ROAMIN'
CATHOLIC
By Charles A. Coulombe
ARTICLES
LETTERS
NEWS
Contents © 2000
by Jim Holman.
All rights reserved.
ST. PHILIP THE APOSTLE, PASADENA
Good Music and Diversity
St. Philip the Apostle Church (151 South Hill Avenue, Pasadena) is a beautiful building. Erected during the golden age of church construction, it boasts a reproduction of the famed Disputation of the Blessed Sacrament over the altar, and a side chapel with golden mosaics.While the music stands and piano on the right hand side of the church warned that other Masses might receive less pleasing accompaniment, this Mass (November 5, 11 a.m.) featured an expert choir (in the choir loft!). The sanctuary party, made up of two altar girls, an altar boy, two suited lectors, and the celebrant, Father Joseph Moniz (the pastor), processed in, performing no genuflection before the Blessed Sacrament, which was tucked away on a left-hand side altar. The large congregation was chronologically and racially mixed and included one man in a skirt.
The lectors delivered the first two readings; the responsorial psalm and alleluia were chanted by the choir. Father Moniz read the Gospel, which dealt with the two great commandments of loving God above all things and our neighbor as ourselves.
In his homily, Father mentioned that these two commandments are quotations from Leviticus and Deuteronomy and laid stress on Jesus' Jewish roots. He explained the importance of love and communication in our lives and our relationship with God. Through this, the altar girls and boy chatted quietly among themselves.
At the prayers of the faithful, each petition was answered with a chanted kyrie eleison. The consecration saw Father Moniz wave the host and chalice successively at everyone, doubtless in an attempt to emulate Our Lord at the Last Supper. Afterwards, he bowed, rather than genuflected, to the Blessed Sacrament.
The Our Father brought forth a burst of hand-holding and arm-lifting followed by a vigorous kiss of peace period. The Lamb of God, while in English, was set to chant. Five extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist then appeared. Two took the Blessed Sacrament for distribution in the rear of the church, while the other three stood at the front with Father himself. The Precious Blood was not distributed, but the majority of communicants received in the hand.
The recessional hymn employed the tune of Martin Luther's "A Mighty Fortress is Our God," but with alternate words. After the sanctuary party had departed, the choir finished, and the audience applauded.