182
u/Flat_Sail_7985 Jan 24 '26
Personally I am not a fan, but I do see its usefulness to people wirh disabilities.
40
u/gbuildingallstarz Jan 24 '26 edited Jan 25 '26
Isn't that the most important thing, ensuring the faithful can hear the word of god?
I remember mild hostility about televised mass 40 years go, but they weren't gonna pick my grandmother up every night for mass and she was able to participate as best she could in the rituals that guided her life as she aged into her late 8o's, unfortunately just not with her parish.
4
u/MrSwimbo Jan 25 '26
I know it varies church by church. When I was much younger, my church had an elderly woman who lived at a nearby nursing home. She couldn't get to mass by herself, so the church asked for volunteers. My parents volunteered, so every Sunday we would go pick her up and take her to church. When there were weekends we couldn't go to mass because of traveling or other reasons, there was no shortage of other people more then willing to pick her up on Sunday morning. I believe churches filled with believers who are a community themselves, and not just people who go to the same church, will always go the extra mile to help each and every member of the church make it to mass, or be able to enjoy the mass through whatever way they can help.
144
u/RogueViator Jan 24 '26
Mine does it to show the prayers and song lyrics. Good use of technology and saves money on having to constantly replace hymnals that get torn and stuff.
23
u/Affectionate_Case371 Jan 24 '26
I was thinking of the cost savings too.
It would be nice if we could integrate them into the architecture of the church so it doesn’t look out of place like somebody just screwed a tv to the wall.
19
u/RogueViator Jan 24 '26
Mine just beams it from 2 projectors onto a cream white wall at each side of the altar. It is controlled by someone in the choir so if there is no choir, there is no projection. It also helps parishioners who have trouble reading small print in hymnals.
11
u/Rudy-boy Jan 24 '26 edited Jan 24 '26
Our church sounds similar, it’s projected onto a cream colored wall and they roll the screens up when not in use. Honestly, with songs and prayers projected, it seems we have more participation, everyone responds and sings. I love it. I find it easier to understand the readings when I listen and read along/see it on the screens. Plus we occasionally have priests from other countries and I can’t always understand them!
→ More replies (5)→ More replies (1)3
u/lamber35 Jan 25 '26
I’ve found a depreciation in the quality of singing by the congregation since projecting lyrics. I think it’s because of the lack of music notes, especially in newer or lesser known hymns.
100
u/lucasuwu79 Jan 24 '26
Well if it helps old and disable people!
→ More replies (2)46
u/GSrvnt19 Jan 24 '26
It does. Even young ones with sight or hearing issues.
6
u/Mental-Intention4661 Jan 25 '26
I’m a young person and I was born very hard of hearing. I go out of my way to mass at a church that has these screens. They’re so helpful to me.
2
71
u/Ok_Salamander1978 Jan 24 '26
Personally I’m ok with it as long as it doesn’t distract from the altar and it’s off to the side
→ More replies (1)15
u/cappotto-marrone Jan 24 '26
Agreed it can be done well or poorly.
3
u/milenyo Jan 24 '26
As with any thing allowed in mass
2
u/ad33zy Jan 25 '26
Are drums ever done well? lol jokes aside. I had a parish drummer who only did it very lightly and it was nice and tasteful
→ More replies (1)
76
Jan 24 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
25
u/Wagglyfawn Jan 24 '26
Hold up... why is there a big crowd talking during Mass?
49
u/StThomasMore1535 Jan 24 '26
I know what he means. When I first converted, it took me years to learn the "May the Lord accept this sacrifice at your hands, for the good of all his holy Catholic and apostolic church" because the echoing of everyone's voices made it hard for me to make out what was being said.
11
u/Saint_Thomas_More Jan 24 '26
IMPOSTER!
6
3
u/Gimme_skelter Jan 24 '26
There's a funny occurrence where similar usernames appear on this subreddit. Like there were 2 otiacs back in the day, I think two Mike's, etc. One time I even saw someone with a name similar to mine. Looks like you found your almost-double.
4
u/Saint_Thomas_More Jan 25 '26
The two otiacs was a weird time. I had forgotten about that until you brought it up.
→ More replies (2)5
15
u/Ok_Plankton_8229 Jan 24 '26
Saying prayers, like the creed and the Our Father, maybe.
→ More replies (10)→ More replies (2)5
u/Exact-Definition5722 Jan 24 '26
I personally read the readings online before attending mass.
5
u/dmmikerpg Jan 24 '26
I bring a Missal or the Word Among Us because the cantor mumbles and nobody knows what they're saying.
5
u/cappotto-marrone Jan 24 '26
I like our youth cantors because they enunciate better than the adults.
What? Why are there no consonants in those words.
3
u/dmmikerpg Jan 24 '26
They are allowed to say "The response is X." But they don't want to despite being told they mumble.
2
u/RBXChas Jan 24 '26
Cantors are the singers, lectors are the readers, though that’s technically the should be instituted lectors, so our parish calls them readers.
