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Ichabod!

1999-12-25 19:30:37

i went to Mass last night at st barbaras near irwin where my sister lives. it was the first holiday Mass where i came half an hour early and still did not get into the church. i finally did get a place in an alcove to the left of the sanctuary accessed by a stairwell in the basement. its really pretty frustrating. all of these C&E catholics pour in all of a sudden. it cant even be explained to say that it just travelers visting, because enough people travel all over that it would just redistribute congregations. not swell them five fold.

so as a mass going, reconciliation receiving, parochial school attending, uniform wearing catholic, i cant even get inside the church on christmas eve, let alone a seat. i look in and i see all these C&E (christmas and easter) catholics chatting away like theyre at a social, guys not even properly dressed to fit school dress code, girls dressed in skimpy outfits and sandals for god knows what reason in december. then, the faucet starts running as soon as they move forward to receive communion. they gather up their coats and head out the back the minute they can. its a steady flow by the time the tabernacle is closed. pews are one quarter empty by the time the priest says "mass is ended, go in peace" then the recessional. sneak out the sides if you can, or sing one verse and leave. or just vacate your pew as soon as the priest and the alter servers pass you. forget about singing three full verses of joy to the world.

but you wanna know what? because i did stay to sing three verses, it was that much easier to get out of the parking lot with all those C&Es already gone.

its too bad i coudlnt see the priest at all. when i met him after mass, i was really shocked. he had spiky bleached blonde hair! they guys in my school would get detention for that. but i hear hes a very good priest and gives excellent homilies. theyve also told me about his jewelry and sandals and other antics.

so now im back at dads. after the usual christmas fight over who has the honor of transporting me. and it sucks. i have to go to work tomorrow.