Page views are down again. And that's a shame, because even though my post on Holy Cross was short, I think it is some of my best work. Our Lady of Mount Carmel marks church number 40. 40 is one of those biblical-period-of-waiting numbers. 40 days in Lent. 40 years in the desert. 40 churches and I'm still not sure what the hell I am doing.
But I went to Our Lady of Mount Carmel on the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Do we believe in divine intervention? I went on Saturday afternoon. It was a mostly middle aged crowd with a few older kids.
From the outside, the church looks like in belongs in San Diego. I don't know about the inside, because I never went inside any of those San Diego churches. It is big and pretty and inspired my new idea to make a book of stained glass windows. There was good music with plenty of songs about Mary. And on the way out, I collected a new scapular.
Looking back, most churches are a lot like this one. There are things I could take or leave, mostly nice people, and if I lived in neighborhood, I would go there without a second thought. Looking forward, I've consulted my list of must see churches and realize there are more left than I thought. I don't know if I can keep this up past 52 weeks, at least not at the same pace.
I can't believe I'm closing in on the final 12. Sunday's stop was finally Little Flower...post to follow, I'm getting back on track this week.
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Holy Cross
I have two posts to catch up on this week. Two Sundays ago, I planned to go to Little Flower. Instead I slept the morning away and went to Holy Cross for 5 pm mass. It was another muggy Sunday afternoon and there were two fans running in the front of church that hummed away and kept the church cool enough The church is beautiful brick outside and way too pink for my tastes on the inside. There are two sets of pews, and somehow, I am always drawn to sitting near the columns. You would think I would learn. This one has a lot going for it, at least in the book of mass according to Amanda.
1. The people were friendly and stragglers slipped in at 5:20 with no problems. Sunday afternoon mass is the best.
2. There was a cantor, piano, and Gather books. We sang The Summons, my new favorite song.
3. The homily was light, but relevant, more than butterflies, but less than brimstone.
4. The crowd was young. There were a few families, a few older couples, but it was mostly 30 somethings. And not that I notice this sort of thing or anything, but there were single men there. And not just the ones dragged there by their girlfriends.
Of course going anywhere in Federal Hill is not without its challenges. Did you know you can call 311 for information about stadium events and parking restrictions? Neither did I.
This past weekend was the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. And I went to Mount Carmel. If you think I planned that, you are obviously not a careful reader of this blog. Life is full of coincidences. Mount Carmel makes 40 churches.
1. The people were friendly and stragglers slipped in at 5:20 with no problems. Sunday afternoon mass is the best.
2. There was a cantor, piano, and Gather books. We sang The Summons, my new favorite song.
3. The homily was light, but relevant, more than butterflies, but less than brimstone.
4. The crowd was young. There were a few families, a few older couples, but it was mostly 30 somethings. And not that I notice this sort of thing or anything, but there were single men there. And not just the ones dragged there by their girlfriends.
Of course going anywhere in Federal Hill is not without its challenges. Did you know you can call 311 for information about stadium events and parking restrictions? Neither did I.
This past weekend was the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. And I went to Mount Carmel. If you think I planned that, you are obviously not a careful reader of this blog. Life is full of coincidences. Mount Carmel makes 40 churches.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Saint Dominic's (Tropical Heat Wave)
Do you know what makes mass wonderfully short? A power outage combined with 105 degree heat. In the aftermath of the storm, I carefully traversed Harford Rd (Four way stops, people!) and found St. Dominic's.
It was much bigger than I thought it would be. There were four columns of pews, with the outer ones against the walls. I have no idea what the homily was about because I was busy checking out the stained glass windows and the ceiling and then back to the stained glass. It looks like paper. I continue to wonder how important paying attention is. I realized I am no closer to knowing the new translation. And realized that in this heat, it might be time to wash the dress I have been wearing to church every week all summer.
This mass was supposed to have a choir, but I think they made a last minute switch to cantor and piano. There was a very talented soloist. A little boy with an Elmo backpack (I assume his son) cheered him on. Their website seems to need some updating, but it looks like they have both a book club (I've been looking for one of those) and a game night.
