Catholic Underground brings faithful of all ages together in Whiting
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
Story by Dorothy K. LaMantia, Correspondent
It may be known for its mission to draw young people to the Church, but the Catholic Underground of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal drew a multigenerational crowd March 17 as the brothers opened the annual Lenten Weekend Mission in St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Whiting.
More than 100 people, which included families, young adults and youth, gathered for the Holy Hour that mingled traditional Catholic worship with contemporary expression to pray with the Catholic Underground, a cultural apostolate of the friars whose mission is to attract young people ages 18 to 35 to the Church.
Photo Gallery: Catholic Underground
The Franciscan friars have conducted the Lenten mission for years, but this year Father Pasquale Papalia, pastor, and Rosemary MacMaster, parish youth ministry coordinator, agreed to bring Catholic Underground to the parish to involve youth groups from around the Diocese.
“Each month for around the last year and a half, our youth group has an hour of Eucharistic devotion. We have had the Underground here for our kids, and we felt we should share this amazing experience with other people,” MacMaster said, adding that even though the friars’ ministry is to Catholic youth, “we never want to exclude anyone because of age. We want to tie everyone together at this church.”
Since 2009, Catholic Underground has ministered to millennials at monthly gatherings featuring Vespers, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Benediction, accompanied by praise music appealing to more contemporary musical tastes.
The ministry, which attracts thousands of young people each month to Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in midtown Manhattan, is seen by bishops as a sign of hope for the Church. The Catholic Underground also has sites in Philadelphia; Berkeley and Los Angeles, Calif.; Nashville and London.
In addition to the St. Patrick’s Day service, the Franciscan brothers – all seminarians in St. Joseph’s Seminary, Yonkers, N.Y., who will be ordained as deacons in May – conducted an Hour of Adoration March 18 and participated in all Masses for the Third Sunday of Lent.
“Lent is a time to come together to worship,” said Brother Angelus Montgomery, who conducted the service with Father Papalia. “It is not about us; it’s not about what we’re giving up or the good things we’ll do. It is a quiet time to be with the Lord.
“We spend too much with eyes on ourselves, he said. “Tonight we must use our eyes to worship and adore Jesus in the Eucharist.”
Throughout Adoration, Brother Pierre Toussaint played guitar and led the congregation in song while accompanied on keyboard by Brother Francisco Gavazi. Gradually the congregation joined in on the refrain.
Father Papalia described the Grey Friars, as they are often called, as “a 21st century answer to the indifference of the things of God in this world. Basically, they’re telling us to love God. I brought them here to touch by their example, their humanness and their joy, and to inspire the young and the young at heart.”
And for many in attendance, the service appeared to do just that, evoking longstanding devotions including time for the Sacrament of Reconciliation and singing traditional hymns such as “Tantum Ergo.”
Parishioners Art and Marianne Girgus commented, “Tonight reminded me of the Holy Hours from years ago. It was different, but it was beautiful, especially the songs. As you heard the songs, it was as though your heart was praying and your burdens relieved. You knew the Lord was there, and the friars radiated such joy.”
For youth and young adults in attendance, the Holy Hour provided a welcome addition to their spiritual resources.
“It went beyond my expectations,” said Emma Vidal, an eighth-grade student and parishioner of St. Mary Parish, Barnegat. “The praise hymns were beautiful; I was able to go to Confession, and the Adoration was such a quiet time to talk to God.”
Seated with friends from various parishes, Gabriella Furmato, parishioner of St. William the Abbott Parish, Howell, was delighted she could attend a Catholic Underground without having to travel to New York.
“I love the way they chant the Liturgy of the Hours and lead us into worship,” said Furmato, who is involved in young adult ministry. “You know you’re not alone. It is so powerful when you’re in church with people who believe in the true presence in the Eucharist and you’re worshipping the presence together.”
Victoria Reilly of St. Justin the Martyr Parish, Toms River, said Furmato encouraged her to attend the evening service. “It was good to take time out from our busy schedules to praise God and to be around youth who share the same values.”
