And among the lot of them, they can't juggle a daily Mass, two Masses on Saturday and three on Sunday at St. Elizabeth's in Milton?
Scroll down in the bulletin, you'll see the pastor saying with the 'shortage' of priests in the parish, they're simply too busy among the seven of them to work out 10 Masses in a week.
When this priest was in Duxbury, he three times pooh-poohed and undermined the Sacrament of Confession when my two youngest children were lined up to receive it. He would never sit in the Confessional at the scheduled time. You had to go hunt him down. I was able to recover their confidence in the Sacrament the first time he did it. The second time was a little tougher but I was able to recover it with time. The third time he did it, I lost them.
He is the single cause of destroying the Sacrament of Penance for my two youngest, perhaps their belief in all of the Sacraments, so I would say I'm a bit jaded, but readers are reporting problems with what is being taught about Sacraments so I wasn't surprised when I saw the name.
Lots of luck to the people bringing their children there. If you know anyone in Milton, I'd raise their level of consciousness.
31 comments:
Carol, your warning to parents is commendable but I’m here to warn the children of elderly parents, the elderly are just as much at risk. As far as I know there is no age at which one does not have to fulfill their Sunday Obligation of attending Mass. Of course, if you are ill or incapacitated you are excused. False teachings from this Parish have influenced the Elderly to stay away when especially today they are needed to set examples for the children. I continually have to defend Church Teachings with every visit to my 80 yr old parents. The one’s most likely closest to meeting their Maker.
Ah, the most vulnerable are being abused, the Children AND the Elderly!
coup of coup?
Could you be more specific?
Have you noted that Benedict XVI when offering Mass 'toward the people' he has made it practice to have a foot tall crucifix in front of him?
There are not seven priests in residence. There is one priest assigned to the parish and a second priest in residence there (he has a full-time assignment elsewhere). The other priests whose names are listed on the bulletin help out on occasion; they do not live at the parish.
Anonymous - who is your question "can you be more specific" directed to? If it's me and the validity of Sunday Obligation then yes, the elderly in a Milton Residence for the Elderly were told both by the Priest & a Deacon who usually does a Communion Service every Friday in their Sunday Obligation was fullfilled by attending on Fridays..Although a lot cannot drive they are provided with a service that will drive them anywhere. They can make it to Foxwoods why not Mass on Sundays? I'm getting tired of defending my Faith to my Parents who really know better BUT becasue a Priest has told them it's alright then that's Gospel! Sorry if this wasn't your question but it gets me exasperated!
7 priests, really?
I live in Milton and attend Mass at this parish. Most of the priests listed are visiting priests who cover Masses on the weekends. I believe there is one other priest (besides the pastor) who is in residence. I've never seen him! There is a lot of bellyaching about lack of priests for Mass and the burden of making the rounds for Communion to sick and elderly.
A Saturday evening Mass was recently eliminated from the schedule because it was too burdensome. Confession is available (officially) for one half hour on a Saturday. I receive the Sacrament elsewhere. The pastor has also announced that he will be making alterations to the altar area to accommodate a choir. I would not be surprised to see another de-sacralisation of the altar area.
Today, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, there are no Masses scheduled before or after normal work hours. How are people supposed to attend??
I was able to attend the AM Mass this morning and the pastor did make mention of "liberalism" in a negative light in his prayers of the faithful. I don't know if that shows growth or not.
One positive (beggars can't be choosers I guess): nearby St. Agatha's parish is in the throes of a pastor who has watered down the Faith to suit worldliness in a more egregious manner than St.Elizabeth's. The St. Agatha's pastor is famous for his "puppet ministry" at Mass and the architectural changes to the Church have gutted a once beautiful Church. However, St. Agatha's thrives among the pick and choose Catholics and was a great beneficiary of the late Tom Flatley.
Joe - THIS is From the weekly Bulletin:
Pastoral Staff
Fr. Aidan J. Walsh, Pastor Rev. Michael Medas Priest in Residence
Rev. Robert Clark, S.S.C. Visiting Clergy
Rev. James Doran, O.V.M. Visiting Clergy
Rev. Nicholas Driscoll Visiting Clergy
Rev. Peter Gojuk, O.V.M. Visiting Clergy
Rev. Robert Kickham Visiting Clergy
K, thank you for mentioning your concern.
