Nick Borodiak Individual Post

For our group project we attended a catholic mass at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in downtown Tampa on Wednesday September 19th, at 12:10 PM. We chose to do this because all of us do not study religions and wanted to see what it is like to attend a religion mass. So when we got into the mass there was a bunch of benches facing the front of the room toward where the pastor talks. The mass starts off with the pastor saying a prayer and then goes into the bible and starts reading scripture. As this was going on I was very lost but also surprised with how some people where quoting the bible scripture that the pastor was saying without even seeing the words. At times I felt uncomfortable because I really did not fit in because I did not know anything. As the mass went on there was songs that were sing along but where very religious songs. The church itself was very beautiful with amazing paintings and great decoration. Inside the church it had a very distinct smell it was like a clean/wood smell. Before going into the mass I had an idea but had no idea it was going to be the way it was it was very well planned and almost everyone in the church was connected and knew everything that was going on. Another thing that happen towards the end of the mass was this thing called communion which only people get if you had your first holy communion. But what it is, you go up to the front of the church and you take a chip looking thing and you eat it and walk away, and when you got back to your seat you would pray and then sit back down in your seat and wait for communion to be over. I did not join them, but it was interesting to watch. After communion was over there was more bible scripture and more music played. I was very surprised that they had music in church I thought it was only someone that talks to you about the religion, I thought that aspect is cool because it connects the whole church together by singing all along. My overall experience with the catholic mass was very interesting and different it made me really get close to a religion I had no idea about. I think this was a good idea not only for us to use as a project but also for us to see how someone studies their religion they are a part of. I never really knew how beautiful churches really are until I went to that mass they just look very holy and different from normal places when you step foot in a church. Another thing I forgot to speak about is how they pray they make a cross like sign with their hands from there head to the heart and left and right shoulder, also in church you say amen a lot as well. It was an experience alright you are in a totally different culture when you step foot in there. Everyone is very nice and relaxed and calm.