More Churches Closed

It’s getting to be a regular feature in the local newspapers: Catholic church holds closing Mass. Each article, apart from the name and location of the church, is quite similar. A beautiful, small Catholic church with years of history holds its final Mass. There’s a procession out of the Church with the Blessed Sacrament and maybe a statue or two. Tearful parishioners can’t believe that their home is being taken away from them. This story has appeared so many times in recent weeks (and will continued to be a featured item for years to come) that the local papers should consider devoting a whole section to it. The diocesan newspaper already has a page devoted to “Parishes in Transition.”

There is something gravely wrong in the Diocese of Scranton. And there is no mercy for displaced parishioners, either. Today’s Times-Leader reports that “…the task of leading the St. Nazarius community [Hazleton] through its final days fell to a priest who arrived only a week ago.” Last week, Saint Joseph’s in Georgetown celebrated its final Mass, as did Sacred Heart in Plains Township.

A Thanksgiving Parable

“Hi, grandma!” you exclaim as you enter the warm kitchen on a cool November afternoon. You can smell the turkey and gravy, the mashed potatoes, the vegetable dishes, the hot rolls, the cranberry sauce, and of course, the pumpkin pie. “What a heavenly aroma!” says Aunt Deb, as Uncle Joe sneaks a bite of turkey. Everyone is in a good mood. How could they not be, especially with all this delicious food and an abundance of past blessings?

As you walk into the dining room, grandmother’s beautiful old dining table catches your eye. It’s a simple, yet elegant wooden dining table with matching chairs. There are two antique candlesticks on the table, as well as a beautiful vase and some flowers. As you move to take your usual place at the dining table, grandma interrupts. “Oh no, dear. We’re not sitting there this year.” “Why not, grandma?” you ask. “Dining room tables are too formal, dear. Too old fashioned. That’s why I bought these nice folding tables.” You glance across the room to a set of cheap folding tables and chairs. “You see, junior, dining room tables are elitist. The kids never got to see what was going on at the big table. Now everyone can actively participate in the dinner conversation.”

You take your seat at the folding table. You’re still thankful for the opportunity to be with friends and family as you say grace and eat your meal. But something’s not right. You glance back at the venerable dining set, then look at its replacement. “What is this world coming to?” you quietly ask.

It’s summertime in Scranton

It’s summertime in Scranton, and with the warm weather comes bazaars. I can already smell the pierogies, hamburgers and halushki. These festivals are quite popular fundraising and social events here in Northeastern Pennsylvania. But in some parts of the Diocese, with the summer bazaar comes the bizarre liturgy known as the “Polka Mass.” Usually this means a spoken Mass with four to five “hymns” played by a polka band. Often, these songs have little to do with the actual liturgical texts for the day. So why does this strange custom persist?

Father Edward MacNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum Pontifical Athenaeum in Rome, had this to say in a 2004 article on “Polka Masses:”

I was rather surprised to hear that Polka Masses were still going on — I had thought that they had gone out in the ’70s along with a host of other similar fads.

Perhaps the principal difficulty with such things is not so much the music in itself, which like many human elements in the liturgy may have different meanings in different cultures and in different epochs, but the idea that the Mass needs some sort of a theme in order to enhance its significance or relevance.

When we label the Mass we tend to diminish rather than augment its importance. We restrict its universal meaning as Christ’s very sacrifice renewed upon the altar and the sacred banquet which forms and increases our union as part of Christ’s Mystical Body, the Church.

This is the Church’s greatest offering to God and any addition to the Mass itself — such as “Polka,” “Clown,” “Disco” (yes, there have been cases) or any similar extraneous element — reduces its scope and attempts to press it into service for some cause other than the worship of God.

Perhaps you followed the coverage of the local Latino Catholics moving to a new, larger church. According to one article, a mariachi band was situated in the sanctuary as part of the welcoming Mass. “Polka Masses” are no more a part of genuine Polish liturgical tradition than “Mariachi Masses” are part of the Hispanic tradition. Unfortunately, in this day and age where “diversity” is king, such liturgical abuses continue. Both Poles and Latinos have a lot to offer the Church in Scranton, such as a deep devotion to Blessed Virgin Mary. We need to celebrate our noble heritage and traditions. But let’s leave the failed liturgical experiments in the past.

Diocese Announces Priest Assignments

Catholic Watchdog readers may be interested to know that the complete list of clergy assignments, effective July 15 or as noted, are now available on the diocesan website.