I was away from the Church for quite a few years, and it was interesting to see what's happened during my break. I've visited a lot of churches that are now quite odd in both architecture and practice. For starters, it's darn hard to spot the tabernacle in many, so you don't even know where to genuflect! I guess they think the whole idea of a living host and recognition of such to be passé. Between that and priests that act like swarmy TV show hosts, I can see where frustration comes from.
I was in North Carolina a few weeks ago, and the mass in New Bern had a woman come up (invited by the priest) in the middle of the Homily(!) to give a long talk on how we need to support a group that sounded a lot like the old Commie-loving Maryknoll nuns. (She went on and on about how the U.S. supported the evil regime in El Salvador, and how we orphaned many children that now need help.)
As for myself, I found a good parish here in the Silicon Valley: 'Our Lady of Peace' in Santa Clara, where they celebrate Mass in the manner (as I put it) of "one second after Vatican II". In other words, it is done in English, but done very respectfully, and with sermons that require intelligence and contemplation. I'm happy.
>>As for myself, I found a good parish here in the Silicon Valley: 'Our Lady of Peace' in Santa Clara, where they celebrate Mass in the manner (as I put it) of "one second after Vatican II". In other words, it is done in English, but done very respectfully, and with sermons that require intelligence and contemplation. I'm happy.
When I go to Mass (not as often as I should) that is where I go. My local parish in Mountain View doesn't kneel at all during the Mass. Same with my brother's parish in Santa Clara.
I feel lost going to Mass here in California, which is part of the reason I stopped attending. Each parish does something different.