Today I did the adult thing and registered at my territorial parish. I found it by asking the GPS for places of worship nearest my location and picking the Catholic sounding one. Then google!
I wasn't 100% certain that this was my territorial parish but I figured they would tell me if it wasn't.
Did you know that there are parishes that have more than one building? And that these new modern buildings all kind of look alike? Perhaps some signage at the entrance to the parking lot or on the buildings might not be remiss....
After finally finding the office (which I had to be buzzed into...answering the door is so *old school*) I asked to register. I get the paperwork and am directed to a room to fill it out. I mention that I'm not sure this is my parish and the secretary was like we don't enforce the boundaries. (Forgive me if I'm wrong, but I thought according to Canon Law, the pastor of my territorial parish, regardless of whether or not I'm registered at that parish, is responsible for me...maybe I'd like to meet the guy? Or here's another thought, I thought that Canon Law required me to give my time, talent and/or treasure to my territorial parish...) Fill out the paper, get a welcome to Parish and that's all she wrote.
I don't know anything about this parish. I don't know when the Mass times are (grabbed bulletin though). She said she'd see me Sunday...neglected to tell me *when*. If I was shopping for a Catholic Church this did not sell me on it. In fact, I thought that was one of the points of territorial churches was to stop Catholics from acting like Protestants and church shop.
I just have to ask, is it so hard to say Welcome to St. Snup. Our masses are at X, Y and Z but here's a bulletin/piece of paper for you to have them all to refer to. I usually attend Mass at X so if I see you I could introduce you to some parishoners. Father Snup gives excellent homilies and Father Charlie is in charge of the youth group. We have lots of opportunities for different activities, many of them are in the bulletin but if you tell me what you are interested in, I might be able to hook you up with a group. (Especially when the person registering says they've just moved to town and has only been in town 2 days.)
Let the snark begin!
Thursday, October 31, 2013
And so it begins...again.
Hello all my legions of loyal readers! I hope you are still with me. :D
I have moved to Little Rock, AR to take a job with the USDA- National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Briefly, I count cows (and ducks..and chickens...and horses...and cotton...and fish...et cetera et cetera et cetera). I don't get to actually go out in the field and count them...I look at surveys sent in the mail or online.
Because I had so much fun (snark) the last time, let's do it again, this time with the Diocese of Little Rock. There are some tiny issues that I hope will work themselves out.
Yeah, I know I need a new header. I don't know what to use right now....
I have moved to Little Rock, AR to take a job with the USDA- National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Briefly, I count cows (and ducks..and chickens...and horses...and cotton...and fish...et cetera et cetera et cetera). I don't get to actually go out in the field and count them...I look at surveys sent in the mail or online.
Because I had so much fun (snark) the last time, let's do it again, this time with the Diocese of Little Rock. There are some tiny issues that I hope will work themselves out.
- I'm only guaranteed 5 months. This fun could end by April.
- The diocese is the entire state. I'm in the center...it takes roughly 3 hours to get to a state border.
- In other words, you might get pictures if I go hiking around there but no Mass report.
- 3 hours is 1 tank of gas. It is expensive to live on your own...
- I don't know where anything is...but the GPS fixes that issue. Expect lots of I got lost.
I will start Friday, November 1 for the Feast of All Saints.
Yeah, I know I need a new header. I don't know what to use right now....
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Snup's View is Moving
The Holy Spirit works in mysterious ways. I have been offered a position in another state. Of course this means I'll have to visit all the new churches! This maybe a big challenge as there is only one diocese where I'm moving to. It's a big diocese.
My first post for my new location will by Nov 3.
:)
My first post for my new location will by Nov 3.
:)
Monday, July 22, 2013
Closing Mass, St. Elizabeth Academy
After 131 years, St. Elizabeth Academy closed this weekend. The sisters have moved out of the convent. The rooms are empty. The pictures of every graduate are no longer in the hallway. The buildings are for sale.
I graduated in 1994. I am incredibly grateful I was able to go to a small, all-girls school. I am sad that other young women will not be able to have the same experiences.
The Closing Mass or Mass of Celebration was held on July 21, 2013.
Music:
Gathering Song: All Are Welcome
Gloria: Mass of Light
Alleluia: The jazzy one!