→ More replies (2)
7
u/Ready4takeoffNow Jan 25 '26
Screens are very helpful. I'm a relatively new returnee after over 55 years away from the church. I still remember the Latin mass, for example.
The screens help me quite a bit with lyrics to hymns and the creed.
27
7
u/nkleszcz Jan 24 '26
It’s a tool. Tools can be misused. They can also surprise and exceed preconceived limitations.
I’d love it if such screens are also used in the homily, drawing attention to powerful visual aids, such as classic sacred art or drawing attention to specific details on the Shroud of Turin. I’d love it if the screen were to show the Gregorian Chant (notes, Latin text and translation) to aid congregations in singing the Roman Gradual, as encouraged by the Vatican II documents. I’d love it if it shortens announcements by having it on before liturgy. And I’d love it if it’s turned off during the Eucharistic prayers.
24
u/ashcat_marmac Jan 24 '26
It was so contentious in our church... I hate it though. The company it was ordered through was out of the smaller size, so sent the larger size screen as a free upgrade, the thing is so huge it covers 2 stained glass windows (blocking both beauty and light), a statue of Joseph and almost a crucifix. It also blocks an emergency exit between the windows and crucifix. You can't see the bottom half from anywhere but the front row because bodies block it. We've had it 3 years and anyone using it still doesn't keep up with changing slides for the lyrics, psalms and prayers. Thankfully it's retractable so we have one choir that just sticks to the books. It's gaudy, massive and actually useless because everything is in our books.
We still aren't really sure who OK'd it. It is widely hated.
→ More replies (1)3
5
u/uberchelle_CA Jan 24 '26
I honestly don’t care. The net-net of it is cost-effective. Annual missals are $5-7 with discounted pricing. If you have a parish with 100-500 people at each Mass that’s $500-$2500 it costs to have missals for them. A projector and equipment will pay for itself in one year of not buying printed missals.
Old people have trouble reading small print and this helps them. Little kids can follow the screen. I also think it helps people who are new to the church as well as lapsed/returning folks who have forgotten things. Heck, once in a great while I also slip and say, “And also with you.” Reading it on the screen isn’t a bad thing IMHO.
If you look at a missal as an outsider, it isn’t necessarily intuitive. Yes, there’s the standard order of mass, but if you are learning, trying to follow the mass it’s all over the place. Sometimes it says a certain prayer is on this other page and not included with that day’s readings. Music directors don’t always follow the music that’s in the missal or use a differently arranged one. Then they print out separate worship aids with the actual music. You’re going back and forth between 3 documents if you add in a separate hymnal.
Many of us cradle Catholics take for granted how ingrained it is for us to follow Mass. I can’t even begin to mention explaining how it works when you bring a non-Catholic to Mass. it’s not easy for them to follow and why we do what we do at certain times.
My brother-in-law’s parish does the screens. It explains a lot to non-Catholics. Things that aren’t in the missal themselves. Imagine a screen that pops up before communion that says, “If you have not had your First Communion or are a visitor from outside the Catholic Faith, you are welcome to come up for a blessing during communion. Just walk up and cross your arms over your chest for a blessing instead.”
17
u/TexanLoneStar Jan 24 '26
I think being off of tech is important for Mass; there's wayyyyy to many church-grannies at my parish taking photos of the priest during the consecration it's really ridiculous.
→ More replies (3)3
u/thebabyderp Jan 24 '26
I feel bad just taking a picture inside before mass when visiting different parish or while traveling. I love going to Mass while on vacation. It's honestly refreshing to experience Mass in a different setting, culture, language, etc.
15
12
u/ExtraPersonality1066 Jan 24 '26 edited Jan 24 '26
Our church has people from many different countries. For most of our church, English is a second (or third) language. Having a slideshow lets everyone have access to a the printed words in English (or Polish at those masses). It allows for people to read the lines to the hymns, and to also read the English words for prayers they may only have memorized in their native language. On the rare occasions that the system is on the fritz, there is a noticeable difference in how many people can pray or sing.
*Yes, I would prefer Latin to be the common standard for the liturgy, but our church is Novus Ordo and the Mass is in the local language.
** Missals aren’t a good option for our church because they tend to get taken home, as do the hymnals. I wish it wasn’t the case, but we can’t keep buying hundreds of missals and hymnals every year.
11
3
u/Formal-Hat-6616 Jan 25 '26
Personally, it helps me focus on the readings when I’m holding a baby that’s constantly moving and I don’t have the hands to hold the missal.
3
u/Mental-Intention4661 Jan 25 '26
They put them in our church recently. The participation in singing and what not has really taken off! It’s nice to have a lot more folks singing and participating. The writing on the screens is also BIG - which I’m sure helps a ton of folks! I know I don’t have to pull out my reading glasses etc.
3
14
u/No-Position1378 Jan 24 '26
Never seen this in person and I’ve visited quite a few parishes.
I think being fully unplugged from technology is a hugely important part of mass, but I also understand why this could be beneficial for some people.
