2003 ROAMIN' CATHOLIC
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Contents © 2003
by Jim Holman.
All rights reserved.

ROAMIN' CATHOLIC
March 2003

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IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, SAN DIEGO

On Sunday, January 12, I attended the 5:15 P.M. Mass at Old Town's Church of the Immaculate Conception. Many tourists attend the evening Mass, and I wanted to know what the out-of-towner might experience in this historic Church.

Entering the nave, you find two marble pillar-basins of holy water. Rafters of dark oak span the ceiling. Hanging from the ceiling are mission-style chandeliers of black wrought iron. On the rear wall is a painting of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Before her feet is a brass stand of votive candles.

The Stations of the Cross are painted in ornate ceramic station houses.

Eight magnificent stained glass windows, four on either side, illuminate the nave.

Between the stained glass windows are alcove shrines. Along the left wall are statues of St. Francis, St. Anthony, and St. Therese of Lisieux. Along the right wall are Our Lady of Grace, St. Joseph, and an image of Our Lord under the title of El Santo Nino Atocha.

In the left corner is Our Lady's Altar. Under a graceful oak canopy, she gazes serenely upon her supplicant, as Our Lord in her arms looks to her, awaiting her intercession.

The altar of the Blessed Sacrament is to the right. The Image of Our Lord stands atop the tabernacle, under a canopy identical to Mary's. With his left hand he points to his Sacred Heart. With his right he blesses his people. Two golden candlesticks flank the tabernacle itself. Its door bears the golden monogram IHS.

Within the sanctuary, we find the unmistakable marks of neo-modernist renovation. The communion rail has vanished. The High Altar has been removed, and now resides on a stage in the parish hall. In its place sits the presider's chair. Above that, on the apse, is a traditional crucifix.

In former days the apse was painted a neutral color, so that one's eye focused on the high altar. A mural now dominates the apse. A bright cloudbank covers two thirds of the mural. The clouds break in a rough U shape to reveal a blue open heaven. At the top of the open heaven is a dove sending forth seven rays of light. Within these rays, above the crucifix, two angels, like chubby children with wings, hold a banner bearing the inscription Resurrexit Sicut Dixit: He is risen as he said.

Returning to the rear of the Church you see a portrait of Blessed Junipero Serra, also with a brass stand of votive candles at his feet. Such is the setting for the liturgy.

The feast was a major liturgical "double," commemorating the Baptism of Our Lord, and inaugurating the Holy Year 2003, proclaimed by Bishop Robert Brom.

At the Sunday evening Mass the celebrant is Monsignor William Shipley, professor of ethics at U.S.D., and Sunday associate in the parish.

Following an organ prelude, the entrance procession commenced with "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty." A young lady in an alb led the way, bearing a crucifix. Next came a woman attired in blue jeans, tennis shoes, and a red silk blouse, holding aloft the Gospel Book. During Mass she would multi-task as lectoress and eucharistic minister. Then came Msgr. Shipley, in white linen vestments. Incense was not used.

The Penitential Rite was the trope Kyrie, i.e., "You were sent to heal the contrite; Lord have mercy." The Gloria was recited in unison, not sung.

Our blue-jeaned lectoress proceeded to read from Isaiah, led the Responsorial Psalm, and proclaimed the Epistle. Msgr. Shipley then read the Gospel for the Baptism of Our Lord, Mark 1: 7-11.

Msgr. Shipley began the sermon by noting, "Some people, at least, will rejoice, because, by a decree from the Bishop, we have to read a LONG proclamation, and only give a BRIEF sermon! Otherwise we'll all be here a long time!" (Laughter)

After reading the Bishop's Holy Year proclamation, Msgr. Shipley continued with his own sermon. Relating the baptism of Christ to our own, he reiterated the Gospel and Epistle, and used three supplementary passages from St. Paul in order to make three points: In baptism we are raised to newness of life, we get the seal of the Holy Spirit impressed on us, and we are enabled to show forth this grace in our lives.

Following the Creed and Prayers of the Faithful, all sang "Seek Ye First The Kingdom of God" as the gifts were gathered and brought forward.

The Eucharistic Prayer commenced in "Low Mass" style. The Sanctus from the "Mass of Creation" was sung. Eucharistic Prayer II was used. The Our Father was sung, as all joined hands. The Agnus Dei was sung in Latin to a simple tone. The Communion Hymn was Panis Angelicus. Msgr. Shipley distributed the Sacrament on the left side while Blue Jeans did so on the right.

After the Blessing, the people departed, as "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" was sung.

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