Mass confusion in India

Last night mass lasted for 3.5 hours. Well over 1,000 people attended an outdoor mass under tents outside the cathedral in preparation for the feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes. The amazing thing is that the lay people planned it all. All the priests did was come to say mass and there were 24 of them plus the bishop plus 4 altar boys. It started with a procession through town carrying a statute while the entire parade said the rosary and it ended with small gifts of food for those who attended. There were a few chairs but the majority sat on the ground.

I attend daily mass in the private chapel here at the Bishop’s house because they say it in English. I am the only lay person in attendance. It’s quiet, intimate, and a nice way to start or end the day. On Sundays I have attended the 8:30 mass at the Cathedral just to experience it with the people even though it is all in Telegu. It starts on time and regularly lasts 1.5 to 2. hours. When the pews are all filled up, they sit on the floor in the side aisles and spill out onto the front entrance. People come from far away so the church keeps filling up after mass has started.

I haven’t been to the Arogomatha Shrine (Our Lady of Good Health ) for Mass but I understand that they routinely get 800 to 1000 people on Saturday night. The statue reported shed tears of blood 10 years ago so it is a highly respected shrine. Even Muslims and Hindus come to the service to pray for intercession. The crowds are so large and the chapel so small that they have to hold the mass outside to accommodate them.

The Cuddapah diocese is considered a Mission diocese. One hundred and fifty priests support 56 parishes and 475 mission stations. Each priest may have up to 10 mission stations assigned to him. Transportation is not part of their compensation package so they have to get out to the people any way they can. The people don't have transportation either, but reportedly the churches often can not hold all the people for Sunday mass. Nobody keeps track of what time it starts or what time it ends.