day 36

Day 36: Comfort in a Church

Sunday April 3, 2011

I was raised Catholic.  For most of my life I attended Catholic schools and went to weekly Sunday mass.  Due to various reasons, this strayed from my life somehow when I left home.  Periods of rejuvenation would return and exploration of different sectors, but never consistently.  My fiancé has a very similar upbringing. I can say for both sides of our families everyone is Catholic.  So to be part of a generation where it isn’t a strength in our lives is new to the family.

I remember in my international travels, I generally tried to visit churches.  The ornate nature may be embellished in the gold and stain glass walls.  Maybe there was simplicity in the chapel, quiet solitude.  I remember visiting a church in Greece that housed a skull.  Churches can reveal so much about the culture, the history, and if attending mass possibly it’s people.

The day prior, Anthony awoke me in the middle of the night (when he is most inspired and up) and told me of his urge to return to attending church.  His reason for straying was the loss of his mom the past year, where mine was partially linked of his and sadly laziness.  We had gone to church three times the past year together, including Christmas.  This time we tried a new church that would hopefully fit with us.  The Newman Center is part of the University of Hawaii, providing Catholic support and services to students and the community.  Oddly the room did not seem to fit the mold of a church, with computer in the back, kitchen and smells of chicken and brownies, stackable chairs.  But people were gathered to worship, the priest stood on a platform, the Catholic protocol ensued. 

I may have my grievances about Catholicism, but realistically if you attend church anywhere you get essentially the same thing.  Even if you don’t understand the language, you basically know what’s coming.  That in and of itself is comforting.   Especially if travelling alone for an extended amount of time.  I know I am biased being raised Catholic, but it seems to hold true for other religions including Christianity, Buddhism, Jewish Tradition, Islam, Hinduism, and Unitarianism.

This gathering place was in no ways ornate, but still felt holy.  There was a beauty in listening to chorus of the audience, accompanied to the violin, piano, clarinet, acoustic, and electrical guitars.   I notice a preference I have with masses targeted towards college students, it seems there is more of an effort to connect the message with real life.  Or the importance of relatability versus pure structure.   

While vacation, whatever your religious beliefs may be, visit a place of worship.  And simply sit and allow yourself to be comforted by some form of tradition, whether one you were raised with or one there is no connection to at all.  Sit and see if you feel familiarity, spirituality, or simply comfort.