In our county here in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee it appears as though the last bastion of liturgy that is consistently celebrated in a way that is faithful to the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) and Redemptionis Sacramentum is going the way of the dinosaur. With new “pastoral leadership” comes new liturgical practices that include:
a. Changing the Eucharistic Prayers so as not to call God “Father”.
b. Consecrating the Precious Blood in the glass cruet.
c. Pouring the Precious Blood into the Chalices for Distribution.
Discussions with our new “pastor” about the new liturgical practices that violate Redemptionis Sacramentum include such “pastoral” comments as:
“I will not celebrate the Liturgy in a way that makes ME uncomfortable.” (This is in reference to calling God “Father” and praying the Eucharistic Prayers as written.)
“Your previous Pastors (who celebrated the Mass according to the GIRM and Redemptionis Sacramentum) did the parish no favors and poorly formed the parish when it comes to Liturgical practice.”
“The Archbishop has not fully implemented the GIRM and Redemptionis Sacramentum in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.”
“I am not sticking my neck out here as there are parishes in other parts of the Archdiocese that celebrate the Mass in a more liberal way than I do and are not required to change.”
When telling “Father” that his actions are dividing the parish his comment is: “Maybe that needs to happen.” So much for being concerned about the church community.
And my person favorite: “If I have a choice between listening to you (Fatherless Catholic) and listening to Bishop Sklba, I will listen to Bishop Sklba.”
Hmmmmmm. I guess Archbishop Dolan does not matter in this.
Contact with the Archdiocese has not been very helpful. Our emails and letters to the Archbishop are forwarded to the Vicar of Clergy whom, we are assured, will speak with our new “pastor” about these matters. The result has been no change in “Father’s” liturgical practices.
Contact with the Archdiocesan Office of Prayer and Worship has indicated that the practice of changing the Eucharistic prayers is wrong and that even the Pope cannot change the words to those prayers. However our “pastor” continues to celebrate the Liturgy in HIS way.
Unfortunately, we were informed by the Archdiocesan Office of Prayer and Worship that the practice of consecrating the precious blood in the glass cruet and pouring the precious blood into the Chalices for distribution has not been specifically commented upon or forbidden by the Archbishop. The impression that I get is that since the Archbishop has not specifically said that these practices should cease so this allows the priest to do as he please in these areas. I guess the fact that the Holy See has said that these practices should stop is not enough for certain priests in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.
While we are waiting for our “Spiritual Fathers” in the Milwaukee Episcopate to give us some Liturgical Clarity, it is being reported that people are leaving our parish. (Should we call this a Mass Exodus?) It should be noted that this parish had the highest reported Sunday Mass attendance as a percentage of registered members (61%) in 2005 and during this time we were celebrating the Mass according to the GIRM and Redemptionis Sacramentum.
However our new “pastor” keeps telling us that he was sent in to make our parish more like the neighboring parishes in the county. Ironically, the Archdiocese has asked all parishes to increase our Sunday Mass attendance by 20% and yet they have sent a new “pastor” to a parish with the highest Mass attendance in the county and have essentially told us we have been praying wrong for the past few decades and they want us to be more like our neighboring parishes who struggle to get 30-40% Mass attendance. One wonders just how serious the Archdiocese really is about increasing Sunday Mass attendance……
Will the Mass Exodus for parish continue?
Stay tuned.
September 27, 2007 at 8:45 pm
I didn’t know there was even a parish in Milwaukee that USED to follow the GIRM. There are better and worse parishes on this score, but I’ve never been to one where this seemed to be of any real importance. Priests always seem to think they can do better. That’s nothing short of clericalism on their part.
September 28, 2007 at 3:32 am
Looks like you’re in Sheboygan County and your pastor was (at one time) a Newman Center priest.
Good luck, and we’ll pray for you…
September 28, 2007 at 7:58 pm
Wowzers.
Praying for you and your parish.
October 4, 2007 at 12:42 pm
I feel for you. Milwaukee is the worst. If it weren’t for St Anthony in Milwaukee there wouldn’t be much left. Eventually we will win by attrition.
October 5, 2007 at 2:35 am
“Eventually we will win by attrition.”
Or lose by attrition.
Or it will be a tie, by attrition.
I hear that if something more were at stake, say sheep, then even 1% attrition would be a big deal.
October 17, 2007 at 8:12 pm
[...] be further from the truth. Those of us who have attempted to dialog with Father Lotz about the Liturgical Abuses are really concerned for his immortal soul and we really do want to help him in his vocation as a [...]
October 26, 2007 at 9:21 pm
I recently contacted “Pastor Bob” and offered some help (in the form of an article) how to stem the tide of the “Mass Exodus” seen at St. John’s.
The article it stated, “Wherever Church orthodoxy is taught the Church is flourishing. This extends to the young and old. In dioceses where Church orthodoxy is emphasized, we see increases in seminarians and youth involvement in the Church”.
It can be seen here: http://www.zenit.org/article-20831?l=english
Here was his distressing response:
Thank you for sharing the article with me, (Augustine)
Mr. Hartline’s analysis and thinking present one clear view of the developments within the Catholic Church since the pontificate of Pope John Paul II. There are several other views which continue to be in harmony with the universal Catholic Church and its teachings and understanding of the development of doctrine. Unity in the Catholic Church has seldom been understood as absolute uniformity, and I believe it is consistent with our faith – and its practice – to welcome divergent viewpoints.
Peace,
Fr. Bob
It seems as though the Reformation still lives!!
November 1, 2007 at 4:48 pm
“Those therefore who after the manner of wicked heretics dare to set aside Ecclesiastical Traditions, and to invent any kind of novelty, or to reject any of those things entrusted to the Church, or who wrongfully and outrageously devise the destruction of any of those Traditions enshrined in the Catholic Church, are to be punished thus:
IF THEY ARE BISHOPS, WE ORDER THEM TO BE DEPOSED;
BUT IF THEY ARE MONKS OR LAY PERSONS, WE COMMAND
THEM TO BE EXCLUDED FROM THE COMMUNITY.”
———–Second Council of Nicaea 787 A.D.
May 27, 2008 at 8:36 pm
You haven’t posted to you blog in a while. There can be a lot of reasons for that. I’m interested in yours if you care to email me about it.