Immediate Changes Occuring When The Mass Was Radically-Changed

ATTENDANCE took something of a drop. So did the # of Masses in a Parish Schedule:

In 1964, there existed at St Sylvester-City Line, Brooklyn, a total of 10 Masses on Sunday, alone, starting at 6:00AM & continuing until the 1:00PM Mass. 8 were in the Church & the 9:00AM Adults Mass was in the School Hall, as well as the other 10:00AM Mass. On Holy Days of Obligation, the Masses ran from 6:00AM to 12:00Noon, in the Church, ONLY. There was no Vigil Mass on The Eve Of The Holy Day, in those days;

It is 2008 & the demographics of that Parish, have changed, with much of the area being Latino & Guyanese-Indian. Currently, the Sunday Mass Schedule is Saturday @ 5:00PM(Vigil), & Sundays @ 8:00AM, 10:00AM & 12:00Noon(Spanish), for a Total of 4 Masses, Offered only in the Church, & sparse crowds, except at 12:00Noon in Spanish;

@ one time, you could set your watch to a Catholic Mass Schedule-this is not the case, at present. That the Total Sunday Mass Schedule @ St Sylvester-City Line, is the size of what the Daily Mass Schedule was in 1962, is astonishing, as on the Daily Mass Schedule, there were Masses Offered at 6:00AM, 7:00AM, 8:00AM & 9:00AM;

By 1970, there was a Saturday Vigil Mass @ 7:30PM, & 7:00AM, 8:00AM, 9:00AM, 10:00AM, 11:00AM & 12:30PM;

From there, it would drop to 6 Masses in 1982. Now there are ONLY 4;

Starting in 1982, the Parish would get a Spanish-Language Mass, despite the still heavily-Italian Population. By 1983, the Area practically changed over the Winter;

One wonders if both a Progressive Pastor, whose vision was of Changing Demographics & the Spanish Language Mass, contributed to the fleeing of much of the area's population, leading to a financially-poorer parish;

In 1966, one could say it was the beginning of the "Era Of Bad Chatechetics", as 1st Graders in that year were switched from the Tried & True Baltimore Catechism, over to Books without an emphasis on Doctrine, which Prior 1st Graders had to learn in order to receive their 1st Holy Communion. Communions in this era, moved into 2nd Grade, instead. The Holy Sacrifice Of The Mass, was in English, except for Offertory & Consecration, as per the Missale Romanum of 1965. With less emphasis on Doctrine, there was a corresponding de-emphasis on Sin. By 1967, in September of that year, the 9:00AM Children's Mass was discontinued, with Emphasis on Family Celebration of Mass, together. There was even a "Folk Mass", in '67, or the beginning of the "Era Of Bad Liturgical Music", much of which could be better-suited for sing alongs in coffee houses in Greenwich Village;

The 1960s', by the end of Vatican II, were a mess, as Schoolchildren were led away from learning Doctrine. Eventually, those children grew up & didn't bother with the Mass, from all this Post-council confusion which arose;

The Novus Ordo Mass led to a lot of indifference, & people didn't feel obligated by it at all. The Emphasis was seemingly, on the Populi & NOT on orienting towards God;

The crowd at the 11:00AM Mass was down;

Time For a Return to Doctrine & The Reform of the "Reform" is at hand. & The Traditional Mass is making a huge comeback;

Mike-RSN-NYCQ-In The RC Diocese of Brooklyn