St John's Catholic Parish Quincy, Ca

There's a quiet little parish, located in the middle of no where, California in the Diocese of Sacramento. A little town called Quincy, Ca. It has a manual bell that is rung before Mass (that is a real working bell tower).

Fr. Lawarence Beck (Fr. Larry) is the Pastor of the parish and offered the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. At 9 in the morning. I served Mass this particular morning. Mass was done in English with Confiteor being said, the Miseratur done by the rubrics as well as an English Kyrie.

The readings were from Daniel and the Gospel was taken from St. Mark. The Sermon was brief on the writing on the wall in the Prophecy of Daniel. The Prayers of the Faithful were without major incident. My grandmother was remembered in the intentions for Mass.

The Offertory was done according to the Rubrics. The Bells were rung at the Hanc Igitur and for the genuflections to the Body and Blood of Christ at Consecration. Eucharistic Prayer II was used without ab libbing. There was no hand holding during the Our Father, and the Sign of Peace was dignified.

Communion was offered under one species (as the Bp. Soto's Directives). There was no ab libbing at the Ecce Agnus Dei. I was able to receive the correct way, kneeling and on the tongue without incident. Half the Congregation received on the tongue, and half received in the hand.

Mass was by the rubrics and there were no cool-aid pitchers. Admist the death of my grandmother, I was glad that I was able to go to a Liturgical Abuse free parish and pray the Mass in the Ordinary Form.

Memo to Fathers

a. I don't really want to see you in your underwear...So, wear you chausible over your stole, please.

b. I'm not a Latin Scholar (okay, maybe part time), but Dominus Vobiscum isn't the Lord IS with you, but the Lord BE WITH you.

c. Aren't you supposed to have TWO hands on the Host and Chalice?

d. Aren't you supposed to Genuflect when you open the Tabernacle?

In case you're wondering what caused this quick note. I saw all these things happen at Mass today.

5:00 pm Mass Our Lady of Guadalupe, La Habra

Talk about the world's most distracting Mass that was offered this afternoon...

Today was the graduation of the graduates from Our Lady of Guadalupe School. Mass had a procession of the Students into the Sanctuary....The typical introductory speech was at Mass by Fr. McCarthy.

The Liturgical Abuses were a laundry list here are some of them.

1. No altar linens on the altar at the beginning of Mass (these were later set up by some of the graduates from the school)
2. Ab libs during the orate fratres, not mentioning Sacrifice.
   
3. At the final doxology, the replacement of Him with Christ
4. Not using an approved Canon (I did not recognize the Canon used as I-IV)
5. The encouragement of hand holding across the isles at the Our Father
6. Glass pitcher was used for the consecration of the Precious Blood
7. EM's poured the Precious Blood AFTER the Consecration.
8. EM's were distributing Communion once Father ran out of Hosts (As an ordinary Minister of Holy Communion, he is not supposed to take back seat)
9. Ab lib of the Responsorial Psalm
10. Guitars and amplifiers
11. Father did NOT genuflect to either species.
    

Mass was so distracting that my best friend and I ditched after Communion. Neither one of us could pray the Mass at all. Nor could either one of us receive on the tongue. (EM's don't know what to do)...Our Lady would have been disappointed....but it is the Diocese of Orange.

June 6th 09: 5:30pm Mass, St. Edward the Confessor Parish Dana Point, Ca.

The parish is very modern, yet there was nice crucifix, that kind of was liked stained glass, but not sure exactly how to describe it. Inspite of the sanctuary being lower than the nave, the Tabernacle was in the center of the Church. There was wood octogonal altar. Wall to wall carpeting with cousined pews. The back of the tabernacle had a glass opening. The congregation was fairly mixed old and young. Some came dressed in shorts. Many genuflected to the Tabernacle. The Mass was began by the books with a good afternoon squeezed in. Father wore gothic vestments, and there was processional hymn of There is a longing (which the congreation was COMPLETELY off key). Father bowed to the Tabernacle instead of genuflected. There was no kyrie recited. Father preached from the nave with broken english. He talked about the necessity of keeping the Faith in times of persecution. The prayers of the Faithful went in the order of the Missal, and were opened to the faithful. Father used a missal stand, and the glass cool aid pitcher was on the altar along with the chalice. The Sanctus was recited in Englsih. EP II was said without any ab libbing on the part of the Priest. At the Our Father, there was hand holding (one attempted to hold mine, I didn't move my hands) and the various lame hand gestures which seems to go on at virtually every parish. The Agnus Dei was sung in Latin though, and EM's were pouring the Precious Blood after the Consecration from the glass pitcher. There was a lady who received kneeling, most received in the hand, I was able to receive on the tongue with no problem (my knees were really sore, so I stood unlike normal (was from praying 15 decades of the Rosary)). The final blessing was done according to the books, and there was applause after Mass. A typical parish...

