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Contents © 2003
by Jim Holman.
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ST. LUCY'S, CAMPBELL

Happy Campers

By Stephen Frankini

The most striking exterior feature of St. Lucy's parish church in Campbell is the resemblance of its free-standing bell tower to a rocket ship. The church itself is rather mod looking -- it seems as wide as it is long. Inside, the tabernacle resides in an alcove in the right wall, while, on the left side, behind a glass window, are three jars of what, I presume, are chrism, oil of catechumens, and the oil of the sick. Behind the altar table on both sides are what look like the pipes of a great organ along with screens for film projectors. In the center, behind the altar table is a painted image of Jesus with arms out-stretched to greet us.

I attended the 9 a.m. "Family Mass" at St. Lucy's on the Feast of Christ the King. Before Mass began, and before darting out the front door, our celebrant, Father Michael Carson, asked us to stand and tell our neighbors our favorite flavors of ice cream. My leftward neighbor's favorite was coconut. I was at a loss for words because I am rather indifferent towards ice cream. The woman in front of me turned and asked doubtfully if I wanted to tell her my favorite flavor. I smiled and shook my head. She smiled back and nodded understandingly.

After about a minute of commotion, we were interrupted by piano music. The musicians and children's choir were set up on the right side of the sanctuary. We were not told where we could locate the song, and the song was not familiar to me, though the style seemed to be in the same musical tradition as "Them Bones." The final verse was repeated in a key a step higher than the previous, to achieve, it seems, an uplifting effect. The strong beat tempted a few to clap along. Marching up the aisle was a steady stream of pre-teens, who took their places around the periphery of the sanctuary. They were followed by a young lectoress holding a blue lectionary. Then followed two altar girls in alb and cincture -- one bearing a crucifix, followed by the already mentioned Father Mike.

After a short opening prayer, Father stated that that Sunday was the Feast of Christ the King, who is "King of our lives." He then recited the "Lord Have Mercy" with appropriate tropes.

A simple bongo drum sufficed as accompaniment to the Gloria. The congregation sang the refrain, "Glory to God, Glory to God, Glory to the Father." For the verses, the male choir director sang a phrase, then the congregation repeated the phrase, and so on. The effect was that of summer campers trying to imitate American Indians.

The lectoress mounted the gospel side lectern and nervously recited, "a prophet from the reading Ezechiel." Although the psalm response was Psalm 23 ("The Lord is my Shepherd, there is nothing I shall want") the choir sang a selection that was unknown to me and was again unannounced. The song challenged the young choir, for at times there was two-part harmony -- the higher voices singing a celestial melody/harmony using the syllable "ah."

Immediately following this song, Father Michael went right into the Gospel of Matthew without the second reading, from I Corinthians, which states: "When everything is subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to the one who subjected everything to him, so that God may be all in all." The Gospel reading was taken from Matthew 25. The priest used a different translation from the New American Bible version found in the missalette. Before Father started reading, a microphone was positioned in the sanctuary where six pre-teens lined up. When Father read, "when I was hungry...", one boy recited "you gave me food." When Father read , "when I was thristy...," another student said "you gave me drink" etc. Father omitted the final portion of the reading, which includes the words, "depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire." Apparently not all of our Lord's words are appropriate for a "family mass," though it might have been a nice touch if the children recited in unison the closing words of Jesus.

Father Michael began his homily explaining he would go point by point through the day's Gospel. He then summoned "He who was thirsty" to the microphone. Father explained that sometimes we are thirsty for water, sometimes we are thirsty for the kingdom of God. He asked "Thirsty" if he ever wakes up in the morning thirsty for God. Thirsty didn't seem to know. After questioning the boy about times when he was thirsty, Father explained that in tough times we seek prayer, and prayer is like drink.

He dismissed Thirsty and then summoned Hungry. Hungry told us about times when he forgot his lunch and friends pitched in cash to buy food. It was emphasized that hunger is not pleasant. Father then exhorted us to bring food for the parish Thanksgiving drive.

Father Michael then summoned Stranger who related that he feels lonely and scared when he moves to a new house and must enroll in a new school. Father suggested he be friendly and introduce himself to others.

Following Stranger was Nothing-To-Wear, who related that her mother buys her new clothing when her old clothes get ragged. She then donates her old clothes to charity. Father then warned about buying new clothes just because we want to look cool.

Next came Sick, who declared being sick doesn't feel very good. It makes her feel better in such times, though, when her mother and father take care of her. The priest then told us not to annoy our parents when we are sick.

Lastly, came In Prison. Father explained that sometimes when we get into trouble, we feel really bad, and asked In Prison to tell, without going into details, if her friends or family ever got into serious trouble. Father said hopefully it doesn't happen again, but if it does, then she should talk about it with them.

After the sermon we then stood and renewed our baptismal promises. There were no general intercessions.

At the collection, Father explained that we were going to give our offerings a little differently this time. The children would take charge of the baskets, but everyone would come forward to deposit their money rather than have the baskets come to them. Things got rather chaotic because people didn't approach single file as they do for communion, but we made it through without mishap. All the while, the children sang in unison a moderately paced song whose piano accompaniment contained occasional Country and Western motifs. An altar girl lighted the candles near the altar.

Red digital numbers appeared on the wall indicating the location in the "Music Issue" of the next song. The "Holy Holy Holy ," the "Memorial Acclama tion," and the "Great Amen," all had the same music, written by Marty Haugen. Everyone stood for the Eucharistic prayer for Children, which began, "Father, you are always thinking about your people." Father spoke the words of consecration slowly and deliberately.

We all held hands and recited the Our Father, then offered each other an extended sign of peace.

At communion Father requested that family members receive side-by-side. In spite of the small number of communicants, I counted ten lay Eucharistic ministers. As I received, a good portion of the priest's finger made contact with my tongue. He then gave me the singular privilege of a pat on the shoulder. I didn't know the communion song, but it sounded like "Puff the Magic Dragon," and it was performed exclusively bythe children. The second communion song was called "Open My Eyes Lord" and was sung by all the congregation.

In the final announcements, a woman urged the parishioners to bring non-perishable foods for their Thanksgiving drive. Father then called to the front all of the children whose birthday fell in November. He asked each one his or her name and age, giving appropriate positive interjections -- "nice!" "all right!" "way-to-go!" -- after each one. He asked us to extend our hands towards the birthday children so we could give them a blessing.

Father thanked his CCD classes, grades 6 through 8, for helping out with the mass, and also the children's choir. Everyone applauded.

The recessional was a lively ditty causing people, including the priest, to clap along in rhythm. After Father's departure, we noisily stampeded for the exit.

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