Catholic/Protestant Post - San Antonio Cathedral Hosts Neo-Pagan Lay Liturgy

The Wanderer | May 20, 2003

[NYer]

A parody of the Mass was held in the newly renovated San Fernando Cathedral - the oldest cathedral in the US - on April 29, 2003 when a ceremony honoring the pagan goddess Sophia was celebrated as part of an ecumenical event for Catholics and representatives of varius Protestant groups sponsored by the Pastoral Summit.

Though the chief “celebrant” of this pagan liturgy was a nun, Sr. Martha Ann Kirk, the liturgy was “created” by Fr. Jake Emperereur, S.J., vicar and liturgist at the cathedral.

The pagan liturgy, officially called a “community worship service,” opened with the congregation turning to the baptismal font at the entrance to the cathedral.

After the water in the baptismal font was “sanctified” in the name of Sophia and Wisdom, participants in the entrance procession danced toward and into the sanctuary, sprinkling the audience with this water.

Next an offertory meal of bread and wine and fruits was brought in, and a select group of three women ritualistically set the meal on the altar. Sr. Kirk then appeared to “consecrate” the bread, fruit and wine, and a communion-like sharing was held in which the overwhelming majority of the audience participatd by breaking a piece of bread from the large loaves and consuming it.

After a short skit about Kind David and Sophia, the troupe held an exit procession.

The Pastoral Summit, led by noted Catholic author Paul Wilkes, a leader in the movement to establish a lay-run church, will hold similar three-day events in Indianapolis, and Boston in coming months.

The featured speakers at the San Antonio event, held April 28, 29 and 30, were Notre Dame professor Scott Appleby and Ruby Bridges, who, as a little girl, symbolized the integration of New Orleans public schools.

In Indianapolis, June 17-19, featured speakers will be Ken Fong and Fr. David Cozzens, while in Boston, October 6-8, the featured speakers will be Alice McDermott and Huston Smith.

The sponsor of the Pastoral Summit was the Lilly Endowment, and attendees for the summit came from across the US to learn and share information on what makes successful worship and parishes.

[Desdemona]

But then you knew that.

[american colleen]

Well, he posted a Protestant thread the other day (as in "where have they all gone") and it was taken over by Catholics.

He's like the one Protestant kid in your neighborhood. The token ;-)

[drstevej]

***No,your here for a reason.***

You are welcome to your speculation. I already told you why I post on RC threads, from this point on I am not concerned whether you believe me or not.

[drstevej]

***Did I say you were phony?***

Not at all. Just making it clear. Your prayers are appropriate and I pray in the other direction for you and others here. The Lord changes hearts and minds.

[Gamecock]

Doc, are you keeping a dossier on folks again?

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

It doesn't matter. Unprovoked personal attacks and thread policing are never okay. Steve is a friend. I like him. He didn't deserve that.

[american colleen]

LOL.... millenial this, preternist that, I can't keep up either!

arminian, preterist, tulip, amillennialists and postmillennialists, predestined (not the dictionary explanation, not that easy!), etc., etc.

And they say Catholicism is hard to understand!!!

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

Don't forget dispensationalist. I still haven't figured that one out.

[drstevej]

***dispensationalist***

Someday I'll give you a primer on dispensationalism. And I won't need Latin to do it!

[Codie]

You're proselytizing,of that I'm sure. You have nothing to fear from me.Do what you have to do.

[drstevej]

Believe me, I do not fear you Codie. Peace be with you.

[Codie]

Peace be with you as well.Were is Mom?

[drstevej]

Mom is posting more on another forum.

[Flora McDonald]

Walter Sullivan is a doozy alright. I'm still trying to figure out if my son actually received the Sacrament of Confirmation through him.

[Gamecock]

Someday I'll give you a primer on dispensationalism

Ping me when you do, I've been trying to understand it...

[Codie]

Tell her I said hi and the lights always on.

[drstevej]

In the mean time you might check out:

There Really Is a Difference!: A Comparison of Covenant and Dispensational Theology by Renald E. Showers [$9.95 on Amazom]

This is not an exhaustive study. It is a reasonably good survey. And with your PCA background (covenant theology) it does explain the differences.

Steve

[drstevej]

***Tell her I said hi and the lights always on. ***

Will do. No need to leave the door unlocked, however.

[Desdemona]

The Lord changes hearts and minds.

Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, who told me today to follow my heart. My heart is in Rome.

[Calvinist_Dark_Lord]

Doc, are you keeping a dossier on folks again?

As the new "Head Inquisitioner" under His Calvinistic Holy mackrel, the names are being relayed to my office for further "dispositon" of their cases.

Hmmm...i am visualising an industrial sized blender on low speed, and about 20 gallons of rubbing alcohol...Something about the size of of a large capacity paint blender...

Hey Steve, can i have some "personal time" with the cute middle aged redhead wearing black and purple? There are some new techniques that i need an experimental subject for, and i thought that she might be an interesting distraction for my "working vacation".