Roaming Catholic

In my previous blog, I wrote about attending daily Mass. I not only enjoy attending daily Mass, I also like being a roaming Catholic. Simply put, I enjoy roaming around to attend different Masses. This blog is about my nine-day plan to attend Mass at nine different places, and it has been a short wonderful and spiritual journey.

I started on Thursday, November 20th by attending Mass at the chapel at Our Lady Queen of Peace Retreat Center. Fr. Carl Hood from St. Francis celebrated that Mass for the Catholic school leaders and members of the diocesan Catholic school board.

On Friday, I attended our weekly all-school Mass at St. Ann - Bartlett. Fr. Jacek Kowal celebrated that Mass for the student. It is heartwarming seeing our students serve the Mass as greeters, altar servers, lectors, gift bearers, and in the choir.

On Saturday, our Cursillo grouping attends Mass at Ave Maria with Fr. Mike Morgera. We usually have about six to nine Cursillistas attending that Mass before our weekly grouping. Fr. Mike is part of our grouping as well.

For Sunday Mass, my family attends St. Michael with Fr. Ben Bradshaw. We live about one mile from St. Michael and Fr. Ben is a good family friend. He married both my children and Baptized my granddaughter. His homilies really hit home for so many, and just what many of us need.

I attended Mass on Monday at St. Louis with Fr. Keith Stewart. Not sure there is a more active daily Mass in our diocese than daily Mass at St. Louis. Even though St. Louis is not my parish, I feel as if I know half the people there.

On Tuesday, I attended Mass at Holy Rosary. I've been to Mass at Holy Rosary on several occasions, but that was my first Mass with Fr. Jeo Poulose. I got to put a name to a face. I enjoyed his homily.

Nativity in Bartlett with Fr. José Cruz was my choice for Wednesday's Mass. Nativity is a beautiful and welcoming church.  I enjoy attending Mass there with Fr. José.

Thursday was Thanksgiving day. I attended Mass at Immaculate Conception with Bishop David Talley presiding. Fr. Kacper Wojcieszko was the homilist for that Mass. Like the Mass at St. Louis, I knew quite a few people there.

Now for the last Mass of my nine-day plan. I attended St. James with Fr. Gerald Azike. Not sure you are going to find a more welcoming priest in our diocese than Fr. Gerald. If you have never attended Mass at St. James, you are missing out. I like going there for the Spanish Mass. The Mass times on their website might not be accurate so check with masstimes.org before heading to St. James.

What did I gain from being a roaming Catholic and attending nine different Masses in nine days? The answer is great spiritual growth. I want to grow in my faith and grow closer to God. Receiving the Eucharist in different places helps me to stay more focused on the words and actions taking place in the Mass. The prayers are important and I don't want to daydream my way through Mass. Everything becomes more intentional. I don't just go through the motions. I participate in the Mass and not just being present for the Mass. For these nine Masses, what helped to make me more intentional was that I had to plan which Mass I would attend and at what time. It wasn't a last minute or automatic decision. I had to be intentional in my actions.

The Church offers so much goodness. For me, it would be a shame not to be a part of all the Church has to offer. I got to experience the grandeur of the Cathedral and St. Louis as well as the down to earth warmth of Nativity and St. James. I had the honor of praying with my Cursillo brothers at Ave Maria. I heard short yet powerful daily Mass homilies from many of the priest. I like the short daily Mass homilies that give us a better insight of the daily readings. I experienced the hospitality of Fr. Gerald, the faith-filled passion of Fr. Carl, the insight of Fr. Kacper, the inclusion of Fr. Jacek, the enthusiasm of Bishop Talley, the wisdom of Fr. Keith, the piety of Fr. Jeo, the humility of Fr. Jose, and the friendships of Fr. Mike and Fr. Ben.

These nine days happen to come together just right. Not sure when I'll have an opportunity like this again. It will probably have to wait until I retire. Until then, I will do my best to be a roaming Catholic. Being a part of the Catholic Diocese of Memphis brings me much joy. And, I want to experience all the Church has to offer.

Live Jesus in our hearts...Forever! Amen!