My Brother-in-law & other stories
By Johnny Novera

The priests & I

We have visited a number of provinces and cities in the Philippines and had the opportunity to hear mass in various places.  Recently, for example, we have been to Davao City and to some parts of Northern Cotabato province.  We noted that  the practices of priests vary on the opening or closing parts of the mass.

In a barangay of the city where we stayed in Davao , there is a new parish church.   When the mass ends, the priest install the host in the chalice at the altar table and then proceed to place it at the adoration chapel to the left side of the church, followed by his acolytes and servers, where it is kept the whole day for veneration by the people .

Nearby, in a chapel owned by a recluse congregation of religious sisters, the members occupy the space in the front area and separated from the public by iron grills.  The priest, after ending the mass by the final blessing of the people, would consecrate and install the host at the chalice in the altar before he leaves.

We heard mass in another church where at the end the priest consecrates and install the host at the adoration chapel in another building beside the church, with parishioners following him in procession.  We are told that this is done only at the beginning of every week.

Then there is the church were the priest seems always in a hurry to leave after his mass.  One time nadapa pa a few paces after leaving the altar.