Posted on 09/20/2004 9:11:36 PM PDT by Jeff Chandler
Life Teen Liturgy Experiences Changes
By Claudia I. Provencio The Catholic Sun
MESA — In “joyful obedience” to the Church, Life Teen officials say they will cease the ministry’s longtime trademark of gathering teens arm-in-arm around the altar during the Eucharistic Prayer.
The practice that has been a staple at Life Teen Masses nationwide for nearly two decades will cease Oct. 1 in compliance with the revised General Instruction of the Roman Missal.
The youth ministry will also refrain from using the phrase, “The Mass never ends, it must be lived” at the conclusion of the liturgy.
In a recent letter to U.S. bishops, priests and diocesan youth offices, Life Teen founder Msgr. Dale Fushek asked member parishes to joyfully comply with the directives in a “spirit of obedience.”
“Our understanding is that the sanctuary space around the altar is to remain separated from the rest of the assembly,” said Phil Baniewicz, president of Life Teen International.
The modifications are designed to enhance liturgical uniformity, he said.
In a video sent to 920 parishes in the United States and 50 abroad, Msgr. James Moroney, executive director of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Liturgy, said, “Life Teen is like a precious gem in the Church’s crown.
“But gems and jewels sometimes need to get polished and even have their settings rearranged,” he said.
At Life Teen’s request, Msgr. Moroney and Cardinal Francis Arinze, Prefect of the Congregation of Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments in Rome, provided direction prompting the liturgical changes.
Hector Cervantes, a core member for 18 months at the Life Teen hub, St. Timothy Parish in Mesa, said the cessation of gathering at the altar helps people focus more on the Mass and on the Eucharist.
Prior to the implementation of the changes at the Mesa parish Sept. 5, he said core members were “constantly having to make sure the kids behaved and didn’t talk” during the Eucharistic Prayer.
However, the 23-year-old, who has attended St. Timothy’s for “as long as I can remember,” said the modifications will take a little getting used to. “But change is always good,” he added. “So we are just welcoming it.”
Bri Morsa, a Life Teen core member at St. Gabriel the Archangel, said she heard no complaints from teens when the Cave Creek parish implemented the changes Sept. 5.
“The flow of the Mass hasn’t changed. The teens have responded in obedience,” Morsa said. “The change doesn’t affect them because that’s not what they’re about. What I see in the teens is that no matter what goes on, they are there for the presence of the Lord.”
Old habits may die hard, she said, but the modifications to the Life Teen liturgy didn’t prevent people from concluding the Mass with a “prayerful heart and a joyful voice.”
"As I recall, you said I was doing the work of Satan, and the Mod thought that was over the line."
According to the Religion Moderator, I was suspended by the Admin Moderator for "calling other posters Satan." I did not "call other posters Satan." Which leaves the question of how the Admin Moderator got involved in the first place. Of course, that's only a question to people who are not familiar with your MO.
"It was, and you know it."
Actually, saying that you do the work of Satan doesn't even approach any reasonable "line."
"As to being "falsely accused," your post was right there, for the moderator and everybody else to read."
It certainly was, nowhere in that post did I call another poster Satan, the offense for which I was suspended.
In all fairness to the Religion Moderator, while he does let you get away with murder, he did have the fairness to admit that my suspension had been bogus and to apologize for the unfair treatment.
Matthew 13:15 For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.'
Very few people, in this day and age have never heard of Jesus Christ. If the Holy Ghost calls them, they will know where to turn, and be healed.
The 'mystery' of it all is, that if you don't have it, it can't be explained.
>>Wasn't that you in the previous post getting off on the teen life members watching naked girls in their dressing room? naughty, naughty <<
Uh, no. Nothing of the sort actually. Wow, what the heck is going on inside your brain? You just Rorshacked yourself out to be jus this side of sex fiend.
For the reference, I was making fun of adolescence, when young boys, for instance, start noticing that they like it when girls where shorts. you come up with watching naked girls in their dressing room??? Wow. Based on that alone, I wouldn't let you near any adolescence. You need therapy.
where=wear.
Oh brother, my fingers aren't obeying.
Jus=just
adolescence=adolescents
I rescinded my words against Sinkspur and hastily apologized.
I am sorry to make you three peat.
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