Yesterday's Latin Mass Society's Annual Pilgrimage was a real record breaker - except that...it was a record in the wrong direction.
Cardigan, less than 100 miles from the capital of Wales
Only 17 souls attended (18 if you include the church cat) and, if anyone so inclined had fired a shotgun during Mass, I am sure that none of the congregation would have been injured.
If you project this decline in numbers (roughly 50% down on last year), by my reckoning, in the year 2017, only the church cat will be in attendance and there's some speculation that he may be Church of Wales!
It was, a great occasion, nonetheless; the Newcastle Emlyn Schola sang the Mass beautifully and the servers served well.
After Mass came a break for tea and cake and then devotions in front of the Blessed Sacrament led by Paul, deacon of Menevia, and many thanks to him.
However, 17 people at a national pilgrimage is something of an insult to Our Lady of the Taper. Despite the valiant efforts of our LMS representative, it just did not cut the mustard.
What to do?
I do not know how much publicity and promotional activity LMS HQ put behind the day, it would be interesting to be able to see a breakdown of pilgrimage support costs broken down by pilgrimage.
Will there be another pilgrimage next year? I hope so. There is no shortage of would be helpers on standby.
I have two constructive suggestions to make.
First, be aware of Catholic etiquette and good manners when planning such an important event.
And, second, start the planning process for 2013 now, yes, now!
Only 17 souls attended (18 if you include the church cat) and, if anyone so inclined had fired a shotgun during Mass, I am sure that none of the congregation would have been injured.
If you project this decline in numbers (roughly 50% down on last year), by my reckoning, in the year 2017, only the church cat will be in attendance and there's some speculation that he may be Church of Wales!
It was, a great occasion, nonetheless; the Newcastle Emlyn Schola sang the Mass beautifully and the servers served well.
After Mass came a break for tea and cake and then devotions in front of the Blessed Sacrament led by Paul, deacon of Menevia, and many thanks to him.
However, 17 people at a national pilgrimage is something of an insult to Our Lady of the Taper. Despite the valiant efforts of our LMS representative, it just did not cut the mustard.
What to do?
I do not know how much publicity and promotional activity LMS HQ put behind the day, it would be interesting to be able to see a breakdown of pilgrimage support costs broken down by pilgrimage.
Will there be another pilgrimage next year? I hope so. There is no shortage of would be helpers on standby.
I have two constructive suggestions to make.
First, be aware of Catholic etiquette and good manners when planning such an important event.
And, second, start the planning process for 2013 now, yes, now!
May Our Lady of the Taper of Her kindness permit me to join you some day in worshipping God before Her image.
ReplyDelete-- Mack in Texas
We really wanted to go. We would have increased the concregation by 8! We only got back from our holiday the day before, and were exhausted. Next year,God willing?
ReplyDeleteJesus might suggest that next year, you invite(in a compelling and loving way) the poorly catechised, the hand clapping charismatics, the soon to be made into biological powder(sorry solution) and all modernists/liberals?????
ReplyDeleteLuke 14:16-24
16 Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. 17 At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’
18 “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’
19 “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’
20 “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’
21 “The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’
22 “‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’
23 “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. 24 I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’”
ReplyDeleteRos, all of those you quoted would, I am sure have been welcome (the pilgrimage was organised by the LMS so I have no input as to who is invited) but I am confident that the invitation went out to all, albeit very late in the day. Mummymayhem - here's to next year! Mack - that would make it a great pilgrimage.