Bob Jensen

“During COVID, we may have
gotten use to letting others do
the singing for us. Now we
are called to reclaim this
important expression of faith.“
– Fr. Bill

 

Singing is the Sign of the Heart’s Joy
In the latest COVID guidelines, the Archdiocese is lifting restrictions on singing. Full congregational singing may return. We have been singing some of the shorter refrains and antiphons. Soon, the Assembly also will be invited to sing the entire Gloria, the entrance hymn, and the first Communion Hymn. Later we will reintroduce singing for the preparation of the gifts and the closing hymn.

“The Gloria is the ancient and venerable hymn in which the Church, assembled in the Holy Spirit, praises and entreats God the Father and the Lamb.”

Often referred to as “the angelic hymn,” the Gloria was first intoned by the angels from heaven for the birth of Christ on earth. The  loria is a true hymn. Its opening burst of praise overflows into a series of joyful cries addressed to the Father: “we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory.” The hymn goes on to sing of the mercy of the Son, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
By singing Opening Hymn together, we “foster the unity of those who have been gathered.” It may introduce a particular theme of the day and begins our celebration by praising God.

Another expression of unity is joining in the Communion Hymn. “Participating in the Communion hymn while the congregation continues to process and receive Communion is another important form of worship and source of unity”. The priest is part of that communion procession. You may have noticed that I do not take communion until the communion hymn has begun. The Communion Hymn show we approach the Lord together.

During COVID, we may have gotten use to letting others do the singing for us. Now we are called to reclaim this important expression of faith. God dwells within each human heart, in the place where music takes its source. Indeed, God, the giver of song, is present whenever God’s people sing God’s praise.” St. Augustine says, “Singing is for the one who loves.” Song is therefore a sign of God’s love for us and of our love for God. We are without hymnals so, when you see those words on the screen: SING!

“A daily Mass gives you thirty
minutes of peace.”
– Fr. Bill

Come to One of Our Daily Masses

One Sunday, a little child asked me what I did during  the week since the church was open only on  Sundays. She was a little surprised to discover there  is Mass or prayer in the church every day of the  week. I also do a few more things than just preside at  Mass, though that might be the most important thing I  do.

Did you know that St. John the Baptist Parish has an  evening Mass at 6:30 PM on Thursday? I am  presuming it is not in the forefront of most  parishioners’  minds since only a handful of  parishioners attend. I did an informal survey of  evening weekday Masses in our South King County  Deanery. In our Deanery, there is an evening Mass  every weekday. At those other parishes, the lowest  attendance was 35; the highest attendance was 200  (that was a Mass in Spanish). We get an average of  five to eight at our Thursday evening Mass.

An evening Mass makes it possible for many who are  still working to attend a weekday Mass. The majority  of those attending our morning weekday Mass at 9:00  AM are retired, though we do get some stay at home  parents as well as those who work a swing shift.

A daily Mass gives you thirty minutes of peace.  Our  lives are noisy and not because they always have to be,  but because we have been conditioned to need constant  stimulation. Our phones, iPads, and televisions usually win  the battle for our eyes just about everywhere we go, even  at the dinner table. A weekday Mass is a chance to  unplug. Go to Mass and leave your phone in the car, you  won’t regret it.

Daily Mass gives us an opportunity to restructure our  prayer life. Going to Mass during the week regularly  exposes us to new forms and focuses of prayer. The Mass  can teach us that prayer has a lot to do with being  thankful, with celebrating God’s merciful love, and with  praying for others. Daily Mass can and will improve our  prayer habits if we let it.

“Letting others know that you are
Catholic and the positive influence
this is for may be one way of
helping others find Christ.”
– Fr. Bill

Have you invited anyone to church lately?

This past year was only the third time in my 39 years of priesthood that I experienced an Easter Vigil without any baptisms.

COVID may have played a role in that. On the other hand, maybe the invitation was never extended. That invitation often begins with the average Catholic in the pew. You are the ambassadors for the parish and for the Church. Others, who may be searching for God, might hear in your description of our faith community or see in your manner of life something that attracts their interest or awakens a longing in their hearts.

When talking with relatives, friends, or neighbors, is there a way to share something you value about our parish or about the Catholic Faith? It could be as simple as sharing the parish’s value of caring for the environment or engagement in issues of social justice and compassion. Perhaps it is the experience of being part of a community that is important to you or the style of Catholic worship. Letting others know that you are Catholic and the positive influence this is for may be one way of helping others find Christ.

Sometimes a direct invitation can work. “I’m going to church this weekend; would you like to join me?” “Have you ever thought about becoming a Catholic?” You may be the only way God has to draw someone to the faith. When you see someone moving into your neighborhood, as you welcome them to the local community, might you ask, “Do you have a church community? Are you looking for one?” If they already belong to another denomination, you could still help them find where that denomination is located.

You may be the invitation someone needs to draw closer to Christ. Being that invitation might help you draw closer to Christ as well.