Our Lady Of Assumption Catholic Church is expanding. An issue which came before the Smart Growth Committee last month was the height of the bell tower. No big deal, it went through with very little discussion.
What was surprising was a couple of community members who expressed concerns with a number of issues surrounding the Church. So, I went over to the Church and made the following video which was submitted to Smart Growth Committee Chair, Councillor Mike Forrest and discussed yesterday.
Feel free to view and enjoy before reading on. And the answer is yes, I had some time on my hands.
I have worked and volunteered with a number of churches across denominational lines in both Ontario and BC. From this experience I have seen and heard first hand how some churches believe and act as if they are above the rules and by laws of the local community because of the good works they are doing. Parishioners – most of whom do not live with a one block radius of the church and visit for less than one hour a week – will get indignant that their place of worship is not allowed to do this or that. Case in point, this letter to the editor in today’s Coquitlam Now newspaper.
The reality is the community is made up of many pieces and everyone must learn to get along and be tolerant of each other. NOTE: this could almost be the basis of a religion or something.
So, at last night ‘s meeting, a representative of the Church listened to the concerns, jotted down notes and committed to reporting back to the church in advance of public input sessions scheduled for June 24 and 25.
I suggested to the rep that they solve a few of the issues right away:
1) Stop parking in front of people’s drive ways or on their lawns. Pretty simple and easy to enforce. I am sure volunteers from the Catholic Women’s League (CWL), Knights of Columbus, youth group, etc. could patrol the lot before mass and point out the proper places to park.
2) Turn off the loudspeakers broadcasting the mass into the parking lot. This is the only Church I know of which has a “crying room” (a room for kids who disrupt mass) outside the Church. On one of the occasions I visited the Church five or six screaming kids were outside, so one of the adults went into the Church to have the volume of the mass increased. So, we have screaming kids plus loud and poor singing (note – why do clergy believe they are good singers?) at a high volume six or more times a weekend.
3) Create a schedule as to when the new three to eight bells in the bell tower will be rung. I have known Priests who had the bells played with more tenacity than the SNL cowbell skit – more cowbell! Having a set bell ringing schedule announced before the height of the bell tower is approved would show good faith. (note – faith would be another good foundation point for a religion)
3) Be willing to sign a Good Neighbour Agreement in conjunction with the City. This would go a long way to showing the community the Church is willing to play nice. Sort of like “love thy neighbour”.
I certainly hope the Church will take my awesome advice (which was somewhat echoed by Councillors Forrest and Pollock) so they can proceed with their plans. For the love of God.
No comments yet.