ROAMIN'
CATHOLIC
By Charles A. Coulombe
ARTICLES
LETTERS
NEWS
Contents © 1999
by Jim Holman.
All rights reserved.
In the Mood at Mass
Our Lady of Lourdes, at 10321 Tujunga Canyon Boulevard, Tujunga, is the church where I was confirmed in 1976. Attending the 5:30 p.m. Mass on Saturday, December 5 (the anticipated Second Sunday in Advent), I found that, unlike many churches in the archdiocese, two decades had left Our Lady of Lourdes unscathed. Still intact was the "crucifix" in the sanctuary, a sort of plaque of a beardless youth who appears to be swimming, in front of a bent wooden T. The backdrop was still a sort of brown paneling, and the holy table remained the block of concrete I remember. In front of the lectern, however, was a cloth in the unusual iridescent rainbow pattern often found on priest's stoles today.The church was about half-filled, with older Anglos and younger Latinos. The musical accompaniment was an ensemble of two guitars and a piano, with two young female vocalists in skirt suits. The lector, an elderly suited gentleman with a snow-white pony-tail, tried to evoke a mood in us.
In processed the sanctuary party, consisting of crucifer, altar girl, six eucharistic ministers (three of each sex), lectoress, and the celebrant, Father Blaise Brockman. When they came to the tabernacle, still in place in the center of the church behind the table, the group bowed to it rather than genuflect. Mounting the lectern, Father informed us that, while God is always with us, "coursing through our veins," sometimes he is not "as present, or proactive enough, in our lives." For that, he said, we say "Lord have mercy," which allowed us to segue gracefully into the Kyrie, which was done as spoken English verses with sung Greek responses.
The lector read the first reading, from Isaiah. In place of the responsorial psalm, the ensemble sang a hymn by Bob Hurd. The lectoress delivered the second reading, and Fr. Brockman read the Gospel. The sermon was unremarkable, save that the congregation were called upon to love.
The sacred elements were interestingly displayed for the offertory. The hosts, since there was to be no use of the reserved sacrament, were held in a sort of deep dish container. There were an array of glass cups for the wine, most of which lay in an iced tea pitcher. When the offertory finished, a guitar continued to be strummed as an accompaniment to the Eucharistic Prayer.
The Eucharistic Prayer used was basically the second, although Fr. Brockman would alter it: "disciples," for instance, became "friends." The congregation knelt during this time. The Our Father was sung, and during it, the audience held hands whenever possible. Particularly elaborate was the handshake of peace, with the priest coming down from the altar and offering his hand to everyone along the aisle. The Lamb of God was also sung, and then the crowd knelt again.
The six eucharistic ministers then came up from the front rows, and after the priest communed, received communion in the hand and drank from the cup. They then descended, along with the priest, to distribute communion. Most received on the hand.
Fr. Blaise then gave the blessing and rallied the sanctuary party for the recession. Bowing once more to the tabernacle, they beat their retreat while the ensemble played and sang a hymn. Once the sanctuary party had departed, the musicians continued to play. When they stopped, the audience applauded.