Catholics/The Time After Mass

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Expert: Fr. Timothy Johnson - 2/11/2009


Question
Hi Father,
I attend daily Mass and every few months the priest will have the congregation perform some chore after Mass.  for example, today, after the final blessing, he told us to go into all the pews and insert prayer cards into all of the missals.  i'm wondering if this is illicit.  isn't the time preceding and following Mass a sacred time?  should we be pushed immediately into menial labor?
Thanks,
John

Answer
Hi, J.F. Byrne:
Thanks for the question.
There is no doubt that many hands make fast work.  It sounds to me like the Priest probably just needs some help every few months (which is not excessive) to get the necessary materials in place within the pews for the next few months.  As to the lawfulness of the matter, I doubt there is a specific law.  Certainly the time before Mass and following is supposed to be a sacred time for prayer and recollection, and thanksgiving.
What you describe is not what would be called the "ideal" - no doubt.  Nevertheless, I suppose if the Priest were to ask people to take 5 to 10 minutes, and then stick around to get this rare task done, he knows that many would just slip away and disappear.  It is not always so easy being a Priest or a Bishop.  Just think a lot of time all that they have to work with.  Maybe it would be worth sitting down with the weekday Mass group and sort through these very real concerns; but, then again, more often than not all Father will get is many nods and sighs of agreement, but practically nobody will follow through.

Fr. Timothy Johnson

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Fr. Timothy Johnson

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A Traditional Catholic Priest, validly and licitly ordained, incardinated legally and canonically in the Diocese of Fargo, and in good-standing with my Local Ordinary (Bishop) on active assignment at a rural Tri-Parish. I can provide honest and balanced answers to questions on topics pertaining to Traditional Roman Catholicism of the Latin Church (Councils of Trent and Vatican II)and a lot about the Eastern Catholic Churches, including the Sacred Liturgy, Sacred Scripture, Church History, the use of the Latin language, the tradition of Sacred Music, and current events in the Catholic Church from a traditional, historical and balanced perspective.

Experience

I have been ordained a Roman Catholic Priest since June 2001.

Organizations
Knights of Columbus; Church Music Association of America (CMAA)

Education/Credentials
Ordained Priest, 02 JUN 2001; Ordained Deacon, 27 JAN 2001; MA - Dogmatic/Systematic Theology; MDiv - Professional Degree from Seminary; 2-Years formation with Canons Regular of Premontre including studies and experience in Sacred Liturgy, Chant, Latin, Sacraments, Spirituality. BA - Scholastic/Thomistic Philosophy; BA - Liberal Arts; AA - General Studies.

Past/Present Clients
I serve 3-small, rural Parish Communities in Easter North Dakota
I converted to the Roman Catholic Church in 1981, at the age of 15. Over the years I have done work as an organist, cantor, and choir director for the Latin Rite (English & Latin) Mass (Liturgy of the Eucharist), and even for the Hours of the Divine Office. I have worked as a cantor for a Melkite Byzantine Catholic Church. Presently my pastoral and administrative duties as a Catholic Priest do not allow me as much time as I used to have to devote to Sacred Music; but for my weekend Masses and Solemnities within my Tri-Parish, I offer High Sung Mass in English. Weekday Mass is typically Low Mass (recited Mass) in English, though on occasion I will offer the "Tridentine Mass" in Latin, which I usually offer on my "Day Off", as well. And now, in light of the "Motu Proprio" by his Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI placing the extraordinary usage of the Roman Rite back into the mainstream of the Catholic Church, I have been offering a regularly scheduled SUN, 2:00 PM Tridentine Latin Mass with a community of the faithful that has a stable existence.

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