I really ought to have more understanding and sympathy for my pastor. He’s an old military guy who would like to give his bones a rest, but instead has two city parishes to take care of.
Somebody mentioned after Mass on Sunday that a certain parishioner had sent a letter to him — make that another letter — saying there’s too much noise in church, and that he should do something about the women who don’t wear veils (!)
The pastor walked by him and said, “I got your very nice letter — and, no, I didn’t throw it out!”
1 comment
Comments are closed.
As someone who has addressed crowds of mostly adults before, I can certainly sympathize with this pastor and many others who deal with chatty parishoners during Mass. Priests have such a fine line to walk with their parishoners that I think most just grit their teeth and bear it, for fear of looking like a big meany. It’s like a popularity contest, and shouldn’t be.
I do remember a priest who was assigned to my home parish as a kid coming down off the altar mid-homily and physically hauling a couple of habitually disruptive teenagers by the collar right out the door of the church. Sadly, if he did that today, he’d probably get charged with assault or worse. On that day in the late 70’s, he got applause from the congregation.
If I am sitting behind a wiggly, chatterbox three year old during Mass, I can deal with that just fine (as long as the caretaker is doing what he or she reasonably can to contain the child’s behavior). If you don’t bring your small children to Mass, you aren’t doing your duty to “bring them up in the Catholic Church”. However, if you take them out of Mass each time they make a peep, they’ll play that game every Mass when they start feeling bored, thus getting out of something they don’t like. Both parents of the child and those who are sitting nearby just have to stick it out with the realization that this squirmy little one will be an active, participating Catholic someday soon, and this is how they learn to do it. It gets better. Believe me, I’ve been on both sides of that issue, as a child and as a parent!
What I can’t deal with, and what makes my blood pressure rise to dangerous levels, is when a couple of college kids or good-ole, blue-haired “Bernice” and “Mildred” who haven’t seen each other since last Sunday are sitting there chatting about whatever is on their minds during the celebration of the Eucharist. Adults are responsible for the children they bring to Mass, but the adults who come to Mass should be responsible for themselves. Maybe parishes should consider putting bouncers on the payroll. I bet the Knights of Columbus would volunteer in some places!