Fitting technology into church can (in some cases) be hard enough, but fitting technology into a liturgical church setting is something that can be overwhelming. So here’s what little I’ve gleaned on the topic in my time working as a tech in the Roman Catholic Church.
- Add focus don’t be the focus.
Sometimes when we have all this technology and abilities at our fingertips (effects, lighting… etc) it can be tempting to do something that, although it may be cool, distracts from the liturgy. (This can be true in any setting but is particularly important here.) Our goal is to amplify the sound (tastefully), to bring focus with lighting, to enhance with video and in general to not be noticed. I learned how effective this can be when I added a few simple lighting cues to our Mass. The lighting grows in intensity just at the moment of consecration. We find it brings a little bit of focus and nicely accents the moment. However I knew we were doing it right when one day I overheard two members of the community talking after Mass and one said “…did you notice how the sun broke through the clouds and lit up Fr. Julian at consecration” . We enhanced and people didn’t even know it was us.
- Know the liturgy
Since the Mass is so predictable often we forgo detailed orders of service (not that this is always the best idea) We need to learn whatever liturgy we’re serving at so that we can stay one step ahead. One disclaimer to this is to follow the boyscout motto and always “be prepared” you never know when someone will deviate from the liturgy (we for instance have a priest who loves to throw in spontaneous prayers after the Eucharist, as well as a lector who likes to add unscripted prayers to the prayers of the faithful.
- Read the congregation
This goes with any mixing in any church but stands out in an environment where vistors are used to and expecting your standard “organ and off key choir Mass”. You can’t mix to the lowest posible dB level or I’d have to turn off my mains and turn down my monitors some nights (I’ve gotten volume complaints before I turn the mains on). However if you notice many people are finding it overwhelming than turn it down (I find that people who complain before 85 db A will complain no matter what) .. we could go on forever on the “it’s too loud” theme but the point is be aware you want to enhance not distract remember.
