Finding Church

In my first week here I happened upon a church when I wanted a break from a bike ride and some feeling of safety, security, groundedness.  It was the middle of the day, the church was open, and no one seemed to mind that I went in and sat.  I thought, Maybe we'll come to mass here some day.  Here to Sacra Famiglia.

Then the gang arrived, and we tried mass at the church at Daniel's school.  It felt cold, we understood nothing, we left hungry and tired.  (It's different to go with others, to see it through their eyes; I had once gone to this church myself and felt calm, content, comfortable.)  Then Daniel tried the church that goes with the kids' school.  Fine, he said.  Then he tried one a block away.  Again, fine.

We headed to Sacra Famiglia one Sunday in September.  We knew no one, understood barely a word, and sat near the back in the few remaining seats.  It was bright, and the singing felt festive.  Even the kids liked it.

People from work invited us to try their church one Sunday morning, so we did.  When we left, the kids said, "We like our own better," meaning Sacra Famiglia.

So most Sundays we head to Sacra Famiglia.  Occasionally we see a friend or two of Connor's, or Daniel recognizes someone.  Some weeks we get there early enough to get a program so we can follow all the words that we have no chance of catching if we just listen.  One week we sat near the choir.  A woman in the choir took a step over to me right before each song to tell me the number of the song in the book.  I loved her.  We sang.  We watched the gestures of all the kids and actually, of most of the adults, that went with each line of the songs.  Our kids did the gestures.  I tried to keep up with the words and clapped only when I could follow someone else.  This week I scoured the back pews for a book, and when I couldn't find one, decided to be happy that at least we were in time to get programs.  I returned to my pew, and a moment later a woman, who appeared to have followed me down the aisle, handed me a book.  She must have seen me search.

Today we sang.  Facciamo festa facciamo festa....Alleluia alleluia....Santo....  I didn't have the words to the Hail Mary at the end of the mass, but I listened as Con and Han beside me said the words loud and clear. 

We are finding our place, one spot at a time.