Letters

Reverence at Mass (letter)

Shirley Vaughan

Contents - May 2004 - Buy a copy now Editorial: May: the month of Mary, Mother of God - Peter Westmore New liturgy document: Rome affirms right of laity to complain about abuses - Michael Gilchrist News: The Church Around the World Australian Bishops' ad limina: strong leadership needed to confront secularism Ethics: Denial of food and water to patients is 'genuine euthanasia': John Paul II - Michael Casanova Church in UK welcomes abortion documentary - Anthony Cappello Priesthood: Pope's World Day of Prayer for Vocations - Fr Paul Stuart Events: Brisbane Corpus Christi Procession - Josie Mangano Education: The religious character of Catholic schools: how can it be enhanced? - Br Paul Macrossan CFC Poetry: Come As You Are (revised version) - Bruce Dawe Art: Beauty is very much an attribute of God - Sister Wendy - Sarah Macdonald Liturgy: Cardinal George of Chicago examines post-Vatican II liturgical reforms - Michael Gilchrist Letters: God's house (letter) - Melanie Costabile Letters: Timely article on reverence (letter) - Name and Address Supplied Letters: Reverence at Mass (letter) - Shirley Vaughan Letters: Eucharistic reverence (letter) - Carmel Strong Letters: Vocations guide (letter) - Patrick Ryan Letters: 'The Passion' (letter) - Bob Denahy Letters: Catholic schools (letter) - Elizabeth Alderton Letters: No laughing matter (letter) - Dr Lance Eccles Letters: Personhood (letter) - Dr Brian Pollard Letters: Darwinism (letter) - Michael Griffiths Events: Wagga Wagga Seminary Open Day 16 May Books: Marriage and Family in the Biblical World, edited by Ken Campbell - Bill Muehlenberg (reviewer) Books: Why Must I Suffer?, by Francis Remler - Bill Muehlenberg (reviewer) Books: ANGLICANS AND ORTHODOX: Unity and Subversion (1559-1725), by Judith Pinnington - Tracey Rowland (reviewer) Books: AD Books - More new titles for 2004 - Anthony Cappello Reflection: Why the world needs Jesus Christ and Christian models - Fr Sebastian Camilleri OFM

I wish to express my thanks to AD2000 for all the good articles you publish, in particular the one by Matthew Greene on reverence at Mass.

Three years ago, my husband and I were visiting Canberra and went to Mass at St John Vianney Church at Chapman. The wonderful priest, Father Harris, who died early this year, gave a short homily after Mass asking those people "who like to talk after Mass to refrain from doing so until they got right outside the church in the open area, as there are some people who prefer to pray and not be disturbed by noise and chatter".

Father Harris was a very holy priest and I agreed with him fully.

In another parish, I asked a group of women inside the church who were discussing refreshments for morning tea to be silent while others were praying and I was told I was not welcome: "Go somewhere else for Mass."

Thank God for our own parish priest here in Riverwood, Father John Walter.

SHIRLEY VAUGHAN (MRS)
Riverwood, NSW

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 17 No 4 (May 2004), p. 15