Mass Setting: Mass of Glory
Communion: The Supper of the Lord, We Are One Body (I didn't know there were 5 verses...)
Recessional: Hymn to St. Elizabeth
Spontaneous After Mass Song: St. Elizabeth School Song (the first time I have ever heard it....)
Opening Remarks by Sister Susan Borgel, CPPS, President:
To celebrate means to remember together who we are. We are God's Beloved. We are the community of SEA. We are here to give thanks for that grace of being part of this community.
Reflection (in place of homily) by Sister Fran Raia, CPPS, General Superior:
I wish you could see what I see: all these wonderful faces. You came in as little girls and left as competent women. A few years ago, the Sisters of the Most Precious Blood (CPPS) determined their four values for ministry (So much to say...but it is so wrong to kick a dog when it's down....) These four values are hospitality, reconciliation, be the presence of Christ, and response to human needs. As you attended school, you had the example of St. Elizabeth, who gave bread to the hungry. These values are implicit in SEA life. It is our spirit of family. In the First Reading Abraham shows hospitality. It is a strong value found throughout our Jewish and Christian Traditions. In the Gospel, Mary and Martha show hospitality. We live this family spirit in our lives. Mary and Martha are present in the faculty and staff. We have all been influenced by saints in the windows. They gave their lives for others. These values have been implicit in your lives. I'd like to quote from Dr. Suess: "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened." Something is ending, but endings are beginnings.
The Profession of Faith was skipped. And now that I think about it, so were the Prayers of the Faithful. Which is probably a good thing since I still don't know it. Instead there was a Ritual of the Presentation of the Gifts. We were asked to affirm how we will live the 4 values and keep the values of St. Elizabeth Academy alive.
After this, all of the sisters stood up andone-armed saluted blessed us and sang the Blessing Song. It goes May the Blessing of the Lord be upon you....and some more stuff.
Pictures:
From the Old Chapel turned Music Room:
Links:
Taize Prayer at St. Elizabeth Academy
I graduated in 1994. I am incredibly grateful I was able to go to a small, all-girls school. I am sad that other young women will not be able to have the same experiences.
The Closing Mass or Mass of Celebration was held on July 21, 2013.
Music:
Gathering Song: All Are Welcome
Gloria: Mass of Light
Alleluia: The jazzy one!
Mass Setting: Mass of Glory
Communion: The Supper of the Lord, We Are One Body (I didn't know there were 5 verses...)
Recessional: Hymn to St. Elizabeth
Spontaneous After Mass Song: St. Elizabeth School Song (the first time I have ever heard it....)
Opening Remarks by Sister Susan Borgel, CPPS, President:
To celebrate means to remember together who we are. We are God's Beloved. We are the community of SEA. We are here to give thanks for that grace of being part of this community.
Reflection (in place of homily) by Sister Fran Raia, CPPS, General Superior:
I wish you could see what I see: all these wonderful faces. You came in as little girls and left as competent women. A few years ago, the Sisters of the Most Precious Blood (CPPS) determined their four values for ministry (So much to say...but it is so wrong to kick a dog when it's down....) These four values are hospitality, reconciliation, be the presence of Christ, and response to human needs. As you attended school, you had the example of St. Elizabeth, who gave bread to the hungry. These values are implicit in SEA life. It is our spirit of family. In the First Reading Abraham shows hospitality. It is a strong value found throughout our Jewish and Christian Traditions. In the Gospel, Mary and Martha show hospitality. We live this family spirit in our lives. Mary and Martha are present in the faculty and staff. We have all been influenced by saints in the windows. They gave their lives for others. These values have been implicit in your lives. I'd like to quote from Dr. Suess: "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened." Something is ending, but endings are beginnings.
The Profession of Faith was skipped. And now that I think about it, so were the Prayers of the Faithful. Which is probably a good thing since I still don't know it. Instead there was a Ritual of the Presentation of the Gifts. We were asked to affirm how we will live the 4 values and keep the values of St. Elizabeth Academy alive.
After this, all of the sisters stood up and
Pictures:
View from the Choir Loft ;)
It's where the freshmen used to sit.
