Ah, Sunday....

I wish I could say I slept well Saturday night but the mind would not slow down and being in a strange place made for a restless night.
But Sunday morning came as usual and we headed off to church at St. Leo and St. Raymond Parish, just about 1/4-1/2 mile away from where we are staying. We had gone there last year so I entered in anticipation. The minister of hospitality greeted us with a kiss. The parish is comprised mostly of black folk. The priest is also black. The choir was the youth choir. There was a visiting priest there to preach on behalf of a mission. This priest happened to be the one who was in on the ground floor of the establishing of the Rebuild Center where we would be working for the rest of the week.
The next two hours were filled with a hand clapin’, foot stompin’, body swayin’ music and Amens and Alleluias. The pastor was alive with the spirit as was every man, woman and child present. Such freedom of verbal and physical expression is a wonder to behold.
The music was fantastic. Us white folk who get antsy after 2 verses of a song have a lot to learn. The songs lasted up to 5-10 minutes. The keyboardist was totally into his work/praise. (I could see brother-in-law Len sitting there being just as passionate about the music – I wanted to hear more.) The teenagers were totally into their song/praise. The people would stand in praise. Get the feeling that there was a lot of praising going on? Right On !
One particular man stood through almost every song turned toward the choir with hands raised cheering them on. Turns out this guy is a MBA coach who was visiting his home parish and getting ready to conduct a basketball camp this coming week. You could see him cheering on his team like he was cheering on the choir. (I’ll try to remember to look up is name if I can get on to the internet.)
The celebrant also had no problem departing from the structure of the liturgy to inject his enthusiasm. He speaks with his words, his hands, his whole body.

There was a woman there who was celebrating her 88 birthday. Before the final blessing everyone sang Happy Birthday to her. I have never heard that version of Happy Birthday – it lasted 5 minutes.
If you’re ever in New Orleans consider going to St. Raymond and St. Leo the Great Parish for liturgy.
This parish really knows how to celebrate!!
As we were leaving I noticed a rug at the door. As you enter the church it reads; ‘Enter to Pray’ When you leave; ‘Leave to Serve’
Once again it was good to be there – witnessing the people giving a new meaning to the word Celebrate.
“Let the People of God say – Amen !!”