Letter to the Editor from Tucker, GA

Published: November 25, 2004

To the Editor:

I read with interest these last weeks the column by Lorraine Murray (The Georgia Bulletin, Nov. 11) and the letter by Denise Dale (The Georgia Bulletin, Nov. 18) on how the Eastern Rite and the Latin Masses speak in a special way to some members of the Catholic Church. This speaks of the wonderful diversity of the Church; it shows how we reach out in our worship and reflects on how we strive to be universal, including everyone. I have also been blessed to participate in other communities, such as Masses in Chinese, Hispanic from several countries, Korean, Vietnamese, African-American, etc. Even in the “traditional” English parishes, there is a variety between parishes and even within different Sunday Masses in the same parish.

We realize we are each at a different comfort level in our worship style, and we may even find ourselves moving from one style to another. We are blessed in that we are each able to find our own spiritual home in the Church. I think that by reflecting on this diversity, we realize there is a right way for me, but any one way is not right for every individual. The main focus in each of the styles of worship, as specified in the Rubrics for the Mass, is the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. From our reviewing the comments previously written, we realize we are not in competition with one another; nor do we have a “right” way, or a “better” way, than any other way, only a “right” way or a “better” way for ourselves. Thanks to the previous writers for allowing us all the opportunity to reflect on our own worship style.

Deacon Whitney Robichaux, Tucker