Sit up the front, visiting liturgist urges Massgoers

At a workshop at Christ the King church in Owairaka in Auckland this month, liturgist Fr Paul Turner, a consultant to the Vatican and several international groups, made several recommendations for participating well at Mass.

One of these was for people entering a church for Mass to get a front seat.

“If you think this though, if you are a priestly people and your offering at this Mass matters, then where should you be seated? In the front, as close to the altar as possible,” he said, alluding to the First Letter of Peter.

“Imagine if Auckland became known as the one diocese in the world where you had to go early to Mass in order to get a front seat, not the back seat. OK, the pews would fill from front to back because people were anxious to be there.”

Fr Turner, who is a priest of the Diocese of Kansas City-St Joseph, Missouri, continued, “I don’t know what it is like here, but at home, if parents or grandparents are attending a school function where the kids are going to be performing, or singing something, they get there way in advance so that they can get a front row seat. That’s what should be motivating us in coming to the Mass”.

Fr Turner also recommended that people pray over the readings at home, “and put your phone down during the Liturgy of the Word and listen to the readings, letting the Lord speak to you”.

Among other recommendations were: arrive early for Mass; genuflect in the direction of the tabernacle when entering the church; pray silently before Mass if possible; make the responses to the dialogues in a full voice.

Fr Turner urged people to contribute to the collection basket and support their parish, offering themselves together with the bread, wine and financial offerings. “This is all about sacrificing out of love.”  

Fr Turner encouraged people to sing at Mass, because if people refuse to do this, “you are making it more difficult for the person next to you to sing as well”.

“Could you at least look at the words, mouth the words, pray the words, of the song. You are asked to participate fully, actively, consciously, and make the music part of your worship.”

He recommended giving thanks as the eucharistic prayer begins for the many blessings received.

“At the words of the consecration, when the priest shows you the host and the chalice, adore Christ. That is your moment to appreciate his presence in the room.”

Fr Turner also encouraged staying until the end of Mass. He said back in the US he is always amazed by the number of people who arrive late for Mass and leave early.

“After we receive Communion, we owe the Lord a time of thanks,” he said. Fr Turner added that the congregation is sent forth at the end of Mass, not just as individuals, “but as a body of people, brothers and sisters in Christ sent on mission”. 

Among the topics covered in the workshop were Pope Francis’ apostolic letter Desiderio Desideravi, participation at Mass as a priestly people, how principles drawn from this apply to the main parts of the Mass and Masses with children.

Fr Turner is visiting New Zealand’s six dioceses this winter to share his expertise with clergy and the lay faithful.

FULL STORY

Fr Paul Turner: Workshop 3 (Catholic Diocese of Auckland/YouTube)

Fr Paul Turner: Workshop 1 (Catholic Diocese of Auckland/YouTube)

US liturgist set to visit New Zealand (NZCBC)