Mass

Sunday mass sometimes has its distractions. The translating in my head is a challenge but so is the environment. The church has no A/C so the doors of the church are left open during mass. Sometimes, the open doors invite trouble. I have two humorous stories that relate to this.

The first story was early during the 7:30 pm Sunday mass, a man, more than likely drunk, got up, walked in front of the altar over to the section I was sitting in - sat in the front pew and then turned and put his feet sideways on the pew so he could look behind himself and proceeded to stare directly at me. I could feel the intensity of his stare; he was only two rows in front of me but I refused to look at him. From experience, the second you acknowledge someone the conversation is on. Thankfully, he picked himself up after 5 minutes and walked somewhere else. I was grateful it did not turn into a scene, he seemed unstable. Again, I didn't look to see where he went but someone was very disruptive during the homily so it may have been the same guy. Drinking is a problem in Chimbote and it usually reaches a high point on Sundays. When I was walking to mass, I think I passed by 3 different groups of men just hanging outside their house with empty beer bottles on the ground. Empty beer bottles usually serve as a red flag for one to proceed with caution.

The second story, we sometimes have stray dogs in mass. They roam everywhere. This one got in the communion line. I was trying so hard not to laugh. It is suppose to be the most reverent time of the mass. The dog kept looking at the communion server like he wanted a biscuit. Then, he started running between the two communion lines hoping someone would give in. Alas, no communion wafer was given. Random events with the sense of the ridiculous are quintessentially Peruvian. One learns not to get too upset.