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[ec2kadm]

Christine IN Posted: Apr 21 2006, 03:41 AM 

 This is a recount of my first mass. this is a paper for my religions of the world class.

For my second observation I decided to go to St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Muncie, Indiana. I went on Maundy (Holy) Thursday (April 13, 2006) at seven o’clock at night. When I walked in no one came to greet me. No one talked to me whatsoever. There were about 150 to 200 people there, which is more than I am used to on a Maundy Thursday service. There were young kids, teenagers, college students, middle-aged people, and elderly people at the mass. For the most part people were dressed dress-casual.
There were two leaders. One was the priest the other was a woman. The woman read the readings from the Bible. The priest was wearing priest garment. The woman was wearing a black shirt and black pants. The priest led the service, blessed the bread and wine, and read the Gospel.
During the service there wasn’t really a sermon or lesson. Right before the entire congregation washed each other’s feet, the priest talked about the reason why they do it. The reason is because Jesus had done it for his disciples. The mass seemed structured. They seemed to follow a order of service, though no Order of Service was printed. Their liturgy seemed quite similar to my own. The members had the Order of Service memorized, even though it was printed in their hymnal. They also had a book they brought in during the processional that I guessed was the four Gospels. The central focus was the Lord’s Supper. A piano, a few guitars, a flute, and a violin performed the music. There was no use of technology other than microphones.
The building wasn’t what I expected. For some reason I expected it to have rows of pews, a nice altar, stained glass windows, and statues of Mary and other saints. Instead, the pews were arranged in more of a circular pattern and their altar was placed in the middle of the room. There were no stained glass windows, and no statues of Mary. They had a cross, but no Crucifix. There weren’t many other symbols. They used one of their crosses for the processional. I found it odd that the congregation didn’t turn to follow the cross in as we do in my church.
I was surprised at how similar the service was to my own. Some of the liturgical songs were the same songs as the songs I use. The most compelling thing was the washing of the feet. The least compelling was their praying to Mary. During their confession prayer when they mentioned Mary, I felt a bit uncomfortable. I was used to sitting and standing during the service. There was a fellowship afterwards, but I didn’t go. Though, in my tradition, on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, we leave the church in silence with no conversation.
I enjoyed my experience. I’ve always wanted to go to a Catholic mass, but never had the chance. I’m glad I went. It was a wonderful experience.

[ec2kadm]

Christina Posted: Apr 22 2006, 09:12 PM 

 QUOTE 
For my second observation I decided to go to St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Muncie, Indiana. I went on Maundy (Holy) Thursday (April 13, 2006) at seven o’clock at night. When I walked in no one came to greet me. No one talked to me whatsoever. 


Did you say hello to anyone? Most of the congregation are preparing for worship before Mass. Most Churches have greeters at the door before you go in. A Catholic Mass is not like a Protestant service meaning it’s not a “social” event. We are there to worship God and our worship is way different than what you are used to.


QUOTE 
There were two leaders. One was the priest the other was a woman. The woman read the readings from the Bible. The priest was wearing priest garment. The woman was wearing a black shirt and black pants. The priest led the service, blessed the bread and wine, and read the Gospel. 


The woman was a lector and isn’t in anyway associated with “leading” the Mass. She reads the readings and that’s it.

QUOTE 
During the service there wasn’t really a sermon or lesson. 


Because of the Holy Week services, they may not have had time for a Homily because of the Washing of the Feet. At a normal Mass, there is always a Homily where the Priest spends 10-15 mins talking about the Gospel reading.

QUOTE 
The central focus was the Lord’s Supper.


Receiving the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity is THE most important part of being Catholic.

QUOTE 
A piano, a few guitars, a flute, and a violin performed the music. There was no use of technology other than microphones.


There is no need for anything more. We are not there to be “entertained,” we are there to worship our Lord and Savior in a reverent way. Clapping, dancing and all that is just a way to be worked up and get happy; it’s not true worship in my book. Our worship is quite different. Jesus is in our presence in a huge way… we will consume His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity… getting loud and all that seems disrespectful in my opinion.


QUOTE 
I was surprised at how similar the service was to my own. Some of the liturgical songs were the same songs as the songs I use. The most compelling thing was the washing of the feet. The least compelling was their praying to Mary. During their confession prayer when they mentioned Mary, I felt a bit uncomfortable. 


We don’t pray “to” Mary. I’m curious as to what you thought praying to her was? We ask her to pray for us in this prayer, nothing else. Catholics do not pray to Mary in the way you think. We only ask for her intercession.


QUOTE 
I was used to sitting and standing during the service. There was a fellowship afterwards, but I didn’t go. Though, in my tradition, on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, we leave the church in silence with no conversation.


That’s the time when we fellowship, after Mass. If you choose not to go, then you cannot complain that you were not talked to.

QUOTE 
I enjoyed my experience. I’ve always wanted to go to a Catholic mass, but never had the chance. I’m glad I went. It was a wonderful experience.


It’s good that you went, but I would suggest you try going on an ordinary Sunday, when you can see a normal Mass.


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"Cast yourself into the arms of God and be very sure that
if He wants anything of you, He will fit you for the work and give you the strength. St. Philip Neri."

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