Letters

Liturgical abuses (letter)

Name and Address Supplied

Contents - May 2002 - Buy a copy now Editorial: A moral challenge for society - Peter Westmore Liturgy: New edition of the Roman Missal released: vernacular translations to come - Michael Gilchrist News: The Church Around the World Catholicism in Australia: facing the challenges of Western secularism - Archbishop George Pell General absolutions continue in the Toowoomba Diocese - Michael Gilchrist US Jesuits' action against Father Fessio sparks worldwide protests - AD2000 Report US research puts clerical sex-abuse in perspective - Philip Jenkins Gregorian Chant's new lease of life in Brisbane - AD2000 Report 'The Resurrection in the university' - IMCSA National Conference in Sydney - Nicholas Rynne Letters: Hymns (letter) - David Schutz Letters: Farewell Mass for Fr Des Byrne (letter) - Barry O'Brien Letters: Priestly formation (letter) - Cyril Drew Letters: Liturgical abuses (letter) - Name and Address Supplied Letters: Decline of the faith (letter) - Brian Carter Letters: Christian principles (letter) - Errol P. Duke Letters: Transubstantiation (letter) - Fr G.H. Duggan SM Letters: Correct Greek (letter) - Fr J.B. Cotter Letters: Need for prayer (letter) - Kevin Pitt Letters: Harry Potter? (letter) - John F. Doherty Poetry: Two Loves - John Meston Books: Demons and Democrats: 1950s Labor at the Crossroads, by Gavan Duffy - Anthony Cappello (reviewer) Books: The Forty Four: The Martyrs of the English College Rome - Christopher Quinn (reviewer) Books: Beyond Gay, by David Morrison - John S. Webster Books: Pedophiles and Priests: Anatomy of a Contemporary Crisis, by Philip Jenkins - David Ross (reviewer) Books: Prove It! Church, by Amy Welborn - Bill Muehlenberg (reviewer) Books: Father Ian Falconer's Latin Course - Ken Bayliss (reviewer) Books: New Titles from AD Books Reflection: The Ascension: climax of Our Lord's life on earth - Fr Ian Falconer SJ

My comment relates to the letter of Michael Baker published in the February AD2000, under the above caption.

From the clues given by Michael, I am able to identify the priest and parish.

I can inform Michael that the priest concerned serves six distinct communities, each with its own church where Mass is celebrated regularly, each separated by many kilometres and each with its own problems.

Is six such churches a record number in Australia for a single priest and parish? Is the work-load tolerable and feasible?

Caring for six separate communities at once involves considerable travel and effort by the priest. Sick calls, funerals, weddings, baptisms, etc, have to be accommodated.

If Michael had spoken to this priest, he would have been impressed by his spiritual and pastoral qualities and his caring and welcoming nature.

Coping with the priest's heavy work-load is rendered even more difficult by serious ill-health. Could this have resulted in exemptions from certain liturgical norms?

The priest is also hampered by other specific heavy burdens at present.

None of these burdens hampers his cheerful spirit nor impairs the pastoral care available to his six communities. Our Lord refreshes and strengthens this wonderful man, enabling him to shoulder burdens which many others could justly complain about.

Ex parte criticism is often risky and unfair in the absence of knowledge of all the relevant circumstances.

Hopefully there will always be in this case, a similar degree of vigour in the encouragement and compassion shown by those who assist at this devoted priest's Masses.

Name and address supplied

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 15 No 4 (May 2002), p. 14