Inside ML

Nancy Jackson, tapestry weaver from Vallejo, Calif., says, “Since I am a pastor’s wife and an artist at the same time, if I could offer churches a word of advice, it would be that they give the artist more rather than less artistic liberty and not try to control the inner spirit of the artist.  So often I have been faced with this dilemma that church people can be quite insecure in trusting the artist and, as a result of their overbearing demands on the artist, they receive what they ‘want’ but not perhaps what they ‘need.’  In fact, they are often so untrusting that they receive not an artwork at all but an object molded by the thoughts of a committee of people who are not artists” (see “Tapestry Revival” by Joan Griffin, starting on page 6.)

The same comment could be applied to those who seek to control the inner spirit of parish communities as they strive to make their local liturgies artful and grace-filled experiences (see “Grim GIRM” in Worship Times, page 23.) There is an air of insecurity and distrust that leads to overbearing demands on local pastors, liturgy committees, catechists and pastoral ministers. The irony is that the current generation of parish leaders — both professional and volunteer — is perhaps the best educated in the history of the church. It cannot be the case that the hierarchs believe parishes do not know the tradition of the church. It is more likely a fear that local communities will deviate too far from safe and accepted norms. An excessive enforcement of rubrics may indeed allow bureaucrats to receive what they want. It will almost certainly not be what the church needs.

Success stories

How have you been successful in implementing the reform of the Second Vatican Council in your parish? What have you accomplished in the last five years that is significant? What do you hope to accomplish in the next five years? What change have you seen in the lives of your parishioners? Your neighbors? The residents of your city? ML

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