I Got Into A Fight At Church.

[-I---Love]

Overreaction.

Not that the issue isn't important. But it needed to be handled better, differently...

I applaud your seeking comments. Usually when we seriously question our actions, it is because we realize there was something wrong w/ them.

[Autumn Dusk]

If their were young children in your presence when you told the teacher off, you were incredibly lack of judgment. Being zelous is one thing, but coming off as a religious zelot will make the children apt to believe their teacher and not Mr Crazy Man

[Norseman82]

[quote name='Groo the Wanderer' post='1434263' date='Dec 14 2007, 09:20 AM']Something inside me snapped.[/quote]

Groo,

Reading through your post, this is the sentence that caught me. Is it possible that there were other things going on at the parish or other frustrations about the state of the church (or something else) that have been building up for some time that finally came to a head and you just let it all out? I'm speaking as someone who himself holds things in, but when it comes out, stand clear - long fuse attached to a thermonuclear bomb - and have had to work on that in the past.

Yes, it could have been handled more diplomatically, although diplomacy does not always work. I guess we'll just have to wait to see what the fallout is for you.

And I've been on the other side of the coin, too - this made me remember the time when I was in high school, I once conducted a training session for a group of altar boys at my parish, and some of them were unruly (it was a large enough group, and I was doing this solo), and a lady in the pews chided me for their unruly behavior, so I don't envy either one of you. I probably would have welcomed that lady's assistance in keeping the trainees under control, and if I am ever confronted in the future with a situation similar to yours, I will need to remember to see if she wants some assistance in keeping the kids from getting loose.

[Norseman82]

[quote name='elizabeth_jane' post='1434511' date='Dec 14 2007, 11:17 PM']Second!
Then, of course, you have to make sure that people know about the Real Presence...it's amazing and very sad how many don't believe it.... [/quote]

That's where teaching people to genuflect whenever they pass the tabernacle comes in!

[Groo the Wanderer]

Update: I emailed the pastor and asst pastor about this yesterday morning (couldn't visit because of schoolwork - ugh). Awaiting a reply. I'll go talk to them if they want me to.

I called the kiddo choir director and apologized for my crassness and they way I handled it. She apologized for not keeping the kids in line.

Dunno if it was because of what I said, what the secretary said, what the Knight that went down there after I left said...but some changes were made. The kids will now be supervised at each 'station' by an adult. They will also receive instruction in the proper way to conduct themselves in the sanctuary and around the alter.

If I had taken the time before going off, I would have gotten the full scoop too. The asst pastor is going to be presiding over this particular Mass. He will be reading the Gospel in CHANT He wanted the kiddos to be involved somehow to add meaning to the Gospel story, so he asked for them to do a pantomime while he chants.

I have been assured that it will be reverent and not distracting to the Mass. Also that the sanctuary and alter will be respected. As such, I am allowing my daughter to participate once again. As a mea culpa/penance, I will be the adult supervising the littlest angel who happens to be so wired up he could give St. Michael a run for his money in a chase! oy vay!

Thanks for the pheedback pham. Helps me to put things into perspective.

[Groo the Wanderer]

[quote name='Norseman82' post='1434535' date='Dec 15 2007, 01:02 AM']Groo,

Reading through your post, this is the sentence that caught me. Is it possible that there were other things going on at the parish or other frustrations about the state of the church (or something else) that have been building up for some time that finally came to a head and you just let it all out? I'm speaking as someone who himself holds things in, but when it comes out, stand clear - long fuse attached to a thermonuclear bomb - and have had to work on that in the past.[/quote]


I think you may be right. I am the same way: I simmer for a while before exploding. Sometimes I don't even realize I am simmering.

It might be that I am getting the feeling that the English-speaking folks are being brushed off at church these days. I know that 70% of our congregation speaks Spanish, but it bugs me to see some of these things happening:

1. Ministry Day - all the volunteer sign up forms left out were in Spanish only
2. Soccer league - coaches refused to speak English, parent meetings all in Spanish, forms all in Spanish, awards ceremony conducted in Spanish
3. Rosary Garden - statue of Our Lady of Fatima replaced by statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Fatima statue moved to corner garden by the rectory dedicated to St. Francis.
4. Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe - flags of Mexico and South American countries hung in the church. No American or Canadian flag, even though she is the Patroness of ALL the Americas.

Dunno how this ties in, but it does bug me, now that you mention it.






trubblemaker!

[cathoholic_anonymous]

In that case I think you should make a list of all your concerns about the church and discuss them with the priest. Some things you may have to back down over and accept with good grace - it's impossible to have a totally perfect parish, after all. Ensuring that there is paperwork available in English is a necessity and should happen, or the congregants who speak nothing but English may feel alienated and unwelcome. Replacing the statue of Our Lady of Fatima with one of Our Lady of Guadalupe is less of an issue - Mary is still Mary, no matter which representation of her you have in your rosary garden.

[IcePrincessKRS]

[quote name='Groo the Wanderer' post='1434550' date='Dec 15 2007, 07:03 AM']If I had taken the time before going off, I would have gotten the full scoop too. The asst pastor is going to be presiding over this particular Mass. He will be reading the Gospel in CHANT He wanted the kiddos to be involved somehow to add meaning to the Gospel story, so he asked for them to do a pantomime while he chants.[/quote]

Um... I don't mean to rain on any parades but... isn't the pantomime thing against the GIRM or rubrics, too?

[kateri05]

it totally is

Mass is NOT a performance, regardless of how "reverent" they have planned it to be.


ugh

[cathoholic_anonymous]

At my home parish the children occasionally perform religiously themed plays, dances, etc. in the parish hall after Mass. It gives the elderly people something interesting to watch while they're having their coffee and biscuits afterwards. Perhaps a similar set-up could be put in place at your church? There are other, more appropriate ways for the children to be involved during the Mass itself - they could take up the collection or be in the choir, for example.