Oakley’s St. Cecilia church, which has become a center of orthodoxy on Cincinnati’s East side under the leadership of its energetic pastor Fr. Jamie Weber, has produced a “Year of Faith Bucket List,” with 33 practical activities for parishioners. Although it includes some familiar suggestions, quite a few are very original. One that appears near the end got my attention: “Attend the funeral of a stranger (Corporal Work of Mercy).” Others are focused on Cincinnati: “Take time to pray outside the Mt. Auburn Planned Parenthood facility during the 40 Days for Life campaign for the end to abortion (40daysforlife.com/cincinnati).” They’re also sponsoring a 12-week study of Part One of the Catechism: “The Creed,” which appears to be part of an independently produced series. Although the Church’s liturgical New Year began last fall, parishes and dioceses would be wise to take advantage of the resolutions many Catholics make this month to give a “second Spring” to the Year of Faith. Kudos, Fr. Weber!
7 January 2013
7 January 2013 at 9:23 pm
That’s a rather daring suggestion, attending the funeral of a stranger. Very often, even if you know a person fairly well, people actually demand that you tell them why you’re attending a funeral Mass, especially relatives who don’t recognize you. (I could understand this if it were some kind of celebrity getting buried, but it’s usually just some person.) But fortunately, most people still have the feeling that the more people paying their respects, the better.
But yeah, I think everybody should have a few people attending their funeral. This is part of why funeral choirs and pallbearers and servers do an important service.
7 January 2013 at 9:54 pm
Many cultures, including Catholic ones, have people whose “apostolate” is attending funerals and mourning on behalf of others. I believe the Italians call them “miserables.”
The part that got to me was that the parish offers daily Communion services. One reliable source (that would be a priest of the archdiocese) tells me that they are not permitted, even though many parishes persist with them. Even if they were allowed, why would a parish with a resident priest and daily Mass, never mind “a center of orthodoxy,” also have daily Communion services?
7 January 2013 at 10:10 pm
Because “we’ve always done them”; they are a fact of life in these parts, especially for older parishioners who don’t want to hear that Father has a day off. It’s probably a battle Padre doesn’t want to fight right now.
Also, please note the frequent times for confession, Holy Hour every Wednesday evening, Mass in Latin … ‘Just sayin.
7 January 2013 at 10:31 pm
“Because ‘we’ve always done them’; they are a fact of life in these parts, especially for older parishioners who don’t want to hear that Father has a day off.”
Rich, we’re not exactly talking about immemorial custom here. We’re talking about something prohibited by the archdiocese (and thoroughly imprudent in a parish with a resident priest), but continued by defiant parishes. Besides, Father’s need for a day off, which was never in dispute here, would explain one Communion service a week, not six.
8 January 2013 at 5:42 am
David: I missed that it was daily, Mon.-Sat. — not good.
8 January 2013 at 12:24 pm
I saw somewhere in the Dayton area the other day communion service being advertised, I just can’t recall where. Give me a few days and it will come to me.