ROAMIN'
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2003 ROAMIN' CATHOLIC
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Contents © 2002
by Jim Holman.
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ST. ANTHONY'S, LONG BEACH

Mass and Menudo

Boasting such sights as the R.M.S. Queen Mary, the city of Long Beach deserves stately places of worship. One such is St. Anthony's at 540 Olive Avenue. A grand structure of eclectic but basically German-style Romanesque, the church's façade boasts a mural of the Assumption of Our Lady, done in the stylized Beuron manner. Inside, the church, the tabernacle still adorns what was the high altar; the altar table, once the mensa of the high altar, has been brought forward; the altar rail has been only slightly mutilated, with only its front gate removed. The church's interior features a number of side chapels, and the Sacred Heart and Lady altars in the sanctuary remain more or less intact. So impressive is the building that Cardinal Mahony denominated it a shrine church for the 2000 Jubilee.

On March 16, 2003, I attended the Mass at St. Anthony's for the Second Sunday in Lent. The congregation of older Anglos, and Hispanics and Filipinos of all ages loosely filled the church. Prior to the beginning of the Mass, the choir directress informed us that this Mass would premier the children's choir, which a musical ensemble of piano, drums, and guitars (assembled in front of the Lady Altar) would accompany.

The celebrant, Pastor Emeritus Ernest Gualderon, processed in with a lectoress in skirt-suit, a lector in a suit, four altar boys in cassock and surplice, and a crucifer. As throughout the Mass, the children sang energetically, if rather shrill and flat.

Father Gualderon led us in the confiteor, and we sang the Kyrie in English. The lectoress read the first reading, Genesis 22:1-2, 9-13, 15-18, which speaks of Abraham's attempted sacrifice of his son Isaac. The lector followed with the second reading, Romans 8:31b-35, 37, in which St. Paul asks, "if God is for us, who can be against us?" Then Father Gualderon mounted the pulpit, reading the Gospel, Mark. 9:2-10, the account of the Transfiguration.

In his sermon, Father told of his visit to Mt. Tabor, in the Holy Land, where the Transfiguration occurred. He pointed out that each of us receives in our lives little revelations of Christ's divinity, to which each must respond by abstention from sin and by following Him. Gualderon also spoke of Lent and the need to sacrifice, in emulation of Abraham.

The youth choir sang during the offertory, and the priest used Eucharistic Prayer I, the Roman Canon. At communion, six eucharistic ministers appeared and formed stations in the middle of the nave and near the sanctuary. A number of the communicants genuflected and received on the tongue. After communion, the children and the ensemble (now increased by one young violinist) performed, "Jesus Loves the Little Children." The juxtaposition of modern song with orthodox sermon at St. Anthony's was reminiscent of Masses of the late 1960s and '70s. This impression was reinforced by the choir and ensemble's penultimate tune, "They'll Know We Are Christians," a stand-by of the 1960s. But in a nod to 21st century sensibilities, this old favorite was reinforced with a reggae backbeat.

After reading announcements and giving the blessing, the priest recessed with the sanctuary party. The little ones were applauded, after which most of the congregation adjourned to the plaza outside, where, not only doughnuts and coffee awaited us, but bowls of steaming menudo.

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