Inaya kong magsimba si Edmund last Sunday.
The church has a beautiful location. Big trees surround the church and they have a beautiful park.
There’s a big cross outside.
The mass was at 12 noon but Edmund and I arrived at 12:15 pm. There was an usher standing behind the door motioning every person coming late to be quiet and to just stay at the back till the prayers were finished.
There was a black priest giving the sermon.
He mentioned the thousands of people who perished in Nepal due to the strong earthquake, the young adults from Ireland who died recently in Berkeley when the balcony they were on collapsed. He also cited the church parishioners attending service when a gunman appeared and started shooting, killing 9 of them. He said these were the so-called STORMS OF LIFE. The challenges that we faced. The griefs we experienced.
Naka tsinelas pala ako.
All fathers were asked to stand up to receive the priest’s blessing. We were asked to place our hands on their shoulders.
E——–“Pati ba’ko?” A——“Father ka, it’s Father’s Day”.
The parish priest is a Filipino.
E———“Fifty percent dito Filipino”.
A———“Tart, iniiwan nila yung mga bags nila. Sa atin yan, dinekwat na yan”.
The parish priest, Fr. Conrad Bayor, stayed outside until the last parishioner had left. He greeted everyone and exchanged pleasantries with new comers or those visiting from another town or country. Sa Pilipinas yung ibang pari hindi ganito ka welcoming. Merong mga suplado at pa-star pa.
