This blog is for those involved in the Frassati Society of Detroit. It gives us a chance to discuss the theological, political, cultural, and social issues of our times.
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Just plain awful!
For those of you who have weak liturgical hearts....turn away! I hate the liturgical wars that continue in the Latin rite, but this is way too over-the-top to ignore.
5 comments:
Anonymous
said...
I really didn't believe you, but alas it's true! How completely horrible
From the pastor of Christ the King parish in the Orange County diocese - the celebrant of the Halloween Mass. In this week's bulletin:
November 8, 2006
Dear Bishop Brown: Since 1998, when we first began celebrating liturgies here in Aliso Viejo, a particular dynamic has always been the youthfulness of our community with an obvious abundance of children. With this in mind, many of our programs have been developed to be of service to them and it was in this spirit that we began inviting children to wear their Halloween costumes to the Masses on the weekend prior to Halloween. Many parents inquired if they too could wear costumes so as to make it a family event, and thus, a Halloween tradition of having parishioners in costume at Mass was born. Based on our Catholic-Christian grounding of faith in Jesus Christ, we know that the assorted costumes of Halloween are a manner of poking fun and holding up to the light of Christ’s Resurrection the things that may have once frightened us.
I am aware that my enthusiasm for our family celebration of Halloween has caused me to neglect my pastoral duties of providing appropriate direction and instruction to our people regarding appropriate/inappropriate costumes. Prior to the weekend of October 28-29 I failed to adequately instruct our assorted liturgical ministers as to what might be appropriate apparel for their ministry. Because of this oversight on my part, we had some lay ministers of communion attired in devil horns and assorted other costumes that, in hindsight, I could easily have prevented if I had been more attentive to my pastoral duties. Bishop Brown, I stress to you the goodness and faith-filled integrity of the ministers who were so attired, they are some of our most involved and faithful members. They accepted me at my word in regards to their costume making fun of fearful things, and would be mortified to think that they gave offense to people of good faith. The lay ministers are innocent of any wrongdoing, the offense is mine and I take full responsibility.
I realize that my pastoral neglect and lack of prudent judgment has caused great concern and offense to many in the Church. I have given my life as a priest to the Church of the Diocese of Orange and it causes me great pain to realize that my lapse in judgment could so easily transform a wonderful family tradition into something questionable and repugnant to people of good faith. From my heart I apologize to you and to the larger community of the faithful for my pastoral neglect. I await your counsel and assistance in determining an appropriate manner of making amends for this matter. Sincerely, Reverend Fred K. Bailey
Well I am glad to see that this Priest has seen his error and seeks forgiveness. Hopefully he is honest in his asking for forgiveness. I am glad also to see that this incident didn't just go unnoticed.
Wow, you never grateful for the parish you have until you see this type of thing. At least I saw an actual crucifix during the celebration. I am surprised they didn't have Jesus dressed up in a costume as well :(
5 comments:
I really didn't believe you, but alas it's true! How completely horrible
Nasty....just plain nasty!
From Jeremy
The pastor apologizes:
I found this on Amy Welborne's site:
From the pastor of Christ the King parish in the Orange County diocese - the celebrant of the Halloween Mass. In this week's bulletin:
November 8, 2006
Dear Bishop Brown: Since 1998, when we first began celebrating liturgies here in Aliso Viejo, a particular dynamic has always been the youthfulness of our community with an obvious abundance of children. With this in mind, many of our programs have been developed to be of service to them and it was in this spirit that we began inviting children to wear their Halloween costumes to the Masses on the weekend prior to Halloween. Many parents inquired if they too could wear costumes so as to make it a family event, and thus, a Halloween tradition of having parishioners in costume at Mass was born. Based on our Catholic-Christian grounding of faith in Jesus Christ, we know that the assorted costumes of Halloween are a manner of poking fun and holding up to the light of Christ’s Resurrection the things that may have once frightened us.
I am aware that my enthusiasm for our family celebration of Halloween has caused me to neglect my pastoral duties of providing appropriate direction and instruction to our people regarding appropriate/inappropriate costumes. Prior to the weekend of October 28-29 I failed to adequately instruct our assorted liturgical ministers as to what might be appropriate apparel for their ministry. Because of this oversight on my part, we had some lay ministers of communion attired in devil horns and assorted other costumes that, in hindsight, I could easily have prevented if I had been more attentive to my pastoral duties. Bishop Brown, I stress to you the goodness and faith-filled integrity of the ministers who were so attired, they are some of our most involved and faithful members. They accepted me at my word in regards to their costume making fun of fearful things, and would be mortified to think that they gave offense to people of good faith. The lay ministers are innocent of any wrongdoing, the offense is mine and I take full responsibility.
I realize that my pastoral neglect and lack of prudent judgment has caused great concern and offense to many in the Church. I have given my life as a priest to the Church of the Diocese of Orange and it causes me great pain to realize that my lapse in judgment could so easily transform a wonderful family tradition into something questionable and repugnant to people of good faith. From my heart I apologize to you and to the larger community of the faithful for my pastoral neglect. I await your counsel and assistance in determining an appropriate manner of making amends for this matter. Sincerely, Reverend Fred K. Bailey
Well I am glad to see that this Priest has seen his error and seeks forgiveness. Hopefully he is honest in his asking for forgiveness. I am glad also to see that this incident didn't just go unnoticed.
Wow, you never grateful for the parish you have until you see this type of thing. At least I saw an actual crucifix during the celebration. I am surprised they didn't have Jesus dressed up in a costume as well :(
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