Ten-point plan for a better Mass

The discussion on liturgy should not detract from the purpose of celebrating Mass. Changing language, as proven over the past months, does not add value to the celebration, but perhaps what is needed is to remind ourselves why we come to celebrate.

I have participated in the Mass at different parishes and note with concern how the tradition is eroded through disruptive movement and unnecessary conversations.

I wish to suggest that a campaign to bring back solemnity of Mass be initiated. This might have the following ten elements:

• Encourage those attending Mass to arrive at least ten minutes before the priest enters the church. We must all remember that it is our celebration. Those who work hard preparing for the service are as important as  those who simply come to take part in Mass.

•  We are all welcome to the celebration. The rule should be for each one entering the church to find a place in pews close to the sanctuary. This way our church will fill from the front. Those coming late must therefore sit in the pews closer to the door. In this way there will be little or no disruptions from both the late-comers and ushers.

•  All must be encouraged to participate through singing hymns, praising and praying.

• During the liturgy of the word, there must be complete silence. All focus must be on those reading scripture, who should take time to read and practise before Mass. Readers are also homilists  and must be able to keep our attention captive. In this way we will be able to listen with our mind, heart and soul. The same can be said about the recent tendency to read The Southern Cross during Mass. All must be encouraged to give full attention to the living word.

• In addition to paying attention at church, we must all be encouraged to read the scriptures during the week.

• We are sometimes short-changed with the homily. At times it feels as if the priest has not prepared, especially when they choose to make announcements thus departing from scriptures. The homily must flow from scripture and be relevant to contemporary life.

• In some parishes, the procession towards the altar is not orderly. People move from all directions, resulting in long queues. Order must be returned by having people move from front to the back, row by row towards the altar. Where necessary, ushers must stand at the end of pews and control movement.

• People must be reminded about appropriate dress code. It is unacceptable for us to come dressed as if doing house chores or going to fancy parties with revealing outfits. Just as the priest chooses vestments in line with the celebration, so should congregation show respect for the celebration.

•  There are inconsistencies with regard to the significance of the water font at the foyer. In some parishes there is no font, or there is a dry font. Please, can we have uniformity?

l There is a tendency among some sacristans to disrupt the service through partial completion of duties resulting in trips to the sanctuary during proceedings. Advance and complete preparations must be encouraged. Trips to the sanctuary are disruptive and undermine the solemnity of the celebration.

Lindi Molefe, Northwold