to something this questionable. For another, with the threat of closed parishes looming, we want to distance ourselves from any parish commitment.
After long debates about what to do, we have decided to cut our Sunday contribution sharply and stop attending the same church each Sunday in the future. We have in essence become Roving Catholics as of today.
This morning we attended Mass at St. Eugene's parish in Cuyahoga Falls--in some ways a pleasant surprise, and in others predictable.
St. Eugene's is one of the newer modern parishes in construction. Essentially on the inside it is a box with pews, redeemed somewhat by the statue of the Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph, who try to apologize for the resurrection crucifix in the sanctuary, though not entirely successfully.
On the positive side...
- There is a tabernacle in plain sight to the left of the altar with a vigil light. I did not genuflect to empty space.
- The church was full. No empty pews at the 11 a.m. Mass.
- Mass was prayed according to the rubrics.
- The pews have seat cushions. The kneelers are firm without being uncomfortable.
On the negative side...
- Two girl altar boys.
- Lots of people arrive late. Some people leave early.
- The usual talking in the pews preceded Mass, making prayer impossible.
- The "We Celebrate" hymnal is gender inclusive.
- The congregation stands after the consecration and remains standing until the tabernacle closes after communion. The period of time set aside for thanksgiving after communion was so short as to be nearly non-existent, which in essence means that the congregation doesn't get around to addressing the Person who has come into their heart for a brief visit.
- The homily. We heard the luv gospel. Don't remind me that it's in Scripture. Christ never intended that we scrap the rules in order to love everyone in a non-judgmental way. The luv gospel has entered Roman Catholicism at about the same time that large numbers of active homosexual priests entered Roman Catholicism here in America. They go hand in hand. You can't do what they do on Saturday night without some sop to ease your conscience. Hence the luv gospel. Now that I've read most of Randy Engel's book, when a priest delivers it, I paint a big letter "H" on his forehead and move on. This particular luv gospel was mercifully short--about five minutes.
The novelties...
- Some of the children were removed for the readings. A woman stood in the center aisle and held up a book (I presume of the Gospels), and the children got out of their pews and came to her then processed out of the church behind her. It was done with little fuss, tastefully, and with dignity. They returned with equal dignity when the time came. Many children did not participate.
- There was a blessing before the tabernacle given after Mass by the priest to expectant parents, which I thought was lovely.
