"Dancing the Incense Psalm" Before the Pope
Could the "Break Dancing" Mass be Next!
Posted on 07/22/2004 12:32:08 PM PDT by Convert from ECUSA
The depth of your knowledge, personal experience and humble wisdom, are a refreshing adjunct to the standard posts from the majority of catholics - perhaps because we lack the experience of having traversed the road to Rome.
I am particularly impressed with your knowledge of church architecture, and thought you might enjoy a situation in which I am currently involved.
The Maronite Catholic Church I attend is housed in a small building, originally built by the parishioners as a shrine, adjacent to their church. Many years ago, fire broke out in the church and the building had to be raised. The community was quite small and with insufficient funds to reconstruct the church, they had the shrine dedicated as their church. It looks much like a Baptist Revival Church on the outside. Inside, the cinder block walls are covered with wood paneling; above are ceiling tiles, from which hang beautiful chandeliers. The community may be small but they are quite proud, and rightfully so.
Three years ago, a Lebanese born priest was assigned to the parish. Recently ordained, this was his first ministry. He asked the parishioners what it was they most wanted to accomplish, and they replied - a real church. He committed himself to their goal and together, they began to seriously raise funds. Initially, some of those monies were spent to complete the transformation of the shrine into a church. Once that was completed, they went at it heart and soul.
Then two years ago, they found a benefactor who committed a generous amount of money to the community if they could raise the matching funds. They redoubled their efforts but in the end fell short. Recognizing just how small a group they were, he gave them the full amount originally promised.
Using those monies, Father went out with a parish group, in search of an existing church. They found one, across the river, which had been boarded up for the past 50 years. The owners of the church had been given several generous offers over the years by commercial enterprises that wanted to tear down the church and replace it with a mini shopping mall. They wouldn't budge. When Father approached them, they cut him a great deal on condition that he maintain the physical structure of the church. They were less concerned about the religious denomination than over maintaining the church, for the purpose for which it was constructed - to worship God.
That is the background on this endeavor. I attended their Divine Liturgy in March of this year, felt truly called to the Maronite Tradition, and joined the parish 3 weeks later. Like you, I am still floating on air.
Two weeks ago, I had an opportunity to see the "new" church, when I dropped off a volunteer, a young man who want to convert from the Methodist faith to the Catholic faith. He went there to lend a hand with the tremendous workload of clearing out overgrown trees, shrubs, debris, etc. The actual church is one level up - the ground floor, originally intended to serve as classrooms and the like. As I made my way upstairs, I noticed the peeling paint and missing plaster on the walls. The church is old! As I rounded the top of the stairs and made my way towards the Sanctuary, I noticed the sign that had once hung proudly outside. It read:
Ohio Street Methodist/Episcopal Church
1850
The Sanctuary is magnificent! Wood ceiling, original, numbered pews, and an altar rail that surrounds the Sanctuary with some of the original cushions still in place on the kneeler! I encouraged the pastor (actually, Father was the 'Administrator'; as of tomorrow, he has officially been appointed 'Pastor' by the Bishop of the Eparchy), to complete the paperwork necessary to have the church placed on the NYS Landmark Register. There were many concerns, as they had looked into this in the past. Father intends to restore the church to its original glory; however, as a Maronite community, the Sanctuary would and should support the design elements of the Maronite Catholic Church. With nothing to lose, I called the Registry Office and today, one of their staff met with Father and a member of the parish council. The gentleman was so excited at what he saw that he now wants to bring his supervisor over to see it for himself. He said the church is Greek Revival and was most impressed by the fact that the Maronite community had retained the original pews, along with so many of the other original elements from this old church.
Father desperately needs monies to complete the transformation. If the church is approved for landmark status, the state will give him matching funds on past investments, as well as future ones. The meeting today was most unusual; normally, the Registry staff never leave their offices. They did so in deference to my position within the state and, as expected, were so impressed with what they saw. Please keep 'Abouna' (that is Lebanese for 'Loving Father'. You may recognize the genesis of this word: 'Abba') in your prayers. I will be over there on Saturday to take pictures and assist in completing the paperwork. Just down the block from our 'new' church, is the Ukrainian Catholic Church. They have benefited in the past from the same program, intended to retain the 'heritage' of older communities.
My point in posting this story is that while some 'churches' benefit from diocesan funds to hold 'frivolous' events such as the one depicted above, other communities, such as ours, are struggling to retain the rich tradition and heritage of our past, dating all the way back to the first Apostles. Archaelogical digs have confirmed that the first Maronite Churches were built on the foundations of Jewish Synagogues. To this day, the Maronite Church retains many of those design elements as part of their church structure, especially the 'bema', where the Gospel is proclaimed each week.
Clearly, any scene depicting Catholics having fun is naughty.
Wonderful post on the history of your new/old church building.
Much of our vernacular architecture in the Chattahoochee River Valley is Greek Revival - particularly public buildings and churches. 1850 is a good date for quality Greek Revival design (I'm sorry - I forgot - where did you say you are located? NY?)
I worked on an architectural history project back in the 80s on a Greek Revival church building in Alabama. Be sure to take lots of "before" pictures when the underbrush gets cleared away. Inside and out. Get closeups of any detail such as woodwork, window casings, etc.