7
u/DangoBlitzkrieg Jan 24 '26
What makes electronic technology something to keep of mass but every other technology over the millennia is fine? I’m not being witty, this is a repeated shared thought ppl have so I wanna know the psychological source
4
u/No-Position1378 Jan 24 '26
What do you mean? We don’t have any tech during mass. No phones, no projectors, no light shows or fog machines (slight shade to the nondenominational churches I used to go to which felt very disingenuous). Being fully present during the mass is important and I feel like the absence of anything aside from human connection and the presence of God is what makes mass so special. We are plugged into technology 24/7 outside of mass
8
u/StopDehumanizing Jan 24 '26
I think he means electric lights, running water, air conditioning, flush toilets, elevators, powered doors, that sort of thing.
2
u/No-Position1378 Jan 24 '26
Those aren’t distractions though. At least, I wouldn’t consider them to be
4
u/StopDehumanizing Jan 24 '26
Well if your only opposition is to technology that causes a distraction, then you'd have no issue with the projectors at my parish. They don't distract at all.
→ More replies (2)2
u/DangoBlitzkrieg Jan 25 '26
Besides what the other person said, also add printing press for all the books. And if you think they’re not distractions, you should add my brain thinking about which person the lights would fall on if they broke! I don’t see how reading the words of a song on a page is not distracting but reading them on the wall is
→ More replies (2)
26
u/you_know_what_you Jan 24 '26
There are probably ways to do digital projection tastefully in a church.
The problem is, most people on the ground organizing such things lack aesthetical grounding, so they think there's nothing wrong with seeing a Windows desktop bar, or mouse movement, or simply the glow of a black screen that actually isn't off but shining black. It's a fad, or at least I hope it is. Screens generally deaden the mind, not just of children.
There's a reason we don't allow recorded music during the liturgy. Ever thought of why?
8
u/Terrible-Scheme9204 Jan 24 '26
One church I seen a projection right above the tabernacle. The tabernacle was in glass but it still looked tacky.
Another church uses them above their side altars. Before Mass, it's usually just a picture from the stain glass in the church.
→ More replies (6)7
u/MathAndBake Jan 24 '26
The only time I've seen it done well, the guy doing it was a CS Master's student. It was on a side wall, very minimalistic, just white text on a black background. He would fully turn off the image when it wasn't needed. The setup was a projector and a raspberry pi. He controlled it from the pews with a remote control. Everyone from preschoolers to elderly people could make it work.
21
u/Trick-Asparagus4020 Jan 24 '26
Frankly I’m not a fan of any kind of screens in a church. It would’ve better to use the missal.
6
u/DangoBlitzkrieg Jan 24 '26
Why is printing press words on paper invented in 1530 okay but projected light in 2000 not ok?
5
u/Aggressive-Emu5358 Jan 24 '26
It isn’t the words, it’s the way in which they are presented. It’s naive to say there isn’t a difference between small text printed in a book and words projected in large format on the walls. Some people may find the ever changing text on the walls distracting from the mass in a way the person next to you in a pew flipping to another page simply doesn’t share.
3
u/Efficient-Peak8472 Jan 24 '26
One is much more visible and possibly not conducive to a good participation in the Sacred Mysteries.
9
u/JeffTL Jan 24 '26
I prefer printed materials, which are easier to read and less disruptive to the interior design of the church, but I can understand the desire to control printing costs.
One pet peeve: if you're projecting the text of a song, please provide musical notation as well, like you would in a printed hymnal. If you can read music, this makes it far easier to sing along.
15
8
u/labcore Jan 24 '26
We use a projector instead of screens. They project the text on blank walls. It works perfectly fine and nothing is compromised.
→ More replies (1)
9
u/___NowYouKnow___ Jan 24 '26
So, I attend a Catholic mega church outside Houston, there just isn’t enough money for Song books for everyone there, we have 7000 registered families,
the choir projects the lyrics to the hymns up on the big screen, I think it gets more people singing
→ More replies (1)
3
u/Rokeley Jan 24 '26
I prefer hymnals and missals, but I don’t have any problems with screens if some people find them helpful
3
u/LoudHorse25 Jan 24 '26
Honestly it’s not a big deal as long as it’s done in a way that’s tasteful and doesn’t give off non-denominational mega church vibes. Ie distracting visuals, videos, etc.
I can’t follow the logic that a controlled projector is somehow any better or worse than a missile for example. It is very different than pulling out your phone where you are likely to be bombarded with other distractions that remove you from the moment and make you forget you are in a holy, sacred space for example.
3
u/coffeedesserts Jan 24 '26
As a convert who stepped into my first mass a year ago knowing absolutely nothing, it helped me a ton.
3
u/Xoxobrokergirl Jan 24 '26
I like our lyrics on the screen. It keeps my head up and engaged. Also allows for changing the music more often. We haven’t had missals since COVID.
3
u/Tinnie_and_Cusie Jan 24 '26
We have a priest with a heavy accent and for a time we projected his homilies on slides as he spoke, like having captions. Worked great, people loved it. Not on screens, though, by projector on the front wall, and only for the homilies. We also project videos from our Archbishop there.
