All Saints
So since it looks like our move is actually going to happen, we went to our new parish this morning for 8:45 Mass, which we think will be our normal. Oh my gosh, we really like it! As far as physical appearances, the new IHM is much prettier and more traditionally Catholic in appearance; but All Saints has the flavor of an authentically, orthodox Catholic community. And the church is pretty in its own way. It’s very simple, with lots of windows (plain glass, not stained) through which you see mainly lots of trees on the property. There is no fixed crucifix. There are large windows behind the altar looking out on a large wooden cross.
It appears their pro-life group has their own permanent bulletin board in the narthex. There is an actual cry room (though the sign calls it the “Little Saints Room). We made use of it for a while this morning because the Agent was being a bit unruly. At All Saints, they actually keep pens in the penholders in the pews, and he kept wanting to play with those and would pitch a fit when we took them away; but we really didn’t need him scribbling on the pew upholstery.
Their faith formation offerings all seem to be very worthwhile, and they had a handy brochure out on everything lined up for the fall and winter. Last week we already signed Mr. Tldz up for a small group study called “Fathers for Good” which starts next week. After Mass this morning a man came up and said, “Hi, I’m Jerry.” (He’s leading the group, and I’d indicated we’d planned to start coming to Mass there this weekend, so he must have been on the lookout for us.) He invited us out to breakfast with some other folks (to whom he introduced us — and said they were the ones who introduced him to the parish). We said we’d love to in the future but declined today given that we’re swamped with packing, etc. to get done. This is all very promising.
EDIT: Only when I sat down to put all the dates of this small group study on the calendar did I realize that the man teaching the class is Jeff, not Jerry. When Jerry introduced himself to us on Sunday, I guess my mind just tried to fill in the blanks to make it make sense. Apparently Jerry is just a friendly guy who considers himself the welcome wagon. Still very promising.