Now I've Seen Everything

We were scheduled to leave Puerto Rico on Sunday at 3:30. Being that it was a) Sunday and b) Divine Mercy Sunday, my husband made it a point to find out when and where the closest Catholic church was having Mass.

12:30, six blocks away.

The shuttle was scheduled to pick us up at 1:30.

Whoops.

As we entered, we were approached by one of the priests and asked if we could bring up the offertory. I was a bit shocked - after all, they don't have any idea who we are - but we agreed.

During the collection, we stood up and went to the back of the church. We were handed the chalice and the ciborium and began to walk towards the front of the church - and we were forced to dodge around a few ushers, collecting the offering with long handled baskets. As we passed the 3/4 mark,out of the corner of my eye I saw a woman stand up. In a very clear, non-church voice, she held up a bill and said,

Can you bring me back change? A ten and a five.

The usher nodded and smiled and I watched her drop the bill in the basket. 

We went back to our seats in the last row and I watched as the ushers dumped all of the collection money into a larger bag. The usher in question rooted through and pulled out the change -

And during the consecration (!) made his way up the aisles, searching for her -

And she stood up, during the consecration, and took back her change with a smile and a nod and a vociferous thank you.

________________________________________________

Several things of consequence -

I was lucky enough to review two bathing suits from Popina - one of them in particular I loved SO MUCH

Awesome V8 giveaway

Can you add to the self tanner tips?

Food Fights book giveaway

An update on the Invisalign project - did you know they have attachments?

And, the best recipe featuring Cool Whip EVAH.

Want to know what I thought I'd be when I grew up? New Hallmark post.

Same old, Same old - Done a new way - New Hallmark post.

Life lessons I learned from my mom - New Redbook post.

 

Comments

[Brenda]

While I don't believe I've ever seen this at my local church, I half-remember seeing it somewhere....(perhaps the church where I grew up?)

[Wendy]

Oh my! I really don't have words.

[addy]

Well now......

[Elizabeth]

At the churchs my parents attended when we lived in Africa making change was common. The offertory wasn't passed around though, it was set up on the altar. The women would dance up to the altar and make their change there when leaving their offering.