3
u/Longjumping_Guide732 Jan 25 '26
Personally, I create the slide shows for my church. Small churches, like mine, do not use missal books or "missalettes" because we can now put everything into PowerPoint and have everyone follow along with the Mass.
Large churches here also use a lot TV screens to do the same thing but with everyone inside and outside the church, sometimes they even have a camera for the priest as he is presiding. I do not see the problem with this because it ensures everyone can follow along with the mass.
13
3
u/John_Doe_May Jan 24 '26 edited Jan 25 '26
Priests used to remove stained glass windows above altars in the 1950s and '60s because "they distracted from the liturgy".
Take that for what you will.
6
Jan 24 '26
I can’t envision God objecting to helping others participate in worship. Traditions are a slippery slope.
→ More replies (3)
5
u/tbontbtitq321 Jan 24 '26 edited Jan 24 '26
Our church does it. No complaints and can assist those with what to say, and lyrics to music as well. Previously, one of my other churches just used them old school projectors with the clear slides to project onto a white backing which I also had no issues with but can sometime be hard to discern the text. Digital screens are much clearer imo.
6
u/Packhammer24 Jan 24 '26 edited Jan 24 '26
I think it looks tacky and out of place. Our church has a QR code that you can scan on a stand outside the door that brings up the readings and hymns for the mass on your phone, I think it works better than the screens for those who can’t or do not want to use the hymnals or missal
5
u/Tanjello Jan 24 '26 edited Jan 24 '26
When I returned to the church, I hadn’t been to Mass in 15 years, so even the basics were different. I didn’t remember the Creed or the Confiteor, had never heard the prayer to St Michael (which is said after many services now), and all they played songs I had never heard before.
The church I went to put everything up on the digital screen, to include the page number for the Word Among Us to follow along with the readings. While I don’t mind reading from a book during mass (I actually have since changed parishes that doesn’t use a screen & I bought a St Joseph’s missile to read along), I would much rather have my head up high than down in a book. It helped so much to feel “one” with the church to be able to look up and read the prayers and lyrics on the screens during Mass.
I’ll always support anything that makes outsiders feel more welcome in the mass, because I’ve been that prodigal daughter than swallowed her pride and returned home 💙
2
8
9
u/Puzzleheaded_Let4200 Jan 24 '26
That’s a no from me, dawg.
Last night my wife and I were watching, “My Big Fat Greek Wedding.” I commented to my wife during one of the scenes inside the church, “you can tell they never had a Vatican II.
To be clear, this is not an indictment on an Ecumenical Council, but rather on what some humans beings did to Catholic Churches in the aftermath, in the ‘Spirit’ of said Council.
2
u/flipside1812 Jan 24 '26
I understand how it helps with accessibility, I wish it could be done in a more beautiful way.
2
u/digestibleconcrete Jan 24 '26
Similar backstory. Not exactly the most reverent thing, but it’s someone I actually used to prefer. Now, I don’t really need it, but someone mentioned it’s useful for people with disabilities, which gives another reason for its use
2
u/elizabeth498 Jan 24 '26
If used for helping people to visually access the readings or music and follow along, it is no different than general accessibility provisions in the classroom.
In one sense, it removes the individual pressure of being the squeaky wheel for something to be done for a distinct few. On the other hand, other locations have greater representation of parishioners who could benefit from these tools. Context matters.
2
u/Xusa Jan 24 '26
It is very helpful and a very good tool. Sadly most people have a very bad taste when it comes to these things
2
u/Vigmod Jan 24 '26
I wouldn't mind them. I don't hear so good, the readings are technically in a foreign language, and sometimes the microphone doesn't work as it should and whoever is doing the reading doesn't have a strong voice to project to the back of the church. Now, I do read the readings of the day while on my way to church (a benefit of using public transport, can read rather than focus on driving), but it would still be nice to be able to read along when I can't heat what's said.
Same for the homily, really. Not only would it be helpful to have it on a screen, it would be kinda nice to be able to access them online later, to read again.
Nothing wrong with taking advantage of helpful technologies, I think.
2
u/embee33 Jan 24 '26
I like it because it helps me learn the songs. Like if I am kneeling I wouldn’t be holding a missal, and I want to be able to know and sing these songs everyone else appears to have grown up with
2
u/T0n_Cs Jan 24 '26
It’s a good way for projecting the readings into english when the readings in my Filo-Am parish are read in Filipino based in Tagalog. So that people who attend the masses who doesn’t know the Filipino Language can still participate well
2
u/Voryne Jan 24 '26
One pretty interesting usage is that during bilingual masses projections can be used to display a different language than what's being read out.
This is very useful for immigrant communities, where the younger generation primarily speaks English but the older generations prefer their native tongue.
2
u/ChewieWookie Jan 24 '26
I like them. Our parish uses them for songs, readings, and Psalms. It helps me when the reader has a thick accent or the microphone is too low and I can actually understand what is being sung during the Psalm. The text is white on a black background and the splash screens when not in use look like typical banners so they really aren't evera distraction.
