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Contents © 2001
by Jim Holman.
All rights reserved.

I Don't Think in Latin

Readers Respond to Mission's Best and Worst Parish Survey

Editor's note: These are responses to the survey printed in the Mission Sept.-Dec. 2000. The order of the responses is random. Not all returning surveys responded to all categories. One respondent said he would limit his responses to the "Best" category, "not only because I want to emphasize the positive, but also because the candidates for 'Worst' are innumerable."

MUSIC

1. St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Encino, St. Charles Borromeo, North Hollywood.
"St. Cyril's choir features a 40-plus-voice choir directed by well-known organist and choral conductor, William 'Bill' Beck. Our Sunday noon Mass is as solemn as the Novus Ordo can be. We sing only the very best music, which includes music from the Renaissance, baroque, classical and modern eras. The male schola sings the Gregorian introit and communion each Sunday. We have several major choral events with full orchestra and enhanced choral forces throughout the year."
2. St. Charles Borromeo, North Hollywood.
"St. Charles Borromeo is well known. Its choir, of course, is directed by Paul Salamunovich, whose reputation needs no explanation. Their choir is first rate."
3. St. Thomas More, Irvine.
"At the 8 a.m. Mass, Steve Hagar sings like an angel."
4. St. Martha, Murrieta.
"Parishioners do all the planning there."
5. Holy Family, South Pasadena.
"Holy Family has a pastor with a glorious voice; the adult choir is superb."
6. Holy Family, South Pasadena.
7. Sts. Simon and Jude, Huntington Beach.
8. Holy Family, South Pasadena.
9. Holy Family, South Pasadena.
10. Holy Angels, Arcadia.
11. Christ the King, Los Angeles.
12. St. Norbert, Orange.
"The 9 a.m. Mass has excellent music."
13. St. Timothy, Laguna Niguel.
"...beautiful liturgical music at the 5 p. m. Saturday vigil Mass, with beautiful harmony and cool instrumentation (standard ideas, modern music)."
14. St. Cecilia, Los Angeles.
"The assembly is completely engaged and alive with song."


WORST PARISH

1. St. Thomas More, Alhambra.
"Choir director lacks creativity and freedom of expression."
4. St. Charles Borromeo, North Hollywood.
"The 10 a.m. Mass is a concert performed by the choir."
5. St. Kilian, Mission Viejo.
"It is only the worst when Father Jim insists that we sing in Latin during adoration and benediction. (I don' t think in Latin.)"
6. St. Brendan, Los Angeles.
"The cantor overshadows the congregation."

SERMONS

1. St. Dominic's, Eagle Rock.
"This is the hardest because I am rarely at another parish on Sunday. Based on weekday preaching, however, the best parish is St. Dominic's in Eagle Rock, which is also home to the Dominican Community. The Order of Preachers certainly lives up to its name. These folks are first rate."
2. St. Thomas More, Irvine.
"A Norbertine priest explains everything well."
3. St. Mary's By-The-Sea
"Sermons are very down to earth and practical."
4. St. Luke, Temple City.
5. St. James, La Crescenta.
6. Sts. Simon and Jude, Huntington Beach.
7. Santa Teresita Hospital, Duarte.
"At the second Sunday Latin Mass, Father Bishop gives reverent sermons in which he uses exquisite and poetic language, is thoughtful and well organized. His sermons are relatively brief."
8. Holy Angels, Arcadia.
9. Holy Family, South Pasadena.
10. St. Norbert, Orange.
"Father Joyce has very good theology-based sermons."
11. St. Timothy, Laguna Niguel.
"One priest there researches his topic, is concise, informative and entertaining."
12. Blessed Sacrament, Hollywood.
"The priest there is prepared and applies his message to the times."


WORST PARISH

1. Sts. Simon and Jude.
"It teaches other than what the Church teachings."
2. St. Brendan, Los Angeles.
3. St. Thomas More, Alhambra.
4. St. Timothy, Laguna Niguel.
"One of the priests drones on without much information."
5. St. Thomas More.
"The pastor sermonizes all during the Mass, not just during the homily."
6. (Archdiocese).
"Throughout the archdiocese, many foreign-born priests have accents that make understanding them impossible."
7. St. Gregory Nazianzen, Los Angeles.
"A priest there reads the homily."

INTERIOR ART

1. St. Joseph, Los Angeles.
"St. Joseph's wood work and paintings are inspiring."
2. St. Paul the Apostle, Westwood.
3. Sts. Simon and Jude, Huntington Beach.
4. St. Therese, Alhambra.
"...modern, yet devout; giving the best of old and new. It has chandeliers, stained glass, and marble altar rails!"
5. Holy Family, South Pasadena.
6. St. Joseph, Carpinteria.
7. St. Kilian, Mission Viejo.
"...has standard statues, a clean white background and embellishments."
8. St. Norbert, Orange.
"...is coordinated as a whole and covers the entire story of salvation"


WORST PARISH

1. St. Joachim, Costa Mesa.
"Colors are bad."
2. Holy Family, Glendale.
"...a mess, with sand and cactus all over the floor, conflicting colored paints on the wall, juvenile posters, and cheap artificial flowers. These stupid posters hang outside as well, no doubt giving passers-by the impression that Catholic congregants are fixed at the third grade level."
3. St. Charles Borromeo, North Hollywood.
"The interior seems unfinished."
4. St. Edward, Dana Point.
"Has only large, abstract tapestries."
5. Christ the King, Los Angeles.

ARCHITECTURE

1. St. Andrew's, Pasadena,
St. Vincent's, Los Angeles,
St. Basil's, Los Angeles.
"I think it's a tie between St. Andrew's in Pasadena and St. Vincent's, downtown. Not to be overlooked is the neo-primitive elegance of St. Basil's in Los Angeles. In their own category, however, would be the missions whose architecture is unique and constitutes a spiritual connection with the coming of the Church in California that transcends architecture itself."
2. Our Lady, Queen of Angels, Newport Beach.
"It is a very prayerful space."
3. Saint Mary's By-the-Sea.
"It is very simple and quiet -- dignified."
4. St. Vibiana's cathedral.
5. All Souls, Alhambra.
6. Sts. Simon and Jude.
7. Holy Family, South Pasadena.
8. St. Basil, Los Angeles.
9. Mission San Juan Capistrano.
"It has standard, classic design."
10. Padre Serra, Camarillo.
"Complete 'village' concept, integrity, and Indian motifs."


WORST PARISH

1. St. Joachim, Costa Mesa.
"...is stark, lacks thoughtful design, and is cold."
2. The new Los Angeles cathedral.
"For the amount of money being spent, it is ugly. St. Basil's is a close runner-up -- cold, impersonal, as devotional as an airport terminal."
3. St. Catherine, Laguna Beach.
"Looks like a refurbished railroad car."
4. Cathedral Chapel, Los Angeles.
"No altar focus, add-ons ruin harmony of structure."

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