Our Sanctuary arrangement has been updated after our clergy agreed on a design, and I want to share a little of the thinking behind these moves, as some have expressed some concern.
First, I recognize that change in a sacred space can take some getting used to! Our Sanctuary is deeply familiar to many of us, and different people experience and participate in the liturgy from different places in the church. However, many of us have been here since the beginning and have seen many changes! (Please see images on how far we have come and other configurations on next page!) As with any change, I ask for your patience as we continue to work through the arrangement to see how it functions in actual worship. This is a work in progress, not a finished product.
That said, one of the most visible changes is the movement of our music team to the front of the sacred space, on the upper left. This allows us to make better use of the platform (original to the organ placement) while bringing our music, sound, AV, and Livestream functions together in one coordinated area. It also increases communication between Celebrant and Music. More importantly, it allows our musicians (whom we should remember are also members of the ministry team) not to be out of sight, but fully participating reverently to assist in the creation of beautiful liturgy. It also affords us the ability to zoom and change camera angles, as our cameras have the capability but have not been used fully.
Our hope is to also strengthen the relationship between the Assembly, the Music Team that helps us pray, and the celebration of the Eucharist and Adoration, too. Sacred music is not a performance added to the Mass; it is one of the ways in which the Assembly itself participates in worship. It is prayer in another form.
We have also adjusted seating, created a single centralized ambo/pulpit for proclamation, preaching and instruction, and moved the Altar forward by a mere three feet so that it is once again visually centered beneath the Altar Cross, reflecting the original design intention of our sacred space when we fully renovated over 5 years ago. Moreover, once Worthington Forge completes the new brackets and legs for the Rear Altar, it will be moved further back and secured to the wall. This will give us approximately four additional feet of Chancel space, which will make a meaningful difference in how the Sanctuary functions during Mass and for our other liturgical celebrations.I also want to address a concern I have heard regarding seating. While there are now some limited choir-facing (antiphonal) seats, the relocation of music has actually increased the number of traditional forward-facing seats, allowing us to accommodate more people in the Assembly. And, even if reluctantly, I would highly encourage everyone to consider trying one of the choir-facing seats from time to time. It may feel different at first, but it can offer a beautiful new perspective on the Mass. From there, you experience the movement of the Liturgy, the proclamation of the Word, the music, the ministers, the Altar, and the priest in a very different and perhaps more meaningful way!
After all is said, the Mass is not something we simply watch. It is what we as Catholics celebrate it together! The priest presides and leads the liturgy, but the Assembly is not an audience—we are all participants. Every person has a place and a role in the prayer of the Church. This is why I welcomed the comments received and why I will certainly welcome others with their comments and ideas. There is no ‘wrong’ idea; we are family. However, change is not to be frowned upon. In our discomfort, God may actually be speaking to us.
Our hope with these changes is simply to help our sacred space better express that reality: Christ at the center, the Eucharistic table before us, the Word proclaimed among us, sacred music lifting our prayer, and the whole Assembly gathered together in worship.
I know that not everyone will immediately love every change, and that’s okay. What I will ask for is that we remain patient, pray for myself as your pastor and all our priests, as we discern the Holy Spirit. Our calling is not always to make the easy decisions, but it is our role – and one we take seriously, and hope respected by each of you. We will continue to listen, observe, adjust where appropriate, and refine the space as we move forward. We hear you. We promise.
Thank you for your patience, your openness, and most of all, for helping us make Saint Miriam a place where we don’t simply attend Mass—we truly celebrate it together.
Monsignor +Jim