Category Archives: Parish Life

Disappointment

Posted on 7 July 2020 by

I was speaking with a liturgist colleague recently, sharing our experiences and perceptions of the return to worship. She has found the reopening with limits to be very much wanting. I shared the same. Certainly I understand intellectually the limits … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Liturgy, Parish Life | 3 Comments

Re-Closing

Posted on 6 July 2020 by

As my county looks to a delay in advancing through reopening phases, there’s not much of a liturgical difference between steps two and three. Still, we have an overall pause in progress west of the Puget Sound. Today’s parish wedding … Continue reading →

Posted in Liturgy, Parish Life | 2 Comments

Another Bump In The Road

Posted on 2 July 2020 by

We’ve breached the halfway point of the Christian calendar year. The young miss quoted me some social media thingy about a person who went into a coma on Christmas Day, woke up yesterday and wanted to be caught up on … Continue reading →

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Mass In A New Era

Posted on 28 June 2020 by

I think I have a better notion of what the celebration of Mass was like in the mid-60s. I’ve been peeking here and there at bits of livestreaming from across the Catholic world. We’ve completed two weekends of my parish’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Liturgy, Parish Life | 1 Comment

Reopening

Posted on 20 June 2020 by

We had our first re-opening Mass earlier tonight. We had some bugs, but it went okay. We were below our limit of fifty. I think we would have had room for eight or ten more people. Our mid-morning Mass tomorrow … Continue reading →

Posted in Liturgical Music, Parish Life | Leave a comment

Light Blogging Ahead

Posted on 12 June 2020 by

As my parish attempts to apply diocesan guidance, safety, common sense, and all with an eye to a partial reopening for Mass, my writing here may be less regular over the next few weeks. Some aspects have resurfaced: No fewer … Continue reading →

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Psalmist Orientation in a Time of Pandemic

Posted on 11 June 2020 by

Usually, my parish’s music ministry rehearses on Thursdays. Two sessions, noon and 7pm. In ordinary times (as well as liturgical seasons) it is a time of camaraderie, hugs, catching up, sharing life and faith, certainly. Today found us gathering for … Continue reading →

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If So

Posted on 28 April 2020 by

We’ve all heard it: If anyone was offended by what I did or said, I apologize. In our deeply litigious culture, this kind of statement is common. Especially from people in the public eye. Maybe they don’t want to get … Continue reading →

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At Vigil With Psalm 51

Posted on 15 April 2020 by

Another Easter Vigil first for me this past Saturday: playing and singing the fifty-first, which is the designated Scripture that follows Ezekiel 36:16-17a, 18-28 when baptism is not celebrated. I’m a fan of Tom Kendzia’s setting of this, led by … Continue reading →

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Scenes From Livestream Prep

Posted on 12 April 2020 by

You can check: the up-to-eight persons are distanced. Before Holy Thursday: And Holy Saturday, about EV-minus-20 minutes: It looked pretty bright to me, but the video/streaming crew brought in big-time lighting. I can’t watch the replays–my one flaw as a … Continue reading →

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Hint of Sun

Posted on 27 March 2020 by

Whoa! Hint of sunshine in the neighborhood today. I was up early, did some morning yoga–still a bit sore from yesterday’s workout which was mildly vigorous for an out-of-shape body. Continued with my morning routine of small breakfast, teeth, shower, … Continue reading →

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A New View

Posted on 23 March 2020 by

My parish has something bright on the horizon when we’ve passed the virus crisis. If construction continues close to schedule, we should be ready to move in for Mass sometime in June. Yet to arrive: the steeple, the crucifix, the … Continue reading →

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The Exile Commences

Posted on 15 March 2020 by

Here’s the Sunday morning parking lot at my parish: Way different from the norm. My white car, a priest’s blue car, and our faith formation director’s in the distance. You can see the green canvas-covered fence of our construction zone … Continue reading →

Posted in Ministry, Parish Life | Tagged | 1 Comment

No Mass

Posted on 11 March 2020 by

I was considering that producing weekly worship aids was going to be my task and possible headache in the weeks ahead. Word came late this afternoon that the archbishop has directed all liturgical gatherings to cease. Unexpected, but perhaps not … Continue reading →

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Hymnals In Storage

Posted on 11 March 2020 by

A new communication from my archdiocese “recommends” the removal of “music books” from the pews. Across the Puget Sound, they are at the epicenter of the earliest covid-19 outbreaks. In my discussions with publisher contacts this morning, I had two … Continue reading →

Posted in Liturgy, Parish Life | Tagged | 1 Comment