Mass Times They Are A Changin'

This past weekend was the last of our ‘old’ Saturday and Sunday Mass times. Next weekend, August 18 and 19, we will usher in new Mass times for St. Pius X. (Saturday  at 4 pm, Sunday at 8:45 am, 10:30 am, and 7:30 pm). We have been preparing for the changes for a few months now, and as I have reflected on the changes, I couldn’t help but think of the Bob Dylan song The Times They are A-changin’. More on that later.

The only unchanging reality is God Himself. The rest of us change, like it or not. There is no doubt about it; change challenges us, and sometimes, it is hard. We are more or less creatures of habit. I'd like to think I’m spontaneous, but the reality is that I’m a planner, and I’m not so keen on things interfering with my plans. I like to say ‘variety is the spice of life’ but to be honest with you, I could eat tacos every day for the rest of my life. The variety part is chicken or beef, hard or soft.  I’ll go out on a limb here and say that I’m not alone. This is why the change in Mass times can be difficult. If the 8 am Mass is the hinge for your Sunday or your week, the hinge moved, and it moves other things with it.

My home parish changed the Sunday Mass times a few years ago. We went from 4 Sunday Masses to 3 Masses, and last year, the Saturday night Mass moved to an earlier time slot. Needless to say, it was a lot of change especially for my husband who thrives on set schedules and routine customs. Surprisingly,what has been most noticeable for us wasn’t the ‘change’ in our schedule, it was the ‘change’ in the congregation. Since everyone had to choose, some people that we always saw chose a different Mass time than we did. The people who we were accustomed to seeing had chosen a different Mass time leaving us a little disoriented after Mass and definitely challenging us to step out of our comfort zone to meet new people. While we miss some of our old friends, we have ‘new’ people to say “Hi” to and visit with over donuts. Change, it turns out, was good.

Which gets us back to the song.

Come gather 'round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You'll be drenched to the bone.
If your time to you
Is worth savin'
Then you better start swimmin'
Or you'll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin'.

Modern life has changed. There are many good things, but there is definitely a change in attitude about issues like faith and Church. The Church hasn't been quick to react even though the Second Vatican Council urged us to engage the modern world through the eyes of faith. Hence, the waters around us have grown. Not just at St. Pius X or in White Bear Lake, but everywhere. If we believe that faith is worth saving, worth something more than pleasantries, worth dying for, then we need to get swimmin’! Faith, Church, the Gospel isn't a me and Jesus thing (although immensely important), but we must be missionary disciples and share what we have received. It's that, “Go and make disciples of all nations" challenge that Jesus commanded of us before He ascended into Heaven.

Personally,  you may find the new Mass times wonderful or a major change in a long standing routine, or something in between. We hope that you will be able to see beyond the time change and embrace the opportunity to reach out to those who are not engaged in a life of faith.  Please pray for St. Pius X in the coming weeks and months as we adjust to the new Mass times and invite people into a new or deeper relationship with Jesus Christ.