ARTICLES

Never, Ever Do Jingle Bells

News Notes Survey Results

Editor's note: These are responses to the survey printed in News Notes Sept.-Dec. 2000. The results within the categories are printed in the order responses were received. Not all returning surveys responded to all categories.

MUSIC

1. Mission San Diego de Alcalá
"The Mission has the best choir at 12 noon."

2. Immaculata, University of San Diego

3. Immaculata, University of San Diego
"But this has been compromised since Fr. Michael Robinson left to become rector of St. Didacus. He selected music befitting the setting and inspiring reverence. Yet even now, it is one of the few churches with a real organ and a knowledgeable, capable organist."

4. Holy Cross Cemetery, Latin Mass

5. Mission San Diego de Alcalá

6. St. Brigid, Pacific Beach
"The dynamic contemporary groups at St. Brigid arouse spirituality...."

7. Mission San Diego de Alcalá

8. Holy Cross Cemetery, Latin Mass

9. St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Oceanside

10. Church of the Nativity, Rancho Santa Fe
"Organ, classically spiritual and conducive to uplifting of the spirit. Music and choir (or solo) is magnificent."

11. Holy Cross Cemetery, Latin Mass
"Traditional Catholic music. The choir does not obstruct or detract attention from the priest who shands in the place of Christ at the altar. The music is heavenly."

12. Holy Cross Cemetery, Latin Mass
"Still Catholic."

WORST PARISH

1. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Ramona
"Can't think of any worse than [this] parish which sings 'Old Rugged Cross' and 'We Shall Gather at the River.'"

2. St. Rose of Lima
"Off key and a kid banging a Pearl drumset without rhythm."

3. Immaculata, University of San Diego (11 a.m. Mass)
"The sound system can break sound barriers. I've seen elderly people turn down their hearing aids because it is that loud. If you arrive a little late, you can hear the system across the courtyard at the corner of Serra Hall (50 feet away).... Most of the songs are treated antiphonally (cantor sings all the verses and the congregation is left to sing maybe two lines), even though the songs are not antiphonally written.... If it is not the antiphonal concept of music, then we must listen while the parish choir stumbles through an 'art song'.... The pitch of the music and the songs selected for worship revolves around the cantor's high voice (high shrill soprano).... Starting an opening song on a G above middle C and jumping immediately to a high E is not only going to discourage the untrained singer from singing but also discourage them from participating in the rest of the liturgy.... Some days there is remedial guitar playing accompanied by a pianist. Other days a drum set/percussion is thrown into this modpodge ... it sounds like they are adding instruments for instruments' sake...."

4. St. John the Evangelist, University Heights
"Horrible. No one sings. Ugh."

5. Holy Cross Cemetery, Latin Mass
"...The most frustrating music. The choir has potential, but the director has no musical training (nor knowledge), and the organist knows nothing about Mass playing. (That's putting it gently.) If the choir could do only Gregorian chant, do it a cappella and never, ever do a 'jingle bell' or 'hippity-hop' seasonal Mass again. The music sould be among the best, not the worst."

6. Holy Trinity, El Cajon

7. St. Agnes, Point Loma
"...the off-key sopranos destroy spirituality at St. Agnes."

8. Most Precious Blood, Chula Vista
"Banging on the piano during the Preparation of the Gifts and during Communion obscures priest's words. No quiet time for personal prayer."

9. All guitar Masses

10. St Francis, Vista
"Just a very poor choir."

11. Our Lady of Guadalupe, Logan Heights
"Terrible, 10-decibles big loud speakers are deafening. Msgr. Brown won't do anything about it."

12. Sacred Heart, Coronado
"Organ blasts out and disturbs all concentration during Communion."

One reader wrote: "At Our Lady of Grace we have great choirs, senior and youth. Our organist and piano player are inspiring. They can make pews vibrate at times, and at other times, it's soft, appropriate music.

"However, we have a solo guiarist at one Mass each Sunday that treats the Mass as a performance -- he's going for the reverbs, super bass, licks, anything to get applause. The worst part is his infernal 'plink-plink-plink' in the background during the Gospel, Consecration, almost anytime the priest is talking or praying."

SERMONS

1. Mission San Diego de Alcalá
"Fr. Ken and Msgr. Campbell and Msgr. Prendergast great sermons."

2. Immaculata, University of San Diego (when the bishop gives the sermons)
"When the bishop gives a sermon, the material reflects simplicity, a goal/challenge for that day/week, and the correlation to scripture."

3. Holy Cross Cemetery, Latin Mass (when the Norbertines are visiting)

4. Holy Cross Cemetery, Latin Mass

5. St. Ephrem (Maronite rite), El Cajon
"Deeply profound, Scripture-based teachings on Catholic truths in plain language."

6. St. Brigid, Pacific Beach;
Mission San Diego de Alcalá;
St. John the Evangelist, Hillcrest
"Good sermons make you laugh and cry. This happens at these three mentioned. Sometimes at St. Catherine [Laboure, in Kearny Mesa], too."

7. Mission San Diego de Alcalá

8. Holy Cross Cemetery, Latin Mass

9. St. Gabriel, Poway, Fr. Mike Froidurot
"Holiest."

10. Holy Cross Cemetery, Latin Mass
"Always based on the Gospel/its intent, purpose, and objective. Father does not re-interpret the words of Christ. You feel that Christ is speaking to you."

