My name is Ed Smith, and I am currently in Costa Rica with FrancisCorps. The link below is to my personal blog throughout my experience.
http://vidaricadeed.blogspot.com/
If you have any questions, comments or concerns; please email me at edsmith44@gmail.com
Friday, October 24, 2008
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Prayer
Today we went to St. Lucy's for mass. It was only the three girls because two of the boys went home for the weekend and Matt decided to go next door for service. Anyways, I am wondering how I can even begin to describe this service to those that have not been there. It is definitely is not for everyone, it is a very progressive parish in which people of all different backgrounds gather to praise the lord. At first it was a little overwhelming. We walk in and are instantly greeted by the priest who tells us there are three seats right up front for us, these seats are literally like two feet from where he presides (which is not on the alter but instead at the same level as the people) He then introduces us to the church and we tell everyone our names and where we are from. As the mass goes on, I notice there is a women who signs the mass for a multiple of deaf parishioners. It was awesome watching them participate in mass and other people trying to follow along with the signs. It made me want to learn. All in all I believe this mass was different, unique and a bit much for even me to handle at points but an experience i think everyone should have.
The best part of the mass was the diversity. We have been church hopping trying to find one that works for us and one thing that has been hard is many of the masses are full of older Caucasian men and women with little to no diversity. In a city like Syracuse that has people of all different colors, size and shapes it is disappointing to see how segregated the populations really are. At mass today there were African Americans, Hispanics, Caucasians, people that were deaf, handicapped, a midget and more. It was very powerful. This is how I imagine God wants it to be. Everyone together praying and singing in his name. Yes, there were certain traditions that this mass did not follow and yes some it may have not been actually by the book but everyone there was respectful and came there for one reason. This community all loved one another and prayed together. I just wish more people could be so open to differences.
My final comment about mass today is that I really enjoyed they had pictures and quotes of leaders and hereos from our times under the Stations of the Cross, they ranged from Martin Luther King, Mother Theresa to Dorothy Day. These people give me hope that we too can make change, even if it is one person at a time.
It is easier to have faith that God will support each House of Hospitality and Farming Commune and supply our needs in the way of food and money to pay bills, than it is to keep a strong, hearty, living faith in each individual around us - to see Christ in him. - Dorothy Day
The best part of the mass was the diversity. We have been church hopping trying to find one that works for us and one thing that has been hard is many of the masses are full of older Caucasian men and women with little to no diversity. In a city like Syracuse that has people of all different colors, size and shapes it is disappointing to see how segregated the populations really are. At mass today there were African Americans, Hispanics, Caucasians, people that were deaf, handicapped, a midget and more. It was very powerful. This is how I imagine God wants it to be. Everyone together praying and singing in his name. Yes, there were certain traditions that this mass did not follow and yes some it may have not been actually by the book but everyone there was respectful and came there for one reason. This community all loved one another and prayed together. I just wish more people could be so open to differences.
My final comment about mass today is that I really enjoyed they had pictures and quotes of leaders and hereos from our times under the Stations of the Cross, they ranged from Martin Luther King, Mother Theresa to Dorothy Day. These people give me hope that we too can make change, even if it is one person at a time.
It is easier to have faith that God will support each House of Hospitality and Farming Commune and supply our needs in the way of food and money to pay bills, than it is to keep a strong, hearty, living faith in each individual around us - to see Christ in him. - Dorothy Day
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