Bring the Mass to 2021
Dear Editor: I am am a 72-year-old woman who has been going to Mass since I do not know when, but when I go to Mass today it is the same boring service.
I look around and all I see are seniors — no teens and no young adults. I wish the Mass was celebrated as a celebration.
The songs are from the 12th century and the priest talks about the gospel. I have heard them all throughout the years.
Talk about the abortion issue, talk about the decomposition issue, talk about the communion issue.
Ask the people what they think. Talk to your parishioners and look around and see if they are listening or half asleep.
Kathleen J. Schatz
Queens
Editor’s Note: The Second Vatican Council invited the laity to “full and active participation in the liturgy.” Parishioners play a role in encouraging teens and young adults to attend Mass. Let us strive to make every parish a dynamic experience with Christ.
Prayer of the Rosary and Children
Dear Editor: The rosary is a beautiful prayer but whenever I try to teach
it to my young daughter, I become hesitant.
The reason why I am reluctant to teach my daughter how to say the prayer is because of the last part of the Hail Mary, which says: “pray for us… at the hour of our death.”
I do not think that it is appropriate to introduce the word “death” to the subconsciousness of our children at a tender age, while their counterparts in other denominations grow up innocent of that reality.
As adults, we are conscious of our mortality and accept it as part of nature, but our children should be spared of that awareness until the age of societal accountability.
In consideration of this, I would suggest that the Vatican examine this issue and see if that part of the prayer could be changed to “pray for us … at the hour of our transition” or “at the hour of our need” or any other word or phrase they deem suitable.
Victor Uwakwe
Brooklyn
Who Would Want To Come Into The City?
Dear Editor: Is it any wonder why people are continuing to leave the city? Crime continues to spiral, and there are more shootings each week. More homeless and released felons continue to roam our streets, compromising the safety of people. Our public schools are an educational disaster.
There are many businesses that have either closed or have relocated out of the city due to economic fallout as a result of the forced lockdowns due to the pandemic last year.
Who would want to come into the city to visit or to reside with all of this mayhem continuing to go on?
The NYPD is constricted from fully being able to maintain law and order thanks to the no-bail law, and others, that have crippled criminal courts and district attorneys from doing their jobs effectively and get these people off the streets.
The homeless need to be institutionalized in hospitals where they can get the necessary help they need, and that is not happening at all, thanks to Mayor DeBlasio’s policies.
If this continues, this city will be turned into a wasteful no man’s land. This once great city will never be restored to its vibrancy, because of all of these issues.
John Amato
Fresh Meadows
This Type Of Hatred Must End Soon
Dear Editor: An act of vandalism took place in Forest Hills and two religious statues were destroyed at Our Lady
of Mercy Roman Catholic Church (“Woman Sought After Destroying Statues at Our Lady of Mercy,” Page 5).
As a Catholic and as Grand Knight of St. Anastasia Knights of Columbus Council # 5911 in Douglaston, I am appalled and greatly saddened at thisattack at Our Lady of Mercy.
Pastor Father Schwarz said, “I pray that this recent rash of attacks against Catholic churches and all houses of worship will end, and religious tolerance may become more part of our society.”
Well, I totally agree and pray to God that will come to pass. This type of hatred must end soon.
I also hope the person who committed this act is captured soon before more churches face the same act of vandalism.
Frederick R. Bedell Jr.
Bellerose
