Dear Father,
May I quote your essay on homilies for an article I am writing?
I liked your article or essay very much.
And may I ask you a couple of questions:
Do you ever refer to movies/films in your homilies?
Why (or why not)?
To whom do you address your homilies? On any given Sunday? The teens? Adults? How do you try to keep everyone paying attention for at least part of the time?
How long is the ideal Sunday homily?
How do you prepare for your homily? Do you?
If you could give two or three points to a homilist who routinely gave 20-30 minute homilies that went in a big circle and kept repeating phrases (and therefore), what would you say to him?
Thank you! R
**********
Dear Sister Rose,
Feel to quote the essay. I would enjoy seeing the article when you finish it.
Do you ever refer to movies/films in your homilies?
Sometimes, but I don't see that many movies, maybe one every couple of months.
To whom do you address your homilies? On any given Sunday? The teens? Adults? How do you try to keep everyone paying attention for at least part of the time?
To the worst backslider and scetpic I know - Phil Bloom
How long is the ideal Sunday homily?
Depends - sometimes a five minute homily is too long and a thirty minute homily too short.
How do you prepare for your homily? Do you?
I am usually working on several homilies at a time - reading, thinking, writing, doing Internet research - but on Saturday I spend at least an hour before the Blessed Sacrament to focus on exactly what God wants me to say to the people. I try to memorize the outline as well as any story or even quote, but I do take a few notes with me which I hope I will not have to refer to. If I lose track, the people do as well.
If you could give two or three points to a homilist who routinely gave 20-30 minute homilies that went in a big circle and kept repeating phrases (and therefore), what would you say to him?
When someone asked Fr. Raymond Brown the one thing priests could do to improve homilies, he replied, "think." If we are not prepared, we tend to fall into the cliches of our culture (tolerance, non-judgmentalism, equality, inclusivity, self-reliance, etc.) which, while in some ways good, also have a very dark side.
Prayers, Sister Rose. Please remember me in yours,
Fr. Bloom
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Rose Pacatte, FSP
Director, Pauline Center for Media Studies - West
3908 Sepulveda Blvd. - Culver City, CA 90230
TEL 310-636-8385 FAX 310-397-8366 CELL 310-592-8901
The PCMS is a project of the Daughters of St. Paul. Its focus is to develop and encourage media literacy education for parents and teachers within the context of culture, education and faith formation. http://www.paulinecenterformediastudies.org
Sister Rose Pacatte, FSP is the new Film/Television columnist for
St. Anthony Messenger magazine, "Eye on Entertaintment";
for the latest reviews (and archive) visit http://www.americancatholic.org/movies/default.asp and look for "Pacatte "
Upcoming events you'll want to be part of:
Catholic Academy for Communication Arts Professionals, St. Louis, October 15 - 18, 2003 http://www.catholicacademy.org
Catholics in Media Awards, Los Angeles, October 19, 2003 at the Beverly Hilton; reservations needed by October 8. Lifetime Achievement Award: Ricardo Monalban; Motion Picture: Seabiscuit; Television: American Dreams - Contact 818-907-2734 for information.
City of the Angels Film Festival, The Tenth Annual Fesitval; October 23-26, 2003; "Exploring a Century of Cinema"; http://www.cityofangelsfilmfest.org