St. Joseph's La Puente 8 am Spanish

This morning I went to the 8 am Spanish Mass, I'll keep it short and to the point. Mass was offered strictly by the rubrics. The people did the lame hand gestures that seems to be popular in America. Most people received on the tongue. EMHC's were kept at managable numbers...Yours truly wasn't denied for kneeling (Fr. Cumberland is a good priest, keep him in prayer). Chalice veil and burse were used. Gothic vestments were also used. Tabernacle is smack in the center. It was in Spanish, so I didn't take as many notes as I normally would. Basically low Mass.

4th Sunday after Easter: St. John the Baptist Costa Mesa, Ca

Coming into the parish you see beautiful 3 dimensional painting of Jesus being baptized by St. John the Baptist. Right below the picture is the Tabernacle in the center. On the left side was a crucifix (guessing the original giant crucifix that was in the center before remodeling) and Our Lady and the right was St. Joseph. There was a beautiful Sedilla set up ala monasticism. Confessions were being heard during the Mass.

High Mass was being offered by a Norbertine Father (the Norbertines run the parish)..The Processional Hymn was Hail Holy Queen enthroned above. I'm not used to there being opening hymn, at my parish we have instrumental.

The Kyrie was from the Missa de Penetentia and the Gloria from Missa de Angelis. The Epistle was from St. James 1, 17-21 and the Gospel was from St. John 16, 5-14.

There were announcements made before the readings in English and sermon.

Father noted in his sermon that the readings were leading us from the Resurrection to Ascension to Decent of the Holy Spirit. He also reminded us that we received the Holy Spirit at baptism. Also that we should prepare for Mass by not rushing, reading the readings, do intentions, and pray the rosary.

Credo III was used and the Congregation was incensed first (though that's not how it's written in the Missal, the Mass had to be done before 2 since there was a Spanish Mass right after). The Roman tone for chant was being used. The Sanctus was from the Missa de Angelis.

The acoustics at the parish were ridiculously good, so much that I heard Father's sotto voce voice. The Agnus Dei was also from the Missa de Angelis. The Domine non sum Dignus prayer was said aloud by the congregation. Another priest came to assist with Communion.

The recessional hymn was Let Holy Anthem risen.

Overall Mass was beautiful, but I must say, we're better here in Alhambra ;)

04-26-09: 2pm EF: San Juan Bautista, Diocese of Monterey

My travels brought me to Mission San Juan Bautista for the EF Mass at 2pm. I was at Gregorian Chant workshop as mentioned at the Diocese of Monterey TLM blog.

Here's picture of the Reredo at San Juan Bautista

Various Saints are on the Reredo. There were 8 Candles lit in the extravagant Spanish Baroque style.

In a rareity now and days, the Tabernacle was veiled as shown above. You'd see side altars to the Sacred Heart, Infant of Prague, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Divine Savior, and the wooden altar rail is in tact.

Last Sunday was the 2nd Sunday after Easter and gold vestments were used. There were 6 altar boys along with 2 MC's. The vast majority mantillaed. It really felt like the 1700's at the Mission. The schola (which I was apart of) sang Kyrie and Gloria I as well as Agnus Dei I. The propers were sung.

During Fr. Milich's Sermon he talked about the importance of listening to the Voce of God and in all forms, words, musics, we encounter voice of od. The sung Mass was apart of anxient tradition that came organically from the early Church inspite of martyrdom and is beyond the culture. Mass must be on God's time. We have choice whether to respond or not to the voice of God. One voice and one shepard.

Credo III was done. The Mass went strictly by the rubrics of the strictest interpretation (i.e. 2nd Confietor was done). The incensor was at the side and not directly behind Father (this was probably due to the reredo). NO EM's. Also no opening and closing Hymn.

One spot of solice in Northern California :)