Posted on 10/26/2006 5:38:37 AM PDT by alpha-8-25-02
Syracuse (WSYR-TV) – It’s not often that Catholic churches turn into rock concerts, but that’s what’s been happening Wednesdays at St. Michael’s on Onondaga Hill.
Wednesday nights are revived thanks to a man who says kids relate to an MTV-style church.
Justin Fatica moved to Syracuse about a year ago with a challenge: to inspire Middle and High Schoolers to care about God and each other.
One day he wants to transplant the pews in stadium seating.
“I told people that and they laughed at me,” he says, “Even my bosses were like, you're going to get hundreds of kids here? I said, ‘God can make it happen.’ And look we've got hundreds of kids in one year.”
On that one year anniversary of Mega Youth, kids say they’ve changed.
Putting on the programs every Wednesday and bringing in acts is all paid for by the local Catholic high schools.
That's also who pays Justin's salary. But it's not just for one religion...it's meant for anybody.
Call it a gimmick, but when you substitute hip for hymnals, kids from Catholic and non-Catholic schools learn the words.
And their youth leader hopes the lyrics’ message sticks too, so he can attract thousands of believers he needs to fill a stadium he plans to build.
Justin Fatica is also working on a motivational book and a documentary on his work in Syracuse.
http://www.amazon.com/Ashamed-Gospel-Church-Becomes-World/dp/1581342888/sr=1-1/qid=1161866174/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-4012785-6502512?ie=UTF8&s=books
No flame detected, you're entitled to your position (and plz turn off the caps lock - looks like you're screaming).
With that said, our church started a contemporary music format for our 6pm Sunday mass (the "Youth" Mass) several years ago and it's been met with lots of support. Before that, we were losing our kids to a nearby non-denominational Christian church whose service was at the same time. They had a much more dynamic music program. But once the kids heard what was happening at our church, they started coming back.
Like it or not, many times it's about marketing. What ever would appeal to people enough to bring them in the doors to hear the Word. Several other churches in our diocese are doing the same thing - with the same success. We're not altering the liturgy, just enhancing it and bringing things up to date a bit.
All our Pastor asks is that the songs that we select be inclusive of the congregation - that all can sing along. THere is a fine line between worshiping and performiong. I play electric guitar and if I were to break out into some kind of lead solo, that would be performing.
As a Catholic, you know that our whole faith revolves around recieving the Eucharist. To me that's the most important thing about coming to Mass. To be in communion not only with your fellow Catholics, but most importantly, with the Lord through the Eucharist. If playing contemporary music will attract people to learniong more about theit faith, then I think it's a good thing.
FReegards
Pete
At the same time, the traditional classics should be kept too, the kids may not realize it at the time, but hearing those will someday be a comfort to them. I, personally, don't think a lot of that new stuff is going to hold up over time.
I know that makes me sound like a geezer saying that.....maybe I am becoming a geez. Oh well.
Plainchant is beautiful and dignified. And timeless.
Oh, I agree about the traditional classics. We have a relatively large parish which requires six Masses from Saturday evening through Sunday (including a Spanish Mass). Our 10 AM Mass is the one with the traditional choir and it fills up. And our choir sounds beautiful. The other Masses are generally served by a cantor and pianist/organist playing traditional hymms. So there is something for everyone.
I realize that not all parishes are as large as ours, some here in Florida are served by only one priest and have limited services. Each parish should examine its needs depending on who they are serving.
I agree with you also that stadium seating is a little over the top. I've been to a couple of large baptist churches in our area (funerals and other events) and they look more like auditoriums than churches. Not as warm or inviting as I would like. But - thats their thing.
I remember the transition to Vatican II (Yes, I'm that old) and I know that my dad and many other Catholics felt alittle disenfranchised over it. Change is not always easy and there are those who do prefer the more traditional - because thats familiar to them. BTW - I read recently where the Pope wants to start adding Masses in Latin again. I think thats a great idea, because I know some folks (my dad included) who like that.
Mass is NOT for entertainment and I detest youth folk masses.....it's just a meet and greet.
