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| 2084: Sacred
Heart, Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA |
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Mystery Worshipper:
MoboJobo.
The church:
Sacred
Heart, Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA.
Denomination:
Roman Catholic, Diocese
of Colorado Springs. The church is administered by priests
of the Congregation
of the Holy Cross.
The building:
Moorish stucco with lovely rose window and a red tile roof.
The inside has massive wooden beams, beautifully hand-carved
altar chairs, and a huge glass altar screen with the Paraclete
behind.
The church:
Their ministries are well described on their website. Special
mention goes to the BeFrienders, who "provide a listening
presence to anyone experiencing grief, loss, transition, or...other
stressful events", and the Lord's Dinner, a meal served
each Sunday night "for those in our neighborhood in need
of a hot meal and fellowship." There are three masses each
Sunday, morning prayer plus mass on weekdays, holy hour/adoration
on Saturday mornings, and a Saturday evening mass.
The neighborhood:
Colorado Springs lies just east of the geographic center of
the state of Colorado. In the mid 19th century, the city found
itself in the midst of the Colorado gold rush. In the early
20th century, persons seeking health cures were attracted to
the city's warm, dry climate, clean air, and mineral springs.
The waters were rich in fluoride, and in 1909 a dentist named
Frederick McKay established the link between "Colorado
stain" on people's teeth and a reduction in tooth decay.
His discovery, however, did not result in the widespread adoption
of fluoridation until the 1950s. The city enjoys some spectacular
views of the Rocky Mountains and is home to the United States
Air Force Academy. The church is on a main street (Pikes Peak
Avenue) in a residential section of town.
The cast:
The Revd Patrick Hanna, CSC, was the celebrant. The Revd Noel
Leslie, vicar general of the Diocese of Belize, was the homilist.
Sue Gerlach was the leader of song, assisted by five choir members.
The date & time:
Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, August 1, 2010, 11.00am.
What was the name of the service?
Sunday Mass.
How full was the building?
About three-quarters full.
Did anyone welcome you personally?
Yes, many people at the door.
Was your pew comfortable?
Yes.
How would you describe the pre-service
atmosphere?
Chatty and friendly.
What were the exact opening words of the
service?
"Good morning, everyone."
What books did the congregation use during the
service?
Breaking Bread 2010.
What musical instruments were played?
Organ and piano.
Did anything distract you?
There was nothing that distracted us.
Was the worship stiff-upper-lip, happy clappy, or
what?
A pretty standard novus ordo mass.
Exactly how long was the sermon?
10 minutes.
On a scale of 1-10, how good was the preacher?
7 – Father Leslie's accent took a bit of getting used to.
In a nutshell, what was the sermon
about?
"Where your treasure is." Father Leslie talked to
us about Belize's problems and how we could help with our treasure,
if we could.
Which part of the service was like being in
heaven?
The singing was great.
And which part was like being in... er... the other place?
There was nothing that struck us as "other-placeish."
What happened when you hung around after the service looking lost?
An invitation to coffee and donuts in the adjoining building
was forthcoming.
How would you describe the after-service
coffee?
Great coffee, lemonade and fresh donuts.
How would you feel about
making this church your regular (where 10 = ecstatic, 0 = terminal)?
7 – The parishioners are such a happy bunch and obviously
are happy to be there, and so were we!
Did the service make you
feel glad to be a Christian?
Yes.
What one thing will you remember about all this in seven days' time?
The joy of the parishioners. |
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| One of our most seasoned reporters makes the Camino pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Read here. |
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