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

ROAMIN' CATHOLIC
May 2003

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MARY, STAR OF THE SEA, LA JOLLA

Mary, Star of the Sea is a gem of a church. First built as a clapboard chapel in 1909, the present picturesque church was consecrated by Bishop Charles Buddy in 1937.

A mosaic mural over the main entrance features Our Lady standing on the ocean, attended by two angels, with the bright morning star beaming above her head. A nautical theme pervades the interior -- the Stations of the Cross, painted in portholes!

The main body of the church consists of a spacious central nave and two narrow side aisles. Rough-hewn wooden truss beams, forming an A-frame, support the central roof.

The dominant feature in the sanctuary, after the Italian marble altar, is the fresco adorning the apse. Against a background of gold leaf, a tall Madonna clad in ivory garments stands on a crescent moon over a silver sea. The sea on the left is lashed by angry waves, while to the right it becomes calmer, as Juan Cabrillo's caravel sails toward San Diego Bay. Archangels Michael and Gabriel stand behind the Mother of God, opening her rose and silver mantle to reveal a midnight blue lining with constellations of the southern sky.

The Blessed Sacrament chapel is located to the right of the sanctuary. Above the marble altar and the golden tabernacle is a large round stained glass window, which depicts Our Lady nursing the Infant Jesus at the manger in Bethlehem.

I attended the 9:00 a.m. Mass on April 6, the fifth Sunday in Lent. Monsignor Eamonn Lyng, the parish pastor, was the celebrant. A special feature of this Mass was to be the final scrutiny of the catechumens.

A young couple provided the liturgical music. The man played an upright piano, and the woman, in a knee-length skirt and sleeveless knit top, served as cantor.

The processional hymn was "Take Up Your Cross," sung to a haunting minor-key melody. "Take up your cross the Savior said, / if you would my disciple be. / Deny yourself, the world forsake, / and humbly follow after me."

Accompanying Monsignor Lyng in procession were two teenage acolytes in albs and two lay readers: a lady in fashionable black slacks and matching short sleeve knit top, and a gentleman in a dark suit with an American Flag tie. A young boy carried a children's lectionary bound in green leather.

After the Sign of the Cross, Monsignor greeted us in his mild Irish brogue: "Good morning to everyone! I'm glad you all remembered to change your clocks! I'm sure the others will be along later!"

The penitential rite was the Confiteor, "I confess to Almighty God...." Following the prayer of absolution, the Kyrie was spoken, not sung.

After the opening prayer, Monsignor called the children forward, and their teacher shepherded them to the hall where they would be given a special presentation. During their exit the cantor and people sang, "Little children come to me."

The lady gave the first reading, from the prophet Ezekiel, recalling God's promise to open the graves of his people and bring them back to life in his spirit. Her delivery was slow and clearly enunciated. The psalm response, "With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption," was sung to a simple, liturgically suitable setting. The gentleman took the second reading, from Romans. This lesson also proclaimed life from the dead through the Spirit of Christ. Then Monsignor Lyng arose to read the Gospel of the raising of Lazarus, John 11: 1-45.

In his homily, Monsignor compared Mary and Martha's devastation at the loss of their brother Lazarus to our own experiences of tragedy. Rather than think that the Lord has abandoned us, we should have faith that Christ is always there for us, even as he was there for the grieving sisters to give them hope of eternal life.

The scrutiny of the catechumens was a series of prayers for the candidates. The catechumens and their sponsors came forward, and the "elect" knelt, as a litany was sung imploring their deliverance from a host of spiritual, psychological, and social maladies. We were asked to stretch our hands toward the candidates during the final prayer.

The Offertory song was "Do not be afraid, I am with you." At its conclusion, the children who had earlier been dismissed brought up the Gifts.

The Preface referred to the raising of Lazarus. Eucharistic Prayer II was said. At the Lord's Prayer, chanted a cappella, many people did not join hands. Before the sign of peace we were told we did not have to shake hands, and not to be offended if our neighbor refrained, as there is fear of SARS to contend with! Four lay ministers, two men and two women, assisted Monsignor in the distribution.

After Communion and the final blessing, there was no recessional song because the Anointing of the Sick was to be administered.

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