Well, looking out toward the congregation from the choir area where I play guitar, from my point of view I can see alot of youth/young adults being very prayerful and worshiping. No chatter among them during the Mass.
We were ALL prayerful at Mass once...we didn;t need guitars and tambourines......what are these kids going to do when they become adults, want Frank Sinatra type music at Mass???
LOL - I was just having an image of "the Chairman" singing in front of the church.
I don't know what they would want as adults - things will probably change some more by then. For the last five years or so there has been a growth in contemporary Christian music as a genre, so much so that the local Christian station here has been doing quite well in the ratings against the more traditional (secular) music stations. I think thats awesome because the message that they are hearing in the music is a positive and hopeful one. It also says to me that kids are seeking. They want more quality in life and they are becoming aware that the only way to live fruitfully is with the help of our Lord.
So, in a sense we are reaching out to them in a musical "language" they understand. And it's not like we're constantly playing throughout. We follow the liturgy as it has always been. And as I mentioned earlier, we are very conscious of not turning Mass into a performance. We know that its for His glory - not ours.
You are talking about Evangelicals....the Catholic Mass is SO much more than these services.....sorry, but the guitar, while nice, is not up to the glory of the Sacrifice of the Mass....and the kids should be taught about the REVERENCE that the Mass demands.
"We were ALL prayerful at Mass once...we didn;t need guitars and tambourines......what are these kids going to do when they become adults, want Frank Sinatra type music at Mass???"
Since you are an ATHEIST, why would you comment about Mass songs?
"Since you are an ATHEIST, why would you comment about Mass songs?"
Why wouldn't I? I'm also a musician, and have performed music in churches and cathedrals all over the world. I've played in orchestras which have performed some of the greatest liturgical music ever written.
I used to be a vocal soloist, too. I've sung in hundreds of churches, performing in Handel's Messiah, various masses by several composers, and have performed all sorts of sacred music for all sorts of occasions.
It's a fair question, though. I have a deep appreciation for the role sacred music has played in the development of music in the West.
But aren't we ALL evangilists? To evangilize is to spread the Good News. Christ told us in the last chapter of Matthew to go forth and preach the Gospels, baptizing those as you do.
As I mentioned in an earlier post, everyone is prayerful and reverent during the Mass. The music doesn't seem to detract from it. As a matter of fact, the music is Spirit filling. Certainly people are praising in a way that the Catholic Church hasn't seen, but it doesn't mean we are forsaking our basic faith beliefs. We are just praising alittle differently. But.....we are Praising. That's the objective.
Whatever.
GOD gave you a FABULOUS TALENT of Music , yet you DENY he exists??? WOW...you must not think much of your talent. Sad.
"GOD gave you a FABULOUS TALENT of Music , yet you DENY he exists??? WOW...you must not think much of your talent. Sad.
"
Never mind. My "talent" for music came to be after many years of teaching and thousands and thousands of hours of arduous practice. I inherited the basic "talent" from my parents, who inherited it from their parents. Without the rest, though, I'd just have been singing hymns in the congregation.
You presume too much about me.
Good for you MM. And good luck in your religion too.
I presume you are ungrateful....I think I got that right.
"I presume you are ungrateful....I think I got that right.
"
Nope. I'm very grateful. I'm grateful that my parents were also musical and that I got some of that from their genetic material. I'm also very grateful that they encouraged me to take those many lessons and that they were willing to pay for it.
I'm grateful to my oboe and voice teachers, as well. Their skills at helping me progress were invaluable.
I'm grateful to all of those who encouraged me to develop my skills, from teachers, choir directors, band and orchestra teachers, and others.
I'm grateful, too, to all those composers who created works I performed. Bach's B-minor Mass, in particular, is a work that still sends chills down my spine. The duet between the oboe d'amore and the contralto in that piece of music is one of the highlights of my performing life.
Music has made my life much more interesting and let me meet others who shared the same interest. I hope it also afforded some inspiration amongst the various audiences who heard the music I helped perform.
I no longer play, and my singing voice is not what it was in my youth. I would not trade the experience for anything.
So...contrary to your opinion, I'm very grateful.
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