Second Try

I returned to St. Mary's Church for regular Sunday Mass even though I was just there two days ago for Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve/Morning. Another 70-mile drive each way. I attended the 9:30 a.m. mass because it was a High mass and boasted a coffee/social time following mass. A social period after mass can be a huge test for a church on how newcomers are welcomed or ignored.

This mass was a similar but different from the Midnight Mass. Although there was no orchestra this time, the choir (Scola Cantorum) sang beautifully. See the list below. You may notice that the Mass was for the Feast of St. John the Evangelist rather than the Feast of the Holy Family (which was celebrated at the 11 a.m. Mass). Apparently this is due to the liturgical calendar used.  The same priest was the celebrant as for Midnight Mass.

Music for the Feast of St. John the Evangelist

(Missale Romanum of 1962, 9:30 a.m.)
Prelude: Versets on Von himmel hoch (BWV 769) (J. S. Bach, 1685-1750)
Hymn at the Procession: What Child Is This (Greensleeves)
Missa Praeter rerum seriem (Cipriano de Rore, 1515-1565)
Gregorian Mass of St. John the Evangelist: In medio Ecclesiae
Motet at the Offertory: Praeter rerum seriem (Josquin des Prez, c.1450-1521)
Motet at the Communion: Virtus Sancti Spiritus (Praeter rerum seriem, secunda pars) (Josquin)
Postlude: Versets on Von himmel hoch (BWV 769) (Bach)

This time I had a more difficult time following the order of mass even though I had a program (which didn't seem to correlate with the music book). You can't really get too lost, though, because it is the Mass. I sat in a different place than Midnight Mass. I like to take in several views initially in order to find the "sweet spot."

This is not my photo but I like it because it gives a perspective of being there.

The coffee/social "hour" was held in the adjacent school building. In addition to the coffee and table of cookies and cakes, there was also the blessing of wine which is associated with the Feast of St. John (I didn't have any since I had a long drive ahead).

Blessing the food (Photo by Stuart Chessman)

At first, I was alone during the coffee hour but while waiting in line, Joe welcomed me and started to talk. Later, Tom came by and also talked. Before leaving I had a nice chat with Jill Chessman (wife of Stuart Chessman whom I met Christmas Eve). So far, what I have experienced is interesting enough to warrant a return. The main down side is that it is so far away from where I live. The irony is that Norwalk was where I worked when I returned to Connecticut 20 years ago.
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Links:
http://www.stmarynorwalk.net
http://ricketwrite.blogspot.com/2015/12/midnight-mass-in-latin.html
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13547b.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_the_Evangelist
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Family
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Roman_Calendar_of_1960
https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/prayers/view.cfm?id=46
http://www.fisheaters.com/customschristmas4.html
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Written Tuesday 29 December 2015.