In a previous post, I noted that the Creed is often omitted during Holy Mass in certain parishes throughout the Worcester Diocese. One of these parishes where the Creed was recently omitted is Saint Joseph's Parish in Fitchburg, Massachusetts.
Evidently my post struck a nerve. I received a couple of hateful comments, one of them calling me an idiot and suggesting that the celebrant that day, Father Richard Trainor, simply forgot to include the Creed. The problem with this theory is that Father Trainor concelebrated the Mass with a visiting La Salette priest that day and there were two deacons also present - Deacon Jim Couture and retired Deacon Bob Leger. Surely with two priests and two deacons present, somebody could have remembered the Creed.
There is a point when the lying and the excuses have to stop. We are told in Ephesians that, "Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ....Therefore, putting away falsehood, let everyone speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another." (Eph 4: 15, 25).
The anonymous person who called me an idiot then asserted that I am "unmanly" because I didn't approach Father Trainor with my concerns. Two things: First, Father Trainor should understand his role in the liturgy without my holding his hand. Secondly, when I approached the pastoral leaders at Saint Joseph's in the past with suggestions, I was treated with outright hatred and hostility. I was also excluded from participation in the life of the parish. I really do not care to subject myself to more of their abuse.
But here's the thing folks. Sacrosanctum Concilium of the Second Vatican Council states clearly in No. 22 that:
"1. Regulation of the sacred liturgy depends solely on the authority of the Church, that is, on the Apostolic See and, as laws may determine, on the bishop.
2. In virtue of power conceded by the law, the regulation of the liturgy within certain defined limits belongs also to various kinds of competent territorial bodies of bishops legitimately established.
3. Therefore no other person, even if he be a priest, may add, remove, or change anything in the liturgy on his own authority."
Canon 846 of the Code of Canon Law states clearly that:
"The liturgical books, approved by the competent authority, are to be faithfully followed in the celebration of the sacraments. Accordingly, no one may on a personal initiative add to or omit or alter anything in those books."
And I'm an idiot for expecting the two priests and the two deacons present to abide by the Church's teaching and Canon Law?
10 comments:
We've had to tolerate a lot of nonsense here at St. Joe's. The Fr. Dongor episode is just the latest in a string of embarassments for this troubled parish.
Pray for us. That God will provide us finally with sound leadership.
Four clerics cannot remember to include the Nicene Creed in the liturgy and YOU are labeled the idiot?
Unreal!
Thank you for posting a great picture of St. Joseph's. What a wonderful church. I love it here. If you have a problem with it, which you obviously do as you seem to slam it every chance you get, then don't come. Its quite a simple fix really... but then you wouldnt have anything to rant about. Quite a conundrum.
Please Lord, send us some good and Holy Priests to pastor the straying sheep!
Jan's comment is indicative of the hateful mindset of some of the parishioners at St. Joseph's.
If she doesn't like the Church's teaching, maybe she should practice some honesty and leave for one of the Protestant churches?
The simple fix is for hate-filled counterfeit Catholics such as Jan to actually live what the Church teaches.
I disagree with Jan. It’s not a "wonderful church" when you have a priest downloading child pornography and then fleeing to another country to avoid prosecution. It’s not a "wonderful church" when it only caters to a small clique. It’s not a "wonderful church" when a deacon promotes the writings of a notorious priest who is a self-admitted sexual abuser.
The simple fix is for Saint Joseph’s to return to fidelity. "Jan" (is this really one of the priests or deacons at St. Joseph's?) cannot admit that a wrong was done by omitting the Profession of Faith. But due to an unholy pride, instead of admitting that Catholic teaching and Church Law was violated, "Jan" insults the messenger.
St. Joseph's Church needs much work. And better leadership.
Jan could be Janice Potter the parish secretary. But then again one never knows. What I do know is that Fr. Trainor is without a valid reason for altering the liturgy. All the smoke and mirrors in the world will not conceal that fact. Some parishioners will always take the attitude "my pastor right or wrong." Even when children are being sexually abused. Acceptance is more important to these Judases than truth, morality or sometimes even the innocence and safety of little children.
I really think Saint Joseph's cannot attract young people because teens today and young adults are wary of the "leaders" of the parish. They see the hypocrisy and the refusal to obey the directives and teachings of the Magisterium and they say to themselves "why should I listen to them? They don't listen to Rome."
Also, when the youth see that some "pastors," like Father Dongor, are really nothing more than perverts and criminals, we cannot feign being surprised when they say "I don't want any part of that."
If we really want to see the young people return (and this isn't a priority at Saint Joseph's), we will set a positive example of Gospel values and an example of obedience.
But for now, all I see is disobedience and pride.
From an excellent article over at EWTN:
When the justice of obedience to ecclesiastical law is not rendered and thus the proper Order of the Mass is violated, there can be no real unity in the parish and thus no peace. As a result, the Catholic unity of communion with the bishop and with and through the bishop with Peter is disturbed. Hierarchical Communion is one of the three marks of unity to be found in the Church, the others being unity of faith and unity in the discipline of the Sacraments. Liturgical disobedience uniquely disturbs all three! This is not surprising since the Eucharist is the principal source and sign of the unity of the Church. By its very nature, it MUST be either a sign of unity or a sign of disunity.
Of course, many other evils enter in by liturgical disobedience, including the serious injustice of depriving the faithful of licit, and in some cases valid, sacraments, something to which as Catholics they have a right.
Canon 214 The Christian faithful have the right to worship God according to the prescriptions of their own rite approved by the legitimate pastors of the Church, and to follow their own form of spiritual life consonant with the teaching of the Church.
When these evils occur they have the right, and even the responsibility, to make their voices heard.
Canon 212
1. The Christian faithful, conscious of their own responsibility, are bound by Christian obedience to follow what the sacred pastors, as representatives of Christ, declare as teachers of the faith or determine as leaders of the Church.
2. The Christian faithful are free to make known their needs, especially spiritual ones, and their desires to the pastors of the Church.
3. In accord with the knowledge, competence and preeminence which they possess, they have the right and even at times a duty to manifest to the sacred pastors their opinion on matters which pertain to the good of the Church, and they have a right to make their opinion known to the other Christian faithful, with due regard for the integrity of faith and morals and reverence toward their pastors, and with consideration of the common good and dignity of persons.
When Jan says that if I don't care for liturgical disobedience at St. Joseph's Parish the solution is that I shouldn't attend Mass there, she is implying that I do not possess the right to make known my spiritual needs and that liturgical disobedience is no serious matter.
This speaks volumes about her faith life.
I feel the church is a place of reverence. We should respect that our Lord, Jesus Christ, is on the altar and that is his home. Before church begins after saying a few prayers and preparing my missal, I can't help but notice the disrespectful way so many people dress to come to church. Today I saw a woman walk by wearing short shorts and a tank top. What caught my attention was her flip flops as she passed by. She was not alone. Many people were dressed similar as if they were going to a picnic.
The Ushers are just as bad. They wear shorts, t shirts with the big belly sticking out wearing sneakers. For one day, one hour, why can't the parishioners and Ushers wear Sunday attire? I grew up in NJ and went to Holy Name of Jesus Church. All the Ushers wore suits, white ties and shiny shoes. The Parishioners were appropriately attired as well. We were in the presence of God, in His House. He deserves better than what he gets now.
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