I remember this because I got in trouble that day. I remember closing my eyes and turning to the back of the pew and sticking my tongue out at all the people around me. In fact I would spin my head around sticking my tongue out. I knew that what I was doing was wrong which is why I kept my eyes closed. After Mass a lady approached my mom and told her about my rude behavior. The lady spoke to me although I don't really remember I do remember knowing I did wrong and that I was going to be in trouble. I guess that was the first time I ever was bored at Mass.
I remember saying "oh speedy God" because I didn't understand what the response was (Blessed Be God). I also still struggle with the updated Creed even though I try to practice. It's hard to unlearn 40 years of saying a prayer a certain way.
Our Lady of Grace is one of the few Catholic churches in the county that has had confessions on a different day besides Saturday and I have retreated here many times to seek reconciliation. I attended my sister's wedding at this church as well as my own Graduation Baccalaureate Mass in 1983. I remember also nursing my daughter Veronica in the parking lot here at our Lady of Grace imagining that one day she would be all grown up. I attended the legion of Mary here at our Lady of Grace. I remember my good friend Monique attended school here at our Lady of Grace and I'll never forget her saying when Monsignor Maloney would ask her what her dad did, she would reply "Anything he wanted to." I remember so many transformations for this particular church like when the back of the church was turned into an adoration chapel and the cross was suspended above the altar I remember also the ceiling being boarded through with solid wood. Returning to my earliest memory I remember that day when I attended the mass that the church was still under construction in fact there were like canopies over the chairs where we were sitting in. Certainly this church has been a part of my faith journey I just thought I would write down some memories today as I remembered that God is Good, All the Time and All the Time God is Good. Because the church's patron is Mary the blessed Virgin Mary I will always hold a special place in my heart for this church.
