Sunday Mass

---

What an interesting Sunday mass I attended! From the training center where I (Ruta) am located, a Filipino friend, Lettie, and I took public transportation minibuses to mass. We kept repeating 'Catholic Church" and local Ethiopians directed us on our 45 min journey there. The Holy Savior church is medium size, with lots and lots of poor beggars lining the gates. Inside there are huge stone pillars on each side, a 20 foot stone statue of Jesus behind an altar lined with gold colored tile. The priests and all their attendants were clothed in bright gold vestments with white muslim-looking caps. The altar area was also lined with 15-20 vases of fresh flowers. It was very reverent and beautiful.

The congregation seemed more well-to-do than the normal Ethiopians. Almost all Ethiopians are reigious - in fact during training they warned us that if we state that we are non-religious, the people with whom we are speaking will get confused, for that is not a concept for them. Per statistics, Ethiopians are evenly split between Orthodox Christian and Muslim. We have been told that the Ethiopians are very religiously tolerant, but do not ask them about their religon.

This Catholic mass congregation was split with the men on the left and the women on the right. Even though this is a Catholic church, almost all the women, young and old, were covered in a white gauze covering wrapped around their torsos and heads. I think I'll purchase a white gauze covering for myself and Vasara. First, I feel very conspicuous as almost the only women with a bare head in church. Second, Vasara and I can cover our mouths when the nasty trucks spew black diesel pollution as they pass in the street. The air pollution here is horrendous. Well, the pollution of all sorts is really bad here in Addis...but that's another topic.

The 1.5 hour service was held in the Amharic language, so I only understood the occasional "Jesu, Kristu, and Amyn (i.e. Amen)" Nevertheless the mass was inspirational - the participation was impressive. There are no misselets, but the prayers were stated by heart loudly. When the music started, we heard a syncopated beat coming from a boombox - similar to what I hear from the disco outside my training center bedroom. But then when the people started singing, it was clearly hymns. The congregation all sang so loudly that at one point it started getting uncomfortably loud and I wondered how I could indiscreetly cover my ears to muffle it a bit. Seveal times towards the end of the song, people would shout out Hay-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay in a high pitched squeal.

When oferring the sign of peace, people bow very deeply to the priest. Then, while still in the deep bow, they turned to their neighbors and nodded their heads. Of course, Lettie and I did the same. Overall in Africa we are doing a lot of bowing.

While the experience was very interesting, we did find out when English mass is held, so next Sunday there should be more to report.

---

Comments

[Vik]

Hey guys!
Wow, how interesting Ruta! Well, I finally found you on here.. will send the link to coffee so everyonw can enjoy! Myliu, vik

[Gina Kulbis]

Labas
Labas Ruta ir Tadas ir visi vaikai, Life sounds very interesting so far. It took me so long to realize you had a blog. Ma ir tete kept asking if I have heard anything. Anyway I will teach them how to get to it on the computer. In the men time I am making copies of your adventures. Glad you are doing ok. Gina

[Sr. Michele]

Dear Ones it sounds as though you are really experiencing what we can't even imagine. I am so happy that you are writing about your experiences and know that we are praying for all of you. You will have a great deal to tell us when you arrive home. In the meantime know that we are just trying to picture you and all that you are writing about. Much love and God's blessings to all of you. Sr. Michele

[dilba]

labas
kaip malonumatyti visas nuotraukas .su naujais metais. what an adventure