A funny thing happened on the way to the gym.
Liturgical anarchy.
I never could figure that out - why after renovation of a parish church to look like a gym, parishioners chose to worship in the school gym anyway? That is what they did at St. Stephen’s - they made up their own liturgy and held it in the gym. The “spirits” guiding these folk discourage liturgical rubrics, rules of order, and obedience to the Magisterium. Naturally, to be Roman Catholic, a parish is obliged to follow the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM), that isn’t too much to ask. Unless elements within the worshipping community are not Roman Catholic, in that case, the honest thing to do would be to go elsewhere for worship.
In the Gospel, several followers left Jesus after our Lord revealed himself as the Bread of Life, proclaiming, “if you do not eat of the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood you have no life in you.” (Jn. 6) “From this time on, many of his disciples broke away and would not remain in his company any longer.” (Jn. 6) Just so, some of the parishioners at St. Stephens have found the integrity to move off Church grounds to celebrate worship services which accord with their personal piety elsewhere.
Some of the protestors chose to remain behind in the school gym to conduct their eucharistic celebration, an act of “holy resistance” - as the above photo demonstrates. The woman performing the ‘elevation’ of the wine at the end is a Sister of St. Joseph.
Thankfully, the new pastor, Fr. Joseph Williams, is a very kind and holy priest, he will be an immense blessing for those in the parish who hunger for authentic worship, in spirit and truth. He arrives on the Sunday after Easter, supported by the faithful of the archdiocese and much prayer.
(Topmost photo: Laetare Sunday Procession of protestant Catholics leaving the school gym for their new “underground” church.)
Links:
Photos and story of the migration: The Wild Reed
All the background you need on the ruckus: Stella Borealis
March 3rd, 2008 at 12:33 pm
It’s nice to have Michael Bayly around as our photographer. It certainly makes our posts much more interesting.
I know a fellow who is a St Stephen’s stalwart. He’s about 82 or 83. And he knows that they have lost. But it will take 20 years for them to go away.
It’s too bad that they were allowed to get away with their improvisations for so long. But better late than never.
And as someone said, it will make it much easier for Archbishop Nienstedt when he takes over in May.
March 3rd, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Yes - I’m indebted to Michael.
I think Archbishop Nienstedt is at work right now…
March 3rd, 2008 at 12:50 pm
Those women baked something to give to the bishop….how very kind! I love the pride in their eyes as they lift their gifts to the bishop, he must be in the other part of the picture?
It’s wonderful to see women baking! It makes one feel homey and safe.
March 3rd, 2008 at 1:02 pm
Susan - LOL!
March 4th, 2008 at 12:03 am
I’ve never been able to figure out the agenda of these pseudo-Catholics. If they have an issue with the current application of Catholic tradition, why not go somewhere else? They can worship as the please, ordain whom ever they want, and use the liturgy they please. But, please, why don’t they try the Independent Catholic Church, where Sinead O’Connor is ordained, and she can consecrate their fruitcake.