Sunday Morning

Sundays are different in Boma. The usually casual pace is just a little slower. People are dressed in their Sunday best. It is obviously a day different from the others days of the week.

We left our compound for a thirty minute walk to the only Catholic Church in Boma. We reached the Church as Mass was beginning. We quickly took our places, noting that we were capturing glances from the rows of children seated directly ahead of us. An elderly man and a few young ushers maintained discipline during Mass by turning heads and pulling youngsters off the pews.

A children's choir sang joyfully with the accompaniment of drums. Conducted by youth, this choir engaged the entire congregation in singing, clapping and responses at appropriate times.

As we moved forward for communion we noted that the Church was filled with almost 500 young people. We had found a Swahili Children's Mass. As the Liturgy of Eucharist ended a priest approached Dad and asked him to speak to the congregation. Dad obliged and was asked to sit beside the priest in the Sanctuary. The priest introduced him, Dad introduced our family and the priest translated. Dad indicated that is was a pleasure to experience the devotion so many children.

After Mass mom wanted to take a photo of the family in front of the Church. As she drew back on the camera lens it was astonishing to see the crowd that we had amassed. Children were eager to talk to us in English or Swahili. Many of them walked us home to CCS. This was a Sunday morning Mass to remember.