If you're in a suburban parish, new to the job, and value being employed, you'll let it be. If you're responsible for directing it, and this wasn't clear in your job interview, explain that this "style" of music isn't your strength and find a volunteer who would be willing to "ride herd" on the group. If it was clear, and you fixed in your mind that this was the first thing you'd tackle, this will be the ditch you die in, and it won't be pretty.

Jeffrey Tucker has addressed the question of different music at different Masses, and it would be well worth reading up on his philosophy. The "infiltration" idea will likely be met with suspicion and resistance, especially if you're known to be an advocate for chant, polyphony and organ music.

You will find in the long run that if you resign yourself to "peaceful coexistence" with the group and focus on developing other groups that study and sing chant and polyphony, you'll get a lot further along and survive better than if you agitate against it, as much as it may drive you nuts. Also, in taking the "support" route, people will hail you as "pastoral" for your support of "diversity" in the parish.

David, can you remind me/us where Jeffrey has written about the "different music at different Masses" matter?

I have friends who grew up with this LifeTeen. (they told me.) They are very active in our church, and they are the ones set up the giant big drum set in the sanctuary and practice loudly in the church before Mass every Sunday. (Thank God, it finally got moved.)
Sorry, I truly hope LifeTeen does better than this.

Successful, how? Of course the music was dignified, fantastic, etc. But did the teens in attendance come away wanting more? Did they come away with even a bit of skepticism of the rock'n'roll approach to liturgy?

They went away saying wow that was cool. They would probably the say the same if we were a rock band

Yup.

No, I don't think so. We left after Mass.

There we go.

Lifeteen came here about 5 years ago as a way of reviving the youth group. At first a resisted but after parents of the teens begged me, I agreed to help. I figured I could use the Lifeteen Music as a starting point and then introduce music more apropriate to the Mass. The teens were fine with this but boy did the adult leaders kick up a fuss. They of course had been to Arizona for the special traing camps that are put on for Lifeteen leaders. It always seemed to me to be more like brainwashing. What I figured out is Lifeteen is a business that want to squash all competition, nothing out side of the lifeteen brand is allowed. Our youth group, years ago, used to go to things like, World Youth Day, and pilgrimages to Rome. No more its Lifeteen Camps and Lifeteen events only.

This is my main concern, it feels like Brainwashing. The teens are members of Lifeteen first, Catholicism takes a distant second.

I'm concerned.
Robsc

Rob, I can definitely see what you're saying about the kids being members of lifeteen first, and then the Church second; I've never thought about it like that.
Here in Columbus (OH) there are a few parishes that use lifeteen, and it is almost more about the brand than anything else. I've been in youth ministry for about 6 years and would never ever use lifeteen, because honestly I think it's a way for youth ministers to be lazy, everything comes pre-packaged for you, literally, in a box!

And it's a funny thing about your story, go figure it's the adults who are putting up the fight. I think this is the story across the country, and in many parishes.

The think the lazy angle is correct. Also, Lifeteen enables parishes to get away with not paying for a real credentialed Youth Director. Why pay for some one who spent 4 years in a University to get a degree in youth ministry when you can send somebody to Lifeteen training camp for a week and pay then nothing?

I'm toying with the idea of sending that link on the founder of Lifeteen to my pastor. I wonder if he knows about it.

Robsc

Matthew, I'm a member at St. Patrick's currently. But previously did attend Holy Name for a couple years, as I lived across the street from it.

But there are a couple parishes with Lifeteen, in Grove City and in Sunbury; and they tried to do a diocesan wide monthly youth event the past couple years, with not much success.

And Rob, I think the deal with the Lifeteen founder is kind of a mute point really. And there's two narratives going on really with him. Recently the allegations of sexual misconduct against him were legally dismissed, so that in itself can be forgotten about, I think at least? But the other narrative is him becoming a schismatic and starting his own church, not good. Now, I will say that his actions are not completely a mute point, because as the founder, his actions must have some effect on the ministry. But he has not been involved with them for over 5 years and Lifeteen has totally broken off any sort of connection with him. I know some of the men in leadership there, and they are stand-up men of God.

Bottom line is that when we try to emulate the "style" of Protestant megachurch, we cannot help but be influenced by its theology. The style is linked to theology just as chant is linked to Catholic theology. I really do believe this. I remember telling a former boss that we cannot compete with the megachurches on their turf. We have appeal to Catholics with Catholic things.

we cannot compete with the megachurches on their turf. We have to appeal to Catholics with Catholic things.

Hear him, hear him (hammers table, passes port)

You would think, given the popularity, of the Lifeteen movement a little more oversight from the US Bishops would be in order.

Rob

8/8/10

I am new to this forum and I Just came across this "Life Teen" discussion. As background to this question, I prefer the Tridentine Mass and am a fan of sacred music associated with the Latin Mass. Each time I run across the Life Teen subject, it seems to be shrouded in controversy. I know little about it. Could someone explain the pros & cons of this organization?

I ask the question because I am working on a teen-young adult, music-based, evangelization project which stresses orthodoxy and faithfulness to the Magisterium. The principle focus of our ministry is the advancement of the Culture of Life by the promotion of authentic Catholic family values to today’s youth. We are looking for ways to reach young people with non-rock type music. This is an independent apostolate and not associated with any particular parish.

I am also wondering if I should avoid contacting "Life Teen" Parishes? Any ideas of comments would be appreciated.

JB
olswa@sssnet.com

I think it depends on the parish. A parish that is already "unorthodox" will most likely take some of the negative aspects of LT to their furthest degree... But a parish that is already pretty solid in its faith can utilize LT as the basis for a really great high school youth program.

I'm not too familiar with some of the offical directions of LT, I only know what I personally experienced at the parish I grew up, which was a very excellent and orthodox parish. (I have heard it claimed that this particular parish has the highest number of seminarians in the western hemisphere!)

For example, (back before I cared about things like this,) the teens were invited to stand around the altar...but as soon as it was pointed out that this was innappropriate, that was stopped.

I'm not sure if the LT affiliation requires a certain type of music or anything, but I'm sure we all have an idea of what sort of music IS used at most LT Masses, but I'm not convinced that this is necessarily a bad thing. I'm sure that many people on this forum will strongly disagree with me--but I speak from PERSONAL experience as I firmly believe that my high school involvement in this parish's unusually excellent LT program was quite formative and positively influential in my spiritual journey, and here I am now!!--so I do believe that this can be a positive step, especially for high schoolers who (I believe) may need or desire a worship/Mass experience that is perhaps more "emotional" than would otherwise be appropriate. I am not sure that if chant had been forced down our throats at LT we would have been enthralled or inspired.

I also don't know if this is particular to the parish that I was at, or if this is common to all LT programs, but Eucharistic Adoration as well as things like "having a personal relationship with Jesus" (which I think is very unfortunately lacking from many "traditionalist" parishes!) were also very prevalant in my LT experience.