Appalled at attitudes of the young

hansard · #1 Jun 7, '12, 2:20 am

I work at a Catholic high school in rural Australia. We had a school Mass yesterday. I don't go to receive the Eucharist for personal reasons but, being raised as a Catholic, I know the significance of it and would never dream of treating it lightly or disrespectfully.

As the students lined up to recieve the Host, I assisted with the lines and just generally supervised from the back of the hall (we "worship" in a gymnasium, by the way--a fact which might go some way towards explaining what follows).

Many students were laughing, smirking or chatting as they returned to their seats. It's all "in the hand" in this part of the world, yet students had no idea how to hold their hands to receive the Eucharist. I'm told that one student typically says "Thanks" when receiving the host. One student I saw place the host in his coat pocket (I reported him to his year coordinator, but I don't yet know what the result was).

Having said that, many students were reverent and respectful, including those who opted to receive a blessing.

I just found myself incensed at those immature, arrogant, smarmy kids who think everything is about themselves and nothing matters apart from what they are doing at that moment.

I'm going to complain to the RE coordinator, so anything or nothing might happen.

I wonder if any of you have had similar experiences?

arkwright · #2 Jun 7, '12, 3:10 am

I am not in favour of school Masses . Most of the kids there will most likely not be regular attenders at Mass .

If they are to have a Mass in the school it should be in the morning before school starts or during the dinner-time break if they have one . Then it will be voluntary , instead of them being dragooned into it .

Deo Gratias42 · #3 Jun 7, '12, 4:35 am

That's how school Masses were when I was in high school too.

**GEddie** · #4 Jun 7, '12, 4:41 am

I went to a Catholic HS. It had Mass once a month, in the gym (there was no resident priest and no chapel that would seat everybody). You were required to be there unless you were not Catholic.

My folks went to Catholic HS 25 years earlier when it was located next the Cathedral. They had daily Mass before opening bell and EVERYBODY was required to be there although non Catholics were told why not to receive Communion.

If HS kids are required to do pushups, run laps, etc, why should they not also be required, in the Catholic school setting, to prepare for their Spiritual Body?

ICXC NIKA.

Rocky24 · #5 Jun 7, '12, 4:48 am

That's how school Masses are in the school I go to. I live in Australia and I'm appalled during school masses as well. During the consecration, no one kneels, but simply sits down. When people go up to receive communion, the choir starts to sing semi-Protestant and modern songs that make my blood boil. Then I'm actually wondering if I've accidentally walked into a Baptist church. In past years, a drama troupe actually went up onto the altar and started acting out the gospel! Once I remember that they had some ballerina dance during the mass. It's really sad and I don't know if I should bring it up or not to the RE coordinator. I'm young so I don't know if he will take me seriously.

TheRealJuliane · #6 Jun 7, '12, 5:32 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by hansard

I work at a Catholic high school in rural Australia. We had a school Mass yesterday. I don't go to receive the Eucharist for personal reasons but, being raised as a Catholic, I know the significance of it and would never dream of treating it lightly or disrespectfully.

As the students lined up to recieve the Host, I assisted with the lines and just generally supervised from the back of the hall (we "worship" in a gymnasium, by the way--a fact which might go some way towards explaining what follows).

Many students were laughing, smirking or chatting as they returned to their seats. It's all "in the hand" in this part of the world, yet students had no idea how to hold their hands to receive the Eucharist. I'm told that one student typically says "Thanks" when receiving the host. One student I saw place the host in his coat pocket (I reported him to his year coordinator, but I don't yet know what the result was).

Having said that, many students were reverent and respectful, including those who opted to receive a blessing.

I just found myself incensed at those immature, arrogant, smarmy kids who think everything is about themselves and nothing matters apart from what they are doing at that moment.

I'm going to complain to the RE coordinator, so anything or nothing might happen.

I wonder if any of you have had similar experiences?

The one thing I would urge you to do, is stop any student you see doing anything like pocketing the Host, immediately. This needs to be stopped on the spot. And the next staff meeting you have, please bring that up as a problem that MUST be dealt with and completely eliminated. Do not back down on that aspect.

The rest is down to poor catechesis and lax discipline, I'm sorry to say. It comes from above. My sons attended a boys-only Jesuit prep school and their Masses were ALWAYS very reverent. Their head of school is a priest and Jesuit himself. Most of the teachers are male and know how to keep teenage boys in line. I think it anyone had pocketed a Host, he'd be expelled.

The gymnasium setting does not help, I'm sure, but still. It's down to the adults keeping discipline and it sounds like this school has let things go too much.

stiffkittenbabe · #7 Jun 7, '12, 5:37 am

If you think that's bad, you should hear about the kid who got money off the old ladies we were looking after in Lourdes!
The cheeky little **** then tried to split the money with me because I had found out about it! He was the son of the church organist no less. And she still hates me now because I didn't go along with what her horrible son was doing. Ridiculous.
I will always be an outcast in my church because not only do I hate hypocrisy, I am also born out of wedlock. But people like her and her son, who now has his "perfect" family can go suck one for all I care. I'm not letting people like that damage my relationship with God.

TheDoors · #8 Jun 7, '12, 5:44 am

Darn kids these days. Always on my lawn. Someone should write a letter telling them to be quiet in church. And to listen respectfully to preaching. And take their hats off. Or is it cover their heads? I get confused sometimes.