The crowd was small but friendly. They didn't even make me relocate from my seat in the back of the church. I learned they are part of the "Northeast Nine." I've been to several of those churches and planned on knocking them out in the coming weeks. But then I slept through Sunday morning. I didn't make it Little Flower, but hope to soon.
Next stop: Holy Cross (Catholic Community of South Baltimore)
It was much bigger than I thought it would be. There were four columns of pews, with the outer ones against the walls. I have no idea what the homily was about because I was busy checking out the stained glass windows and the ceiling and then back to the stained glass. It looks like paper. I continue to wonder how important paying attention is. I realized I am no closer to knowing the new translation. And realized that in this heat, it might be time to wash the dress I have been wearing to church every week all summer.
This mass was supposed to have a choir, but I think they made a last minute switch to cantor and piano. There was a very talented soloist. A little boy with an Elmo backpack (I assume his son) cheered him on. Their website seems to need some updating, but it looks like they have both a book club (I've been looking for one of those) and a game night.
The crowd was small but friendly. They didn't even make me relocate from my seat in the back of the church. I learned they are part of the "Northeast Nine." I've been to several of those churches and planned on knocking them out in the coming weeks. But then I slept through Sunday morning. I didn't make it Little Flower, but hope to soon.
Next stop: Holy Cross (Catholic Community of South Baltimore)
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Saint Mark's, Catonsville
I'm soon to be three posts behind if I don't catch up now. Two weeks ago I spent the morning at the Baltimore Women's Classic 5 K. It started at 8. The course started and ended at Rash Field, and I was hoping to find a 10ish mass in the area. I couldn't. Lesson learned: run faster. Instead of milling around until 11, I decided to spend the afternoon at the pool, all brought to me by 5 pm mass at Saint Mark's.
It is a big blue church and it was wonderfully cool. What must the cost of airconditioning be for a big open room with a pitched roof? There were a lot of buildings too, a school, old church, a gym. The school mascot is a lion. That's clever.
This was one of my favorite crowds. There were families, older adults, babies, young couples. I think this was billed as a youth mass, but I'm not buying that. I think one Taylor Swift joke isn't enough to pull that off.
I was admittedly tired when I grew impatient with church. "That's it!" I shouted in my head. "From now on, every church gets one hour." I turned around to look for the clock in the back of the church. It was 5:45. I guess every church gets 45 minutes. This has become a theme along the way. If you don't pay attention, have you fulfilled your Sunday obligation?
Also, it seems churches are running out of guides to the New Roman Missal. Through my most grievous fault, I still can't remember the words. Will they restock? Or am I on my own?
The next stop was St. Dominics, and I think I'm headed to Little Flower tomorrow.
It is a big blue church and it was wonderfully cool. What must the cost of airconditioning be for a big open room with a pitched roof? There were a lot of buildings too, a school, old church, a gym. The school mascot is a lion. That's clever.
This was one of my favorite crowds. There were families, older adults, babies, young couples. I think this was billed as a youth mass, but I'm not buying that. I think one Taylor Swift joke isn't enough to pull that off.
I was admittedly tired when I grew impatient with church. "That's it!" I shouted in my head. "From now on, every church gets one hour." I turned around to look for the clock in the back of the church. It was 5:45. I guess every church gets 45 minutes. This has become a theme along the way. If you don't pay attention, have you fulfilled your Sunday obligation?
Also, it seems churches are running out of guides to the New Roman Missal. Through my most grievous fault, I still can't remember the words. Will they restock? Or am I on my own?
The next stop was St. Dominics, and I think I'm headed to Little Flower tomorrow.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Saint Elizabeth of Hungary
The view of Saint Elizabeth's from Patterson Park is carved into my brain. The stone church with the steep white steps looks just like I remember. But somehow when I walked in Sunday morning, I insist to myself that they must have painted the inside. The convent has been turned into apartments. The school is now Patterson Park Public Charter School.
