Mass Presentation

I got a good night’s sleep Friday night and, upon learning that there would mass Saturday, as there is every first Saturday of the month, I decided it might be a good opportunity to present myself to some members of the community.  I won’t lie, the decision wasn’t easy.  I haven’t been to mass in years and there is a reason – I hated it growing up.  All that Sunday morning sin and abortion talk just wasn’t my thing I guess.  I suppose my newly developed sense of duty and simple curiosity won out.

I spent the morning making a couple colorful posters about who I am and what I’m going to be doing here.  Now materially and mentally prepared for what lay ahead, I walked to church with my Don and project partner.

The church is a three-minute walk from my house.  The resident musical group was rehearsing outside – a group of five or six girls and boys, shouting the lyrics and banging on a drum and other Dominican instrument that looks like a big cheese grater and makes a sharp rattling noise.  It was fun to watch them during the service.

With two columns of six rows of pews, it has a max capacity of maybe 72 people.  Roughly a third were in attendance.  I’ll admit it was one of the better masses I’ve been to.  Everyone greeted everyone, including me.  The service was carried out by the local elementary school teacher and an older gentleman who founded that very school and acted as priest (although he isn’t one officially.  Normally a priest from the nearest town comes, but there are two churches here so they don’t always get the priest).

The Saturday mass is for honoring the departed, and this one was especially special because it was after Día de los Muertos.  It was interesting to hear the list of deceased; those enumerated, maybe 50 names, all shared common last names.  Gomez, Polanco, Cruz (my host family and project partners’ name), Cabrera.  Everyone is family here.  I’m looking forward to becoming a part of it.

About ¾ of the way through mass the minister acknowledged me, and everyone applauded (they are so kind here) and then asked if I had anything to share.  I walked up to the front and set up my charla paper and gave my little spiel.  They enjoyed it and asked me a few questions after.  It was definitely a good move to get them more comfortable with me and I was able to warn them ahead of time I’d be going around house to house looking for a chat and cup of coffee and to not be afraid when I asked all my interview questions.

I thought about hitting up Sunday morning mass, but when 06:45 rolled around, I just rolled over and went back to sleep.  Oh well, I’ve got the club de madres Monday, cacao association Wednesday and Junta de Vecinos (Neighborhood group) Saturday and all the mass I can handle in between if I choose.