Worst Mass Ever....

I went to vigil mass at a church in Falls Church, Virginia last night. It was horrible. A layman strutted up to the ambo and announced what the music would be, which readings would be used and explained how they all tied together. In short, he gave us a mini homily. I looked at my husband and he looked at me. Why on earth was this elderly man doing the priest's job? Then the old fellow told us to greet our neighbors. Well, gosh! A pre-Mass sign of peace. Then he announced that the celebrant would be Fr. X. Father X and the altar boys came in and right away we were astonished by his chasuble. It was green of course but it had a LEOPARD SKIN print running down the front. His homily was adequate. The old layman's was better.

The cantor was a teenaged girl and she was a Mariah Carey wannabe. We were "treated" to a concert performance every time she opened her mouth. Nobody in the pews sang along. Most of the people I saw seemed perplexed or pained.

There were 12 eucharistic ministers. The whole Mass seemed like a Protestant service. I couldn't wait to leave. This church won an award for being an excellent parish last year. If this was excellence....

Our Lady of Akita, pray for us.