Happy Gaudate (Meaning Joyful) Sunday! Time to light that pink or rose colored candle!!!
And my - what a wonderful, joyful, Mass we had today. We have a new pastor at our church, and he is bringing many changes to our church family and how it is run, etc. Of course change can be hard, but one thing is for sure - he loves families and children. I noticed this on his first Sunday when he came over and greeted me, Hubby and my young girls. He leaned in and told Valiant in a cute way she could "make all the noise she wanted unto to the Lord" and was welcome to stay during the service. This is coming from an older priest too! It was so refreshing!
And today, he brought back an element to our community that many had been missing for a few years - BAPTISM AT MASS!! Our previous pastor had made baptisms private sacraments (aside from adults at the Easter Vigil) and so many of us have missed welcoming the babies and young in our COMMUNITY at MASS. So, our new pastor has brought it back, and today had the first baby and family to be baptized with us at Mass. AMEN!!!
It doesn't end there! When it was time for the family and Godfamily to go to the font, our pastor looked to the congregation and invited ALL THE CHILDREN attending Mass to come gather around the font (!!!!). There had to be 60 kids and some parents that flew up to watch a sacrament so cherished. My husband and I went with our girls and I had tears in my eyes (so did many other mothers, including the baby's mother I'm sure for many reasons...) with all those children watching, sharing in the joy and celebration. It was stunning. Plus, the fact that he invited the CHILDREN ("Let the children come to me...") when sure, they could talk, or make noise, and possibly "disturb" this rite. It didn't matter to our pastor. I can tell you - it was amazing. The children were transfixed, and no one noticed any noise - it was just joy. It felt like what church SHOULD be. When it was over, he took the baby, walked to the front of the altar, with the throngs of kids walking back to their seats and welcomed the new baby boy to our church community. More tears from me! I can't wait for our baby's baptism!!! What a celebration - what a JOYFUL Sunday - our third Sunday of Advent.
This is what our church IS. It is what our church should always be: a community of believers. I felt so connected with my brothers and sisters in Christ today - I am STILL pumped from Mass. We really were all together, welcoming, preparing, and being. That is JOY. Someone pass me a match and let's light that pink candle now! It's TIME!
Much love!!! Blessed Advent!
And my - what a wonderful, joyful, Mass we had today. We have a new pastor at our church, and he is bringing many changes to our church family and how it is run, etc. Of course change can be hard, but one thing is for sure - he loves families and children. I noticed this on his first Sunday when he came over and greeted me, Hubby and my young girls. He leaned in and told Valiant in a cute way she could "make all the noise she wanted unto to the Lord" and was welcome to stay during the service. This is coming from an older priest too! It was so refreshing!
And today, he brought back an element to our community that many had been missing for a few years - BAPTISM AT MASS!! Our previous pastor had made baptisms private sacraments (aside from adults at the Easter Vigil) and so many of us have missed welcoming the babies and young in our COMMUNITY at MASS. So, our new pastor has brought it back, and today had the first baby and family to be baptized with us at Mass. AMEN!!!
It doesn't end there! When it was time for the family and Godfamily to go to the font, our pastor looked to the congregation and invited ALL THE CHILDREN attending Mass to come gather around the font (!!!!). There had to be 60 kids and some parents that flew up to watch a sacrament so cherished. My husband and I went with our girls and I had tears in my eyes (so did many other mothers, including the baby's mother I'm sure for many reasons...) with all those children watching, sharing in the joy and celebration. It was stunning. Plus, the fact that he invited the CHILDREN ("Let the children come to me...") when sure, they could talk, or make noise, and possibly "disturb" this rite. It didn't matter to our pastor. I can tell you - it was amazing. The children were transfixed, and no one noticed any noise - it was just joy. It felt like what church SHOULD be. When it was over, he took the baby, walked to the front of the altar, with the throngs of kids walking back to their seats and welcomed the new baby boy to our church community. More tears from me! I can't wait for our baby's baptism!!! What a celebration - what a JOYFUL Sunday - our third Sunday of Advent.
This is what our church IS. It is what our church should always be: a community of believers. I felt so connected with my brothers and sisters in Christ today - I am STILL pumped from Mass. We really were all together, welcoming, preparing, and being. That is JOY. Someone pass me a match and let's light that pink candle now! It's TIME!
Much love!!! Blessed Advent!
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Baptism at Mass is the best! My oldest daughter was baptized during a Saturday night vigil Mass at her great grandfather's church and it was simply amazing. My younger daughter was baptized after Sunday Mass in one of the assembly line type of baptisms and while it was still beautiful, I found myself wishing it had been done during Mass.
ReplyDeleteIt was awesome! And this post is awesome! And you, too!
ReplyDeleteThat is so beautiful! Baptism is such a beautiful sacrament... My brother got baptized and then married on the same day this past summer :) Talk about a high! I was walking on air all day :) I blogged about it here:
ReplyDeletehttp://theforsheyfour.blogspot.com/2009/08/first-things-first.html
Don't know if you were reading then... :)
I love love LOVE this entry and to read and hear this!!! Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful post! The pastor of our former parish didn't like baptisms during Mass, but because many people complained, he decided he would only schedule them during one Mass a month. All four of our munchkins were baptized by full immersion during Mass by my dad, who's been a Deacon for almost 27 years. Can't wait to hear about your baby's baptism next Spring!
ReplyDelete