Can I get a woop-woop for Catholic Mass? "Woop-woop!!"

So, this morning we had the time down pat - 8:30 and went on time - rather than at 9:30 like last week! You see, in the city, the church time is 9:30 and my friend, Hector, was in the Phillipines on a home visit for 5 wks. recently. Anyway, Hector called this morning to be sure I would like to come and OF COURSE I was EAGERLY ANTICIPATING going!! I asked if I could bring a friend b/c Christen had expressed interest in coming also. (She is from a Catholic family.) So, he was like, "Sure, sure, I have a big car!" And Claire said she may be interested in going also so I knocked on her door, woke her up, and she ended up coming with us as well!! It was great - the 3 muskuteers once again!!!

Let me begin by saying that out of all of the amazing, wonderful, joyous, unique, interesting, fantastic cultural, learning, and life experiences I have had in India - this was the absolute best!!! ######## 1 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Celebrating the Mass was surreal - it was like coming home again from a long journey I have taken. Like finding water in a desert. I cannot even speak of the depths of the spiritual fulfillment I experienced, so instead, I will tell you some of the details of the wonderous Mass . . .

So, the Mass was (I don't know - I didn't notice the time ever) but Hector said - around 1.5 hrs. This is typical, the Sunday masses are really used as a time to teach the catechism. The priest begins with an introduction of what the mass is focusing on - delves in deeper during the homily - and then gives a short reflection at the end. The singing was beautiful - it felt like we were raising the roof of the church! And I was so excited to know a lot of the songs! (We were obviously at the English mass - they have one in Hindi as well!) So, during sign of peace, it was cool. We didn't shake hands but bowed to one another. It was less drawn-out than at home and more reverent.

During Our Father, we did not hold hands but had our hands in "praying position" - like the priest. During communion, women go first and then men. We sat/kneeled and stood on the floor in the front of church - although there were seats in the back - but that floor was hard like marble for kneeling and full when we arrived. It was a PACKED house. During one part of mass, the kids all move up and stand around the altar. So then we had some more room and moved up a bit. One time the priest said to some boys not to lean up against the wall :)

The church is small and beautiful!! I hope to bring my camera in pocket next time to get some pictures after/before church to share. It was such such such a wonderful experience. The homily was fantastic - and the whole focus of the Mass. It was on faith - having faith - what faith means, and how faith comes from the written word of God - the Holy Bible. He also then spoke of how yes we all have doubts and times of spiritual darkness - spoke of Mother Theresa here too! But how having faith and living faith are two different things. How we are not only called to have faith, but to live it at all times. To live our Christian faith as Jesus called us to. To follow the difficult teachings that we believe and cherish as the word of God. And in order to increase our faith and build/grow stronger in faith, we have to spend time in scripture daily. And about prayers to God being answered - maybe not the answer we want - maybe not when we want, but they are answered by God by giving us what is the best for us to have. God knows us better than we know ourselves, or our friends or our family. These were great great great things for me to here. It is really calming and exciting to knowthat God has plans in mind for my life, and by following His willnis how I can feel most fulfilled and be happiest.

He spoke of an inspirational couple he met when he was in seminary, they were so faithful. The tradition is that after a priest is ordained, all the people kiss his hands b/c they have been anointed with the holy oils. The tradition is that the men kiss the hands first, but in his case, the wife of that faithful couple ran up to him and asked to be the 1st one to kiss his hands and he let her! Then she asked to be prayed over and he prayed over her with the holy oils! I was so happy to see such chivalry in church - how women went to communion first - and also, all of our readers in church were women - which I was so happy about!! :)

It was such an emotional and moving experience for me this morning. The women (some) wore the shawls on their heads, we took off our shoes at the door out of respect, and the people were just so faithful. It was so inspiring. Hector was telling me how the Catholic Christians are so strong - really strong around here. And this is b/c when you are such a minority, if you truly believe in something, if you are deliberately choosing to live outside the norm, then you must feel very convicted. The way that all of the women around me participated in and really celebrated the mass - reverently and humbly - was awe-inspiring. I thought to myself, "They really get it! They really get it!"

I am so excited to go back next week! Can't wait until then :) God has also worked through this time of absence from actually being at the Mass for me, though. (Much different than virtual Mass to actually be there!!) It is great to know my priorities and experience when I am the happiest and most at peace for the future - both in college and beyond.

So now it is officially Claire's last night staying here at ICRISAT with us. She leaves tomorrow night! Crazy stuff, huh?! So we packed her up today - rolling rolling rolling clothes to fit them all in! She fit all in one bag to check in on the way here, but then got tons of souvenirs for fam. and friends and . . . well . . . let's just say there was concerns about the everything fitting piece of the puzzle! But we expertly teamed up and had no problems! (She is leaving all toiletries and stuff here - so that is quite helpful!!) I can't really believe she is going, but I am so happy for her. It isn't making me cry or anything (yet! :) ) just because this is just part of the experience. Say hello - spend amazing and unforgettable times together and say goodbye. (Hopefully a "see you down the road" type of goodbye - I mean, especially for Claire and I! Duh - the Youth Institute!! So that will be terribly exciting to see her again there and swap all of our first college experiences! Oh boy :) So pretty much I am just overjoyed for her right now - a successful completion of her mission this summer. Couldn't have asked for a better more wonderful person to be here with me.

Also, a weird twist to this is that her being packed up and literally LEAVING tomorrow night (I had to put that in all caps to try to make it more real!) really puts things in perspective for me. I have my priority list, my to-do list, and have pretty much checked off most things. Now I will be focusing on the successful completion of my internship - my approaching seminar presentation - thanking everyone possible!! And before I know it, it will be my time. I have begun to put some things in suitcases - not b/c I am not wanting to be here or anything like that, but just to get organized and focused and really acknowledge these changes that are occurring. Like it or not, this awesome opportunity is coming to a close and it has been indescribable. In a week's time, I will feel very accomplished with all that I have done here also. So, I need to work on my presentation tonight to meet with my mentor tomorrow about it - then maybe spend some quality time with Claire - hug her before bed!!!! And rest for what is sure to be a great last week.

Chao.