I think a widespread misconception by a number of priests and laypersons in this diocese is the idea that the people of St. Thomas are fighting just to save a church building. While it is certainly true that the people wish to keep their beautiful church in Catholic hands, it is not the main reason why the people are so passionate about the cause to save St. Thomas. What’s at stake here is the way we orthodox and traditional Catholics of the Diocese of Rochester worship our Lord.
While most other parishes in Rochester have moved away from kneeling and receiving Communion on the tongue, both of these practices are very important to the people of St. Thomas. The use of the altar rail has been kept alive at STA, while other churches have been ripping them out and throwing them into dumpsters. The perpetual Eucharistic adoration chapel near the church building has been a vital part of STA worship. Most parishes in the DoR will not even offer adoration of the exposed Blessed Sacrament. If these parishes do, it is infrequent, and not perpetual (with the exception of St. John in Rochester and a couple other parishes). The people of STA wish for their children to have a solid Catholic education, and faith formation according to the teachings of the Church. They want their children to make First Confession before First Communion, as the Church teaches but Fr. Tanck refuses to recognize and see that the children in his faith formation program are taught. The people of STA want soul-lifting, traditional sacred music during Mass, not the bland irreverent folk and contemporary music which has made worship casual in so many area parishes.
You see folks, it’s not just about a building. It’s about a spiritual way of life. It’s about how we worship Christ. It’s about how our children are raised in the faith. So please, don’t shoot the typical DoR retort that these people are attached to a building, because that’s not what this is all about.
Tags: Bishop Clark, Church Closings, IPPG, Orthodoxy at Work, Progressive Drivel
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Well said. But you have to admit, the building IS beautiful! We don't worship in a converted gymnasium with a puny movable altar.
Dr K. As an STA parishioner with children, you have summarized our concerns exactly! Fr. Tanck has tried to marginalize us and portray us as mean vindictive people when in fact all we want to do is worship Christ reverently and raise our children in the faith as you describe. STA parishioners have been maligned and neglected for years with a pre-ordained plan to close us before Bishop Clark's departure.
Did someone say "contemporary music"? How bout some Jazz?
Note how they receive the most holy Body in Korea.
http://www.gloria.tv/?media=74837
Christopher, let's be careful. That's the music and method of reception in that particular parish in Korea, not throughout the whole country. We need to beware of generalizations.