” I only want to get married in a church with a beautiful background. Like stained glass windows, or ornate and fancy statues, with gold and beautiful lighting. I won’t get married in a plain church. I want my pictures to stand out.”
I heard a young lady say that. And I just smiled unto myself.
I , myself, was married at St. David’s Catholic Church in Fort Lauderdale, FL. It was one of the newer churches built, and not very…fancy. It had a plain background, with stones on the altar. Carpeting. Nary a marble swirl in sight.
Still…I was married there. So, it was beautiful to me.
Fast forward many years later, including many married years, and six kids later, and my parish is now St. Pius X Catholic Church in Edgewood, KY. It too, has a less-than-spectacular background; brick, in fact, with carpeting as well. It also has newly-added stained glass windows (backlit) on the sides of the outer aisles. It has a beautiful baptismal font in the foyer, and the tabernacle is absolutely stunning. And then there’s Christ. Right there front and center, on the cross, right where he belongs.
St. Pius X has been the place for me for many different, yet equally important reasons. I have celebrated Mass with many priests over my years as a parishioner here, and have loved them all as a true Catholic should, but, as my “only human” self, I have had my favorites. I have been a parent of baptized babies, and have been a proud and blessed godparent standing at the font for others. I have witnessed the sacraments of all of my kids through First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, and have had all six confirmed at my awesome parish. I have smiled at weddings, cried at funerals and have sung in the choir. I am presently serving the ministry of being a lector at mass and I enjoy it immensely. Nothing gives me more pleasure than pre-reading the words I will be conveying to an entire congregation. The powerful Word of the Lord.
I’ve also, quite sinfully, I may add, have had my mind wander during Mass. All it takes is one glance down at the carpet to start the mind working on just how many different shapes the pattern can take: squares, bigger squares, made into rectangles and quadrangles if you look hard enough. Yellow, yellow, green, green, red. Yellow, yellow, green, green, red….oh wait….”Thanks be to God”. Whoops.
All this. All this….in a church with a brick backdrop. Non-ornate. Not 11×20 worthy. No color to saturate in a photo. Just a church with carpet , and a brick backdrop. Nothing fancy in comparison to , say, the Cathedral downtown. The Cathedral…now that would look so pretty hanging over the mantle, with the bride and groom in the foreground of the grandiose. Seriously, who doesn’t want a photo like that in a wedding album?
But to me, I feel like my church is my home. It’s where I live. It’s where I’ve heard things, and the place which reminded me to be the best me I can. I’ve cried, laughed, sung and knelt here.
Hopefully not soon, but I plan on being remembered here. After a long life, well-lived, I want that brick behind me, and the carpet under me, while the people I’ve loved and liked remember me. Jesus Christ…hanging there, right over me.
Yeah, I guess that’s my church. 
jensumandthensome 