For a new and modern building, this new Catholic Church, Our Lady of Peace Church in Ocala, Florida, is a nice blend of modern and traditional with ornate thrown in! Please note the altar railing:
I have a question: In many cathedrals up here in the northeast and elsewhere where I have lived I notice that the local Bishop sits front and center behind the altar and as such, is the focus of the congregation rather than the tabernacle. Does anyone know why this is an accepted practice? I don't like it but maybe I don't understand the posture.
As off putting as that is, it is my understanding that is a very traditional way of arranging the sanctuary where the bishop’s throne is elevated behind the altar. A parish I once belonged to used this arrangement and I asked the pastor if he had been “promoted” and he was not amused (liberal egomaniac)
In my humble opinion, and as an arm-chair designer, it's also overwhelming how the eclectic elements fit together. The contemporary crucifix window coupled with more contemporary framed pieces coupled with the asymmetrical placemen of some of the art/statues, icons, stainless pipes, contemporary looking beam supports, a bit of brass, prominent vents, paneling, there so much is going on. Cacophonous is unfair, but, that's how I'm reacting at least a little.
Here's a 360 view: https://www.google.com/local/place/fid/0x88e87f4f8ae31f05:0x629d30e73823a793/photosphere?iu=https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/p/AF1QipORFvAG3y01wxZkYbm_KCmc4hv7WGTFhQkyKmEh%3Dw160-h106-k-no-pi-20-ya54.000004-ro-0-fo100&ik=CAoSLEFGMVFpcE9SRnZBRzN5MDF3eFprWWJtX0tDbWM0aHY3V0dURmhRa3lLbUVo
It is attractive, huge, and dwarfs the congregation of mostly grey heads scattered around the nave.
Finally found a decent church within driving distance, only 30mins away at 65mph. It was a modern nightmare same as closer churches, but this small congregation tried very hard of late, obtained/installed 100+yr old stations of the cross, assorted old statuary, nice stained glass, large crucifix, moved the music folk to rear of nave, installed an altar rail, classic tabernacle on a raised faux altar with candles under the central crucifix, and installed an altar rail....as one of the older parishoners crowed to me, it now LOOKS like a Catholic church.
They even host a monthly (it was twice a month until you know who) Latin mass, celebrated by a FSSP parish priest from 45mins away.
The church does a very reverent new mass, there is no chitchat in the nave, people can actually pray and do, music is good modern mixed with older, the small music ministry group talented and quite good, talented enough to do the Latin mass chant very well indeed, better than most larger churches manage with bellowing local opera stars, these folk work hard on the chant nuances.
Truthfully, the Latin mass otherwise pretty bad, a Latino priest with thick accent as to be nearly impossible to understand during the homily, a herd of ill trained altar boys of every size and shape, mass hard to follow due to mistakes on their part, them belonging to folk not regular parishoners, ditto the traveling trad roadshow congregation of people with very noisy children dressing just strange as some pentecostal holiness sect, and deeply suspicious of a new face.
I much prefer a good Latin mass , but in this case could far better "get into" the new mass with devout congregation and well behaved children, and truly friendly regular congregation not needing to asign "greeters" to talk to the stranger.
5 comments:
I like it too. It has some warmth and ample evidence it is a Catholic worship space!
I have a question: In many cathedrals up here in the northeast and elsewhere where I have lived I notice that the local Bishop sits front and center behind the altar and as such, is the focus of the congregation rather than the tabernacle. Does anyone know why this is an accepted practice? I don't like it but maybe I don't understand the posture.
Tom Makin,
As off putting as that is, it is my understanding that is a very traditional way of arranging the sanctuary where the bishop’s throne is elevated behind the altar. A parish I once belonged to used this arrangement and I asked the pastor if he had been “promoted” and he was not amused (liberal egomaniac)
I like it. The elements are there.
In my humble opinion, and as an arm-chair designer, it's also overwhelming how the eclectic elements fit together. The contemporary crucifix window coupled with more contemporary framed pieces coupled with the asymmetrical placemen of some of the art/statues, icons, stainless pipes, contemporary looking beam supports, a bit of brass, prominent vents, paneling, there so much is going on. Cacophonous is unfair, but, that's how I'm reacting at least a little.
Here's a 360 view: https://www.google.com/local/place/fid/0x88e87f4f8ae31f05:0x629d30e73823a793/photosphere?iu=https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/p/AF1QipORFvAG3y01wxZkYbm_KCmc4hv7WGTFhQkyKmEh%3Dw160-h106-k-no-pi-20-ya54.000004-ro-0-fo100&ik=CAoSLEFGMVFpcE9SRnZBRzN5MDF3eFprWWJtX0tDbWM0aHY3V0dURmhRa3lLbUVo
It is attractive, huge, and dwarfs the congregation of mostly grey heads scattered around the nave.
Finally found a decent church within driving distance, only 30mins away at 65mph. It was a modern nightmare same as closer churches, but this small congregation tried very hard of late, obtained/installed 100+yr old stations of the cross, assorted old statuary, nice stained glass, large crucifix, moved the music folk to rear of nave, installed an altar rail, classic tabernacle on a raised faux altar with candles under the central crucifix, and installed an altar rail....as one of the older parishoners crowed to me, it now LOOKS like a Catholic church.
They even host a monthly (it was twice a month until you know who) Latin mass, celebrated by a FSSP parish priest from 45mins away.
The church does a very reverent new mass, there is no chitchat in the nave, people can actually pray and do, music is good modern mixed with older, the small music ministry group talented and quite good, talented enough to do the Latin mass chant very well indeed, better than most larger churches manage with bellowing local opera stars, these folk work hard on the chant nuances.
Truthfully, the Latin mass otherwise pretty bad, a Latino priest with thick accent as to be nearly impossible to understand during the homily, a herd of ill trained altar boys of every size and shape, mass hard to follow due to mistakes on their part, them belonging to folk not regular parishoners, ditto the traveling trad roadshow congregation of people with very noisy children dressing just strange as some pentecostal holiness sect, and deeply suspicious of a new face.
I much prefer a good Latin mass , but in this case could far better "get into" the new mass with devout congregation and well behaved children, and truly friendly regular congregation not needing to asign "greeters" to talk to the stranger.
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