Big church, small church

Catholics have this territorial thing whereby you go to the church assigned to you. However, I used to stay in another area and have been going to a Cathedral. Being a Cathedral, I must admit that I am very spoilt because we have cosy pews, airconditioned church, beautiful lights and everything goes smoothly. From the overhead projector to the organist to the cantoring, wardens and everything else.

As usual, a more comfortable church naturally attracts more worshippers and this means more money and even more upgrades and etc. For some strange reasons, the parishioners too appeared to be richer and professionals. Kind of weird, right?

So, I have never really celebrate mass in other churches until these few weeks because my son has some activities in another smaller church. Technically speaking, this small church is where I should belong but I dare not so far because I do not know anyone there. Ok, I admit I like the airconditioning part.

It is kind of sad that the place is rather in need of some maintenance. A new tar road, better assigned parking, new paint, more comfortable environment and etc. When I was sitting there, I feel kind of guilty that we people tend to shy away from these churches. Why don’t we put our resources together and make the place more comfortable? Better sound system, more fans, well kept garden and etc.

Oh well, I suppose I can pray that I will learn to be more easy going and worship there more often. Meantime, let me learn what I can learn from the Cathedral and hopefully, I can put those knowledge into good use and come together with other parishioners and build a better church building.

I am still wondering why a church in one of the most dense area in Penang has only 50% of its church filled up on a Sunday morning on Corpus Christi? Don’t tell me everyone has shifted over to another church? Oh wow, now I understand why our Bishop make a rule on the territorial thingie.

BTW, a church is not just a building. It is the community of Christians that come together to praise that Jesus Christ is the Lord God. The building is there more for the purpose of providing a place to sit and pray. And God is not just a person sitting way up there in the sky but instead, we are the millions little parts that make up the Universe. We are all part of God. So, don’t go looking for God because He is in all the people you meet, whom will determine your destiny.