When a priest begins his time as a new pastor of a parish, one unwritten rule or guidance that is recommended to such priest is try not to make any (or at least not too many) major changes for at least the first six months of his time in his new parish. Given my memory, I hope I followed that guideline when I arrived here at Sacred Heart Parish 12 years ago. In my 12 years as your pastor, I have normally sought the counsel of our commissions and/or some experienced members of our parish before making changes, especially if they affect more than a few people. Recently I asked the "daily Mass" crowd to give me their input on changing the regular daily Mass time to be earlier than what it has been since before I arrived here (though I am told it was 8:00 a.m. when Fr. Rossi, the first resident pastor of our diocese, was assigned here). I also consulted with the liturgy commission at it's recently held bi-monthly meeting.
We heard about the advantages of moving it earlier (either 8:00 a.m. or 8:30 a.m.). Perhaps the change in Mass time would encourage more people to consider coming to at least one daily Mass a week. For some people, having 9:00 a.m. Mass is doing it in the "middle of the morning" since they have already been up for awhile. For others, the current time is "too early" for their body clock to get going and get up here by then. As usual it is hard to please everyone.
An earlier time would, in fact, create more of a window for funeral Masses to take place at (10:00 instead of 10:30 or 11:00 as most of them are held now). An earlier time would probably alter the food served at a funeral reception to be less than a "luncheon" gathering which could be a blessing to our wonderful Ladies of the Sacred Heart Guilds whose membership has gone down as its members have gotten older.
I will share with all of you that, right now, I am leaning toward moving the daily Mass to 8:30 a.m. and if you have an opinion and reason for moving it earlier (to 8:00 a.m.) please email me as soon as you can (especially if you are or would consider being a lector, altar server or sacristan at daily Mass). I need to know from our current liturgical ministers at daily Mass if they have strong feelings about changing the daily Mass time as I count on them and appreciate the time they have been giving to their ministry at daily Mass.
Right now, I am looking to start the new time for daily Mass to 8:30 a.m. starting the first full week of September (5th-9th). I was so pleased to hear input from some of our current regulars at daily Mass that they will come whenever it is offered. Regardless of what time daily Mass is offered going forward, I will continue to suggest (and really urge) all of our parishioners who are physically able to come to at least one daily Mass a week. I can't help but think about some of our good Protestant brothers and sisters who go to services twice a week (Sunday and Wednesday) and most of them, sadly, don't have Jesus coming to them in Word and Sacrament at their worship services. We do, most every day of the year, "Thanks be to God".
We heard about the advantages of moving it earlier (either 8:00 a.m. or 8:30 a.m.). Perhaps the change in Mass time would encourage more people to consider coming to at least one daily Mass a week. For some people, having 9:00 a.m. Mass is doing it in the "middle of the morning" since they have already been up for awhile. For others, the current time is "too early" for their body clock to get going and get up here by then. As usual it is hard to please everyone.
An earlier time would, in fact, create more of a window for funeral Masses to take place at (10:00 instead of 10:30 or 11:00 as most of them are held now). An earlier time would probably alter the food served at a funeral reception to be less than a "luncheon" gathering which could be a blessing to our wonderful Ladies of the Sacred Heart Guilds whose membership has gone down as its members have gotten older.
I will share with all of you that, right now, I am leaning toward moving the daily Mass to 8:30 a.m. and if you have an opinion and reason for moving it earlier (to 8:00 a.m.) please email me as soon as you can (especially if you are or would consider being a lector, altar server or sacristan at daily Mass). I need to know from our current liturgical ministers at daily Mass if they have strong feelings about changing the daily Mass time as I count on them and appreciate the time they have been giving to their ministry at daily Mass.
Right now, I am looking to start the new time for daily Mass to 8:30 a.m. starting the first full week of September (5th-9th). I was so pleased to hear input from some of our current regulars at daily Mass that they will come whenever it is offered. Regardless of what time daily Mass is offered going forward, I will continue to suggest (and really urge) all of our parishioners who are physically able to come to at least one daily Mass a week. I can't help but think about some of our good Protestant brothers and sisters who go to services twice a week (Sunday and Wednesday) and most of them, sadly, don't have Jesus coming to them in Word and Sacrament at their worship services. We do, most every day of the year, "Thanks be to God".