A Igreja

One of the things that I love about being Catholic is that you can go to mass anywhere in the world and have at least a pretty decent idea of what is going on. ...the order, the responses, the actions, they are all the same.  Here even the vocabulary of the mass is easy enough to follow....we have words like Jesus (prounouced "Jay-Zeus") Maria (Mary), comunhão (communion), celebração (celebration), procissão (procession), and so on.  It doesn't take too much Portuguese to realize that this Sunday we were talking about Maria Imaculada (Immaculate Mary).

Our church, Nossa Senhora Do Rosário (Our Lady of the Rosary) has been a big part of our lives the 7 months we've lived here.  We've had a lot of language and cultural development through that weekly hour of worship.  Our church has about 7,000 members.  In addition there are a number of smaller satellite churches in the neighborhoods.  You should know that Brazil has a proclaimed "national religion" of Catholicism.  That does not mean citizens are obligated to practice it.  In fact, there are a large number of other denominations here in our town, but the overwhelming majority of people are at least baptized Catholics.

Interestingly, the church building wouldn't hold over 800 people, and there are 7,000 members.  We have 3 weekend masses: Saturday at 7pm, Sunday at 8:30 am and 7:30 pm.  Do the math.  Most people do not attend mass regularly.  What I find interesting is that there is such a large number who actually bother to register, but they attend so infrequently. 

Tithing is quite different here.  When we registered, adults and children over 7 years (or younger, if requested) get a tithe envelope with your name and address, a separate envelope for every member of the family, but one envelope to use all year.  Once a month you bring a tithe (any Sunday of your choice) and drop the envelope in the collection.  At the end of the month, they check off that you made a contribution for the month on the front of the envelope and hand deliver them to your home in time for the next month. 

My kids love communion time at mass here.  They may be spoiled for life.  Standing next to each Eucharistic Minister, an alter server is holding a basket of cookies (or on special occasions like Easter and Christmas, a basket of chocolate bon bons).  When parents get communion, children get a treat, and they will chase you down if you don't take one.  We learned the routine pretty quickly and even baby H starts asking for a cookie about the time people start lining up in the aisle.

Music is a very big part of the mass here.  That goes for the culture in general, but it is a beautiful addition to the mass.  There are no misalettes and no song books in the pews, but lyrics to each song (without musical notes) are projected on a screen at the front of the church.  It actually makes it quite easy for a busy mom to follow along.  And they sing parts of the mass I never imagined would be musical.  In fact, they sing the sign of the cross.  Most of the songs are very good, usually easy to follow, and some really catchy.  My kids walk around the house at least through Tuesday singing mass songs.  One of their favorites is "Lord Have Mercy."  A good habit to sing it all week I think. Occasionally, we've heard a song we recognize, it feels so wonderful to sing a familiar song, even in a foreign language.

For all the differences, I find the similarities striking.  Four-year-old Brazilian kids always have to go to the bathroom about the time of the Eucharistic prayer, too.  Brazilian mothers unconsciously sway to the music while holding a child the same way we unconsciously do in the US.  The people who are involved, really involved in the church are doing the jobs every week.  People love to gather and talk after mass.  They (us included) have to eventually be guided of the church so the doors can be locked.  People are so friendly.  We have been so welcomed.  We have been so blessed.