Expert: Fr. Timothy Johnson - 2/8/2008

Question
QUESTION: We attended a family Advent Mass/celebration and a Lent Mass celebration is just around the corner. The Sunday Mass was held in the gym rather than the Church, a story teller read books during the first half of the homily and then the families broke up into groups to complete a craft project.  We then came back together for the remainder of Mass.  I had a very difficult time with the whole experience.  Our Pastor and DRE planned the event and got positive feedback from most parishioners and saw the experience in a very positive light. Can you give input and suggestions.  We live in a very liberal diocese and our Pastor does not look at the Church hierarchy and any "rules" in a favorable light.

ANSWER: Hi, Sue:
Thanks for the question.
It certainly strikes me as strange that anyone would choose to hold Mass in a gymn when there is a church building in the Parish, dedicated or consecrated for that very purpose.
Off the top of my head, it seems like I came accross a Church Document that addresses this matter of breaking up parts of the Mass, and states that this ought not to be done.  I can look into the matter a little more, and if I find the relevant source, I will post an addition to this answer with the reference and paragraph...
Lastly, I am sorry that your Pastor does not appreciate his role of having been ordained to be a "co-worker" with the Bishop in receiving and passing on the Tradition of the Holy Catholic Faith in doctrine and liturgical practice.  I find it hard to look at the "rules" that such individuals arbitrarily impose upon others around them through the "dictatorship of relativism", rather than being servants of true and authentic practice and discipline, defined and set by the authority of the teaching hierarchical Church that Christ established.

Fr. Timothy Johnson

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QUESTION: Thank you, Fr. Timothy.  If you have any further information regarding Church documents and breaking up parts of the Mass or even in regards to Mass occurring in sacred space, it would be appreciated.

I have an additional question regarding scripture.  I recently attended a session at our parish on Evolution and the Bible.  The priest stated that the Old Testament stories are myths, "but myth in a good sense".  He said that all cultures need myths and many of ours are based on Greek and other myths. Adam was not a real person, but Adam' is Greek for humanity. He also said that Moses was a real person and a real myth.  When asked if the New Testament was then also a myth, because the Gospel writers based their writings on the myths of the Old Testament, the priest responded this is correct.  Help me to understand this?   
Thank you and God Bless-
Sue

ANSWER: Hi, again, Sue:
I am sorry that I cannot help you understand just what this Priest was trying to propose, as I do not understand when this is done.  It is really best to avoid the use of the term myth, even in a "good sense" because of the popular understanding of that term meaning "made up story, fable, fiction."
Adam was a REAL person.  His name does mean "man"; but he existed as the first man God created.
Pope Pius XII wrote an Encyclical Letter on such matters that was called "Humani Generis."  You ought to look it up and read it.
From what you describe, the Priest seems to be a Modernist.  This was condemned by Pope St. Pius X in his Encyclical Letter "Pascendi Dominici Gregis".  You ought to look this one up and read it, too.
Hopefully these two saintly Popes can help you far more deeply if you study their writings than I can in a short Q & A Format.
+ God bless you!

Fr. Timothy Johnson

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QUESTION: Dear Fr. Timothy-
Does a child receiving his/her First Holy Communion for the first time have to receive the Eucharist within his/her own parish?  Is their any Church rubrics/Canon Law that clarifies this?
Thank you and God Bless
Sue Mattina

Answer
Hi, Sue:
Thanks for the question.
Under usual and normal circumstances a child will most probably receive his/her First Holy Communion at the Parish Church; however, people move around, and there could be other factors that would have the effect of the child receiving First Holy Communion apart from the home Parish.
I had a case myself once where a family wished to have their child receive First Holy Communion at an authorized Tridentine Mass Church out of state (this was back in the Pre-Motu Proprio Days, not so very long ago).  I only advised them that it was VERY IMPORTANT to make certain that notice of the First Communion be given to the Church of Baptism, though even that is not absolutely required.  At the least the Church where the First Communion takes place should hopefully have a "First Communion Register" indicating when this took place, and a list of those who received.
It seems that the only sacramental and other notifications that are absolutely required are:

In Baptismal Register - Baptism, Confirmation, Marriage, Holy Orders, or Religious Profession.

In Death Register - Name of deceased, and where buried.

By the way, I just looked for more concerning the situation of where the Holy Eucharist is to be celebrated, from "Liturgicae Instaurationes" (1970):

9. The Eucharist is celebrated as a rule in a place of worship.[34] Apart from cases of real need, as adjudged by the Ordinary for his jurisdiction, celebration outside a church is not permitted. When the Ordinary does allow this, there must be care that a worthy place is chosen and that the Mass is celebrated on a suitable table. If at all possible, the celebration should not take place in a dining room or on a dining-room table.

Have not found the specific reference about "splitting off" the Liturgy of the Word from the rest of Mass yet.

Fr. Timothy Johnson