Sunday morning mass is at 10 am. I was looking for a mass in Fells Point, but I think all the churches there have closed. (Am I forgetting something?) Highlandtown and my mother's home parish were close enough.
There were about 100 people there, but not enough by any means to make the big church seem crowded. The crowd was generally older, but there were scattered young adults and young families. The parishioners completely embrace the kids that were there. At the sign of peace, one curly haired little boy worked two or three pews, and may have even climbed over one. One of the altar boys shook hands with everyone sitting on the aisle two thirds of the way to the back of church. Then he held up both his hands making peace signs and walked backwards up the aisle. And I sense a future priest in another young man who looked especially prayerful in his gray suit.
I've encountered a new hymnal that I can't remember the name of. Baltimore has stolen another Franciscan seminarian from DC. The homily was wonderfully brief. And it's church carnival time.
For this weekend, I'm trying to combine the Women's Classic 5 K with mass...and not having much luck. Let me know if you have any ideas!
Sunday morning mass is at 10 am. I was looking for a mass in Fells Point, but I think all the churches there have closed. (Am I forgetting something?) Highlandtown and my mother's home parish were close enough.
There were about 100 people there, but not enough by any means to make the big church seem crowded. The crowd was generally older, but there were scattered young adults and young families. The parishioners completely embrace the kids that were there. At the sign of peace, one curly haired little boy worked two or three pews, and may have even climbed over one. One of the altar boys shook hands with everyone sitting on the aisle two thirds of the way to the back of church. Then he held up both his hands making peace signs and walked backwards up the aisle. And I sense a future priest in another young man who looked especially prayerful in his gray suit.
I've encountered a new hymnal that I can't remember the name of. Baltimore has stolen another Franciscan seminarian from DC. The homily was wonderfully brief. And it's church carnival time.
For this weekend, I'm trying to combine the Women's Classic 5 K with mass...and not having much luck. Let me know if you have any ideas!
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Saint Frances de Sales, Abingdon
I reached an even 2000 page views today! I could say I was waiting for that before my next post, but I've just been more on the lazy side than usual this week. That's one of the deadly sins. I should be more careful.
Saturday and Sunday were jam packed fun in too much sun days for me. I have a dwindling number of available Sunday evening masses and somehow everything on Saturday always seems too early. I decided I could squeeze in a trip to Sam's Club and make it to St. Casimir's for 5 pm mass. I couldn't. The sun must have gone to my brain.
Then I thought I would skip a new church and visit an old favorite. I'm already behind, and was thinking of an installment that's called "Who goes to weekday mass anyway?" Turns out, said old favorite doesn't have mass on Sunday afternoons in the summer. Yeah, that's right, during the summer, I want to give up sleeping in.
So I did some frantic searching and somehow got it in my head that mass at St. Frances had a 6 pm mass. It doesn't. It's at 5:30. It also escaped me that it is a Byzantine mass. Ironically, I was trying desperately to remember who has a 7 pm mass in Spanish to buy myself some more time.
Instead of being 15 minutes early, we were fifteen minutes late. There were 9 or so cars parked in the driveway in front of the small stone church. Mass had started when we walked in. There are twenty pews arranged in two columns of ten. There were about a dozen people there, and all but one was sitting in the back three rows. Blending was definitely out. A helpful gentleman brought copies of the Divine Liturgy so we could follow along. In chant. Was it changed to reflect the New Roman Missal?
There were icons and incense. We made the sign of the cross a lot and right to left. We called Mary Theotokas. Communion is dropped from a gold spoon into your mouth. And just like the little Episcopalians, little Byzantine Catholics take communion. There is also prayer for people celebrating birthdays, which is harder to google than I thought. I thought it was kind of cool, especially since my birthday was this week.
Here's a helpful FAQ from St. Michael's parish in Toledo about being a Byzantine Catholic.
http://www.stmichaelstoledo.com/index.php?name=FAQ&id_cat=1
I haven't made up my mind for this week yet.
Saturday and Sunday were jam packed fun in too much sun days for me. I have a dwindling number of available Sunday evening masses and somehow everything on Saturday always seems too early. I decided I could squeeze in a trip to Sam's Club and make it to St. Casimir's for 5 pm mass. I couldn't. The sun must have gone to my brain.