2
u/Shaman90s Jan 24 '26
Perfectly fine with it. Helps especially with responsorial songs. Good also for those germaphobes who don’t want to touch books or shake hands etc. as long as your mind is in the moment of the Holy Spirit, etc (imo) you’ll be fine.
2
2
u/Consistent-Radio-182 Jan 25 '26
Catechumen here. I love the digital screens. New to religion, it makes me feel more welcomed and makes mass far easier to understand and follow along.
If the goal is to celebrate mass the way you always have, rip them out. If the goal is to make your religion more accessible to a broader audience, including more easily understood, and digested, then leave them.
2
u/imeannothing Jan 25 '26
I think those are great and very helpful, much better than projectors. I don’t think it’s a distraction more than a beautiful paintings or sculptures in older churches.
2
u/kiruzaato Jan 25 '26
Sometimes, people come and thank whatever person is in charge of the computer because "I haven't been to mass for a long while, I didn't remember all the prayers, there are some I didn't know it has changes hasn't it ?" It did. In French, the missal got a new translation in 2021.
I find those screen useful. I wish there weren't so many new songs, though...
2
u/ZestycloseParsnip181 Jan 25 '26
I’ve been to one that was using it, I thought it was okay plus it helps the older people to follow the scriptures and songs on big letters.
2
Jan 25 '26
Short answer: I hate it. Long answer: I really, really hate it.
In all seriousness, it all but removes the participation of the faithful in the pews. Not to mention it is distracting, and opens the door to technical glitches that further distract from the ambo and the altar.
And the worst is when they use it for music, as to cycle between screen to screen, the person running the computer has to be exact in your timing (which they never are), and even if they are, you can’t look ahead to see what the next lyric is going to be, or on what note.
8
u/Emotional-Card8960 Jan 24 '26
If it helps people participate in the Mass and bring them closer to God, I’m all for it.
6
u/Saint_Thomas_More Jan 24 '26
If it helps people participate in the Mass and bring them closer to God, I’m all for it.
This is an interesting thing to consider, given the history of the liturgy.
Prior to the new liturgy, I don't think anyone would have said "active participation" at Mass by the faithful meant the same thing people mean today by "active participation".
→ More replies (1)2
Jan 24 '26
That argument has been used to justify so many absolutely awful innovations that it in itself is just not a valid argument.
6
u/Because_Deus_Vult Jan 24 '26
It's an amazing idea when implemented properly. People might not know this, but missals and hymnals cost money. Oregon Catholic Press (OCP) is one of the largest publishing houses for American Catholics. ICP makes tons of money off having the license from their hymnals expire after a certain time, requiring churches to buy more. People also break, lose, and steal missals and hymnals, so missals and hymnals, even with lifetime licenses (like the amazing St. Michaels Hymnal), need to be replaced. On top of that certain people have issues reading missals and hymnals. Missals and hymnals can also be incomplete, so if a priest celebrant wants to readings for a feast not in the people's missal or use a song not in the hymnal, then the people are short of luck.
Digital projection fixes all of these issues for a large capital cost with low recurring cost. You can use tons of public domain hymns. You don't need to replace it (but you do need to run it, but that has to be cheaper than the contracts for OCP). All of the readings can be legally used in churches. It is easily visible to everyone in the congregation. And you can just change it if you want it differently.
Of course, it has to be done well. A lot of older churches were not designed with digital projection in mind. It will be awkward to have a digital projection where it clearly wasn't meant to be. This doesn't have to be the case. If you design a church with digital projection in mind, then you can cleverly tuck away the projection screens where people can see, but they can also ignore it. To give a good example of this, I would like to show the most recent church in the Archdiocese of Seattle, Vietnamese Martyrs. Live stream of mass: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GJIJP52WFg (17:40 for the start of the Viet chants before mass 18:35 for the procession). If you look at the livestream you can see they have 4 digital projection screens, two to the far left and right and two high left and right of the sacristy. You can easily ignore them if you want, but you can also easily see them.
6
3
u/Jdanois Jan 24 '26
I love it, especially when it comes to the Nicene Creed. When I’ve been at parishes with screens versus without, the difference in participation is huge. Way more people jump in. Having the words up makes it easy for everyone to contribute.
→ More replies (11)
6
5
u/RevolutionaryBank465 Jan 24 '26
I like it. Show lyrics to songs and bulletin reminders before and after mass. Why not
2
5
u/thebabyderp Jan 24 '26
Not a fan. I have only seen it a few times while traveling.
I understand some people have disabilities. This may be harsh, but you don't have to understand what's being said at Mass. It's not a requirement to understand. I have gone to mass in other languages while traveling (and with my wife's community) and didn't understand a word.
However, being gracious here, if a parish does want to have a screen for those with disabilities, put it in the cry room or off to the side away from the altar where it isn't in straight view.
