Carmel Bulletin, 4 June 2017
You may have heard the saying:
You can please some people all of the time, or everyone some of the time, but you can never please everyone all the time.
Imagine, then, trying to consider the needs and desires of a parish community as diverse as ours when it comes together to celebrate the liturgy. Pleasing everyone starts to become a monumental task!
Certainly it is important for those who prepare liturgical celebrations (such as liturgy committees, priests, musicians, sacristans, artists…) to consider what will draw people into prayer and shape and form them as disciples of Christ. Trying to define a ‘typical parishioner’, however, and make choices to suit their particular tastes will result in a celebration that may appeal to some, but ultimately alienate others who don’t fit that mould.
While liturgical ministers have a responsibility to prepare and lead good liturgical celebrations, it is up to all of us to give a little as well. Sacrificing some of what we ‘like’ during Mass so that everyone finds something that moves and engages them in the liturgy can be a challenge, but is ultimately an act of service where we seek to be mindful of the needs of others.
Liturgy 