A Time to Speak — A view from the pew

Terry Rogan
Terry Rogan

By Terry Rogan

Most nights my husband and I take a walk down a lane on his family’s farm. When we get to the end of the lane, we tap the gate with the tobacco sticks that we’ve brought along as walking sticks. Then we turn around and walk back. We never fail to tap the gate.

We go to church together every Saturday evening, as well. At times we go on Sunday morning, and occasionally, if we are out of town or have something else to do, we’ll attend another church. But mostly, you’ll find us at St. Michael Church in Fairfield, Ky., at 7 p.m. on a Saturday evening. Spring, summer, winter, fall — we are creatures of habit. I have a lot of bad habits and a few good ones.

Taking those walks and attending church regularly are my good habits. They are my “touchstones” — maybe I should say “touch gates.” When my husband and I walk, we usually talk about our jobs and our kids. Sometimes we just walk and don’t say much of anything. These walks are nothing profound. We have not solved any of the world’s problems yet, but we both feel a little better and maybe have clearer heads.

We are not ones to go on regular “dates,” but our evening walks give us an opportunity to catch up and spend some time together. They are part of our daily ritual, keeping us connected and exercising our bodies.

I think of going to church in a similar way. When I attend church, it is the same every week. It is routine. I know what’s coming next. I have it “memorized.” The ritual is familiar and welcome. We usually arrive a few minutes early and sit in the same spot. I often look around the church and think about the people there with me, maybe offer up a prayer for some of them. I know who has had a recent death; who has been sick or had a new baby. And I believe these people have done the same for me, as well. To quote a bad country song, “These are my people.”

After church we’ll often stop in the front yard and catch up with friends and neighbors. Sometimes we leave immediately. I feel like I have a place here and that my “tank” is full again.

Going back each week puts me back on the right path. The ritual actions — crossing myself with holy water when I walk in as a reminder of my baptism, kneeling down to pray in the quiet church before Mass, reciting the prayers with my family and friends as a reminder of who I am and what I believe — keep me grounded.

I need to do that every week. I need to be reminded of what’s really important and take some time to clear my mind of the things that I’ve let creep in and become more important that week. So, I look forward to returning each week and standing with my community to be reminded of who I am and whom I take with me out into the world during the next week.

Just like my body needs those daily walks, the rest of me needs the weekly “touch gate” of going to Mass.

Terry Rogan is a parishioner of St. Michael Church in Fairfield, Ky.

Catholics are invited to share their experiences of being Catholic; good news stories, such as service projects and great prayer or retreat experiences; and ideas and best practices for sharing their faith with others.

Send submissions for “A View from the Pew” to Sal Della Bella, sdellabella@archlou.org, along with your name, parish, contact information and a high resolution digital photo.

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