Then I thought I would skip a new church and visit an old favorite. I'm already behind, and was thinking of an installment that's called "Who goes to weekday mass anyway?" Turns out, said old favorite doesn't have mass on Sunday afternoons in the summer. Yeah, that's right, during the summer, I want to give up sleeping in.
So I did some frantic searching and somehow got it in my head that mass at St. Frances had a 6 pm mass. It doesn't. It's at 5:30. It also escaped me that it is a Byzantine mass. Ironically, I was trying desperately to remember who has a 7 pm mass in Spanish to buy myself some more time.
Instead of being 15 minutes early, we were fifteen minutes late. There were 9 or so cars parked in the driveway in front of the small stone church. Mass had started when we walked in. There are twenty pews arranged in two columns of ten. There were about a dozen people there, and all but one was sitting in the back three rows. Blending was definitely out. A helpful gentleman brought copies of the Divine Liturgy so we could follow along. In chant. Was it changed to reflect the New Roman Missal?
There were icons and incense. We made the sign of the cross a lot and right to left. We called Mary Theotokas. Communion is dropped from a gold spoon into your mouth. And just like the little Episcopalians, little Byzantine Catholics take communion. There is also prayer for people celebrating birthdays, which is harder to google than I thought. I thought it was kind of cool, especially since my birthday was this week.
Here's a helpful FAQ from St. Michael's parish in Toledo about being a Byzantine Catholic.
http://www.stmichaelstoledo.com/index.php?name=FAQ&id_cat=1
I haven't made up my mind for this week yet.
Monday, June 4, 2012
Saint Mary of the Assumption
Happy Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity! Yeah, I didn't think that would work, but the seminarian at mass yesterday said it, and I thought I would give it a try. I don't think I've ever been wished a happy trinity before.
Sunday's church was Saint Mary of the Assumption for 8 am mass. It's a quiet mass, but for the record, there are both Gather and Worship books stocked in the pews. There were about 70 people there for mass including some happy ushers who encouraged me to vote in the parish council election. I protested and mentally added it to the list of things you don't do when you are not part of a parish. I'm still undecided on whether I miss parish life or I miss going to church.
Saint Mary's offered pretty standard fare. An early and quiet mass was perfect for a busy weekend. I grossly over estimated how long it would take to get there so I was able to enjoy the stained glass above the choir loft and the statues of Mary and Joseph. It's a happy church with a lengthy sign of peace and where people reach across pews to hold hands during the Our Father.
Of note, I spotted my first tuxedo, significantly upping the church dress code. In fairness, I'm pretty sure the young man wearing it was en route to his high school graduation.
Early on in planning, I made a list of churches I wanted to be sure to go to this year. There's thirty or so listed, and I've barely touched it. There is much left to see, and again I wish I had made bigger circles and worked my way in instead of out. Guess I'll know for next time...
Sunday's church was Saint Mary of the Assumption for 8 am mass. It's a quiet mass, but for the record, there are both Gather and Worship books stocked in the pews. There were about 70 people there for mass including some happy ushers who encouraged me to vote in the parish council election. I protested and mentally added it to the list of things you don't do when you are not part of a parish. I'm still undecided on whether I miss parish life or I miss going to church.
Saint Mary's offered pretty standard fare. An early and quiet mass was perfect for a busy weekend. I grossly over estimated how long it would take to get there so I was able to enjoy the stained glass above the choir loft and the statues of Mary and Joseph. It's a happy church with a lengthy sign of peace and where people reach across pews to hold hands during the Our Father.
Of note, I spotted my first tuxedo, significantly upping the church dress code. In fairness, I'm pretty sure the young man wearing it was en route to his high school graduation.
Early on in planning, I made a list of churches I wanted to be sure to go to this year. There's thirty or so listed, and I've barely touched it. There is much left to see, and again I wish I had made bigger circles and worked my way in instead of out. Guess I'll know for next time...
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