Anon, thanks for the info. It might be better not to quantify priests who help out as priests who reside at the parish. As a Sacramental Catholic, I can tell you that I cannot see why even one person could not do the 9 Masses. As for the 3rd Mass on Sunday, if they can't get the 7 priests to help out with that third Mass, that speaks to our frustration. There is nothing more important than those 10 Masses. Take the coffee and donut question time and other social things off of his schedule and focus on the Sacraments. If the large staff of womwn is having a problem making phone calls to 7 priests willing to help out, let him know I will get somebody to do it for free.
The Sacrament of Confession where the pastor should have scheduled hours where he sits waiting at appointed times is something that is also critical. Penitants should not have to go find him and when they do, he should not tell children that at their age there is nothing they could do that would require confession and dismiss them. Who knows how many people are beng scandalized, aside from my own children's experiences and those reported by KD.
Joe, really!
I'm also familiar with St. Elizabeth's and have noticed the virtual non-existence of the Sacrament of Confession. I believe they have installed a Penance room in the rear. How much use it gets is another question.
Contrast the lack of weekend and Holy Day of Obligation Masses with the catering to the crowds that attend Mass once a year for Christmas. Last Christmas Eve I attended the afternoon Mass. at St. Elizabeth's, apparently the early Mass is the only one in the area.
The Church was packed to the rafters and there was another service in the Parish Hall at the same time. A large amount of the attendees were unfamiliar with the prayers and when to kneel, respond etc. Talking was incessant. Clearly they were nominal, cultural Catholics. The pastor was gaga over the attendance.
I would be more impressed with better availability of Masses and Confession to practicing Catholics, than twice a year deference to non-practicing, cafeteria Catholics.
This will be interesting to watch for at St. E's, the Archdiocese says -Advent 2010 Confessions Wednesday, December 15 & 22 6:30-8:00pm
All parishes of the Archdiocese.
You are invited.
Please come and experience Christ's healing love.
I know St Helen's in Norwell has already published this in their Bulletin. See their website, www.TheLightIsOnForYou.org
A friend of mine said his mother would repeatedly confess, "Father, I'm sorry I ever took my children to the Novus Ordo."
The thought of raising my kids in the N.O. is frightening. Even taking them to one was bad enough.
Short of finding a Latin Mass, you have to shop around. Be ready to drive an hour or more, one way. The dens of impiety must be avoided with extreme prejudice.
K, Thank you for the reminder about "The Light is On For You".
If you live in Milton and you have children, it is time to be moseying on along to a safe parish and there is on in Quincy Square - St. John's.
The last thing in the world you want to do is send a child in alone in a place where sins and the Sacrament of Confession are a joke. It is one thing to take your chances as an adult where you can put the priest's misfortunes of faith into perspective. I am telling you from experience, your child will be worked on until the faith in the Sacraments is completely gone. The light may be on in that place but nobody is home.
Why can't the puppet master there
pull more strings to get more priests?
Is his name Fr.Knucklehead
Smith?
I hate to ask, but can somebody remind me again what the gig is with the puppets?
http://wdtprs.com/blog/2009/09/what-about-this-ministry-at-your-parish/
Ugh.
For the record, when I visited St. Agatha's I thought the idea of the puppets was sort of cute. Not my style, but it may reach some children - who knows.
It crosses the line to use puppets to teach the Sacrament of Confession and using them at Mass, well, nobody has to guess my thoughts on that.
p.s. - Tom Flatley was a gentlemen, who for as long as I knew him, was a gracious and fervent defender of the faith. He had no problems standing up and doing the right thing when Our Lord was being scandalized.
I was Baptized, received my First Penance & Communion and Confirmed (Cardinal Cushing)at St. Agatha's & was fortunate enough to attend the Grammar School with the Real Nun's & the Real Religion taught, then Vatican II hit, the Real Priests & Nun's disappered and the Beautiful Church was demolished to a Rock & Pews! St. Agatha's has always been well attended, it's its location & the fact it has a school, puppets or not they still would be there. It's a Generation after generation thing, Milton is a very "social" Town, they're there because they're seen not becasue Jesus is hidden away in some wall someplace. I bet Mary Grasso O'Neill attends. You will see a Church over runned with children, not too many elders. Ah, if Monsignor Gallagher could see it now!
Unfortunately the "puppet ministry" is used within the childrens' Masses at St. A's.
Canon law prohibits a eulogy at a Catholic funeral but allows the use of puppets within the Mass?
Some years ago I attended a First Holy Communion for a niece and nephew. Sadly, the Mass was a very disheartening display. The same puppet priest,was the celebrant. The children swarmed the altar during the consecration at the invitation of the puppet master.
