Why are Mormon adults bringing youth groups to Mass?

[_madeleine]

If it is a public place and if they are being respectful what is the problem? What happens after the mass is beyond your control. Certainly a group of Catholic youth would be welcome at a LDS church service even if it was known they were using it to critique the Mormon service later on.

I didn't say they weren't welcome. The last group, who just showed up unannounced, were wandering around the church in the evening when no one was there. Only, we had a special mass planned in memory of someone who had died, and were preparing for the Mass while they were wandering around.

One of the adults walked up to me and asked me a couple of questions. I told them we were getting ready for a Mass and I invited them to stay. But it was very strange, they went to the very back rows, and sat there. Didn't pray with us, didn't do anything, but sit there. A few snickers were heard, but I understand, it was most likely a new and foreign experience and they were children. Are they barred from participating? Even praying?

I keep wondering if I made a mistake in inviting them to stay, and if I should extend the same invitation should it happen again.

[_Daniel Peterson]

My concern is how the Mass is being used. Is it being critiqued against Mormon belief? Is it being used as demonstration of "apostasy"?

It's possible, I suppose. But I doubt it.

Particularly with the last group, I get that they are there to watch a performance. This is our most sacred rite, not a performance.

How did you find out that they were there merely "to watch a performance"?

It seems to me that it would be simple to bar visitors, if that is your preference. Some scholars have actually argued that the term mass comes from the Latin term for the dismissal of non-Christians and catechumens prior to the eucharist in very ancient Christian worship, so you would have precedent. But I doubt that the Catholic Church will move in that direction.

[_Yoda]

If it is a public place and if they are being respectful what is the problem? What happens after the mass is beyond your control. Certainly a group of Catholic youth would be welcome at a LDS church service even if it was known they were using it to critique the Mormon service later on.

I didn't say they weren't welcome. The last group, who just showed up unannounced, were wandering around the church in the evening when no one was there. Only, we had a special mass planned in memory of someone who had died, and were preparing for the Mass while they were wandering around.

One of the adults walked up to me and asked me a couple of questions. I told them we were getting ready for a Mass and I invited them to stay. But it was very strange, they went to the very back rows, and sat there. Didn't pray with us, didn't do anything, but sit there. A few snickers were heard, but I understand, it was most likely a new and foreign experience and they were children. Are they barred from participating? Even praying?

I keep wondering if I made a mistake in inviting them to stay, and if I should extend the same invitation should it happen again.

If the adults knew that it was a mass intended for someone who had passed away, they may have simply sat the kids on the back rows so that they wouldn't disturb anyone. If the adults had never attended a mass before, I doubt they would know what to expect, either.

If they are encouraged to participate, and know how to participate, there may be a different result the next time.

I think you did the right thing in inviting them to stay.

[_Fence Sitter]

I didn't say they weren't welcome. The last group, who just showed up unannounced, were wandering around the church in the evening when no one was there. Only, we had a special mass planned in memory of someone who had died, and were preparing for the Mass while they were wandering around.

One of the adults walked up to me and asked me a couple of questions. I told them we were getting ready for a Mass and I invited them to stay. But it was very strange, they went to the very back rows, and sat there. Didn't pray with us, didn't do anything, but sit there. A few snickers were heard, but I understand, it was most likely a new and foreign experience and they were children. Are they barred from participating? Even praying?

I keep wondering if I made a mistake in inviting them to stay, and if I should extend the same invitation should it happen again.

There is no excuse for rudness but that does not seem to be what your OP was about.

[_madeleine]

My concern is how the Mass is being used. Is it being critiqued against Mormon belief? Is it being used as demonstration of "apostasy"?

It's possible, I suppose. But I doubt it.

Particularly with the last group, I get that they are there to watch a performance. This is our most sacred rite, not a performance.

How did you find out that they were there merely "to watch a performance"?

It seems to me that it would be simple to bar visitors, if that is your preference. Some scholars have actually argued that the term mass comes from the Latin term for the dismissal of non-Christians and catechumens prior to the eucharist in very ancient Christian worship, so you would have precedent. But I doubt that the Catholic Church will move in that direction.

I didn't "find out"...read what I posted above to fence sitter. Generally when I have noticed the LDS youth groups, it is during the Sunday morning Mass. Then, there are so many people in the church that they don't really stand out, other than, they just sit there. Which if you have been to a Mass, is a strange thing to do.

It isn't up to me if visitors stay or go, it is up to my priest. I informed him that I had invited them to stay. He was fine with that. And perhaps it would be better for me to talk to him about this, as the struggle I'm feeling over this has more to do with me feeling that I might have involved myself in a scandal. I mean that in the Catholic term, not the general secular idea.

So, to know if I have, I need to know the intentions of the people who are there. Which, I don't think is possible, as every individual can/will have their own intentions.