Mary, St. Elizabeth, St. Agnes, St. Cecilia, Esther and Judith
From the Old Chapel turned Music Room:
I found this painting of St. Joseph in the entrance of the convent. On May 17, 1896 a tornado destroyed the convent chapel and it's contents. This painting and the corpus from the main altar Crucifix were the only things to survive. None of the sisters or students were injured.
The painting is for sale....
Links:
Taize Prayer at St. Elizabeth Academy
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
St. Mary's Catholic Church - Memphis TN
Other people go to Memphis to Graceland. I went and saw churches.
So one of the reasons I have quit going to Mass is that I feel like I don't belong and I don't fit in. What happened at this church on Sunday really emphasized that feeling.
I'm not from Memphis. I'm not a parishoner. I pull up to Church and for some reason don't see the main door. I do see a bunch of people going in the side door. No problem. I'll just follow them. I end up in a hall of some sort. I see a deacon (gray shirt with collar...) I ask him how to find the Church. He asked me "Why do you want to know where the Church is?" Uhm. I'm sorry. I thought it was pretty obvious. Mass. (Yes I lied. What was I supposed to say? I'm going to take pictures and then snark about it?). He finally did give me directions but I was floored. I had heard they were hostile to Catholics in the South but I didn't think they were hostile to Catholics in the Catholic Church...although given some of the comments on blogs and how some parishes interact, perhaps I shouldn't be so floored. Let's just say that to get me to stay in the Church for Mass would have required the Holy Spirit to come sit on me after that.
The Knights of Columbus were there for First Communion. One of them was really nice and gave me a quick tour of the Church.
Stained Glass: I'll give you 3 guess as to what company made the windows but if you are from St. Louis you should only need 1. They came to Memphis on paddle boats!
So one of the reasons I have quit going to Mass is that I feel like I don't belong and I don't fit in. What happened at this church on Sunday really emphasized that feeling.
I'm not from Memphis. I'm not a parishoner. I pull up to Church and for some reason don't see the main door. I do see a bunch of people going in the side door. No problem. I'll just follow them. I end up in a hall of some sort. I see a deacon (gray shirt with collar...) I ask him how to find the Church. He asked me "Why do you want to know where the Church is?" Uhm. I'm sorry. I thought it was pretty obvious. Mass. (Yes I lied. What was I supposed to say? I'm going to take pictures and then snark about it?). He finally did give me directions but I was floored. I had heard they were hostile to Catholics in the South but I didn't think they were hostile to Catholics in the Catholic Church...although given some of the comments on blogs and how some parishes interact, perhaps I shouldn't be so floored. Let's just say that to get me to stay in the Church for Mass would have required the Holy Spirit to come sit on me after that.
The Knights of Columbus were there for First Communion. One of them was really nice and gave me a quick tour of the Church.
View From the Back Pew
Side Altars
That would be St. Louis there on the right.
Hey It's Painted Organ Pipes...
It must be a German thing.
God
Pope Pius X
The Prodigal Son...
This was in a cry room so the angle is funky.
Pelican
I don't know who this is. The Scroll says:
Pot?? Decuit Ergo Facit
Mary at the Temple
Marriage of Mary and Joseph
The Annunciation
Visitation
The Nativity
The Boy Jesus in the Temple
The Wedding at Cana
Palm Sunday
Jesus Meets His Mother
Resurrection
Grotto/Chapel
St Theresa the Little Flower & St. Rita
St. Mary Margaret Aloque & St. Joan of Arc
Link:
St. Mary in Memphis, TN
Relic of St. Mary Magdalen - St. Dominic Priory
On March 22, 2013, I was able to attend evening prayer at the new St. Dominic Priory. This is the house of study for the Dominican Order and is what used to be in a Catholic Girls' High School.
Evening prayer was chanted, which I thought was really cool. There was a talk by a sister about how Jesus is our friend, but I've misplaced my notes so I can't tell you anymore than it was snark worthy.
St. Dominic and Mary
View From the Back Pew!
Relic of St. Mary Magdalen
Up Close
Nine Ways of Prayer: (I'm not sure about 5, 6, and 7)
Bowing Deeply
Laying on Ground
Discipline
Gazing Upon the Crucifix
Prayer Posture
6th Way of Prayer
7th Way of Prayer
Reading
Travel
Links:
Priory of St. Dominic
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