Parish News From The Pews
By Oppido Et Ruri
News From the Pews
A Catholic's First Saturday Night On Holiday
I wonder how many parishioners will be able to remember the ritual that always seemed to accompany Catholic families on the first Saturday night on holiday in a new place? In those pre-internet days, there was the essential search for the Catholic Church and then the times of Sunday Masses (vigils were not an option.) Holidays were always taken in my formative years in 'the peak weeks' which were the last in July and the first in August. British Rail put on a number of local holiday specials from our station, and this often dictated the choice of holiday towns on offer.
Sometimes our accommodation was booked through the ads in a Catholic paper (we were a Universe family) and the proprietor would often be able to help with the Saturday night quest. When revisiting a holiday destination, the Saturday night ritual was still followed......because Mass times may have changed.
The picture below is of St Agnes' in Point Loma,
This is our third year here, and the simple service accompanied wonderfully by a finger-picking acoustic guitarist suits both of us. We were both welcomed outside the porch by our first names by Paul and Mary, both octogenarians and pillars of the local community. I am glad to say that this has been a welcome change from yesteryear when strange faces in churches were often viewed with a degree of suspicion, which was possibly not intended but did not help to ease a slightly uncomfortable feeling.
Would other parishioners like to share their holiday churches?
By Oppido Et Ruri
News From the Pews
New Orleans is a unique city with an identity all of its own. St Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square has two shops. The one in the Cathedral itself is a traditional 'piety' shop, but the Cathedral Shop nearby has a different take on its goods, and some may feel that its tone is irreverend. Hawkeyed parishioners will no doubt be on the lookout for the item I purchased, but perhaps our piety stall will take note?
N.B. AD is no longer universally used and the year has been challenged by some historians.