"I will say nothing new!" St John of Damascus

**JharekCarnelian** · #9 Jun 7, '12, 5:50 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by stiffkittenbabe

If you think that's bad, you should hear about the kid who got money off the old ladies we were looking after in Lourdes!
The cheeky little **** then tried to split the money with me because I had found out about it! He was the son of the church organist no less. And she still hates me now because I didn't go along with what her horrible son was doing. Ridiculous.
I will always be an outcast in my church because not only do I hate hypocrisy, I am also born out of wedlock. But people like her and her son, who now has his "perfect" family can go suck one for all I care. I'm not letting people like that damage my relationship with God.

Although their attitudes may be bad by letting them make you think of them in this manner you are already letting them intefere with your relationship with God. No matter what they have done they are still fellow children of God. Equally no-one should despise you or attempt to make you an outcast because of been born out of wedlock, as that is despicable also on their part.

**JharekCarnelian** · #10 Jun 7, '12, 5:52 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDoors

Darn kids these days. Always on my lawn. Someone should write a letter telling them to be quiet in church. And to listen respectfully to preaching. And take their hats off. Or is it cover their heads? I get confused sometimes.

"I will say nothing new!" St John of Damascus

And don't forget they need to turn that music down, in my day we played proper music on the electric guitar.

TimothyH · #11 Jun 7, '12, 6:22 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by arkwright

I am not in favour of school Masses . Most of the kids there will most likely not be regular attenders at Mass .

If they are to have a Mass in the school it should be in the morning before school starts or during the dinner-time break if they have one . Then it will be voluntary , instead of them being dragooned into it .

It's a Catholic high school, and they are kids.

I don't know about government subsidies in Australia but in the USA, parents pay for the priviledge of having their children in Catholic school. When parents sign their kids up for Catholic school and write the monthly tuition check, they do so with the full understanding that Mass attendance is expected. If it were left up to high school students themselve, they would just stay in bed all day. Most of them wouldn't even go to school if their parents didn't make them.

There is nothing voluntary about Mass or school attendance for a fifteen year old child, nor should there be. I pay $6500 per year, per child for the privilege of having my children taught religion and chastity by Dominican Sisters. They'll damn well go to Mass if I say they are to go, and they will shut up and be respectful, and it their teacher says they were not then they will get their heads handed back to them on a platter.

They are kids, and it if was left to them they would be on facebook eating potatoe chips all day.

-Tim-

**JharekCarnelian** · #12 Jun 7, '12, 6:36 am

I went to state schools in the Republic of Ireland and the UK which were Catholic and regular attendance at Mass was expected in both and in fact the UK school's staff were tougher about the whole matter.

Midtown Mike · #13 Jun 7, '12, 8:17 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimothyH

It's a Catholic high school, and they are kids.

I don't know about government subsidies in Australia but in the USA, parents pay for the priviledge of having their children in Catholic school. When parents sign their kids up for Catholic school and write the monthly tuition check, they do so with the full understanding that Mass attendance is expected. If it were left up to high school students themselve, they would just stay in bed all day. Most of them wouldn't even go to school if their parents didn't make them.

There is nothing voluntary about Mass or school attendance for a fifteen year old child, nor should there be. I pay $6500 per year, per child for the privilege of having my children taught religion and chastity by Dominican Sisters. They'll damn well go to Mass if I say they are to go, and they will shut up and be respectful, and it their teacher says they were not then they will get their heads handed back to them on a platter.

They are kids, and it if was left to them they would be on facebook eating potatoe chips all day.

-Tim-

Once again, Tim write, I agree. I have a 15 yr old son in 10th grade in an all boys Catholic High School. Baptismal certificates must be presented prior to enrollment; therefore all students are Catholic. I have a daughter in 8th grade in a Catholic Grammar School as well. My tuition costs are around $15,000 per year and will increase to over $20,000 next year when my daughter enters an all-girl Catholic High School.

They have been taught from the beginning about respect in church. Weekly attendance is mandatory. There's no questioning, there's no discussion. They are both altar servers and they treat the MAss and Eucharist with the utmost respect. They know they will not be happy with the consequences should there be any disrespect shown.

The issue to me comes down to what's happening in the homes of these students, and what is the school teaching them about Mass & Eucharist, and the respect of the same. Children are children. Unless they are taught, they do not know. I believe this problem falls squarely on the parents & teachers, whos' jobs are to instruct the children in the proper etiquette of worship.

The scene you describe would never occur in either of my children's schools. There would be suspensions considered if it ever did. It's too much ingrained in the fabric of the school & the school's purpose, not to mention the upbringing of the students.

Mike

Cathryn · #14 Jun 7, '12, 8:32 am

I am wondering about where the priest who is offering the Mass is in all this. He should be told about any student hiding the host in their jacket. Maybe he would be willing to address their behavior with them. Other than that it is the teachers job to ensure they behave during Mass. How about giving citations for their bad behavior, and any citations for behavior is handled with the principal. If that doesn't work then the student meets with the priest and their parents. The pocketing the host however is so serious that that should have been handled with the priest and the student immediately. It sounds like you are the only one who sees this as a serious problem. This attitude of the staff and possibly the priest is teaching them that being at Mass is no different than being anywhere else. The whole staff and priest need to crack down and not tolerate bad behavior at Mass. Maybe they have not been taught what proper behavior is at Mass. Sounds like they need guidelines and serious consequences.

**JharekCarnelian** · #15 Jun 7, '12, 8:34 am

Agreed, pocketing the host would have merited a phone call to the parents and a meeting been arranged where I went to school if a student had been caught doing that.