Shortest Chinese Mass ever
This past weekend we had a lot going on in parts of Beijing far from Changping. Rather than drive back and forth for hours everyday, we chose to get a hotel room for the weekend. Not only would we be closer to all our activities (like Oktoberfest), we could also take spend a little time swimming in between as we chose a hotel with a pool.
All that remained to plan was where to attend Mass on Sunday.
More after the jump.
From our hotel to our current parish, the Beijing Seminary, was about the same distance as from Changping, but we decided to look at closer options. Looking at the limited schedules on one of the diocesan websites, I saw that Dongtang had both 7 am and 8 am Masses. A 7 am Mass followed immediately by an 8 am Mass would mean that the service would only be an hour (or less!) long. Never before in China had I attended a Chinese Mass that was less than an hour. I didn't think it possible.
The Mass was short, clocking at just over an hour. With no procession, formal offertory, and simple responsorial music, it was possible. Had the homily been briefer, too, we would have been out of the church long before the next Mass was supposed to begin. Even before our dismissal, people wanting to attend the 8 am Mass lined up next to pews they wished to claim for themselves. After one verse of our closing hymn, their entrance song began. There was barely any time to do what I have been wanting to do for years, but especially since Good Friday this year, to get a good, long look at the interior of the church. I had to make do with some hurried pictures.
"Hey, Mom. I think it said something in Latin over the altar," Myles said to me after we left.
Ite ad Joseph. Go to Joseph.
It is really such a beautiful church. If we have another busy weekend that sees us booking a hotel, we will definitely come back for Mass. Maybe even the lengthier 8 am service.
All that remained to plan was where to attend Mass on Sunday.
More after the jump.
From our hotel to our current parish, the Beijing Seminary, was about the same distance as from Changping, but we decided to look at closer options. Looking at the limited schedules on one of the diocesan websites, I saw that Dongtang had both 7 am and 8 am Masses. A 7 am Mass followed immediately by an 8 am Mass would mean that the service would only be an hour (or less!) long. Never before in China had I attended a Chinese Mass that was less than an hour. I didn't think it possible.
The Mass was short, clocking at just over an hour. With no procession, formal offertory, and simple responsorial music, it was possible. Had the homily been briefer, too, we would have been out of the church long before the next Mass was supposed to begin. Even before our dismissal, people wanting to attend the 8 am Mass lined up next to pews they wished to claim for themselves. After one verse of our closing hymn, their entrance song began. There was barely any time to do what I have been wanting to do for years, but especially since Good Friday this year, to get a good, long look at the interior of the church. I had to make do with some hurried pictures.
"Hey, Mom. I think it said something in Latin over the altar," Myles said to me after we left.
Ite ad Joseph. Go to Joseph.
It is really such a beautiful church. If we have another busy weekend that sees us booking a hotel, we will definitely come back for Mass. Maybe even the lengthier 8 am service.
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