ROAMIN'
CATHOLIC
By Charles A. Coulombe
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Contents © 1998
by Jim Holman.
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A Mass That Leaves You Clapping
St. Christopher's in West Covina, stark and functional in the early '60s manner, boasts carved stucco geometrical shapes studding the walls. An unused tabernacle remains on the altar; the Blessed Sacrament is kept in a large glassed-in side chapel, which I understand is used for weekday Masses. The stainless-steel altar rail remains intact, with its cushions, but is, likewise, unused.I attended the 10:30 A.M. Mass there on the first Sunday in Advent which, this year, fell on 30 November, the feast of St. Andrew. Advent wreathes set up at the far left of the sanctuary balanced the new plaster-imitation-stone baptismal pool at the far right. The congregation filled the church to capacity. For the most part it was made up of Latino and Filipino young people and families, with a few older Anglos.
Prior to the beginning of Mass, the cantoress emerged from the sacristy, genuflected to the empty tabernacle, and took up her post at the lectern. She welcomed us, and then rehearsed the responsorial psalm, set to a rather snappy tune, and "O Come, O Come Emmanuel." The pianist was very accomplished.
"O Come, O Come Emmanuel," which served as background music almost up to almost the sermon, accompanied Monsignor Schwehr, the pastor, as he processed in with three altar boys and one girl, and a lectoress holding the lectionary on high. They took their places, while Monsignor, a black-haired man with a neat goatee and beard tuft, attended to the lighting of the wreathe. We recited prayers in unison, while he lighted two candles.
The First Reading and Epistle were read by two different lectoresses, the latter of whom transformed St. Paul's exhortation "O my brothers," to "O, my sisters and brothers." A genuine Gospel Procession, complete with torches, followed the readings. In his sermon, Monsignor spoke of the need to keep Advent as a little Lent: to give alms, to pray more, to give up something, and above all, to strive mightily to keep Christmas at its proper time.
In the offertory procession, a couple came up with a single altar cloth, which they spread on the bare altar. Next came a lady with the corporal. Then came the large host in a basket, followed by a large pitcher of wine. At last came the money offering. All of this having been set up, an army of Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist processed up, and placed many empty wines glasses and ciboria of pre-consecrated hosts on side-tables. The priest then recited the Second Eucharistic prayer, with which the elderly Anglo lady next to me joined in (although quietly).
The whole congrgation, holding hands, recited the Our Father. After the Lamb of God, everyone knelt, and then processed up to receive communion. Once back in our seats, Monsignor bestowed a long blessing, after which the sanctuary party recessed to the tune of a spiritual which had everybody clapping as they sang it. After Mass, while most as they left ignored the glass-enclosed tabernacle, a group of people clustered in prayer around it.