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| 2633: Queen
of Peace, Mishawaka, Indiana, USA |
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Mystery
Worshipper: William Dewy.
The church:
Queen
of Peace, Mishawaka, Indiana, USA.
Denomination:
Roman Catholic,
Diocese
of Fort Wayne-South Bend.
The building:
The exterior is somewhat irregular and large; the building houses
both the church and school. There are large trees on the grounds
rather close to the edifice, and the building seems larger from
inside than one might expect from the outside. The interior
is one of the prettiest modern church buildings I have seen.
The baptistery was especially pretty, with the infant Jesus
held by Mary Queen of Heaven against a backdrop of the sun's
rays. There is ample space, much wood and brick with stained
glass to enlighten but not distract. The Stations of the Cross
around the church were large, but were well proportioned to
the space.
The church:
The community seem interested in offering their people a sacramental
life and equipping them for service. I was particularly impressed
that a parish penance service was announced at which eleven
priests would be present to hear confessions. There is also
much opportunity for adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and
frequent daily offices.
The neighborhood:
Mishawaka is a city of some 48,000 people in northern Indiana.
It is located east of South Bend, home of the University of
Notre Dame. Mishawaka calls itself the Princess City after Princess
Mishawaka, daughter of the Suwanee Chief Elkhart. A story about
her white beau, Deadshot, and the princess’s abduction by her
Indian suitor, Gray Wolf, is told on an historical marker in
Lincoln Park.
The cast:
The Revd John Eze, pastor, was celebrant and preacher. Brad
Todorovich was the organist.
The date & time:
Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Monday, December 9, 2013,
7.00pm.
What was the name of the service?
Mass.
How full was the building?
Perhaps 80 to 100 persons in a space that could hold many more.
Did anyone welcome you personally?
A smile from someone in the narthex was the closest thing to
a greeting I got before the peace.
Was your pew comfortable?
Standard pew with fold-down kneeler. Quite comfortable.
How would you describe the pre-service
atmosphere?
Quiet and prayerful. Some children were present and they were making some sound, but nothing too distracting.
What were the exact opening words of the
service?
"In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Spirit."
What books did the congregation use during the
service?
Gather II pew edition with melody only. Most of the
music and mass setting were found in a locally produced leaflet
covering the Advent season.
What musical instruments were played?
Electronic organ, played competently.
Did anything distract you?
While the people were making their communion, a teenaged server
was busy folding a corporal. He looked intently at the linens
as if he were putting together a jigsaw puzzle.
Was the worship stiff-upper-lip, happy clappy, or
what?
It was cheerily formal. The whole service was celebrated at
a brisk yet unhurried pace. It was the type of service that
seemed so normal, I wonder if the regular attendees knew how
extraordinary it really is.
Exactly how long was the sermon?
4 minutes.
On a scale of 1-10, how
good was the preacher?
9 – Father John spoke earnestly in a friendly style. I
believe he had notes, but he didn't seem to refer to them. Since
the Immaculate Conception is the patroness of the United States,
we were admonished to pray for the country.
In a nutshell, what was
the sermon about?
Christ gave his church the authority to teach the truth about
the kingdom of God. In the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed
Virgin, we encounter truth about the nature of God, the creation,
and the economy of salvation. As Thomas Aquinas and Augustine
suggest, "First believe, then you shall understand."
Which part of the service was like being in
heaven?
The people singing the mass setting together in unison, particularly
the Sanctus and Agnus Dei, sung in Latin unaccompanied, to the
Gregorian Chant setting known as Missa XVIII Deus Genitor
Alme in the Liber Usualis.
And which part was like being in... er... the other place?
The Advent purple and pink church hangings, and the Marian white
and blue vestments, presented a contrast. To top it all off,
the altar frontal was a tapestry of mostly white with red, green,
and gold. The pastiche of holy drapery looked like the altar
guild was displaying all the colors it could.
What happened when you hung around after the service looking lost?
Not much. I hung around, took a couple pictures, and looked about.
How would you describe the after-service
coffee?
None seemed to be available.
How would you feel about making this church your regular (where 10 = ecstatic, 0 = terminal)?
10 – I felt welcome, but I wasn’t the center of attention. Jesus and Mary were.
Did the service make you feel glad to be a
Christian?
Oh, yes.
What one thing will you remember about all this in seven days' time?
The cheerful worshipfulness of the space and the people. |
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| The Mystery Pilgrim |
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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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