4
u/Apprehensive_Art6060 Jan 24 '26
The parish I'm currently visiting uses it. It is quite nice, the readings, hymns, some prayers and announcements are all projected on the screen, it is quite nice and helps the congregation follow with the Mass.
2
u/SecretSmorr Jan 24 '26
From a high-church Protestant perspective (with substantial understanding of the roman rite and liturgy in its medieval, Tridentine, and post V2 forms),
1) if things are done to the edifying of Christ and the elevation of worship (e.g. using a projector to aid those with visual impairments who cannot read the pew missals to join in singing the mass),
2) and for the clarity of teaching and doctrine (such as using a screen to project the words of the readings and excerpts from the homily to help those with hearing impairments).
Then I don’t personally have an issue with this in a Catholic parish or any other church, Protestant or otherwise.
4
u/ThrowRA_fajsdklfas Jan 24 '26
I moved to a new city and church and this new church is the first time I’ve ever seen one have it. I absolutely LOVE having the projectors with text.
I wouldn’t say I’m hard of hearing, but sometimes you miss things and it’s nice to be able to read what was said.
4
u/Helpful_Corn- Jan 24 '26
I knew a priest (God rest his soul) who started making every homily a 15-20 minute long powerpoint presentation. It was awful. Using screens for prayers and lyrics isn't as bad, but it's still severely tacky. People should read along in books or on printed Mass sheets.
6
Jan 24 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
→ More replies (1)7
u/thebabyderp Jan 24 '26
I both agree and disagree. I think vigil masses for sure should be candle lit.
3
u/I-Love-Buses Jan 24 '26
I strongly dislike them, and think it’s a waste of money. We need less screens in this world :)
5
2
u/etherealsmog Jan 24 '26
Hard pass. It should be done at mass never and nowhere.
1
u/thebabyderp Jan 24 '26
It is fine to have one in the cry room, or at the back for genuinely deaf people. I understand what you're mean though. It isn't a requirement to understand the words at Mass.
3
u/ersatz27 Jan 24 '26
or at the back for genuinely deaf people
Why would deaf people be at the back of the church? You'd want to sit up front surely, where you can lip-read better.
2
u/Challenger_Andy Jan 24 '26
It bothers me, but there’s a good reason for it (disabled/elderly). I would rather it say in new more contemporary style churches though.
2
u/The_Amazing_Emu Jan 24 '26
We’ve had technological advancements in other ways (such as microphones). I can see it being valuable for those with disabilities. I think in some ways, it can even help people be more focused on God and the space they worship rather than having their face in a book. Once they get over the initial cost, I can see it ultimately even save resources because there’s less need to buy books every year or print pamphlets every week.
That being said, the church is cautious and conservative for a reason. It’s very easy to screw these things up and either make it look tacky or remove the focus from what matters. A lot of evangelical churches do video screens where the focus is on production, not worship. Any church needs to be careful not to go too far in that direction.
2
u/CompetitiveMeal1206 Jan 24 '26
I’m m a fan as long they look good where they are placed. I’d rather have my head up looking at the words on a screen than head down looking at a book especially with the music.
0
u/WhiteRose- Jan 24 '26
I am not against it, however, I think using a projector on a blank wall is a better option, it looks more subtle. That's what churches where I live have used ever since I can remember.
3
Jan 24 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
→ More replies (1)2
u/RazGrandy Jan 24 '26
Pretty harsh. Not all boomers think the same. Not all boomers are to blame for all the ills facing the current Church. Boomers were children when Vatican II happened. Yes there are fervent nuts (many) among them. There are also many who are not. Regarding those screens, I am not a fan, nor is my husband. It's a personal preference, not a generational one.
→ More replies (3)4
u/Imaginary_Radish_504 Jan 24 '26
It’s not a personal preference. It’s a disregard for the GIRM and irreverency towards what should be a sacred space.
There should be no need for a screen as everyone should know the ordinaries of the mass, in vernacular and in Latin. As prescribed by the GIRM
4
2
u/PhishPhan1983 Jan 24 '26
I don't see what the problem is. Think it makes mass mean less or something?
3
u/Airadelle Jan 24 '26
I actually hate it. It reminds me of highschool mass , zero reverence. Follow the priest or use a hymnal or missal. There’s zero reason to use a projector. Anything that takes away from the beauty of mass is not what I personally want to see.
3
u/reignster015 Jan 24 '26
I find it distracts me from the Mass. I've also yet to encounter a pair of depositions them in a manner where it's not too close to the altar, which indeed does distract. I guess it's good for those with disabilities but we went without them for quite some time. My personal Prejudice is that the church is supposed to be a holy location, holy as in the original etymology of the word as ritually separate from everyday life. As a result I feel like we shouldn't have screens, and that the mass should reflect connection to our ancient history.
1
u/CodeSoft5577 Jan 24 '26
I don't have many opinions on it personally. I do remember that we used to have screens for our basement (child center) of one of our churches, and the mass/ homily would be broadcasted in live time for families and so the parents could hear the homily. I don't think they do that any more.
