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Contents © 2005
by Jim Holman.
All rights reserved.
LETTERS
October 2005
VIVA CAMP EUCHARIST
After reading about St. Therese Parish's vacation Bible school ("Camp Eucharist," September 2005), I want to commend parishioners Ann Redlinger, Cathy Williams, and Lisa Zickert for their wonderful weeklong program dedicated to teaching children about the mass. "The Mass Comes Alive Through the Eucharist" is a welcome and necessary antidote to the pabulum that passes for catechesis in far too many parishes nowadays.
A recent experience of mine highlights the importance of the program's stated goals. I live close enough to USD to be able to attend Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament every Wednesday. But recently I was unable to make my usual hour of adoration, so instead I walked to the Founders Chapel on a Friday afternoon to spend an hour in quiet contemplation and prayer. To my dismay, this day the chapel was playing host to a docent, conducting a lesson of sorts on sacred imagery with a small group of families and children. I knelt towards the front of the church and tried to pray, but finally retreated in defeat when the entire group (adults and children, including one or two infants) ascended into the sanctuary to stand, fidget, and gawk 2-3 feet in front of the tabernacle. The docent continued her lecture and Q&A, explaining the meaning of some of the symbols and images. Not a word was spoken about the significance of the sanctuary, the tabernacle, or the Eucharist itself, nor did any of those in attendance demonstrate any gestures of reverence. I left the chapel saddened and amazed at what seemed to me to amount to wholesale ignorance of not only the idea of sacred space but of the meaning of the mass itself -- at a Catholic university, no less.
So kudos to St. Therese for boldly proclaiming to young people Christ's Presence among us. I pray that a program like theirs does indeed "go out to other parishes" -- it won't come a minute too soon.
Sophia A. Sproule,
San Diego
MUSICAL DIVERSITY AT SAINT RITA'S
Your site is a treasure. I am on an emergency visit to San Diego. Although a life threatening family illness dominated my visit, I looked forward to attending Mass at St. Rita's (Roamin' Catholic, September 2004) where I was baptized, received the Sacraments of 1st Reconciliation, Communion, Confirmation, and graduated from St. Rita's school (where almost half of my classmates were not Catholic). The African American spiritual is used in the Mass. Although a "quiet" Mass has its place and value, this and Christ the King parish are critical to the evangelization of Southeast San Diego by allowing members to express their hearts. It should be noted that due to the cultural make-up, many African Americans attend this parish from all over San Diego. This is important because the economic make-up of the parish's geography relies on members from more affluent areas. This parish also provides important social services to its community. It should call out to the rest of San Diego to publicize unique diverse features available in diverse parishes for visitors, those who may be interested in joining the Church as well as local parishioners who may be interested in a different faith experience this week.
My African American, creole family (originally from Louisiana), became members of St. Rita's in the mid-1960s. The choirs of St. Rita's support the rich multicultural composition of the parish. The gospel choir rivals many local counterparts in quality. Many are not aware that much of the music is unique in that it must reflect the liturgy and like many other Catholic parishes w/gospel music, is original in order to meet the requirements/traditions of the Catholic Church. St. Rita's also has a Samoan choir and folk choir that are excellent. It is very important that Catholics know that no matter what their language, socio-economic situation, culture etc., that there is a rich choice in the manner of celebration that will meet them where they are. It is due to this diversity, I learned to appreciate the different ways that Mass is celebrated. No matter where my active duty husband deploys (so far we have lived in Guam, Korea, Hawaii and now Japan), there will be a place where the church's doors will be open and more importantly the Eucharist will be alive.
I enjoyed your site. It would be helpful if a list of parishes and their Mass orientations (e.g. Gospel, Folk, children's, LifeTeen, etc.) were listed. The reviews, though are really good for gaining a feeling for the parishes visited.
God Bless,
Lanette Barton,
Japan