Whatever one thinks of the way Jillian Peterson and Kevin Heinz choreographed their wedding party’s recent trip down the aisle of a church in Minnesota, all can agree it was creative and joyful. For those who haven’t seen the week’s most popular YouTube video or excerpts of it on the national news, the ushers, bridesmaids, and groomsmen — all wearing sunglasses — danced into the church to Chris Brown’s rhythm and blues song “Forever.” One young man did a walking handstand. Not to be outdone, the groom entered via somersault, and the beaming bride also danced her way in, twirling as she held her bouquet aloft.

The wedding guests roared with laughter at the unusual entrance. Heinz put the five-minute video on YouTube, and within days it was the talk of the Internet. As of Wednesday, it had been viewed more than 11 million times. The entire wedding party made a guest appearance on the Today Show, where they recreated their choreography in New York’s Rockefeller Plaza.

We have two thoughts that might seem opposite at first: 1) Don’t try this at your local Catholic parish, and 2) We all should strive to better embrace every Mass as an occasion of great joy.

Our guess is Jillian and Kevin’s creativity will lead to a lot of copycats. And at a reception, that might be appropriate and fun. But for good reasons, at the church — and in the case of Catholics, the Mass — the focus should be on praising God, not our own entertainment.

Consider what Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, wrote in the column “Gesture and Courtesy at Church” that appeared on this page shortly after his arrival in the Diocese of Peoria in 2002.

“Our cathedral, our churches, and our chapels,” wrote the bishop, “are specifically dedicated as sacred space and should never be used for any purely secular use. The God we praise is awesome and holy, and his ‘House’ must always be a house of prayer.”

Parish priests are the ones who usually have to field the “Can we do this at our wedding?” questions. It may seem to some brides and grooms that the “rules” are overly rigid, but it is the priest’s responsibility to ensure that the proper attitude of reverence is maintained, that marriage is understood as a sacrament, and that the couple realizes the wedding liturgy is an official act of worship of the church. It is not a private observance.

That being said . . .

Jillian and Kevin’s video could and should remind all Catholics not to check their joy at the church entrance. There are plenty of opportunities to show it and share it, not only at weddings, but at every celebration of the Mass. Last week, for example, the diocese’s Catholic charismatic community had a spirited, joy-filled liturgy that also included an out-of-the-ordinary processional. Following the cross were about two dozen convention participants carrying banners or waving pennants bearing messages such as “Praise God.”

We should approach every Mass with a joyful heart. But when we sing or say an “Alleluia!,” do we do so in the spirit of the word, reflecting joy, thanksgiving, and triumph? Or do we mutter it more out of obligation? Likewise, when we sing a hymn — be it contemporary or traditional — do our thoughts and body language reflect the words we’re singing? And if they do, are we looked at a little oddly if we smile or beam while singing? When we exchange a greeting with those around us either at the sign of peace or after Mass, do we act as though being at the Mass and seeing them is the highlight of our week? When receiving the Eucharist, is there joy as well as awe and reverence at the indescribable richness of the Gift?

And finally, do we understand — as Bishop Jenky teaches in almost every homily — that the Eucharist is a foretaste of heaven itself?

Joy is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. If we’re not bearing that fruit, including at Mass, we’re not a fully healthy branch of the true Vine. And while we may not agree with Jillian and Kevin on the appropriateness of their creative choreography, we do wish them a long, happy, and joyful marriage. — Thomas J. Dermody, editor-in-chief, The Catholic Post