I went into school as a ‘Man in Black’ for the first time yesterday. The kids were enthusiastic. One sixteen year old girl squealed, ‘Doesn’t he look cute??!!’ A seventh grade boy had attended the ordination the night before and said, ‘Fr Dwight, that Mass was awesome! That part where you were on the floor and they were singing in Latin, that was like we were in heaven!!’
Don’t tell me ‘the young’ all want praise and worship music at Mass. Our teens love a liturgy celebrated with mystery, honor, dignity and love.
My Protestant brother in law ‘got it’ too. He said about the litany of the saints, ‘We were in heaven at that point right?’ I nodded, ‘You got it.’
Don’t underestimate the power and the glory of the liturgy done well. It saves souls, brings people back to God, reconciles lost sheep and proclaims the mystery of faith.
We tried LifeTeen mass with our teenagers, and they begged to continue attending the 9:30 AM mass, the one our parish affectionately calls the “old people’s mass”Gotta love that.
I’ve liked Blake/ Parry’s “Jerusalem” ever since I heard it done by Emerson Lake & Palmer about 30 years ago, and was disappointed to have no chance to sing that tune in a congregation…until Fr. Longenecker’s first Mass Thursday night. Thanks.
Fr. Dwight,I gottas ask “doesn’t he look cute?…clerics or cassock?
I am so happy for you!Thank you for listening to God’s call!God Bless you!
Congrats Fr. and may God continue to work through you and may you continue to bring others to Him.Don’t believe all that propaganda about teens liking rock Masses all the time. A reverently celebrated Mass always trumps those and with proper catechesis, the young will better appreciate and draw nearer to God through this experience of Heaven and Earth.God bless you and make your ministry fruitful.
Amen on the last bit. Now to convince the other Youth this… (they’re traditional in everything except the music)