Monday, April 10, 2006

Palm Sunday in Chamizo


Yesterday was my first Palm Sunday in the missions and was a day of other firsts as well. Despite everything being new and a fair amount of chaos before the mass, in the end everything went very well. We started with the blessing of the palms in front of the school and then processed into the church. The Mass itself was simple, but profound and, in general, everyone was quite touched. It was an added pleasure to have a completely full church.

I mentioned that there were also a few firsts…

It was the first and second time that I had someone back out at the last minute on reading parts of the passion. I wanted to read it with five people to be able to divide up some of the other voices. The night before one man sprained his knee so badly he couldn’t walk, and so I found a last minute replacement. In a normal parish that should not be too hard, in mine it is. First of all, there are not that many men that attend regularly. In addition to that, not every person is suitable as a lector. Add to that the fact that a significant part of the population, though more or less literate, is not able to read out loud, and you find yourself with very few choices. Fine, I found someone at ten at night. Then, fifteen minutes before Mass, I find out that the other man can’t come either. His partner in the bakery was ill, and so he had to mind the store. Oh well, not all things are as we desire them…

There were also several first on the liturgical front. It was the first time that the altar boys had albs. It seems something simple that they have albs, but it added whole realms of complication. The one was too embarrassed to be seen in public with what he called a skirt and so didn’t want to leave the sacristy. Of course everyone else was absolutely thrilled to see altar boys vested again (it is anyway still a pleasant novelty for the parish just to have altar boys again). I think that I was the most pleased of all to have them. It adds so much to the liturgy to have servers who are properly attired. So in this, I really have to thank my brother. The albs were his Christmas gift to me, and really, to my whole parish.

It was also the first time we had a procession together. That went fairly smoothly all things considered. The only problem was to keep them from trotting along, but that is to be expected.

Finally, it was also the first time we used incense in the Mass. For altar boys who only barely have the hang of handing me the cruets with water and wine, the jump to incense (which they had never heard of) was rather significant. They performed marvelously. It was so nice to be able to add also that symbol to our liturgy.

Allow me to take just one last moment to thank so many of you who have helped out with this mission. I already mentioned my brother, but there are quite a few others who have made genuine sacrifices to help out, be it by sending me things for the liturgy or through financial help. I cannot thank you all enough. Seeing the reaction of the people of my parish shows me just how much these things mean, and so I say with all my heart, may God repay you all for the good you have done here!

For some photos of the Mass and practice with the altar boys, click here.

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