What Do I Love About My Church? Let Me Tell You...

Last week Friday my friend Kathy (katdish) asked What do you love about church? on her blog. I had so many answers running in my head, and little time that day to type them, much less sort them. But since it IS Sunday, reflecting on why I love worshipping Him at the Church I do worship Him in and sharing that seems a good idea.

First of all, I'd be remiss if I didn't share that us Catholics believe in transubstantiation. That means that we believe that at the consecration, the bread truly becomes the physical body of Jesus Christ, and the wine truly becomes His precious blood. I love going to Church on Sunday and receiving Him in such an intimate way.

I also love the liturgy format. Gloria, Opening Prayer, Old Testament Reading, Psalm, Epistle, Gospel, Sermon, Creed, Prayer Petitions, Offertory, then Liturgy of the Eucharist.

I love that my parish is not only handicapped accessible, but level. We all go in through the same doors. Their isn't a separate door, with ramp like at some other parishes I have been at. It would seem that this sort of thing wouldn't matter, but it does. My mom loved being able to go into a Church that was level (though she wasn't in the parish I am now except wheeled in a coffin...our last parish was also level.). Going in and out the same way made her feel less like she was in the spotlight, and less self conscious. So now I notice if a Church is level, and find myself happy when I find that it is.

Speaking of level, I like how my parish is not hung up about who has what. Socio-economic distinctions aren't much noticed. (We do have a food collection for those who are in need, but who gets it isn't common knowledge.)

I was very fond of my former pastor. Going to him for the Sacrament of Reconciliation was a life changing experience. Twice. I am going to miss him. I plan on liking our new pastor. He tries hard, and he tells great jokes. No, I haven't had the opportunity to go to him for confession.

I love the friends I have made through various parish organizations. I also like that I got involved in these organizations through other friends I made. It wasn't me being out going or anything.

I love having the opportunity to teach CCD.

I love seeing people I know and BEING one of the friendly people at Church now.

We have an "evangelization committee". I put that in quotation marks because the idea seems to me to be more about being welcoming and educating people (fellow Catholics and anyone else interested) about our Faith, and sponsoring programs and activities to help do that. What it really is about is reaching out to people. When I think "evangelization", my mind thinks of people who go door to door. We don't. It's not that we are opposed to people going door to door, it just isn't what we do.

I love the hymns. But then, I'd probably like the hymns anywhere. I love the way a hymn can bring me to tears.

I'm sure there are other things I love about my Church, but this post is getting a little long....

Over a year ago, I wrote a post about why I go to Church on Sunday, which deals with the same idea in a bit of a different way.

For more reasons others love their Church, check out Katdish's blog.