JANUARY 22, 2006

What time is Midnight Mass?" All through my sundry appointments as Pastor, I have made a joke of this question that invariably is asked at Christmas time. The reply I always thought was obvious: "MIDNIGHT!" Little did I guess I would have to back track this year at St. John of God and sheepishly say: "10 PM." Now is the opportunity for us as a parish to generalize on that for the whole year: "What time is Mass?" With the decision to alter our parish configuration, we must initiate a new Mass schedule. To recap, St. Mark Church will close and be marketed. St. Mary Church will become the core worship site, with Mother of Sorrows to be used as a "chapel" in conjunction with our youth and educational ministries. A new Mass schedule requires the permission of the diocese, and must follow certain parameters to be granted. Among them are these:
1. The number and timing must reflect the size of the parish community, with no proliferation merely for convenience.
2. Masses should be consolidated to promote quality liturgy, build up the sense of unity and allow for proper diversity of liturgical ministries.
3. Capacity of seating should be optimized. Masses with less than 50% attendance should be avoided.
4. Sunday Masses should be at least 90 minutes apart (I have upped this to 2 hours apart because of location.)
5. No more than one anticipated Mass per parish, and no simultaneous Masses to be scheduled.
6. Conflict in times with neighboring parishes are to be avoided
7. To these, I have added the requirement that the schedule must allow for one parish priest to attend or celebrate all scheduled Masses.
Given the fact that about 1,000 people attend Mass at our various locations on a Sunday, a strict interpretation of these norms would mean that only 2 Masses a weekend at St. Mary Church are necessary. However, I believe there are other considerations. This would be a minimal response with little room for expansion and evangelization. I therefore propose a schedule that would generally fulfill the norms, but give us some leeway for growth. I propose that St. Mary be the site of 3 weekend Masses: an anticipated on Saturday, and an early and later Mass on Sundays. However, I would also like to see the chapel at the school site used to promote and develop Mass for our younger people in CCD, the school and the youth ministry. I would therefore propose a middle Sunday Mass during the academic year on Sundays. Having consulted with the other priests and the Liturgy Committee, I have envisioned a winter and a summer schedule that would look something like this: From Labor Weekend through Memorial Day Weekend inclusive: Saturday: 4:30 PM at St. Mary. Sunday, 7:30 AM and 11:30 AM at St. Mary, 9:30 AM at the chapel at Mother of Sorrows. Weekdays, Monday through Friday: 8:30 AM at the chapel at Mother of Sorrows; 10 AM at St. Mary. During June, July and August: Saturday: 4:30 PM at St. Mary; Sunday: 7:30 & 10:30 AM at St. Mary. Weekdays, Monday through Friday: 9:30 AM at St. Mary. This would basically fulfill all the requirements. I know that there are many questions about the details, and that is why we are having a Town Hall Meeting on Monday, Jan. 23 at 7:00 PM at Mother of Sorrows before we approach the diocese about the change. If you want to hear more, learn more, advise and consult about it, come to the meeting. Then everyone will know "What time is Midnight (and every other) Mass?" Stay tuned.