In the islands, one is constantly immersed in all things beautiful and natural and cannot help being ever mindful of God's almighty power and loving grace. We are grateful daily for His mercy and protection as we wander these waters. So whenever it is possible, we seek out a Catholic Church to in which to participate in Sunday Mass. In fact, one of our main objectives when going ashore in some place new is to ascertain that specific information. And then we note it in our worn guidebooks in case we ever pass that way again.
In the states, most Sunday Masses are forty-five minutes to an hour in length unless it is a special holy day or sacramental celebration. We've found that to also be true for masses in the USVI. The masses in the Spanish and French speaking islands tend to follow suit as far as their length. However, the mass is said in the native tongue and we understand very little Spanish and French and speak even less. Ah, then there are the masses in the British Islands that are said in a language to which we can relate- all be it, the Queen's English. Those are the masses that really "rock" and customarily last about two hours.
My most favorite Sunday Mass is celebrated weekly at 8 AM at St. John’s Catholic Church in the British West Indian Island of Portsmouth, Dominica. This parish is a short, quiet walk (when no Saturday night rowdies are left on the street) from Prince Rupert Bay where we anchor our boat. Indeed, the pastor knows well how to lead his flock because St. John’s currently has a building project underway that looks like it’ll more than double their worship space. Father Herman is an island boy and he delivers his sermons with enthusiasm and a sprinkling of local humor. He is quite an articulate shepherd and invites- no, DEMANDS participation. Every now and then he’ll pause and say, “Amen, Church?” And if the parishioners don’t heartily respond he’s quick with the retort, “I can’t hear you, Church!” Fr. Herman has also modified the mass to include an extra half hour or so of worship and prayers before he begins his half hour plus homily and this suits savage soul well.
On some occasions we find ourselves anchored in remote locations where there is no Catholic congregation. That is when I rely on our on board Bible to at least spend part of Sunday morning reviewing the Readings for that weekend. The website http://wordtoworship.com/lectionary/catholic has been a good resource for that. Also, recently I found and tapped into the convenience of having the daily readings posted to my email box by using http://usccb.org.
Currently, on our way out of the Bahamas and island hopping toward the Turks and Caicos, we stopped in Clarence Town, Long Island where we planned to attend mass at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church. On Saturday evening we walked by the church and noted that the Sunday Mass time was posted as 9AM, followed by “TAITS”. We wondered what TAITS meant and if Hurricane Joachim had a hand in whatever it was. Down the next road, we stopped to inquire about it with a man on his front porch. He didn’t know the answer, so he sent us two houses up the road to where the Catholic Catechist lived. There we were disappointed to learn that, since Joachim, services were being rotated weekly to various congregations. Mass would not be held in Clarence Town this weekend. It would be held in a town farther south called TAITS.
Ah, the best laid plans…
No comments:
Post a Comment