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Post by hibernicus on Sept 14, 2009 14:26:36 GMT
The people I was talking to meant it was not well advertised at parish level. I am not really sure what the situation is, or what can be done about it, as I am not one of the organisers.
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Post by Alaisdir Ua Séaghdha on Sept 23, 2009 14:24:35 GMT
I am informed that advertisement for this Mass is next to zero.
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Post by hibernicus on Nov 9, 2009 10:07:05 GMT
I was at the Saturday Mass in Belfast on the 7th. A surprisingly good turn-out compared to earlier months - I would estimate about 60. I thought this might be because it was a sung Requiem Mass (which might draw relatives of the deceased) but I was told afterwards it was not for an individual but for the Holy Souls as a body. Many elderly people, some of whom commented audibly on how beautiful it was as they left the church afterwards. First time I had seen a requiem mass in the EF or heard the Dies Irae, which was not so "heavy" as I expected.
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Post by gueranger on Nov 12, 2009 15:39:59 GMT
It was edifying to see that there were actually 83 in the congregation for the Requiem on the 7th November.
I am interested to see Alaisdir's information regarding the lack of advertisement of the monthly Belfast Mass. I have noticed it advertised in a number of parish bulletins in the city and so I enquired with the priest who says these Masses. A note is sent by email to every parish in the diocese of Down and Connor each month. I know, also, that posters were produced for the Solemn Mass in August and the requiem last Saturday as these were both displayed in churches and even a secular bookshop I frequent.
This appears to be a sensible advertising strategy, and since the Andersonstown News carried an article this week perhaps even the press has picked up on these efforts.
It would seem to me that the best way to spread the word about these Masses, is that the people who attend take on a more evangelical approach and bring folk along. Now that this Mass is to move to the first Sunday of each month, perhaps this will be easier.
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Post by Michael O'Donovan on Nov 12, 2009 21:56:38 GMT
Word-of-mouth is very important. Many people still think there is something strange or elitist or even disreputable about going to Mass in the Extraordinary Form. It is important for them to be brought to it by people they know.
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Post by hibernicus on Nov 17, 2009 17:12:19 GMT
Gueranger makes a good point. I am a bit reclusive and may not pick up on the extent of advertising. From what he says it appears a good deal of effort is in fact being made.
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Post by hibernicus on Mar 9, 2010 15:22:59 GMT
My first attendance at a Belfast Indult Mass since last year. (I was away on the first Sundays of January and February.) A very good turnout - about 60 though some were not local. The priest spoke very clearly and the celebration was reverent - a good sermon on the devil and exorcism, in relation to the EWTN coverage of the consecration of the new FSSP chapel in Nebraska. I'm surprised that St. Paul's is the only Down and Connor church to have been consecrated in this form - still more that it was done in 1939. I know of other Down and Connor churches built in the interwar and postwar period, so why wasn't the same form used? It certainly is a beautiful church and its use of natural light is very subtle. I only appreciated this on Sunday, as it was a sunny day.
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Post by Askel McThurkill on Apr 8, 2010 11:35:40 GMT
I hear that the first EF Nuptial Mass in Down & Connor since the liturgical changes happened in St Paul's on the Falls on Easter Monday. Is this true?
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Post by Alaisdir Ua Séaghdha on Apr 9, 2010 9:48:32 GMT
That would be true. I know little about the couple, but I congratulate them nonetheless.
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Post by hibernicus on May 5, 2010 10:34:38 GMT
I was at the Mass in St. Paul's on Sunday 2 May - about 33-35 present; at least one regular participant absent for family reasons. A very fine sermon; I found it a bit hard to make out the readings because they were said (semi-chanted) in English with the priest facing the altar; it took me some time to realise the first reading was in English, not Latin. IMHO the Harrington Street (and Cork) practice of reading them at the altar in Latin, then repeating them from the pulpit in English before the sermon is better.
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Post by hibernicus on Jun 7, 2010 9:20:50 GMT
I was at the First Sunday Mass at St Paul's yesterday - a sung Mass for the feast of Corpus Christi, with the Down and Connor Schola Gregorianum, followed by Benediction (though I must say I prefer to have the responses to the Litany said by the congregation rather than sung by the choir alone). About 40-45 present; some regulars were not there. Wonder does this indicate an uptick in numbers or were the 10 extra as compared to last month music-lovers. Ican't make it next month so will not be able to check. A very moving sermon about the importance of the mass, referring back to Penal tiems and to a sermon on the Mass and Eucharist preached by a priest in Iraq recently just before hsi martyrdom.
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ulick
New Member
Posts: 5
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Post by ulick on Jun 7, 2010 16:25:50 GMT
My wife and I would usually attend the St Paul's Mass but couldn't make it yesterday and instead went to the SSPX Mass in Andersonstown. Have noticed the numbers there seem to be on the rise slightly as well.
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Post by hibernicus on Jun 8, 2010 12:12:03 GMT
What are the attendance figures, Ulick - even approximately? It would be useful for comparative purposes.
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Post by gueranger on Jul 20, 2010 9:06:47 GMT
Not wanting to seem pedantic, but the number at the Mass in Belfast for Corpus Christi was exactly 68 (not including the choir, of whom there could have been a dozen or so). I think it would be helpful if the numbers quoted here were correct; with such small groups it really does matter.
Could I raise the question, which perhaps more informed commenters could assist in answering, why those who attend the Mass provided in Andersonstown by the SSPX do not come to the Mass in Saint Pauls (even when it is sung or solemn)? Would this be different if there were a weekly Mass in Saint Paul's?
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Post by Alaisdir Ua Séaghdha on Jul 21, 2010 9:49:50 GMT
First of all, I agree with Gueranger on numbers in small congregations. I am in the habit of understating large congregations as I do not believe exaggeration helps.
There is, regardless of what anyone says on either side of the divide, going to be a cross over between SSPX and Indult/EF congregations. This is especially true in the many parts of Ireland with EF Masses where the SSPX are not available. Correspondingly, I would expect some people attending the SSPX Mass in Athlone might readily go to Masses provided by the dioceses.
When it comes to Gueranger's question to the Andersonstown congregation, this is something which probably be put to each of them individually.
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