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

ROAMIN' CATHOLIC
October 2003

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OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP, LAKESIDE

Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish serves the unincorporated town of Lakeside. The basilica with its prominent bell tower makes a Catholic statement to all who go by on Lakeshore Drive.

Two alcove chapels face one another across the rear of the long nave, one for Our Lady of Perpetual Help, the other for St. Joseph the Worker. The Stations of the Cross are painted bas-relief images suitable for contemplation.

Post-concilliar innovations include confessional booths being used as broom closets, while confessions are heard in a room adjoining the narthex. The Blessed Sacrament has been relegated to a chapel to the right of the sanctuary. In the place of the high altar sits the presider's chair and two acolyte chairs. Hanging overhead is a large traditional Crucifix against a background of blue swimming pool tile.

I attended the 11:00 a.m. Mass on September 7. The celebrant was the assistant pastor, Father Khuyen Van Lai, better known among the parishioners as "Fr. Joe." A choir of nine women sang, led by a young cantoress in tight white jeans riding on her hip, and a yellow form-fitting cap-sleeve top. A pianist and organist completed the musical ensemble.

Our entrance song was "Gather Us In," accompanied by electronic organ with vibrato effect. To these strains came the sanctuary party: leading the way, a crucifer, followed by two girl candle bearers, another girl carrying the Gospel Book, and finally Father Joe, a short man with a full head of gray hair.

Beyond a cheery "Good Morning" after the sign of the cross, Father Joe did not engage in liturgical idiosyncrasies. He led a penitential Kyrie with tropes. Then the piano began tinkling, and a bouncy setting of the Gloria commenced in 6/8 time.

A lector in slacks and polo shirt arose to give the readings. In the first, from Isaiah, the prophet declared that as signs of God's coming to save, the ears of the deaf shall be opened and the tongues of the dumb speak. The cantoress then led the responsorial verses from Psalm 146, with the refrain, "Praise the Lord, my soul." The lector returned to take the second reading, from James, censuring preferential treatment given in the church to the rich as a betrayal of the gospel of Christ. Following the Alleluia, Father Joe read the Gospel, St. Mark 7:31-35, in which Jesus fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah by opening the ears and loosing the tongue of a deaf-mute.

Father Joe began his homily by connecting the prophecy in Isaiah to the miracle of Our Lord healing the deaf-mute to show its significance as a proof of his being the Messiah. He then applied it to us. First he showed how in baptism Christ has opened our ears to hear his word, and set free our tongues to speak his praises. Then he probed our consciences as to how well we hear the word of God with the ears of our heart, noting that the word "heart" has "ear" in its center. He also pointed out common failures in our speaking the praises of God in daily life. As a remedy he proposed our humbly calling out to Jesus to help us hear more clearly and speak more truly.

During the Offertory, choir and congregation sang "Be Not Afraid." In the midst of the song the crucifer and candle bearers came down the center aisle to escort the family chosen to carry up the gifts of bread and wine. A dad carried the decanter of wine while his two teenage sons each carried a ciborium. The boy on his dad's right seemed not too pleased at the honor, shuffling up with shirt-tails untucked, ciborium in his right hand, and left hand in his pocket.

After the Preface, the tinkling piano introduced the Sanctus, sung to a tune that only the singers really knew. Father Joe recited Eucharistic Prayer II. At the consecration he held both Host and Chalice to chest level and gazed upon the Holy Gifts.

During the Our Father, which was spoken, no one tried to grab my hand, the people did not fill the center aisle to join hands, and most appeared to pray in the "orans" posture. The peace being passed, even before the Agnus Dei began, nine Eucharistic ministers, four men and five women, assembled behind Father Joe. He communed them with the Host and they communed one another in the chalices. While we processed for communion, choir and people sang "On Eagle's Wings."

Father Joe having said the post-communion prayer and given the final blessing, the sanctuary party recessed to the singing of the UN anthem, "Let There Be Peace On Earth," with the vibrato organ wailing. Applause was vigorous.

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