As to the term Mass, most certainly it come from the term to dismiss. We are dismissed at the end of every Mass, to go forth, as the word "apostle" says we should. That is, it isn't our duty to hang around the church doing nothing with our faith.

"Mass has ended, go in peace" is the last thing said by the priest...that is our dismissal.

The earliest terms it was used to describe the liturgy of the faithful, where yes, the catechumens were dismissed. And for a time, any who should not receive communion were dismissed as well (or they were barred from going past the narthex).

[_Redefined]

How 'bout just asking them? Next time you see this group of curious youngsters brought in, approach with something like, "Wow, I've haven't seen such an interest by a Mormon youth group before. So what brings y'all here today? What are you hoping to learn from your experience here? Are there any questions that I, as a devout Catholic member myself, can answer for you?"

You can even ask them if they feel the spirit of God that you are feeling today as you worship. If they say yes, then you can say, "well, knowing a bit about Mormonism, and how the spirit confirms truth, would you like to find out more about our church, and how you might be baptized?"

*Mormon-thinking cap on* My suspicion is, other than some sort of scouting-similar badge requirement for exploring religions, they may in fact be there for "image" purposes, similar to the Mormon ad campaign. To make the appearance to outsiders that they are open-minded to other religions. Also, getting the Catholic members attention, hoping that these Catholic members notice a special spirit that these youngsters possess, and hope to leave the Catholic members wanting to know more about this spirit they felt around these youngsters that they've never felt themselves. *Mormon-thinking cap off*

Never hurts to ask though.

[_madeleine]

There is no excuse for rudness but that does not seem to be what your OP was about.

No, it isn't.

[_Daniel Peterson]

they went to the very back rows, and sat there. Didn't pray with us, didn't do anything, but sit there. A few snickers were heard, but I understand, it was most likely a new and foreign experience and they were children. Are they barred from participating? Even praying?

There's no official Mormon bar to participating or praying in a Catholic service. Some Mormons might feel it inappropriate, of course; others (including myself) would not. Many Mormons might actually fear that Catholics would find it inappropriate if they participated. (I myself would not take Catholic communion, even if I had the opportunity, because it would seem disrespectful and theologically illegitimate in Catholic terms.)

I keep wondering if I made a mistake in inviting them to stay, and if I should extend the same invitation should it happen again.

I see no problem in inviting them to stay. But then, I'm not Catholic.

I would certainly welcome Catholics to a Mormon service, even if they were planning to critique it afterward.

The kids shouldn't have been snickering, of course. But they were kids. It's not surprising.

they may in fact be there for "image" purposes, similar to the Mormon ad campaign. To make the appearance to outsiders that they are open-minded to other religions. Also, getting the Catholic members attention, hoping that these Catholic members notice a special spirit that these youngsters possess, and hope to leave the Catholic members wanting to know more about this spirit they felt around these youngsters that they've never felt themselves.

I would be enormously surprised if considerations like these play any role at all.

[_madeleine]

If the adults knew that it was a mass intended for someone who had passed away, they may have simply sat the kids on the back rows so that they wouldn't disturb anyone. If the adults had never attended a mass before, I doubt they would know what to expect, either.

If they are encouraged to participate, and know how to participate, there may be a different result the next time.

I think you did the right thing in inviting them to stay.

Ah well, I spoke to him for only a couple of minutes, and his questions most certainly indicated he knew nothing of Catholicism at all.

The Mass that evening was particularly special. Besides our intentions for the anniversary of a death, it was also the memorial, celebrated by the entire Church, for St. Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna and Holy Martyr.

For a non-Catholic, never exposed to Catholicism at all, well, I felt kind of bad that they had no clue the several layers going on there, in our Mass. Having been there myself, I can only think it would be completely bewildering. So I have empathy.

[_madeleine]

There's no official Mormon bar to participating or praying in a Catholic service. Some Mormons might feel it inappropriate, of course; others (including myself) would not. Many Mormons might actually fear that Catholics would find it inappropriate if they participated. (I myself would not take Catholic communion, even if I had the opportunity, because it would seem disrespectful and theologically illegitimate in Catholic terms.)

No, a non-Catholic should not receive communion. But I don't know how anyone would think it was inappropriate to pray.

The kids shouldn't have been snickering, of course. But they were kids. It's not surprising.

That was my thought as well.

they may in fact be there for "image" purposes, similar to the Mormon ad campaign. To make the appearance to outsiders that they are open-minded to other religions. Also, getting the Catholic members attention, hoping that these Catholic members notice a special spirit that these youngsters possess, and hope to leave the Catholic members wanting to know more about this spirit they felt around these youngsters that they've never felt themselves.

I would be enormously surprised if considerations like these play any role at all.

This group was there on a weeknight, and I know that Mormons wouldn't think a Mass would be celebrated on a weeknight. So no, I don't think they were there to display anything about themselves.