Parish needsDear Editor, You asked that we tell you our needs so that *MODERN LITURGY* magazine can be most helpful to its readers. Our needs here are very elementary. We do not have a liturgy committee in our parish. The people responsible for the worship environment have moved away. Several women have approached me about forming a liturgy committee so that *something* gets done, even if pastoral leadership is not spearheading the venture. What is most helpful to us and what I look for first when *MODERN LITURGY* arrives is *ML Tips* and "Shaping the Ritual." We need lots of basic information about how to create an environment that is conducive to authentic worship; we need ideas from other parishes (pictures would be great!) as to how they do environment creation in the worship space; we need simple instructions on "ingredients" for good liturgy. What you can do for us — and parishes like us — is to continue offering as many ideas and suggestions, as space allows, for those who want to do the work but have no training or liturgical education other than their lived experience. I have the book *Symbols for All Seasons: Environmental Planning for Cycles A, B, & C* (by Catherine Krier, Resource Publications, Inc., 1988) and find that helpful. If you know of other such resources, I would appreciate knowing about them. We are so limited in financial resources, that we look for help wherever we might find it. Thank you very much. Rachel Doerfler, CSA *Thanks for the feedback. See Ken Presek's ideas and this year's Visual Arts Awards for ideas (pages 5-7). Look for more features on environment and art in upcoming issues of ML. — Editor* Taking a standDear Editor, The vitriol in Fr. Stansberry's reaction to Barbara Guenther's article ("Whose Prayer Is This?" ML 23:9) is disturbing for several reasons. Obviously Fr. Stansberry is a devotee of an hierarchical church but not too interested in the ministry of the faithful community. His statement that "liturgists have advocated standing during the eucharistic prayer for years, and repeatedly the bishops have said that kneeling is the proper response" is proof once again that in the minds of some hierarchs what the Spirit calls us to do is irrelevant; there can evidently be no salvation without unquestioning obedience to the institutional church's leadership mandates. Fr. Stansberry also seems to believe that Vatican II led the faithful astray when he characterizes "full active participation" as political correctness, thus demeaning both. If acts of praise and worship of God are only valid when done according to rules composed by men like Fr. Stansberry, then God help the church, because Stansberry, et. al., certainly won't! Finally, I had a giggle fit when Fr. Stansberry strongly implied that the *General Instruction of the Roman Missal* is representative of the universality of the church. The GIRM represents the view of the Roman church, but little else. While the Roman church is large, it is certainly *not* universal. Historically, the Roman Missal didn't even represent most of Europe. Fr. Stansberry prays that "these notions" do not become the norm because "they do serious harm to the liturgy (and) tradition of the church." Come to the parish where I live, Father, and see a worshiping community that stands during Eucharist on Sunday, then spends the rest of the week worshiping in the world by doing its best to imitate Christ. Victor R. Kieser How did you get started?*ML recently posted the following question in the America Online folder: "How did you get started in ministry?" The following were among the responses. To share your responses to the question, send regular mail to ML Sharings, 160 E. Virginia St., #290, San Jose, CA 95112. Or send e-mail to MdrnLitrgy@aol.com.* I said "Yes! O Lord!" After dogging me all my life (as I only now see looking back) I finally answered the call. I am now working in a small parish part-time as a liturgy and music director and being paid for the trouble. I know that this is what I will doing in some capacity or another for the rest of my life, whether paid or volunteer. And I am filled with joy doing it! I have looked to Elaine Rendler as a role model. But closer to home, Lynn Brugnolotti, who is a full-time director at a nearby parish, has really been a support with her advice and as an example. My mentors are the people who allow me to serve in their community; who give me advice, support, criticism, friendship, feedback, and free food. Kim Lemieux Phrases that drive us crazy*In another thread in the ML folder on America Online, we were discussing phrases that drive us crazy. Send in what makes you nuts to join the conversation. Mail your pet vexation to ML Sharings, 160 E. Virginia St. #290, San Jose, CA 95112.* What drives me crazy is when a newly ordained priest refers to his "first Mass." Either he has never celebrated liturgy before the day after his ordination or he still thinks the Mass somehow belongs to the priest in a way that it doesn't belong to the rest of the assembly. I have the same reaction every time I hear "first Eucharist." If it is really the candidates' *first* Eucharist, those kids have no business receiving communion. I celebrated my first Mass (and, therefore, my first Eucharist) as a baby in my mother's arms, and I have absolutely no recollection of the event. Maybe it seems like semantics, but we who deal in sign and symbol ought to mean what we say and say what we mean. Nick Wagner Or try the banner headline in the diocesan paper that one man was to be "ordained" this year. I wrote and asked them what they thought had happened a year before when he was made deacon. Especially when in this diocese the demographics show that a majority of the ordained within ten years will be deacons and not priests, such blindness does not bode well. Hmm, then we will have a majority of married clergy! I wonder what that will do for the sign value of mandatory celibacy? Michael Marchal Our diocesan paper carried a story about two men who would be ordained (to the priesthood) the following Saturday with the phrase, "They will give their lives to God." And I asked myself, "And what about the rest of us? Chopped liver? What do couples who marry do?" Good grief. I think we need to revamp our sacramental sensibilities. Shannon O'Donnell Oh ... yes. I get *nuts* when priests say "Thanks for coming" to people at the end of the Eucharist. Why should they be thanked for showing up where they belong? Does your mother say "Thanks for coming" when you show up for dinner? Mary E. O'Shaughnessy I hate when I hear the presider referred to as "the celebrant of the Mass." The rest of us are doing what? Reading the Sunday comics? Barbara Schepers How about those who speak of "clergy and deacons"? And this from some priests! Stephen Arnold There's the welcome that divides:
Followed, of course, by a duet between Cantor Songleader and Fr. Cleric in which no one else participates. Then, Fr. Cleric says:
Just exactly who is this "us" who's doing the inviting? Who is this "you" being invited? And why did God only give his gifts to the "usses"? Kevin Trichtinger That one bugs me too. I had that feeling for a long time when folks who were assigned the task of "greeting" in the morning before liturgy. As one of those people, I felt strange to be welcoming people to their own parish. Somehow telling the community of St. James "welcome to St. James" was a little weird. My solution is to say "good [whatever]" to everyone and to welcome our visitors. Barbara Schepers |