St. Finbar Catholic Church and School (Burbank, California) - Experimentation With Spanish-language Mass

Experimentation With Spanish-language Mass

In July 1993, the Los Angeles Times published a 2,200-word profile of St. Finbar's titled, "Parish Mirrors Burbank's New Ethnic Makeup." The article discussed St. Finbar's efforts to adapt to its changing demographics. In particular, St. Finbar had launched an experiment by offering Mass in Spanish. The Times noted that the experiment was a success: "When Mass is celebrated in English, the pews of St. Finbar are never full. Although a dwindling flock faithfully attends, the church is never even half full - until it is time for the Spanish Mass. Then the drought ends and the flood begins. Every Sunday, hundreds of Latinos make their way to the Catholic community of St. Finbar in Burbank, filling every seat, using every hymnbook."

The program met with resistance from some English-speaking parishioners, who felt "as though they were being outnumbered," according to St. Finbar's pastor. Father Howard described the backlash to the Spanish Mass: "It was a long time in coming, and it was painful because we knew that we would hurt some of the good, solid families that have been here. Some, I'm sad to say, will leave the parish. But the archbishop once said, 'It's amazing, if we're going to be together in heaven, why can't we live together here on earth?'"

One of the oldest members of the parish, Ray Halbur, recalled that when the parish's first church was built, "it was 98% white." Halbur noted that, as the church's population began to change, the white parishioners "either moved or passed away." Halbur said that, as of 1993, "there aren't too many of the original families still there." Haber noted that some of the remaining Anglo members felt that "Latinos are taking over the church," and that the parish "caters more to them." Unlike many, Halbur accepted the change, saying: "Overall, everybody has accepted the way it has changed. Naturally, there is always some dissension. I had some. It's just something you have to accept. You can't turn them away. That's not the Catholic tradition."

The experiment at St. Finbar was the subject of a study by a pastoral committee in 1993. Since 1993, numerous parishes with large Latino communities in Southern California (and across the United States) have followed St. Finbar's example, and are now offering Spanish-language masses.