Mass @ Church of the Good Shepherd

While in NYC we decided to go to mass on Saturday night b/c we knew that Sunday would be a very busy day since it was my Father-in-law's wife's baby shower. I had been so worried that we would have to travel far to go to church, but to my great surprise there was a Catholic church a half a block away from my Father in law's apartment building.

We went to confession before mass. The confessional booth was so architecturally beautiful. It's been a while since I had the sacrament of confession in a traditional booth. My children were in awe of it. The priest was a Franciscan Monk and my children were also in awe of his garments and sandals. What a nice and kind man this priest is. He left an impression on all of us.

After confession we did our penance and stood for mass. The mass was beautiful. The priest blessed water and renewed our baptismal rites. The organist played beautifully and the singer was angelic. In honor of Memorial Day we sang traditional American hymns. The mass was amazing. The church was absolutely breathtaking with all of it's architectural details.

We are looking forward to visiting this church again the next time we are in New York. It left such an impression on us that we bought a "thank you" card for Father Abbatiello and plan to send it out tomorrow.

Photos courtesy of this blogger: http://catholicmanhattan.blogspot.com/2009/05/63-st-john-baptist.html

Ten Random Thoughts About NYC

1. The Energy is Exhilarating: There are so many things going on at once. I am entertained with people watching. Being part of the hustle and bustle of the city makes me feel energized. I love the diversity and the culture. Sometimes I forget how awesome NYC is.
   
2. Children are so Independent: City kids are so much more independent then suburban kids. I don't know if this is a good thing or not. It is not uncommon to see very young children hanging out alone - crossing the streets going to the store, etc. I am way to overprotective to be a city mom. While enjoying the city I was still very aware of my surroundings and of my children. I was trying really hard not to be a helicopter mom...lol.
3. People drive like idiots: Why is it that people don't know how to drive in the city? They are very impatient and rude! My driving demeanor changes when I am in NYC. I have to morph into an abrupt barbarian, so that the city drivers don't take advantage of me!
   
4. So much materialism: I've noticed that many people's priorities are skewed. They are very into their appearance and keeping up with the Jones'. It seems that humility is a foreign concept for many.
   
5. Modesty is Unheard of: So many short skirts and low cut blouses everywhere you look. You can look nice without being vulgar. Even some older women were dressed inappropriately.
6. NYC has Beautiful Churches: I have a better appreciation for the Catholic Churches in NYC now that I have others to compare them to. The architecture and statues are breath taking.
   
7. It's so Dirty: Although I am a New Yorker and will always love my city, I now realize how dirty it is... lol. I witnessed a lady eating a pretzel and throwing her napkin right on the ground (like no big deal) when there was a trash can like 2 feet away! The sad thing is that this is typical behavior. Many don't clean up after their dogs or themselves for that matter!
   
8. My house is not small: After being an entire weekend in a NYC apartment, I realize how enormous my house is. I am very blessed. My Father-in-law and his wife entertained about 20 + family members in their small apartment and we had a great time.
   
9. So much Yummy Food: No matter what you want to eat you can find it, it doesn't matter where in the city you are or what time it is!
10. I Miss Walking and Public Transportation: Although I love the convenience of just jumping in my car and not having to carry my groceries 10 blocks :) I miss walking and window shopping. The great thing about NYC is the eye candy - your eyes are never EVER bored!
    

Visiting NYC

We spent the entire weekend back home. We had such a wonderful time. I forgot how much I love the city and being around our family.