The writer of this email requested to remain anonymous, but gave us permission to print this edited version:
Our answer to that, Anonymous, would be that Bishop Galante and Company would like us to be, essentially, more protestant than Catholic. In reality, Galante, Vollmer, McGrath, and Co. would like to usher in a "new" church, a new type of "catholicism." They insist upon wanting our churches open every day (which is already the case with St. Mary's Malaga and has been for a long, long time), but at every turn they seem to be eliminating priests by forced retirement, removal to other diocese, or to military chaplaincy. Nor are they promoting vocations to the priesthood, which was identified as a pastoral priority by the laity as a result of the "Speak Up Sessions." (So much for listening. Perhaps we should have a series of "Listen Up" sessions now, huh???) And yet they want to add paid "lay ministers," so surely whatever additions they wish to make to parish life, daily mass (let alone convenient daily mass) is not high on the list of priorities. Social activities of various kinds and daycare, though, seem more likely.
In such a sad situation as we currently find ourselves, the problem seems to be a lack of faith at the highest level of Diocesan "administration" (to call it "leadership" might be misleading). If one truly believes that Christ Himself is Truly Present in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and understands, at least on our limited human level, what graces may be received at the Holy Mass, they would be saying as many masses as they could, just as Fr. Romanowski and other good priests do. They would also be encouraging Eucharistic Adoration (which we have at St.Mary's four days a week), Legion of Mary, and other traditional Catholic devotional practices that draw us closer to Our Lord and His Mother. (Instead they promote prayers like these--scroll about three quarters of the way down and look for the italicized "prayer.")
We are reminded of an elderly and frail priest who once said mass at a wonderful church here in the diocese. It made many of us nervous just to see him process up the aisle, up the steps of the altar, or to the pulpit for fear he might fall. But for Fr. Kelly (eternal rest grant unto him oh Lord!), it was so clearly a joy and a privilege just to be able to say mass, and we think it's safe to say that sense of awe was clearly relayed to all assisting at mass. Perhaps it would be good for us to pray for the souls of all those truly devout priests who were circuit riders back in the early days of this country, who risked so much just to bring the Holy mass to Catholics in the New World and to found missions and parishes. They understood the meaning and importance of the mass.
Let us pray that the bishop and indeed all priests in the diocese may recapture that sense of awe at being in the Real Presence of His Majesty. May they experience the joy of bringing His Presence to the people! And may they again realize the Call they originally discerned when they entered the seminary. If they do, the problems we are now facing will indeed vanish and instead we'd see some real and positive change.
I read the newsletter you printed on the Website.
Incarnation was a beautiful, intimate little church. It wasn't even my parish, but I would attend Mass there twice weekly at 7 p.m. They now have the Mass at the what I've dubbed "Auditorial Round House." Interesting tidbit--they are now, as of last week of February, discontinuing their nightly Mass. They still have two priests, however, for some reason, Mass twice weekly at 7 p.m. is no longer important.
Same thing with another local parish that used to have 3 priests. As soon as one was moved, and they're down to "only" two priests, they have now discontinued their 3 nights a week at 7 p.m. Mass.
All that is left for those Catholics who work in the day and want to attend daily Mass is the regularly scheduled Mass at 7 p.m. at St. Lawrence. I am so worried that if St. Lawrence stops their Mass, I will no longer be able to attend daily.
It seems there's a focused movement to discontinue Masses for anyone that is not elderly and retired. I mean must every parish in the diocese have an 8 or 9 a.m. Mass? Is there no way they can make it convenient for Catholics who are still young enough to work to be able to worship the Lord in a genuine Catholic Mass during the evening?
I honestly believe the diocese does not want us attending daily Mass or it would not be this hard to do so. I am curious as to why it seems Catholics are discouraged from attending daily Mass, unless you are a senior citizen and retired.
Our answer to that, Anonymous, would be that Bishop Galante and Company would like us to be, essentially, more protestant than Catholic. In reality, Galante, Vollmer, McGrath, and Co. would like to usher in a "new" church, a new type of "catholicism." They insist upon wanting our churches open every day (which is already the case with St. Mary's Malaga and has been for a long, long time), but at every turn they seem to be eliminating priests by forced retirement, removal to other diocese, or to military chaplaincy. Nor are they promoting vocations to the priesthood, which was identified as a pastoral priority by the laity as a result of the "Speak Up Sessions." (So much for listening. Perhaps we should have a series of "Listen Up" sessions now, huh???) And yet they want to add paid "lay ministers," so surely whatever additions they wish to make to parish life, daily mass (let alone convenient daily mass) is not high on the list of priorities. Social activities of various kinds and daycare, though, seem more likely.
In such a sad situation as we currently find ourselves, the problem seems to be a lack of faith at the highest level of Diocesan "administration" (to call it "leadership" might be misleading). If one truly believes that Christ Himself is Truly Present in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and understands, at least on our limited human level, what graces may be received at the Holy Mass, they would be saying as many masses as they could, just as Fr. Romanowski and other good priests do. They would also be encouraging Eucharistic Adoration (which we have at St.Mary's four days a week), Legion of Mary, and other traditional Catholic devotional practices that draw us closer to Our Lord and His Mother. (Instead they promote prayers like these--scroll about three quarters of the way down and look for the italicized "prayer.")
We are reminded of an elderly and frail priest who once said mass at a wonderful church here in the diocese. It made many of us nervous just to see him process up the aisle, up the steps of the altar, or to the pulpit for fear he might fall. But for Fr. Kelly (eternal rest grant unto him oh Lord!), it was so clearly a joy and a privilege just to be able to say mass, and we think it's safe to say that sense of awe was clearly relayed to all assisting at mass. Perhaps it would be good for us to pray for the souls of all those truly devout priests who were circuit riders back in the early days of this country, who risked so much just to bring the Holy mass to Catholics in the New World and to found missions and parishes. They understood the meaning and importance of the mass.
Let us pray that the bishop and indeed all priests in the diocese may recapture that sense of awe at being in the Real Presence of His Majesty. May they experience the joy of bringing His Presence to the people! And may they again realize the Call they originally discerned when they entered the seminary. If they do, the problems we are now facing will indeed vanish and instead we'd see some real and positive change.