La iglesia de la altagracia

My host mom and I went to church this morning.  We caught a concho (aka Toyota Corola for seven public transit system) heading west into the center city.  Thankfully there was only one other passenger so we had the backseat to ourselves (less squishing = less wrinkles in my skirt.)  Bumpity, bump, bump we go, ducking and weaving through the streets until we get to an intersection, hop out and off speeds our ride.  The two of us walk the half block to the church entrance: La Iglesia de la Altagracia.  Before we enter though, everyone must pass through the gauntlet of homeless beggars.  Many have very visible physical deformities.  But, like the other churchgoers around us, we push passed and on into the building.  There is so much need here.  The only redeeming act is to put money in the maroon collection baskets as they float by, thus averting the guilt and hopefully helping those in who can use it. 

The church itself is big: high ceilings, three isles separating four generous rows of pews and (unlike the church I visited two weeks ago) padded kneelers.  Score!

Even though I’ve gone to Catholic Mass almost every Sunday for my whole life, and even though I am able to follow the prayers and readings a little more closely this week, I still get all my cues from my host mom.  Always one beat behind her, I stand when she stands, sit when she sits and make a mad dash to stay behind her when it’s time for communion. 

           

Note: Taking communion here is not the same as in the US.  Lines do still form, but instead of the orderly, single file, front to back system, everyone just gets up as they feel called.  This means that someone sitting in the middle could be one of the first people in line, while someone in the second row could be in the middle.  My host mom is one of the sit-in-the-middle-get-there-quick types.  Thus, the dash up the isle. 

           

When it was all said and done, we headed out the back to catch a guagua that would take us to her brother’s weekend home outside the city.  It was raining, which has been happening quite a lot here lately.  I hear it may have something to do with this hurricane Earl, but I’ll admit I’ve been pretty checked out of world news since coming.  Plus, we’re pretty far form the coast.  The worst we’ll get is rain.