Dear Editor, I found myself in church, quite accidentally, on a Saturday afternoon at a baptism ceremony. It was conducted by an elderly priest, for whom I had great sympathy. Why? The atmosphere in the church was anything but quiet and respectful. There was widespread talking and giggling, children running around through the seats, even on the altar. The priest found it necessary to say to some adults talking in the church “If you want to talk can you leave the church?” (As I approached the church I couldn’t help but notice a few scantily dressed young ladies on their way in. I thought they might be heading for the beach!) Later in another church I again had sympathy for the priest who told us about First Communion on the Sunday. He said he was appalled at the disrespect and disruption – he used the word “chaos” – that he witnessed. He mentioned the chatter, the noise, youngsters running around, eating crisps at the altar and a total disregard for the sacred in any shape or form. “The saddest day of my priesthood,” he said. He also referred to the limo outside, and the €2,000 given to a communicant. He said that such conduct doesn’t augur well for the Irish Church.
But he did acknowledge the exemplary preparation done by the teachers in school. The youngsters knew and said their prayers, sang their hymns, and had the church well decorated with bright posters and meaningful slogans.
A priest writing in The Irish Catholic about the same time had this to say: “I suspect that in the years ahead we may move away from the tradition of First Communion on one day, and rather have a Communion season where parents will present their child on a day and at a Mass of their choice after the period of formal preparation has ended. This may well lead to some parents not bringing their children forward as the emphasis on the class group going through the ritual together will recede.”
Yours etc.,
Bro. George Whyte,
Ballyfermot,
Dublin 10.