T
the_phoenix
Guest
Wow. If you want some real vacation memories that will stay with you, make sure you go to Sunday Mass.
Drove into a small town in the Bible Belt from a remote spot in the mountains. Figured it was the Bible Belt because all the non-Catholic churches were big and pretty. Meanwhile, the one tiny Catholic church was rundown and dilapidated. Looked like a house with bent, rusty siding … It so much did not resemble a church building that in fact I drove right by it and had to turn around and go back, somewhat in shock.
The greeters were … * drumroll please … FRIENDLY! :yup: They make me want to move to the South. After many years of cold receptions from greeters up North in big parishes where I had made efforts to participate and be active, people in this small church actually made me feel welcome, even though I was a stranger. Or maybe, because I was a stranger … In any case, they cared enough and took the time to find out. Maybe I just fit in with Southerners in small towns better and they are kindred spirits.
The ushers were … trying to stomp the ants crawling all over the carpeted floor. The ants were the second thing I noticed after going into the main part of the church from the gathering area. Back to the ants in a moment, and boy, there were plenty.
The first thing I noticed was … No kneelers! A bit of a disappointing first impression, and I resigned myself to maybe being the only one who might kneel on the floor.
Back to the ants. Kneeling on the floor could pose a very real chance of being crawled on by an ant. However, the ushers were rounding up helpful kids to walk around the church and stomp on every ant they could find before Mass.
Mass was in English, and was going along okay, nothing I would want to complain about although parts may not exactly have been my cup of tea.
The priest seemed to spend a lot of time sitting. I got the impression that maybe it was for health reasons.
So when it came time for the Consecration, … it was so very touching to SEE THE PRIEST KNEEL !!!
… and then everyone else in church followed his example and knelt down on the carpeted floor, taking our chances with the ants. The priest remained kneeling the whole time.
You know, for a Latin Mass lover like me, I could see myself being a very happy member of that small town Southern parish.
~~ the phoenix
Drove into a small town in the Bible Belt from a remote spot in the mountains. Figured it was the Bible Belt because all the non-Catholic churches were big and pretty. Meanwhile, the one tiny Catholic church was rundown and dilapidated. Looked like a house with bent, rusty siding … It so much did not resemble a church building that in fact I drove right by it and had to turn around and go back, somewhat in shock.
The greeters were … * drumroll please … FRIENDLY! :yup: They make me want to move to the South. After many years of cold receptions from greeters up North in big parishes where I had made efforts to participate and be active, people in this small church actually made me feel welcome, even though I was a stranger. Or maybe, because I was a stranger … In any case, they cared enough and took the time to find out. Maybe I just fit in with Southerners in small towns better and they are kindred spirits.
The ushers were … trying to stomp the ants crawling all over the carpeted floor. The ants were the second thing I noticed after going into the main part of the church from the gathering area. Back to the ants in a moment, and boy, there were plenty.
The first thing I noticed was … No kneelers! A bit of a disappointing first impression, and I resigned myself to maybe being the only one who might kneel on the floor.
Back to the ants. Kneeling on the floor could pose a very real chance of being crawled on by an ant. However, the ushers were rounding up helpful kids to walk around the church and stomp on every ant they could find before Mass.
Mass was in English, and was going along okay, nothing I would want to complain about although parts may not exactly have been my cup of tea.
The priest seemed to spend a lot of time sitting. I got the impression that maybe it was for health reasons.
So when it came time for the Consecration, … it was so very touching to SEE THE PRIEST KNEEL !!!
… and then everyone else in church followed his example and knelt down on the carpeted floor, taking our chances with the ants. The priest remained kneeling the whole time.You know, for a Latin Mass lover like me, I could see myself being a very happy member of that small town Southern parish.
~~ the phoenix