Mass… in Italiano!

Bon giorrno!

So… I went to Mass today, not because I’m the greatest Catholic in the world, but, because I wanted a chance to practice my Italian. Yes, that’s right, Mass, in Italian. You see, the Griffith-Leeton area is like the little Italy of Australia (at least of New South Wales) and so, with all the Italians in the area, the local parish has a service in Italian every Sunday at 8 am. I had been meaning to go for awhile now, but never really had the energy to wake up for it before.

Anyway, I went, sat all by my lonesome because I obviously don’t know anyone in town (at the 8 am Mass that is). Fortunately for me, they do pass out an order of Mass that has all the words that il Padri says with the responses. It also had a little side note that said whether we where to stand, sit, or kneel during that section.
I think everyone should go to a church service in a language they are learning or practicing, because, when you do so, you actually pay attention and listen to what the speaker has to say, which, I think is something we tune out in English.
And while paying attention, I noticed something about the order of Mass. They read off the names of the sick, the dead, and anyone who needed prayer, then they took offering, and then there was communion. Now… let’s take a closer look at that shall we:

TRUE Christian’s are to tend the sick, they are to take care of those in need. So, when the priest reads off the names of those people who need prayer, you should have them in your mind, and be concerned about these brothers and sisters in Christ. Then, since you have these needs in mind, they take the offering. Why? Well, you see, in a perfect world, the church would be going out and taking care of others, but it of course needs supplies to do so, and in this world we live, money is the best means of getting supplies. So you are supposed to give, with the thought in mind, this money needs to go help the people I just prayed for, because, praying is nice and all, but a lot of times you have to go in yourself, hands on to repair a problem.

The church being hands on is a hot topic with me. For many reasons, that I’ll go into another time.

After Mass, I walked out, and tried making friends with a group of old Italian men. I was speaking in Italian until one guy, tired of watching me suffer just said, “you know kid, we do speak English also”

“well, ya I figured you did, but I need to get practice”

“oh… ya, you could use a lot of practice actually”

Making friends did not seem to be in my favor so far.




Or was it?