HAMILTON CATHEDRAL: NO COMMUNION ON TONGUE BUT YES HOLY WATER

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A reader of this blog who - like moi - is inclined to take a rather jaundiced view of things in the NZ Church of Nice in general, offers the following reflections (I hope he won't object to the p c terminology) on liturgy at Hamilton's Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

 

Hamilton's Catholic cathedral, looking like a 'community centre'
- so to correct that impression they stuck crosses on 

"I attended evening Mass at Hamilton Cathedral today. I was refused Communion on the tongue. I refused to budge for a while, and caused the priest some angst, so some good might come of it.  

"The Kiss of Peace was left out of the Mass, no doubt as a genuflection to child murderer Cindie (our glorious leader, Jacinda Ardern), but that in itself is a good thing.

If you ask me, the 'Kiss of Peace' should be abolished altogether, or at least moved elsewhere, like the opening prayers, where it doesn't distract everyone horribly from preparing to receive their Lord and God in Holy Communion. 

"Incidentally, there was no alert given before Communion.

That's most unfair to shy, humble, retiring communicants (unlike our reader) who might die a thousand deaths of embarrassment. Or is this part of a campaign to put people off receiving on the tongue, as they have a right to do?

"I guess they presume that all congregants will have been watching Tv news avidly for rules applicable to Catholic Mass attendance. 

At least, unlike the rest of Tv 'news, such rules would surely be factual, non-propagandist and non-emotive.   

"There was holy water available at the church entrance, though. These guys are really on to it, and entirely consistent in their zealousness to protect us all.

In my parish church of St Joseph's Waipukurau there not only is no holy water, the very fonts have been removed; unscrewed from the wall. One wonders whether such an overtly Catholic item will ever be restored to us. After all, it might make our Proddy guests at Requiems feel uncomfy.  

"I might have mentioned previously that, when I attended the cathedral  November as a Confirmation sponsor of a far-too-young boy, I encountered Stevie Wonder (Bishop Stephen Lowe) in the foyer.    He steadfastly refused to shake my hand, tried to get me to knock elbows with him !!!  I told him to grow up.

 

Bishop Stephen Lowe, who was led to Hamilton by uncertainty

 "At that First Communion and Confirmation event in November, the Cathedral was packed, of course, with relatives who never otherwise frighten a church mouse.

"I was very interested to notice that there were congregation counters in action.

My experience is that the annual Mass count is an October affair.    But, you know the old song – “Don’t you ever let a chance go by.  Oh no, don’t you ever let a chance go by.” 

"Especially when you can make out that the counting personnel were all laid low by the China virus in October."

As a post script, I add this item from Rodney Pelletier of Church Militant:

 “Lowe (Bishop Lowe) was present at the Aotearoa Catholic Youth Festival on December 2–3 (2017)and, along with other homosexualists Cdl. John Dew and Bp. Patrick Dunn, spoke to young New Zealanders and answered some questions.

He said the issue of homosexuality may be a ‘Galileo moment’ for the Church. Galileo Galilei was convicted of heresy by the Church in 1633 for teaching that the earth is not the centre of the universe but actually revolved around the sun. 

“‘The psychology is still up for debate but the Church has got to engage with the science and engage with the experience of couples with same-sex attraction,’ he said.”

I offer the following verses (Heb 13:7,8) for Bishop Lowe's consideration (mind you, like every good priest and bishop he reads them regularly in his Divine Office so maybe it's ignorant lay people like you and me to 'reflect' on these words of St Paul:

"Remember your prelates who have spoken the word of God to you; whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation, Jesus Christ, yesterday, and today; and the same for ever. Be not led away with various and strange doctrines."