AmericanPapist Comments
The Mothership reaches down to reclaim the PodPriest.
What am I looking at- an Andy Warhol project? I hear pop music from the 1980s throbbing all around me: what is love, baby don't hurt me, don't hurt me, no mo'
The Mass is certainly a "Close Encounter" with Christ, but this is ridiculous...
Ahh the finely tuned Liturgical Innovation Trap. Father need only take the smallest liberty with the GIRM and the cage drops from the sky. Once trapped he can only be freed by the local ordinary.
'Welcome to Confess Your Sins- the game show that takes the Sacrament of Reconciliation to a whole 'nother level. You'll see hardcore Obama supporters weep and grovel for forgiveness. Now here's the host with the most.....Father....Jay....Scott.... NEW-man......'
After the Master Control Program converted to Catholicism, his first act was to build a church.
St. Apollo now awaits Catholics who will serve on the International Space Station. This is the first recorded photo of a worship space in.....space.
"And now for your entertainment pleasure, the King of heaven and earth...wait, um, where is He? Can someone go find the tabernacle?"
ELO's concert stage designed by a Notre Dame grad.
Welcome to the Catholic Round Church of America, where all glory is given to those who worship God.
In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, honey,
Don't you know that I love you?
In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, baby,
Don't you know that I'll always be true?
ba ba bada ba ba ba ba ba,
ba ba bada ba ba ba ba ba
. . . drum solo
Where is this church?
Oh never mind i clicked on the right thing and it is in Liverpool.
"Good News Holy Father! We've converted the Klingons!"
or my hubby suggests; "I'll take church decor for 1,000 Alex!"
So, where is this really from?
Is this part of your beautiful Church series...? Because if so, it's a really miss...
ET was surprised to find that modernist catholics weren't so alien afterall.
Shelob!
Reminds of a certain discotheque in California, lo so many years ago.
Looks like a concert should begin soon.
Do they have a fog generator?
"Welcome to the Repentagon!"
The multi-aperture phase-coherent antenna array gives new meaning to Ps 140 (141) v.2.
You want Mr Solomon Roth?
This way please....
I'm....just trying to give it the benefit of the doubt and blaming it on the bad lighting...maybe?
Pastor's log......supplemental.
Ruritania is fast running out of heirs. Every time one of them is crowned in the New Cathedral, the crown tends to flatten him beyond use.
I've got Mass fever, Mass fever...
Because of the down turn in the economy some of the scaffolding was never removed.
.... I'd pay good money to see this in Star Trek, and with a little work it'd be a really pretty Church-- remove that thing hanging in the air, put a crucifix on that red-bordered thingie, make a really nice tabernacle....
(I think the tabernacle is that little gold thing in front of the left-center window?)
Ugh, how come the modern attempts at making a place that'll lift your spirit always have to have so many UGLY things?
I don't get it. What is this a picture of?
"ECHO! (Echo.. echo... echo.)"
"Remember, man, that thou art neon and unto neon you shall return."
The conspiracy theory that the Church was in fact run by aliens from another planet with horrible liturgical taste was beginning to gain popularity as the new parish was opened for the first time...
Burn baby burn...
Because of a downturn in Sunday giving, St. Elmo's now doubles as a disco on Friday nights to raise extra cash.
Logan 5, we have found Sanctuary; would you like to play Carousel?
A lesson learned the hard way... pastors, make sure to read the fine print when the liturgical space committee asks to install stained glass windows in the church.
LOL Jason Where are the BGs?
St. Gizmos introduces the new Phantom of Paradise pipe organ.
Oh no ! Someone stole our neon Crucifix !
The Church 2.0
"Mr. Spock, there is definitely no intelligent life here!"
Those who hailed Obama as the new messiah wasted little time building him a church.
What happened when Darth Vader made a mid-life career change and went into church architecture.
And in aisle one, the blue light special for limited time only.
Why go all over town to see a Pink Floyd laser light show, go club-hopping, and go to Mass when you could do it all in ONE building?!"
I thought I'd opened the wrong page and was at the Electric Light parade at Disneyland!
Next up.... liturgical disco dancing!
After mass today, we have our special guests - welcome Cirque du Soleil.
We agree it fails. But exactly why does it fail? I'll be looking for a serious discussion of that. Object lesson for future church-building projects. Meanwhile, I go with Andrew's comment.
BEAM ME UP, SCOTTY!
I wanted a Star Trek caption so badly I could taste it, but I wasn't witty enough. Good job Adam S.
As the reform of the reform began to take hold in even the furthest dioceses in the galaxy, the revolt against bland white churches took some funny turns.
Good Lord - the red lights behind the "altar"... are those light sabers?
And I'm sure it's the sort of place where giant puppet political theater/liberation theology would feel at home.
Tonight, 'Who Wants to be a
Millionaire' will be hosted live
from St. John's Cathedral here in
lovely Southern California.
Hurry that mass up -- Ice Capades are coming,
In all seriousness, that's some heavy Masonic influence. I hope that's not a Catholic church.
Come join us in the communal celebration of the Mass, complete with play-acting, liturgical dancing, and music by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra!
On location for the sequel to Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. Tina Turner will play a priestess conducting mass and Master Blaster will be deacon. Though Mad-Mel is a definite no show.
Does that chandelier drop from the ceiling before intermission?
Please join us in singing our Presentation song, "All I Ask of You."