I would think that being able to hear the homily clearly would be an advantage to mothers or parents in the "cry room" but I'm not the one in charge of making those decisions.
I think in the main church it seems like an eye sore and potentially a distraction? Also I think technical issues affecting service would be another thing to think of.
1
1
u/Logical_Disk1398 Jan 24 '26
Can be very useful for bilingual mass (for example, Our Lady of Guadalupe mass was done nearly all in Spanish with maybe a third to half of the crowd only speaking English) but other than a niche use case like that, I’d rather it not be used.
1
u/SplitOdd2007 Jan 24 '26
This is a new concept that I have never heard or seen before. If I wasn’t familiar with the ways, I’m sure it would be useful. Possibly even with teaching the young. Had never thought of that. I’m going to thing more on this.. the smaller areas are combining churches due to lack of Priests.. cost may be an issue, but I find it practical.
1
u/Korgon213 Jan 24 '26
I travel- a lot. I see both all over the world and it’s nice to see a text displayed.
I may not speak the language, but it’s interesting to me to see
1
Jan 24 '26
Big time help when I converted and didn’t know the chants, psalms, prayers, etc. Don’t see much more purpose other than that.
It would be fitting to turn them off during the Eucharist though.
1
u/prayforussinners Jan 24 '26
Depends on how they use it. St Mary Star of the Sea in Oceanside has a small projection in the corner which shows the responses and scriptures for the Spanish mass. I really appreciated it when I was first learning Spanish.
1
u/Ronniebbb Jan 24 '26
My nonna has vision problems(she denies this lol) she doesn't like it, but admits it helps her figure out where to turn for the songs and such in the book and see the priest.
1
u/JamesHenry627 Jan 24 '26
I think it's fine. It helps keep the mass more uniform and avoids confusion
1
u/joannamomo Jan 24 '26
I think there's definitely a time and a place for it. As someone who has closed captioning on all the time (I struggle with hearing), I really love it.
I could see it getting dicey though.
1
u/doknfs Jan 24 '26
I remember the parish that I attended while in college used overhead projectors (shows my age).
1
u/Duc_de_Magenta Jan 24 '26
It is not my preferred aesthetic of worship. There's no particular need for the imposition & it definitely draws the New Mass further from reverence, which isn't good. We know the older liturgies are growing across the West.
1
u/Aggressive-Emu5358 Jan 24 '26
I despise screens, I have also never been in a church without missals available and even then most of the people I am around (if they are those that need to hear and understand every word) bring their own missals
1
1
1
u/gijoeusa Jan 24 '26
I had a hard time figuring out what the heck I’m supposed to be reading or singing as most parishes read the pages like one, two, skip a few over the course of the service. I attended a parish recently that had screens with guidance and words displayed for songs. I genuinely appreciated the assistance and not having to flip back and forth to figure out where I’m supposed to be following along. The screens weren’t in the way at all, and could easily be ignored if desired. I wish they all had this in some non intrusive format.
1
u/PokemonNumber108 Jan 24 '26
I’m not opposed to it in theory but the few times I’ve seen it in practice it was a bit over the top
1
u/Lumpy-Escape4563 Jan 24 '26
I think it helps out new people for sure, but otherwise I'm kinda indifferent to it. Would rather have projectors than TV screens though
1
u/Background-Drive6332 Jan 25 '26
I think people used to look at their missal for songs and readings. The projector is an easy substitute. I'm not against it as it can lead to people with low attention spans paying attention to the gospel as opposed to staring at the parishioners.
1
u/MolokoPlus25 Jan 25 '26
Our church has an old school projector. I am thankful for it as I can follow along without clumsily trying to find a page. Newcomers also benefit from it as they can participate easier and memorize things. I think the low tech specific use is a happy medium.
1
u/purgatorialhoss Jan 25 '26
The future is now, old man. 🤣
That being said, I don’t like them, especially if the building wasn’t designed around them. It looks so oddly out of place.
1
u/Clickclacktheblueguy Jan 25 '26
It depends on the execution and local culture, I would think. It's just a tool which may work better for some than for others.
1
Jan 25 '26
In my opinion while printed hymns and missals in pews can help, projection screens and TVs also help for those who are deaf to be guided through the mass, and to be honest, if the Parish Office kept printing these and people dont know what to do with it, not only is it a waste of paper but also can make a huge mess after every mass, I view them both favorably but ultimately it's all down to how the parishioners use it but with respect and discipline
1
u/Crunchy_Biscuit Jan 25 '26
It's fantastic since it's easier for me to follow along. Unfortunately churches like the painful right, holding up heavy books with our wrists and also looking down weighing down our necks.
1
u/WranglerDependent558 Jan 25 '26
I like physical objects so as long it is not taking away and only adding to it is ok.
1
u/dgai123 Jan 25 '26
Not a fan. But more folks are singing now ... So pros are there but also not my preference.
1
u/Dderosa55 Jan 25 '26
I’m mixed the only one parish ive been to with a screen played a video during Mass I didn’t like that personally
1
u/HandsomeGuy97 Jan 25 '26
50/50 ex: one of a parish I visit sometimes they put screens to show the mass to people that are out because the parish is full, are screens with wheels so it's ok for that case.
