Minor Rant - From a Non-Believer, No Less

[styrgwillidar]

Funny, there are all kinds of folks and a lot of them learned their attendance habits from their parents. We have our regular latecomers, and those who come very early as well… our former priest had the doors shut prior to the liturgy and any latecomers had to wait to be seated until after the readings, before he started the homily with everyone watching them be seated. Current priest had the doors removed and everything opened up more, folks come in at all times.

But you reminded me of my times serving as an altar boy (way before girls were allowed to serve) at the early weekday masses 06:30. We had a few characters- one woman came every day and always wore the same long overcoat to mass. Winter/summer/spring/fall regardless of the temperature or weather. Sometimes when she would walk up to the communion rail one or both of her pajama pants legs would roll down-- she simply threw her overcoat on over her pajamas and came to mass. (ETA: one day she was wearing slippers, don’t know why as she usually wore shoes)

Another was a man who came with his wife, and often fell asleep and not infrequently would snore. His wife would elbow him until he’d wake up. I asked a couple of priests if it bothered them. Both said something along the lines of they admired how much he must love his wife to support her faith and attendance at mass.

 

[WillyAL]

But you reminded me of my times serving as an altar boy (way before girls were allowed to serve) at the early weekday masses 06:30. We had a few characters…

Yes, and that’s exactly how I regard this couple. Just a couple of characters. I don’t know them or their situation, and given their arrival and departure habits, I’ll probably never get the chance to know them. I just find them interesting.

I pray that people in the congregation are kind, non-judgemental and welcoming to those who attend Mass, whether properly dressed or on time!

I can assure you that no one in our congregation would treat them with anything but kindness.

The usher asked them to bring down the gifts!!!

I’d recruit this couple to take up the gifts in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, the gifts are usually on the altar before they arrive.

 

[27lw]

I pray that people in the congregation are kind, non-judgemental and welcoming to those who attend Mass, whether properly dressed or on time! The OP could have been posting about my son and his wife. Both are very devout Catholics, doing residencies (my son, emergency room and his wife, surgery). On most weekends, one of them will be finishing with an overnight call and one of them will be preparing to go into the hospital for work. Sometimes, they just meet up at church! Once, surgery went so long that my daughter-in-law made it in time for the Gospel! I assure you that after a long night on call, or after a surgery with one’s hair contained, my daughter-in-law most definitely looks like she has “bed head” and my son, after a long night of call, is clearly unshaven and no doubt in need of a shower. Attending Mass is a priority for them both- and they so love to attend together whenever possible. Of course, many times it isn’t possible, so they each attend alone. Last Sunday, they met at the church, **as my son was going directly to the hospital and his wife was just getting off of a long night of call. They were both wearing scrubs. ** They wanted to attend together, since it was Father’s Day and my daughter-in-law is 5 months pregnant. The usher asked them to bring down the gifts!!! It made me thankful that their church seems to welcome and include them, no matter how they look!

Just curious, I always thought scrubs were supposed to be worn in a medical setting, to keep the medical germs at work, or to keep everyone else’s germs away from a medical setting. I guess this doesn’t apply anymore? Why do people wear dirty medical scrubs out with the general public?

 

[IrishAm]

The whole scenario is proof that God has a sense of humour. I mean, really, don’t you have to wonder how many people are in the pews every Sunday just to see what time the Always Late Lucy and Larry Lummox show up? It may have OP more intimately involved in the parish than all the years of ushering ever have! That’s called “community.” God loves it. (Whether or not God loves the latecomers consistent actions, of course, is His domain.)

 

[Sirach2]

A couple months ago, I left early with much trepidation. I was almost certain that I left home with my gas stove burner on, and I pictured the whole house going up in smoke when the contents were totally fried. My concentration during mass was whether or not to go immediately rather than wait until after communion, so I don’t think my worship was top-notch. I decided to wait it out, but when I received communion, I bolted out the side door. We just never know others’ circumstances, as many have already said.

As I was growing up, my parish had masses back to back with only an hour interval. My dad had to leave early so mom could make it in time for the next mass. Thank goodness our mass times are staggered a lot better today.

Here’s another rather comical lesson in not judging. I had made a tiered wedding cake for a couple and was transporting it in my trunk to the hall, very anxious about getting it there in one good piece. So I drove 25 miles per hour amidst many honking horns. Whenever I am miffed about someone driving too slow, I remind myself, maybe they are transporting a wedding cake??

 

[dconklin]

“After this poor performance, they better not even THINK about going to the parish hall and eating any of the cream filled doughnuts.”

Rant over. Blood pressure returned to normal.

Wait! What! Filled doughnuts? That’s it! I’m calling the head of our men’s group that puts out our doughnuts to see why we don’t get filled doughnuts.

On second thought… I better not because he will only ask me why I don’t go to any meetings.

 

[WillyAL]

Wait! What! Filled doughnuts? That’s it! I’m calling the head of our men’s group that puts out our doughnuts to see why we don’t get filled doughnuts.

On second thought… I better not because he will only ask me why I don’t go to any meetings.

Yes, cream filled. With either chocolate or vanilla icing. The glazed are pretty good too. And I wouldn’t turn my nose up at the blueberry doughnuts either.

Once a month my wile and I have doughnut duty. We stop at a local supermarket on the way to Mass where we have a standing Sunday morning order. Although we have most everything prepared before Mass, we do have to leave Mass a few moments early for last minute preparations.

(But always after the priest announces, “The Mass has ended. Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.”)