RE Congress in LA
  • Randolph Nichols
    Posts: 398
    Reading dotCommonweal this morning I was reminded that the influential Religious Education Conference is being held this week in Los Angeles. Looking at the liturgies on the conference website I noticed no reference to any music that would make a CMAA member proud. Perhaps I've misinterpreted what I read. Are any CMAA members at the conference? Any Californians with inside knowledge?
  • CharlesW
    Posts: 11,933
    It's easy to just dismiss it as a case of, how could anything good come from that place. But my experience has been that conference/diocesan type liturgies can often be the worst possible. There seems to be a tendency to appeal to such a broad base, that very few people are pleased with the result.
  • Mr. Z
    Posts: 159
    I almost went today, but wanted to preserve my breakfast, and besides, I decided Starbuck's to be a more profound and longer lasting mood elevation enhancement.

    Seriously, I have a friend "on the ground" and expect some reporting from time to time, but from the list of "workshops" and presenters, for the most part it is the same drivel, but, again, it produces a quicker diffused buzz than the Seattle based coffee grinder, hence I will probably not darken the door.

    The home environment (click below)of one of the presenters (keeps getting re-invited) - not quite the CMAA fare.

    http://www.npr.org/templates/common/image_enlargement.php?imageResId=5237503&imageStoryId=5237496
  • Mr. Z
    Posts: 159
    Again
  • chonakchonak
    Posts: 9,157
    What, no CMAA table there to sell Jeffrey's book? No chanteurs/chanteuses to give a workshop demo?
  • Daniel Bennett PageDaniel Bennett Page
    Posts: 833
    The annual round of comments noting (accurately and fairly) that the LA-REC prominently features heretical speakers and anti-rubrical liturgies is not unlike observing that every single issue of Hustler magazine features pornographic images. It is was it is and will continue to be that way as long as it exists. It cannot be reformed or made less offensive.
  • Felipe Gasper
    Posts: 804
    The home environment (click below)of one of the presenters (keeps getting re-invited) - not quite the CMAA fare.

    http://www.npr.org/templates/common/image_enlargement.php?imageResId=5237503&imageStoryId=5237496


    Wow....wow.

    You think you’ve seen it all, or least heard of it all, and then you see this.

    Anyone remember the big big puppet-costumes at the....was it Call to Action conference?
  • paul
    Posts: 60
    I think those puppets served a valuable purpose. Even the most ultra CTA member had to recognize how incredibly stupid and out of place those costumes were. That may indeed have been the impetus that caused the pendulum of liturgical reform to start its overdue swing in the other direction.
  • a1437053a1437053
    Posts: 198
    (I went last year, before I knew about Tradition. This year, new baby prevents me. Next year, full report.)

    This is from a chat with our Archbishop (http://recongress.org/chat2009.htm):

    (brace yourselves)



    #1. Arleen Goodman: How can we make church and the mass more appealing to this younger generation? My daughter doesn’t see the importance of going to church, and says it's boring. I try to set an example, but feel like I can't persuade them. What can I do?

    CardinalMahony: Arleen: try taking her to one of the Life Teen Masses, or a Mass that is designed for young people. Mass is always boring if we don't bring anything of ourselves to the Mass.

    #2. Ann Scolari: What are your thoughts on the Trindentine mass?

    CardinalMahony: Ann: The Tridentine Mass was meant for those who could not make the transition from Latin to English [or other languages] after the Council. But there is no participation by the people, and I don't believe that instills the spirit of Christ among us.

    #3. At Congress: Is it appropriate for those not receiving Communion to get a blessing in the Communion line?

    CardinalMahony: Absolutely, and a very large number of people do that all the time.
  • Michael O'Connor
    Posts: 1,637
    Do you really thing those happy CTA members thought they were stupid? I doubt that.
  • a1437053a1437053
    Posts: 198
    My message to the Archdiocese's newspaper, "The Tidings"

    -------- Original Message --------
    Subject: (Letter to the Editor) Re: Archbishop’s Chat at Congress
    Date: Sun, 01 Mar 2009 17:51:04 -0800
    From: ME
    To: MNelson@the-tidings.com



    I didn't know where else to send this so quickly.
    --------------------

    Arleen Goodman: How can we make church and the mass more appealing to this younger generation? My daughter doesn’t see the importance of going to church, and says it's boring. I try to set an example, but feel like I can't persuade them. What can I do?

    CardinalMahony: Arleen: “try taking her to one of the Life Teen Masses, or a Mass that is designed for young people. Mass is always boring if we don't bring anything of ourselves to the Mass.”

    Ann Scolari: What are your thoughts on the Trindentine mass?
    CardinalMahony: Ann: “The Tridentine Mass was meant for those who could not make the transition from Latin to English [or other languages] after the Council. But there is no participation by the people, and I don't believe that instills the spirit of Christ among us.”

    - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
    (Letter to the Editor) Re: Archbishop’s Chat at Congress

    Your Eminence,

    Does the Mass that Saints: Padre Pio, Maximilian Kolbe,
    Therese of Lisieux, Elizabeth Ann Seton, John Bosco,
    and countless others ATTENDED,
    NOT “instill the spirit of Christ among us”?
    Does the Mass that inspired both
    Karol Wojtyla and Joseph Ratzinger to become priests,
    have “no participation”?
    Do you mean that what was sacred then, is not sacred today?
    My family attends the Ordinary Rite (“Novus Ordo”) ever single Sunday,
    but we have a deep respect for the Extraordinary Rite (“Tridentine Mass”).

    Why, when asked, “How can we make church and the [M]ass
    more appealing to this younger generation?”
    (at R.E. Congress, nevertheless!),
    instead of answering, “Catechesis” or "Religious Education”,
    did you answer, “Go to Mass designed for young people.”
    Is not the Holy Mass the same everywhere and designed by God for all?

    Your Eminence, since I teach young Catholics at my parish,
    with all humility, I must ask,
    “Is this what we are supposed to teach our young people?”
  • Charles in CenCA
    Posts: 2,416
    As our metropolitan, I am embarrassed in extremis by not only the utter lack of honest thought and tact in the cardinal's response (which I've verified elsewhere on the net) but also by the utter lack of charity and the apparent disdain with which he holds both the Faithful and the sacred treasury of tradition.
    I am at least glad our parochial school staff chose not to attend LA this year, though that's little succor.
    Be interested in Dr. Paul's take on those "shoot from the hip" responses. After all, he has to teach in his seminary.
  • Mr. Z
    Posts: 159
    So nice that the teaching office of the bishop ($$)is taken so seriously ($$) by the same.

    Such erudition and of breadth of wisdom ($$), knowledge of history,($$) respect for the splendor that is and has been the Catholic Mass and to those so attached to it.

    How could such a wise servant find himself under investigation from the feds? I don't get it. Pray for him. Now.
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