ROAMIN'
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Contents © 2005
by Jim Holman.
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ROAMIN' CATHOLIC
November 2005

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ST. JAMES, REDONDO BEACH

Liturgy by the Sea

Founded in 1892, St. James, Redondo Beach (415 Vincent Street) is an old parish with a relatively new building (completed in 1961). The parish has an interesting history (www.stjamesparish.org/hmain.html), beginning with the Spanish land grant clan, the Domin guez family, which contributed much to the history of Catholic Los Angeles. The current structure is a large building, done in "Collegeville Roman esque," the stark though sometimes impressive style used in so many larger churches just before Vatican II.

The mensa has been pulled forward from the gradine of the high altar, but the tabernacle remains in the center (still, the sanctuary party did not genuflect but bowed to it). The side altars are both there, as is the modernistic baldachino; but the altar rail has been removed, although tiles differing from the rest of floor show where it was. The stained glass windows are all modern and quite color ful; those in the nave show the exercise of various virtues, exemplified in various ways dear to the hearts of folk in the Eisenhower era (a boy scout helping someone across the street, saluting of the flag, and so forth).

I made my way to St. James for the 10 a.m. Mass on September 18, the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Due to an accident on the 405, I arrived as Deacon Bob Miller was finishing the Gospel, Matthew 20:1-16a, the parable of the laborers in the vineyard. Somewhat to my surprise, the priest, who appeared to walk with difficulty, did not deliver the sermon. Instead, the Reverend Mr. Miller did. After commenting on the USC-University of Arkansas game the day before (and briefly putting on a Trojan baseball cap to show solidarity), he welcomed everyone back from their summer vacations. He went on to point out that his children had taken him and his wife to Maui for their own holidays, and they had had a wonderful time.

"Looking out over the terrace, we could see the beautiful Hawaiian countryside -- nature at its best. But turning the opposite way, to look at the television, we were saddened by the destruction in New Orleans and the gulf which was going on at that time." At first, the deacon felt a little guilty about enjoying himself while there was so much misery; but he reflected that it was God's will that he and his wife had been in Maui -- although this carried with it the obligation to help the sufferers.

This the deacon related to the parable of the Gospel, which calls for the faithful to accept whatever God has given them and not to look with envy at those who seem to be better off. We must remember, he said, "that God deals with each of us as individuals. Someone who appears to be poorer than us may well be holier -- even if they do not do what we do" -- such as having the same amount of money we do or going to church. He assured us that we would be surprised at whom we found in heaven.

Deacon Miller then conducted the bidding prayers, after which the children and catechumens were sent out. While the choir sang a hymn reminiscent of the style of the Carpenters (as, indeed, was most of the music sung), two altar girls, an altar boy, an altar man, and an altar lady, all clad in albs, went about preparing the sanctuary for the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The candles were lit, the altar cloths spread, the chalice and paten laid out. A couple brought the basket of hosts and ice-tea pitcher of wine.

The priest made his way to the altar and began the offertory while the choir sang mood music. Although glassware was used for the larger part of the offered wine, the priest himself had a metal chalice. After reciting the Second Eucharistic Prayer, the celebrant was joined in the sanctuary by an army of eucharistic ministers, who, with the deacon and the priest, distributed communion, following the singing of the Agnus Dei in Latin. The mostly Anglo crowd received primarily on the hand.

Among the announcements was the news that no coffee and doughnuts were to be served that Sunday, although regular refreshments would resume the following week. Following a round of applause for the choir, the sanctuary party, joined by a suited lector and a lectoress, recessed. Once they departed, the congregation enjoyed another round of applause. The priest left quickly, while the deacon remained to greet the departing worshippers.

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