WORST PARISH

1. All in Chula Vista
"No reverence, no tradition."

2. Founders' Chapel, University of San Diego
"Really do not care for sermons based upon the latest movie, TV program, latest bar joke, parishioner's confession, etc. Instead of the clergy sinking to the level of some parishioners, they should try to embrace them and bring them up to their level of religious insight."

3. Blessed Sacrament, College Area
St. John of the Cross, Lemon Grove
Tie: "Both have schools but neither one avails itself of the opportunity to reach the parents as well as the children in teaching fundamental Catholicism from the pulpit...."

4. Mission San Diego del Alcalá
"Most priests and monsignors are filled with doubletalk and afraid to address real issues."

5. St. Luke, El Cajon
"More like a nightclub floor show of soft-boiled pap followed by applause(!) for the priest."

6. Most Precious Blood, Chula Vista
"No explanations of the Liturgy of the Word. Only the social (welfare) programs of the diocese and parish are covered. Many [sermons] based on newspapers."

7. Any one of them
"They don't preach Catholicism."

8. St. Mary Star of the Sea, Oceanside
"I haven't heard a decent Catholic-oriented sermon in years except at St. Mary Star of the Sea [Oceanside] from Father Zanetti."

9. St. Joseph Cathedral, San Diego
"Why can't these priests at least teach and refer to the daily lives of the saints at daily Mass (a few thoughts). There is never any uplifting positive message on love, not even on Sunday. We long for examples of holiness! Lazy in my estimation is the answer. Not inspired and they just don't care. We do not need psychology sermons."

10. Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Rancho Penasquitos

INTERIOR ART (INCLUDING WINDOWS)

1. Mission San Diego de Alcalá
"1769 statues, walls, etc."

2. Immaculata, University of San Diego
"Unfortunately, with the coming and going of pastors ... they have covered up the mosaics that surround the altar. The excuse given was so that they can put up colors for the liturgical season."

3. Our Lady of the Rosary, Little Italy

4. Our Lady of the Rosary, Little Italy

5. Holy Trinity, El Cajon;
Mission San Diego de Alcalá;
Our Lady of the Rosary, Little Italy

6. St. Brigid, Pacific Beach;
Our Lady of the Rosary, Little Italy
"The life-like murals are helpful...."

7. Our Lady of the Rosary, Little Italy

8. Our Lady of the Rosary, Little Italy

9. St. Michael, Poway

10. All Hallows, La Jolla

11. Our Lady of the Rosary, Little Italy
"Go see."

WORST PARISH

1. Corpus Christi, Bonita
"It looks like a planetarium. No statues. Blessed Sacrament is behind a concrete wall in another room. Sofa and furniture in lobby. White spiral metal in and out."

2. Our Mother of Confidence, University City
"Do not like feeling like I'm walking into a generic room (can feel like any conference room in San Diego if you displaced the altar) for worship."

3. Our Lady of Grace, El Cajon
"Such a large space could be transformed into a church with the addition of some art and a candle or two in front of Our Lady. There is very little here to indicate that this is a church. The Tabernacle, if there is one at all, is hidden somewhere 'back stage.'"

4. St. Gregory the Great, Scripps Ranch
"Looks like Kmart with a swimming pool."

5. Our Lady of Grace
"...federal style not helpful."

6. St. Gabriel, Poway

7. All the ones that have been "remodeled"

8. St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Oceanside
"Church needs restoration."

9. St. John, Encinitas
"St. John's fire in grey tile and the crucifix is shocking to the sensitivity, especially horrific to children. Yellow and maroon color combination clash. Nothing conducive to prayer and reflection. Monsignor is inflexible, no taste, doesn't care to remodel."

10. St. Gregory the Great, Scripps Ranch
"Community center not God-centered. A dangling mobile from what could be the interior of a hot-air balloon; no religious icons."

11. Good Shepherd, Mira Mesa
"Totally vacant, moved all to exterior hallway or outside."

ARCHITECTURE

1. Mission San Diego de Alcalá

2. Immaculata, University of San Diego
"Have you seen it? Beautiful."

3. Founders' Chapel, University of San Diego

4. Our Lady of the Rosary, Little Italy

5. St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Oceanside;
Our Lady of the Rosary, Little Italy;
St. Brigid, Pacific Beach;
St. Agnes, Point Loma;
St. Therese, Allied Gardens
"Symmetry and harmonies, colors are pleasing."

6. St. Gregory the Great, Scripps Ranch

7. Holy Trinity, El Cajon

8. All Hallows, La Jolla

9. Mission San Diego de Alcalá

10. St. Joesph Cathedral, San Diego

WORST PARISH

1. Corpus Christi, Bonita

2. Our Lady of Grace, El Cajon

3. St. Gregory the Great, Scripps Ranch

4. St. Luke, El Cajon
"No crucifix in the sanctuary."

5. Our Lady of Grace;
St. Catherine Laboure, Kearny Mesa
"Grey boxes or circles without steeples don't look like churches."

6. St. Gabriel, Poway

7. All those that don't look like churches

8. St. John, Encinitas
"St. John's is a hall. It is unbelievable that Monsignor approved this and dares think he created a holy place/environment."

9. St Gregory the Great, Scripps Ranch
"Any civic function could be performed here -- 'form follows function.' It is people-centered and people-oriented."

10. "All parishes that have replaced the altar with a table, sacrament with a sacramental."

An anonymous reader wrote, "I am a practicing Catholic and a devoted supporter of the Church and its rules. This survey, in my opinion, is extremely detrimental to our Catholic community. Think of us as a family -- would a mother or father ever ask their children to vote as to which child was best musician, worst athlete, etc. I think not."

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