The focus of the Mass was on celebrating the "cuteness' of the kids and playing up to their parents as if the occasion was a recital or a youth ball game.Needless to say, I have steered clear of the parish ever since.
These kinds of entertainment and popularity displays do not bind the children to the Catholic Faith. The kids see right through it. They know that Justin Bieber is a better showman than a popularity craving Catholic priest.
That is just heartbreaking.
Jerry,
Are you POSITIVE that the sedevacantists are not the way to go?
The more I read of what is continuing to go on (and, after having watched this nonsense from its' inception, it is getting to me), the more I wonder if the sedevacantists are not onto something.
How much more of this can a serious Catholic take without seeking desperately for an escape?
Veronica
Veronica - the only solice I have is to remember, Jesus IS there.
kd
Sounds like we are about the same age.
How do you handle the anger, frustration and resentment?
Veronica
Hi Veronica,
Don't despair. Vatican Council I defined that the Church will always have a pontiff. Hence, the empty-chair crowd is in heresy and have exited the Church.
There's no escape. Were it even possible that the sedevacantists are correct, then we would all be dead in our sins. There is no salvation apart from being subject to the pope. No pope implies no vicar of Christ, no linkage to God, no visible unity, and hence, no salvation.
Things are really bad, yes. As much as I agree with sedevacantists that the pope has serious defects in his theology, I'm bound to believe that God sees that he has the Faith. I can't see it, but that's neither here nor there. (Note: the link is NOT to a sedevacantist site.)
These are dangerous times. The Doctors of the Church taught that most Catholics forfeit their salvation. But today, given that you can't even find the Faith at the average parish, who can possibly be saved?
Jerry,
"But today, given that you can't even find the Faith at the average parish, who can possibly be saved?"
What are we to do then? I take the salvation of my soul quite seriously, as I am sure all here do as well.
Veronica
Veronica - Ha, it's not easy, I have to keep reminding myself that It's God's Church & sooner or later He'll fix it. Knowing that Jesus IS REALLY in that Tabernacle, and with those words of Consecration, This IS My Body, This IS My Blood, Jesus IS on that Altar, be there personally not with the "Community", Adoration & Holy Hours help a lot too. This Blog is a great help to me & knowing I'm not alone with the anger & frustration. I don't think I resent anything, God has blessed me with the True Faith, it's really others that should resent me! My Father IS KING! Repeat that a few times & see how you feel.
I won't forget your name in my prayers Try to remember as hard as it is to see we're on the WINNING Team!
Jerry,
Beautifully expressed.
To whom would we go?
Veronica,
I'm looking forward to K's input on how to manage the frustration. Humor. Prayer. Having a good network of people immersed truth, repentance, the sacraments. That's how I get through it.
You've got to hang on for dear life girl. We are in better shape here in this diocese than we were ten years ago. Believe it or not, there are more safe havens. They are few and far between but they're out there.
Carol - you nailed it- Someone should put signs like the SafeHaven ones on Telephone poles approaching Churches that are True to Doctine, Only Put Safe Heaven!
I attended a Mass at St Elizabeth's within the last year where the priest invited everyone to go up to Communion as they had either confessed to sin at the beginning of the Mass or had prayed "Lord, I am not worthy ...".
Do old people have to attend Mass? I know of several who do not believe they have to attend Mass. One goes to a Friday Mass at a retirement center in Milton.
To Anonymous of Dec 9 - YES OLD People have to fulfill their Sunday Obligation, not to do so is a Mortal Sin! Friday is not Sunday! I would suggest you start attending Mass somewhere else or pick up a St. Joseph's Baltimore Catechism to be able to defend the Faith to those Priests who are not only abusing the minds of Children but also the Elderly who through no fault of their own believe anything a Priest says!
Carol, you are right. As hard as it is to imagine at times, we are in better shape today that we were ten years ago. Maybe it all seems especially horrifying now because we appear to be gearing up for the grand finale. St. Vincent Ferrer was convinced that he was living in the End Times. I wonder what he would think today???!!
-----------------------
Kd,
I was going to ask for your prayers but you beat me to it! It helps just knowing that I am not alone in this battle. It sure seemed that way though in the 60s, 70s and 80s.
God bless everyone here! The feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe is almost upon us and she has assured us that she has all under control!
Mother of the Church, ora pro nobis!
Veronica
Post a Comment