Obama Dedicates Church to "Our Lady of Perpetual Abortion" (child age becomes non-issue, membership mysteriously decreases)
Qapla´!
- Klingon reaction to the end of construction on their new church.
This is the Catholic Cathedral of Liverpool, England-also known as "Paddy's Wigwam" (Patrick Kelly is the Archbishop). It's called that because on the outside it looks like a tepee!
I have a priest-friend in Salford (Manchester) diocese who had Kelly as his Bishop. He didn't like him [the Bishop] too well; his 'private' nickname for him was "Fishface"!
I visited this cathedral with my friend in October 1999. He also took me to the [MUCH NICER] Anglican Cathedral, which was a short walk away.
The captions are really a howl....but my pick is Gerard E's! Way to go, Gerry!
"The new non-denominational chapel in the neon sculpture concourse will welcome seekers in a self-realization dialogue at ten o'clock."--public announcement at Chicago's O'Hare Airport.
Our entrance hymn is #324 “Spiders from Mars” and our recessional hymn will be #421 “Spirit in the Sky”.
The focusing chamber of the giant papal superlaser also functions as a worship space.
Welcome to the home parish of Starfleet, "Our Lady Queen of the Alternate Universe", pastor, Msgr. William T. Kirk (a very late vocation!)
I fell in the ring of fire
I fell into, into the burning ring of fire
I fell down, down, down, down into the deepest mire
and it burns, burns, burns, burns
the ring of fire, the ring of fire, the ring of fire
Let's see how many people we can nail with that chandelier when they come up to gather around the altar.
It's ladies' night at St. Alfonso's!
Irishgirl's comment reminds me very much of San Francisco. It has a teepee Catholic cathedral (http://www.stmarycathedralsf.org/) and a very beautiful Episcopal cathedral nearby (http://www.gracecathedral.org/church/overview/)
And in this corner, our extra-ordinary ministers weighing in at... Wait!
There are no corners!
I just have to say that I have been to this cathedral and the picture doesn't do it justice. It is breathtaking inside! Yes, it's modern, but I think some of these comments are too harsh (although some have been funny, too). The outside is strange, for sure (and honestly, the outside of the Anglican one is not so great looking outside either) but they are both awe-inspiring once you enter them.
Thankfully, some shrewd liturgists have found a new and exciting use for the old set from Empire Strikes Back. Rumor has it that the metal-encased Han Solo will soon find a new home as a side shrine in this church of the future.
I second the disco assessment of Ed. It could also have been the stage for an ABBA concert circa 1979.
This is the (Catholic) Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King in Liverpool, England. It was built pre-Vatican II. It is rather beautiful inside with many contempoary styled statues, tapestries and stained glass. As becoming a cathedral, it has a seperate blessed sacrement chapel (behind the altar). The photograph must have been taken at twilight when the glass is particuarly illuminated which explains the extrodinary lighting effect - it does not actually have any neon lighting. The crown above the altar is crafted metalwork symbolising the crown of thorns - neither is it lit but it is reflecting the colours from the stained glass. The cathedral has a fine choir in the best tradition of english choral music. The cathedral has a preservation order and is a listed building as a classic example of contemporary church architecture of it's time.
A more traditional basilica structure was started but abandoned after many years of building due to cost. The crypt is in this original style but is rather dowdy and ugly. Go to the website and look at the cathedral and i think you will be pleasantly surprised. Many of the comments are rather funny but display a remarkable level of ignorance.
First encounters of a trinitarian kind
big benny-thanks for reminding me about the Cahtedral's name...I had 'brain freeze' when I made my post! : )
When I visited it in 1999 with my Salford diocesan priest friend (ordained by JP II in 1982, BTW), he took me around just the upper part of the church-not the crypt.
You have to admit-most of the comments ARE kind of funny!
Toto, I don't think we're in a Catholic Church anymore.
Bishop Fett: "What if the carbon freezing process fails? The parishoners are no good to me dead."
Cardinal Vader: "I'm sure Pope Palpatine will compensate you for your loss..."
Thanks to Big Benny for restoring some reality. Construction was during and immediately after VII. The altar does bear a large crucifix - the photograph is taken from a side aisle and does not do justice.
The liturgy (N O) is usually very reverent and Solemn Mass each Sunday sung with a variety of mainly Latin polyphonic mass settings combined with Gregorian Chant and in accord with the published GIRM norms.
The Blessed Sacrament is reserved in its own chapel directly opposite the main entrance and on the same axis, where Holy Mass is celebrated daily and at other times is a haven for private prayer. The pipework seen forms the baldacchino required over the High Altar and incorporates lighting. Thereis a very fine organ which includes orchestral trumpets which are used to enhance the music appropriately.
The glass enhances the beauty of the buidling when the sun shines: what cannot be seen are the flecks of red which punctuate the upper levels of the glass symbolising the Holy Spirit - it was formally opened on Pentecost Sunday - and a massive lantern tower with three bursts of white light representing the Trinity, which is illuminated at night shining out over the city as a beacon of faith.
Apart from illumination of a mosaic and hanging in two of the side chapels in view, it is all natural lighting.
While some of the comments are humorous, some do come across as being from less well-informed.
www.liverpoolmetrocathedral.org.uk is the official website with history, info and more pictures.
This... Is... Soul-Jeopardy!!!
I'm delighted to hear that the pretty seen here has more, and the freaky is just overstated!
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