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Story by Dorothy K. LaMantia, Correspondent
It may be known for its mission to draw young people to the Church, but the Catholic Underground of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal drew a multigenerational crowd March 17 as the brothers opened the annual Lenten Weekend Mission in St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Whiting.
More than 100 people, which included families, young adults and youth, gathered for the Holy Hour that mingled traditional Catholic worship with contemporary expression to pray with the Catholic Underground, a cultural apostolate of the friars whose mission is to attract young people ages 18 to 35 to the Church.
Photo Gallery: Catholic Underground
The Franciscan friars have conducted the Lenten mission for years, but this year Father Pasquale Papalia, pastor, and Rosemary MacMaster, parish youth ministry coordinator, agreed to bring Catholic Underground to the parish to involve youth groups from around the Diocese.
“Each month for around the last year and a half, our youth group has an hour of Eucharistic devotion. We have had the Underground here for our kids, and we felt we should share this amazing experience with other people,” MacMaster said, adding that even though the friars’ ministry is to Catholic youth, “we never want to exclude anyone because of age. We want to tie everyone together at this church.”
Since 2009, Catholic Underground has ministered to millennials at monthly gatherings featuring Vespers, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Benediction, accompanied by praise music appealing to more contemporary musical tastes.
The ministry, which attracts thousands of young people each month to Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in midtown Manhattan, is seen by bishops as a sign of hope for the Church. The Catholic Underground also has sites in Philadelphia; Berkeley and Los Angeles, Calif.; Nashville and London.
In addition to the St. Patrick’s Day service, the Franciscan brothers – all seminarians in St. Joseph’s Seminary, Yonkers, N.Y., who will be ordained as deacons in May – conducted an Hour of Adoration March 18 and participated in all Masses for the Third Sunday of Lent.
“Lent is a time to come together to worship,” said Brother Angelus Montgomery, who conducted the service with Father Papalia. “It is not about us; it’s not about what we’re giving up or the good things we’ll do. It is a quiet time to be with the Lord.
“We spend too much with eyes on ourselves, he said. “Tonight we must use our eyes to worship and adore Jesus in the Eucharist.”
Throughout Adoration, Brother Pierre Toussaint played guitar and led the congregation in song while accompanied on keyboard by Brother Francisco Gavazi. Gradually the congregation joined in on the refrain.
Father Papalia described the Grey Friars, as they are often called, as “a 21st century answer to the indifference of the things of God in this world. Basically, they’re telling us to love God. I brought them here to touch by their example, their humanness and their joy, and to inspire the young and the young at heart.”
And for many in attendance, the service appeared to do just that, evoking longstanding devotions including time for the Sacrament of Reconciliation and singing traditional hymns such as “Tantum Ergo.”
Parishioners Art and Marianne Girgus commented, “Tonight reminded me of the Holy Hours from years ago. It was different, but it was beautiful, especially the songs. As you heard the songs, it was as though your heart was praying and your burdens relieved. You knew the Lord was there, and the friars radiated such joy.”
For youth and young adults in attendance, the Holy Hour provided a welcome addition to their spiritual resources.
“It went beyond my expectations,” said Emma Vidal, an eighth-grade student and parishioner of St. Mary Parish, Barnegat. “The praise hymns were beautiful; I was able to go to Confession, and the Adoration was such a quiet time to talk to God.”
Seated with friends from various parishes, Gabriella Furmato, parishioner of St. William the Abbott Parish, Howell, was delighted she could attend a Catholic Underground without having to travel to New York.
“I love the way they chant the Liturgy of the Hours and lead us into worship,” said Furmato, who is involved in young adult ministry. “You know you’re not alone. It is so powerful when you’re in church with people who believe in the true presence in the Eucharist and you’re worshipping the presence together.”
Victoria Reilly of St. Justin the Martyr Parish, Toms River, said Furmato encouraged her to attend the evening service. “It was good to take time out from our busy schedules to praise God and to be around youth who share the same values.”
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