I celebrated the 4 pm Mass at St. Gregory the Great in Bluffton this Saturday afternoon and heard Confessions at 3 pm. The 4 pm Mass has a majority of parishioners from Sun City (where the elderly lady, 88, was killed by an alligator on Monday) and other retirement communities in the vacinity. The church which seats almost 900 was full. I have the 11:15 am Mass at Holy Family Church on HHI tomorrow.
10 comments:
Looks like a nice church, the arches are pleasing to look at. The sanctuary doesn't appear to be very spacious, but perhaps its the angle.
Byz - I was in the adjacent parish when my friend, Fr. Greg West, built St. Gregory Church. The pix really don't catch the spaciousness, for some reason. The sanctuary does have good space. Originally there were two wonderful icons - The Holy Family and St. Gregory - in the side niches. They were painted on commission for the church, by an iconographer in, I think, Connecticut. The floor is . . . tinted concrete scored to resemble cut stone.
Del Webb's "Sun City Hilton Head" drove the need for the new parish and church. The development BOOMED and with it, all of Bluffton, SC, where it is located. Now there is a fine grade school and a diocesan high school not far away.
Last night was my first time entering the “new” church. I like it and it is what I personally prefer in style. There are a few problems with the building. You cannot get to the choir loft from the main part of the church, you have to enter and leave through an outside door. Very peculiar. The sanctuary is fine for Mass, but should be enlarged and easily so. There is a huge amount of space on the floor before the first set of pews. I suspect that space is used for weddings and other liturgical celebrations like RCIA. But of course being on the same level as the pews, in a full church no one would see things. That area needs at least a two step elevation.
The Church was filled with elderly retirees. I have to say they sing with gusto and participate in an actual manner in a very nice way.
Because the Bluffton area (Beaufort and Jasper Counties) is booming, there is talk about building a much larger church on the property. I am not sure what will become of the current one.
I have grown so accustomed to having the congregation on three sides of the sanctuary at Saint Anne’s, that I found myself turning to the side pews at St. Gregory’s last night as I was preaching. But there are no side pews there. It was odd just having the congregation directly in front of me!
Is it an option in the novus ordo to mention any bishop other than the bishop ordinary of the territory, with exceptions only for bishops present under some circumstances? I don't know and also am not offended in any way, just wondering. Also, do you have any word on how many angels can dance on the head of a mechanical pencil?
As for a new church in Bluffton, they could do much worse than the beautiful new church Father West and his congregation are building on Daniel Island, adjacent to our wonderful alma mater, Bishop England (I attended at 203 Calhoun Street). St Clare of Assisi, www.clare.church It looks destined to be an enduring landmark and the best thing to happen to BEHS in this recent era of great things happening thereto! Father West is an outstanding priest, a blessing to us all.
A carbon copy is often cheaper than all-new, right?
I mentioned my bishop silently, in pectora! I have seen the exterior plans for the new “West” church and indeed stunning. Bunches is different ranks of angels.
Father McDonald said..."The church which seats almost 900 was full. The Church was filled with elderly retirees. I have to say they sing with gusto and participate in an actual manner in a very nice way."
Are the folks in question aware that they assisted at a Mass that, speaking spiritually, is dead supposedly?
They assisted at a supposed Jewish/Masonic/Protestant Mass that belongs to a conspiracy designed to destroy the Church.
They assisted at the "imposter Mass" (Peter Kwasniewski's horrific term for the Holy Mass) that must be driven from the Church.
The worshipers yesterday did not assist at the "True Mass."
God did not want yesterday's worshipers at the "imposter" Mass in question. God will destroy the Jewish/Masonic/Protestant "imposter" Mass.
The unfortunate thing is that certain folks believe all of the above.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
Father McDonald, I watched the Mass that you offered. I was blessed. Your sermon was very uplifting.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
It is unfortunate that some thinks the Novus Ordo has been a "success" when only about 30% of its attendees of those who even bother to go believe in the Real Presence. It is valid, but ineffective
Post a Comment