Music in Our Liturgy, Part 4

Dear parishioners,

Praise be Jesus Christ now and forever!

As I continue this catechesis on music in our liturgy, there is the need to address some topics of interest, and that are foundational to discerning what the role of music in our liturgy ought to be. This week, I will address the subject of our uniqueness as a parish in South Bend, Indiana. 

Parish Identity/Tradition

Little Flower came into existence around 1937. Since then, a lot of history has been made. Our parish identity and character has been shaped over the years. What we have today is a product of these many years of shaping and reshaping. Thanks to those who came before us, and those who are still with us, who gave their all to build what we enjoy today. There are parts of our present parish that come to us from many years, and there are aspects of our parish that are new. While it is not our desire to impugn or repudiate what came before, we are also aware that times change, and so do the actors on the stage of life. Little Flower was praised as the parish where informality was embraced and mostly celebrated. Her ministry to the poor and less privileged of society was, and still is, its characteristic and distinguishing feature. Her liturgy ws vibrant and her music eclectic and joyful. The people sang and praised God with tambourines and every musical instrument available as long as there was someone to play them. That was the proverbial “good old days.” 

Many who have talked with me share fond memories from those good old days. Even though I was not fortunate to be a part of it, I too miss it just from listening to parishioners reminisce. While some of us would remember, with nostalgia, what used to characterize the liturgy of the old Little Flower, it seems harmless to remark that generally, things are different today than they were many decades ago. If we are honest with ourselves, and if statistics are worth considering, we cannot deny that the needs of the past are not necessarily the needs of today. Neither are all the solutions of the past relevant for today’s challenges. The growing number of religiously dis-affiliated young people speaks to this very fact. What worked many decades ago might be inefficient and insufficient to address the concerns of today. A look at our parish will quickly show you that we have had changes in the composition and demographics of our parish. We have parishioners today who did not experience the ‘Old Little Flower” as some did. For this group of parishioners, all they know is the “New St. Thérèse, Little Flower” (It seems important to emphasize this name change too).  When people speak of what came before, it could sound like a tale from a distant past to new parishioners because they do not have similar experience. While we acknowledge the glories of the past, it seems foolhardy to insist that things must remain the way they used to be or be done the way they were done in the past. Our discernment should be how to address today’s challenges, using solutions that are pertinent and relevant for today. Let me again make this clarification, my reasoning is not to jettison everything from the past as though they were downright wrong; rather, I am calling for an evaluation of everything, old and new, in light of the ideal, to see their fit for our times.

While one could argue that the changes to our liturgy in the recent years were done without much thought for the identity and character of our parish, I am of the opinion that they were done with the best intentions, and for the right reasons. Perhaps they could have been done differently. To be known as a parish with vibrant liturgies where everyone sang and rejoiced is a good thing in itself. After all, one of the goals of the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council was to encourage full, conscious and active participation of the faithful in the liturgy. This means that the faithful are not to be denied the right to raise their minds and hearts to God in praise. However, this joyful and jubilant singing must be regulated according to liturgical norms proper to the Roman liturgy. When it comes to music, the beauty of the liturgy cannot admit of what is cliché and trite.

My appeal therefore to those who were part of the old Little Flower and those who are of the new St. Therese, Little Flower is, let us be open to the ways the Holy Spirit is moving in our parish today. Let us not allow yesterday to be the thief of tomorrow. Let us celebrate the glories of the past, but we must all now move together towards a common vision and goal to build a transformed and unified parish for our times.

May Jesus bless you, and may our Lady protect you!