From the church bulletin of one of our local parishes this weekend:
Kids
Wear your costume to Mass on Halloween
Since October 31 falls on a Saturday,
all trick or treaters are welcome to wear costumes
when you come to Mass at 4 or 5pm. We’ll
be doing a special blessing for safety, too
I have an email to the pastor and associate questioning how this helps youngsters celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. I am awaiting a response. When I get an answer I will share it with you.
Tags: Liturgy
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Here is the answer I received:
“As you will see in the Bulletin, Halloween is a teachable moment for us to learn about the history of this tradition and the saints and God present in our lives.
Thanks for your question.”
I’m all in favor of dressing up for Halloween and trick-or-treating even though in some of the neighborhoods I’ve lived in were depressing reminders of approaching demographic winter, but not at Mass for goodness sake. What’s next? Lighting firecrackers during the consecration on the fourth of July?
Know you history. In numerous parishes like St.Philips’, Annunciation and St. Francis Xavier, it was a common practice to do fireworks at various feasts during the consecration. They also had parades. This was very common of ethnic parishes in Rochester and beyond. Our diocese has records of this in the archives written by Fr. Bobby McNamara, Professor at St. Bernard’s and historian for the diocese.
But are all the children dressing as saints and Bible heroes? Do the children share a history of the particular saint or Bible hero they are dressed as before or after mass?
Is the emphasis on All Saints Day?
The invitation posted in the bulletin states:
“Kids
Wear your costume to Mass on Halloween
Since October 31 falls on a Saturday,
all trick or treaters are welcome to wear costumes
when you come to Mass at 4 or 5pm. We’ll
be doing a special blessing for safety, too”
It doesn’t specify that costumes be of saints or Bible heroes. Children can show up as goblins, Frankenstein, werewolf, vampire, or popular character from a TV show or movie. -How does that help children “learn about the history of this tradition and the saints and God present in our lives.”
“Halloween” (the eve of (before) the hallowed day), is connected to “a teachable moment”, but not “All Saints Day.”
They should dress as nuns with the old habit and as traditionalist priests. That would really scare some of them!
Know you history. In numerous parishes like St.Philips’, Annunciation and St. Francis Xavier, it was a common practice to do fireworks at various feasts during the consecration
Ok, my bad. Nonsense from many time periods! 🙂
IMO, this is completely inappropriate!
Have you looked at the costumes kids are wearing these days?
Just walk thru Party City.
Or maybe, I’m just getting old…