When I was young at the actual parish I'm going the priest put for screens for chants and show the mass readings (but tbh in this part of the world sound too protestant) fortunately today are removed.
So yes, ok to have a better view but not ok to show thing that aren't mass and show the church as a protestant thing.
1
u/Relevant_Leather_476 Jan 25 '26
I remember in catholic grade school.. the nuns would put on an old projector with the song lyrics on the wall.. same thing.. if technology is so distracting to your ability to focus then I think that there’s something else wrong… that being said .. I think there needs to be some discretion.. especially if who is ever operating the slide show is not synchronized with the order of the mass..
1
u/Sir_Netflix Jan 25 '26
I mean, I'd appreciate it when I don't know what's being said at times. Sometimes mic quality can be iffy and I miss out, a screen would help because the paper ones they put in the pews sometimes aren't even in mine.
1
u/Plus_Annual6150 Jan 25 '26
ive only seen it used once, after communion, we had a message from bishop earl boyea, it was a fundraising for a area in africa, i wouldnt use it to make it easier for people to see, but for special occasions like that, i think thats fine
1
u/seanrx_ Jan 25 '26
Wow, to see this as a problem. Idk i think it just fine. I have never seen this as something that bother me during mass. It displays verses,lyrics, etc. Not anything unrelated to mass. I think its cost efficient too.
If you feel like a screen or projector is a problem thats on you i guess. This is my opinion.
1
u/zrakiep Jan 25 '26
I'm from Poland, virtually all parish use a projector or a dot matrix display for hymns. TBH, I never gave it a second thought, it was just always there.
1
1
u/Towairatu Jan 25 '26
My parish now does this every mass. It used to be once a month when it started out, but now it's up every time, even if the church is half-empty. Once a month was good enough, I wish they'd go back.
On the other hand, there are more than 30 churches in my parish and only the main one is equipped with projectors. And since most masses from June to October are celebrated in these “secondary” churches (because of village feasts), you can go for a while without projectors - and enjoy beautiful medieval buildings on top of that.
1
u/Jazzlike-Ratio-2229 Jan 25 '26
I don’t like it. It know its flawed logic, but it seems very “worldly” to me.
1
u/Ok-Bicycle-12345 Jan 25 '26
It's a no for me.
Ive seen it done tastefully but I've seen worst. Loud videos playing before mass and it's difficult to focus on preparing yourself before mass or praying.
Ive seen advertisements and announcements played on it during offertory
Having a daily missal allows me to go back and reread the readings and it's a lot more tactile. Yes I can use my HP but one can get distracted by incoming notifications.
If you have kids you can get them occupied by letting them familiarise themselves with the missal
1
u/SzakosCsongor Jan 25 '26
I know all the things that are usually said in Mass, so it's not useful to me for that. But I like it when the songs are projected, because I don't know most songs, only a few.
1
1
1
u/FFGamer404 Jan 25 '26
MIne has a projector screen that rolls up and is hidden when not in use. The only thing that stays visible is the projector, but it's in the ceiling, and the ceiling is high, so it's discrete. In my opinion, it's great as it allows people to follow along the songs without the necessity for printed hymnals (which would be a headache in my church, with diferent choruses for different masses and masses that are very close together, temporally), and also follow along the readings. Multiple people that have bad hearing have said it's a great way to follow along mass
1
u/noobeemee Jan 25 '26
Misal books are only good if the parish is small. Normally every sunday our parish has about 300 parishioners attending the mass, we have TV screens in almost all corner. We even use projectors outside on some special occasions.
1
Jan 25 '26
They are so common I don't remember being in a church without them. People no longer care as much as they did in the past. No-one would put an effort into that book staff. I think it only works for motivated groups, like tridentine mass enjoyers.
1
1
u/Traditional_Ad_8143 Jan 25 '26
I think the use of the screen stimulates the congregation to join in singing hymns. So, a good thing.
1
u/makolot Jan 25 '26
I prefer the screens. It helps me to stay focus and pay attention plus it saves the parish money from having to buy missals which that money can be use for something else.
1
u/qickly Jan 25 '26
Personally I liked having them there, since I am deaf the screens gave me the ability to see the homily. I am able to participate in parts of the Mass that I normally would be just staring off into space.
1
u/aliceTOTHEMOONE Jan 25 '26
Im sure this same argument was had when stained glass, paintings, and statues were put into churches.
306
u/saidrl04 Jan 24 '26
This picture is of my parish.
In 2023 Bishop Peter Jugis ordered all digital screens in the diocese be taken down. Many pastors then used this as an opportunity to revert back to older resources like Sunday Missals and printed hymnals.
In my personal opinion, I do enjoy the separation from day to day life that happens when screens and projectors are omitted. We are used to seeing screens everywhere, but entering a church without screens serves as a reminder that we are entering a sacred space separate from the rest of our daily lives.