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Contents © 2004
by Jim Holman.
All rights reserved.

ROAMIN' CATHOLIC
September 2004

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SAINT RITA’S, SKYLINE

Saint Rita’s Church, at 5124 Churchward Street in the Skyline area of Southeast San Diego is an architectural beacon of Catholicism. The church rises high over the surrounding neighborhood. An inscription in stone over the front doors reads “Ad Maiorum Dei Gloriam” — To the Greater Glory of God.

At the right rear of the nave is the chapel of the parish patroness, Saint Rita of Cascia. A statue of the 15th century “Saint of the impossible” stands on the votive altar, holding a cross and crowned with thorns. A plaque at her feet contains a special prayer for healing.

In the sanctuary, the high altar of dark green marble has been retained, with the golden tabernacle at its center. The oaken reredos and canopy symbolically reveal the true nature of the altar as the throne of the great King. Chairs for the presider and servers are set in front of the high altar with their backs to the tabernacle. The Novus Ordo altar has been placed so far forward that it would be impossible to offer the liturgy on it facing the tabernacle.

I attended Mass on August 1, the 18th Sunday in ordinary time. Several people had told me, “You’ve got to hear Saint Rita’s Gospel Choir at the 11:30 Mass!” So I came in expectation, only to learn they’re on vacation during August. Instead, a cantor — a white haired, bearded gentleman in sport slacks, suspenders and polo shirt — led the a cappella singing of the hymns. He ambled to the pulpit before Mass and told us, “Try to drown me out.” We did our best.

The associate pastor, Father Elmer Mandac, celebrated. Five altar boys and a woman lector assisted. We recited almost the whole liturgy in spoken voice. The only parts we sang, other than the hymns, were the Alleluia and the Our Father, which we chanted to simple plainsong melodies. Hence it was much like a weekday Mass, except for the use of the Gloria and Creed, and a longer homily.

We sang three hymns, each a well known standard from the Protestant tradition: “We Gather Together,” “Amazing Grace” (during the offertory), and “Now Thank We All Our God.” The cantor led without letting his voice dominate, and the congregation sang very well in unison.

The readings for this day emphasized detachment from the things of this world and esteem of spiritual values. The first reading, from Ecclesiastes, proclaimed that the temporal rewards of all man’s labor are vanity. The responsorial psalm extolled eternal benefits: “If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” The second reading, from Saint Paul to the Colossians, directed us to seek the things that are above where Christ is. And in the Gospel, Saint Luke 12: 13-21, Jesus showed by the parable of a rich man who prospered much and then lost all when he died that “a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.”

In his homily, Father Mandac acknowledged that we do have a responsibility to work for worldly goods. There is nothing wrong with striving to improve our fortunes. In fact, for fathers of families it is a sacred duty. But this is true only to a point. We also have to beware of crossing the line into greed. After we have what we need for our families, we have an obligation to use our wealth in the service of the poor. Father quoted Saint John Chrysostom: “If we do not give to the poor it is just as if we robbed them.” The way to free ourselves from greed is to imitate the goodness and charity of God. God abundantly blesses us with the goods of this earth and spiritual blessings through his Son so that we might imitate him by sharing our own wealth with others in need.

Father’s point was visually illustrated by the many bags of groceries at the foot of the altar. Parishioners had them brought for the food bank.

After Mass I talked to a woman called Mrs. Phillips. I let her know I was a visitor from an Eastern Catholic church. She then told me, “I don’t care what denomination you are; denominations just divide people.” While I considered how to respond in a Catholic manner, she dropped a bombshell: “My husband left the Catholic Church, and he’s now the pastor of a Baptist Church in Encanto.” They remain, nevertheless, a happily married couple. “I go there sometimes, and I know the things they say about us Catholics. But they don’t always live according to the Bible!”

I responded, “The Bible says something about us needing to eat and drink the real Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, and you can only get that here!” Her eyes lit up and she said, “Thank you! And it’s here every single day!”

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