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Contents © 2001
by Jim Holman.
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ST. PASCHAL BAYLON, THOUSAND OAKS

Take More Hikes, Fly More Kites

The Catholic Community of St. Paschal Baylon, as its bulletin bills it, is at 155 East Janss Road (at the corner of Moorpark) in Thousand Oaks. The church is a modernesque structure, and the physical plant includes a hall and school. Construction on the 134 ensured that I would be 15 minutes late for the 10:30 a.m. Mass on July 22, 2001, the 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

As I rushed from my car, an older gentleman -- who had likewise just parked -- remarked, "I sure hope they give us our church back."

I replied as we walked, "What do you mean?"

"Oh," came the answer, "it's closed for renovation." He was not too sure on the details, but thought that they would be expanding the seating and adding a larger baptismal facility. In the meantime, he explained, Mass was being held in the hall. He pointed out that all five Sunday Masses are filled, because the parish comprises 4,000 families; about 10,000 people all told.

We entered the hall, which has been temporarily fitted out for Mass with folding chairs, while a piano, a temporary altar and pulpit had been set up at the front. The congregation of the packed, makeshift church was of all ages and primarily Anglo, befitting Thousand Oaks' status as a "white flight" community. The priest, Father Larry Neumeier, was preaching, while his attendant quintet of altar girls sat in their black cassocks and white surplices.

The Gospel, St. Luke 11:1-13, had dealt with St. Martha complaining about St. Mary who, instead of working, sat at Our Lord's feet. When I came in, Father was reading a very long poem detailing what the author wanted in his life -- to be more attentive to others than to himself, to engage more in leisure than in work, to pay more attention to detail than to rushing around -- in other words (as Father Neumeier repeated three times during the course of the sermon), "to take more hikes, and fly more kites." He went on to contrast the two sisters in the Gospel, saying that Martha's suspicion of Mary's "inaction" is a temptation we all feel, but that we must make time for our families and friends, and for God, whom we find among them.

Afterwards, three of the altar girls (one as crucifetrix) processed down the center to collect the bread and wine from a casually dressed couple, who presented them. The ushers in burgundy blazers with St. Paschal patches on the pockets collected the offerings from the congregation. All the while, the cantoress beautifully sang (accompanied by the piano) Anne Quigley's, "There is a Longing." The music of the Mass, incidentally, was provided for all on throw-away sheets.

The Sanctus was well sung by the congregation in Latin and English. While the priest prayed Eucharistic Prayer III (without altering the words), most of the people, deprived of kneelers, stood. I did notice one Anglo youth and a middle aged black lady kneeling.

All held hands as they said the Our Father. They prayed Agnus Dei, like the Sanctus, in Latin and English. The handshake of peace was predictably vigorous. While three extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist appeared to help with communion under both species, so too did a young priest. The cantoress and piano, meanwhile, led the crowd in Carole Browning's Latin and English version of "Ubi Caritas." Most received in the hand; some did not. A number of people left the hall immediately after communing.

Communion concluded, the priest made the announcements, particularly regarding the next week's sermons about the Benedictine life by a soon-to-be-visiting monk, and the special collection to be taken up then for the National Needs Combined Collection for the Catholic Communications Campaign, the Black and Indian Home Mission, Catholic University, and the Catholic Home Missions Appeal.

After the celebrant gave the blessing, he recessed with the altar girls, while the congregation sang Suzanne Toolan's "Bread of Life." When the song concluded, those remaining burst into applause.

After attempting (unsuccessfully) to find coffee and doughnuts, I proceeded to the locked church building. Although the glass doors allowed one to see the altar table in the now pewless interiore, there was no way to tell from there what the future holds for the building.

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