Parish difficulties

[oopsorganist]

This is a very sad post.

We have some parishioners who used to "choose the hymns" and were generally known as the "song group". Last Easter they fell out with the PP over the Easter Triduum Music. He said that he did not want a few people to do all the jobs in the church and that they could not do reading, sing, be the Parish Council and be Eucharistic Ministers too. At a meeting after Easter some of these bods asked that the PP not be involved in the music for the Mass at all and at that point myself and the other musician "resigned" as we think it is our job to support the PP. As a result these people left the parish but came back occasionally when it was their turn to do the readings! They are also all commissioned Eucharistic Ministers. Now the PP decides on the music with the three of us left advising him (having undertaken training and using the SSG planner).

At the vigil Mass on Saturday pm I have heard that some of these bods have returned and are playing tricks on the PP. One lady puts out the wrong Altar book or opens it to the wrong page. She will not let anyone else start the hymns and will start after our cantor if he is there, in another key and tempo. This week they took down the PP's hymn choice and replaced the hymns. It took me ages to find the number box this morning as they had left it in the benches! PP was very upset this morning and asked me to leave hymn numbers for next week.....they justify their actions by saying that he has not chosen to fit the liturgy/ readings! True he does not, but he does fits time and place in the Liturgy well. Two of them are on the parish council and they say the the PP is just a "caretaker" and that it is up to them to choose the music.

I plan to go and accompany this service next Saturday to give him support but I am very upset about this. The thought of yet another show down with these rather aggressive people is making me shakey. They used to lead the singing and now they cannot adjust to changes in what happens in the music.

On the positive side, we learned the Gathering Mass Holy Holy before today's Mass and then sang it during the service and the singing was hearty throughout Mass. The naughty gang were not there and the singing was better from the congregation.

Any ideas? I see a lot of grief in something that should be restorative and Wholesome and represent Gospel Values in action, enhance the Liturgy not give me a nervous breakdown.

[VML]

The first thing to do is pray.
I was taught a little prayer by a nun training us for Confirmation:
Come Holy Spirit, enlighten my mind and make me brave.

Your PP is right: Each person should only undertake one ministry at Mass under normal circumstances. If he is trying to encourage others to come forward in the various ministries, and some peoples noses are put out of joint, then it says much about their attitude to the service of God and the Church.

Hang on in there,
V

[dunstan]

oops,

That's one of the saddest things I've read in a while, and the breakdown of human love and respect in such a context is upsetting, even to someone whose only involvement is having read your post.

Elsewhere our diocesan director of music has written on precisely the point you raise: that following a "lesson planner" based solely on the liturgy of the word week by week is not sufficient - there is also an imporant place for music which is directly relevant for the point in the mass at which it is included.

VML is right that you must pray for the inner stregth to calmly but confidently express your position, one of absolute integrity and respect for both the office of Parish Priest and the individual holding that office. You should also ake sure the PP knows he has your support. And, depending on your judgement, you could also write a letter of support for him to either the head of your Deanery or the bishop.

[oopsorganist]

Thankyou VML and Dunstan

I will pray. I want peace for my part in parish duties and during services. I also need these sopranos! I will pray for the courage to deal constructively with the distress and disturbance which these individuals must be feeling and hope that help will come, even if it is just the words that need to be said to them by me.

PP has taken responsibility for musical choices to protect me from this kind of nonsense which was directed me all through this season last year, and throughout my time as organist.

I just think, oh, what could we do if such energy were harnessed into a constructive project, building a church hall or starting a Peace and Justice Group. Even making tea and coffee after Mass. There is such a lot of work to be done. And these are all good people who in their own way try to make a difference in the world. There is enough trouble in the world without causing it over hymn choices!

Our PP is not well and he is also disabled.

[asb]

What goes around comes around................

http://www.ssg.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.p ... ight=#2478

[oopsorganist]

Phew

Been to church and still alive. Only some of the odd bods were there tonight and they pointedly did not sing. I was shaking when I arrived and saying the prayer above about being brave. The singing was not strong but I could hear the congregation by the end of the Mass.

To make it more fun... there is wrong with the organ. I will start another thread for this.

Thanks for your support and asb I read that thread you linked in and it is so true that there is no one good solution to choosing what is sung.

[anne sheila]

My goodness - what politics!

I thought I was in shaky circumstances but this sounds very very scary.

I hope God intervened and sorted people out.

It's just not fair on dedicated people like yourself - imagine if you had a tantrum and refused to play the organ.

[oopsorganist]

well now, I'm afraid I have had a lot of tantrums and refused to play the organ, but then most people say what I do is not really accurately described as playing the organ.

And I walked out of Midnight Mass once. Just closed the lid and went home, well I would have done had the car not been parked in a locked garden... rather spoilt the gesture. And I heard them singing the remaining hymns very loudly without me. Booh! I apologised to Father the next day but he had not noticed anything out of the ordinary. The choir often started before the organ anyway so he didn't notice.

Just got the wrong frame of mind I guess.

[oopsorganist]

And this is worse.

After a dreadful Easter Sunday morning Mass I have committed myself to "All the I Am" for the Offertory forever or until someone begs me to stop.

It's not a punishment, it's pragmatic. They sing it. And I don;t get to feel that I have started a hymn in the wrong place put up the wrong hymn numbers or chosen something they don;t know. Everything sorted.

Which ever is first.