Somebody also ought to research your tax and deed offices for any documentation of the church building. You may be surprised how much information you can get.
I know it's hard to turn aside from the hard work of fundraising and renovation to document this stuff, but it will be valuable later.
What a relief! If they're here, they are being very quiet about it. I'll have my Whack-A-Mole hammer ready if somebody pops up their Liturgically Dancing head.
No ... thank YOU for your prayers! This young man has a disability and is unable to work at the present time. And yet, when his disability check comes in, he 'proudly' places a certain amount of it into an envelope that he deposits in the basket that is passed each week. He also gives me some money towards the cost of gas for my car.
After two weeks of attending the Divine Liturgy at our church, he spent his disability check on 'Sunday' clothes. I didn't recognize him when I picked him up two weeks ago. He had his long hair shorn into a 'buzz' cut. He was dressed in a suit and tie.
He now refers to himself as "we" when talking about the Catholic Church. Father assured him and me that he is "welcome' into the Catholic Church, but it will take time and he must be patient. At first, I had reservations about Father's approach. Now, though, I see quite clearly that he is 'introducing' this young man, not only to the church but also to the 'church community'. Last Sunday, one of the children asked me if he was my son. I explained that he was a 'friend' who wanted to become a catholic. The young boy then assured me that this man was 'very nice', and he liked him. Out of the mouths of babes! The kids are the first ones to pick up on this.
Thank you for your prayers.
How sweet! We will certainly pray for this young man.
The new 'old' church is situated in Watervliet, NY, home to the Army's first Arsenal. Earlier this week, I went down to the City Hall and Library to research records. What a disappointment! Little or nothing from which to draw information. I did learn, however, that Watervliet was incorporated as a town less than 50 years before the church was built. The town then became a city.
The gentleman from the NYS Register did his Masters Degree on Greek Revival Architecture and has now taken a personal interest in the church. He pointed out that the foundation includes poured concrete and steel beams, something not consistent with 1850 architecture. He personally plans to pursue this thrugh newspaper clippings, over the next week.
Thank you for your prayers! Ultimately, if necessary, I can imagine Father removing the communion rail (it has never been used in the Maronite Rite), leaving the original Sanctuary intact, and constructing 'over' it, the Middle Eastern architectural style that befits Maronite architectural design. In this manner, he has not destroyed anything, thus enabling him to benefit from the pawltry funds provided by the state. Those can be used to replace antiquated windows in the lower portion of the church and the adjacent rectory. This church was built before electricity! That too needs to be addressed.
In the background of the Sancturary, are the remnants of a magnificent pipe organ. The organist has already explored these and discovered that the cost of rehabilitating them is prohibitive. Perhaps, between the fundraisers and he state funding, some monies can be alocated for this endeavor.
The stained glass windows are, for the most part, still intact. They are 'Victorian' in design (at least that is what I have been told). They also bear the names of the families who donated them to the Methodist/Episcopal Church. With time, the parish plans to replace them with stained glass windows of 'our' (the Maronite) saints - St. Charbel, St. Rafqa, St. Nimatullah, St. Maron, St. John Maron. It is a natural evolution of a church from one denomination (Metodist/Episcopal) into another (Maronite Catholic). Right now, the 'fly in the ointment' is the Sanctuary and its future design. The Registry wants to see that design before voting on the approbation of monies towards the church.
I have every faith and confidence that St. Charbel, whose feast we celebrate tomorrow, will guide us through this process.
Thank you, AnAmericanMother, for your ongoing testimony of what drove you to the Catholic Church. May our Lord and His Blessed Mother, bless you abundantly as you continue your journey of faith.
Also, I want to contribute something to St. Ann's so Abouna can continue the work on restoring the Church. Would you post the address or freepmail me?
LOL, that is a cute baby. I wish the show-offs at the church were as cute as that baby.
And as quiet!
Looks like they have their "rainbow" thing going on there. YUK!
Whack-A-Mole hammer! I LOVE it!! You're a lady after my own heart! You go, sister! Three cheers for you!
Good for you! The "priests" and "bishops" that tolerate, if not actually encourage this stuff understand one thing very clearly....the pocketbook! As Mother Angelica puts it "no doctrine, no dollars!"
Where are the New Age Catholic apologists to defend this stuff?
Liturgical dance, which is neither, ....
I found a few things for and against. Keep Pepto handy, the reports by Cathoics of what goes on in the carpetbagger places is an eye-opener.
http://www.jesuit.org/sections/sub.asp?SECTION_ID=189&SUBSECTION_ID=523&PARENT_ID=234
http://www.cathnews.com/news/310/98.php
http://catholiccitizens.org/press/contentview.asp?c=17558
http://catholiccitizens.org/press/contentview.asp?c=13024
http://catholiccitizens.org/press/contentview.asp?c=12772
http://catholiccitizens.org/press/contentview.asp?c=8635
http://www.triumphcommunications.net/3liturgicaldance.html
http://www.dignitygc.org/Photos/NationalConvention2003/Page0.htm
(Have Tanqueray chaser in hand "Dignity photo apologia!" Not for those of weak livers!)
http://www.rpinet.com/ml/3103wt.html
"Dancing the Incense Psalm" Before the Pope
Could the "Break Dancing" Mass be Next!
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