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Pastor
The Rev. Alfred J. Harris
the Attendance
About 100
Service Length
45 Minutes
Sample Worshipper Dress
Blue jeans, black sweater, puffy vanilla-colored vest, flip-flops
Languages
English, Cantonese, Latin
Weekly Novena Broadcast
Mondays at 11:30 a.m., WFAX-AM 1220
Congregational Fervor
For those worshippers not particularly confident in their singing voices, St. Mary Mother of God’s Sunday evening Mass is for you. Aside from a pre-Communion a cappella rendition of “Agnus Dei,” there were no hymns or musical accompaniment. Congregants made up for the lack of melody by standing up, sitting down, and passing the peace with tremendous vigor.
Food for the Soul
Christ can forgive you all he wants, but according to Harris, there’s still no getting off easy. During his homily, he discussed a news story in which a Catholic schoolteacher was fired after becoming pregnant out of wedlock. “People say, ‘What about the adulterous Ôªøwoman?’ ” said Harris, referring to a parable demonstrating Jesus’ compassion. Turns out she’s still screwed. “Our sins have consequences no matter how much they are forgiven.”
Food for the Body
No food or drink was available at the 7:30 p.m. Sunday Mass. Hot beverages and a small repast is typically available after the 9 a.m. service.
Overall Worship Power
Finding parking in Chinatown can get desperate, but if you try to sneak into one of St. Mary’s reserved clergy spaces, the church will get Biblical on your ass. park not, lest ye be towed away commands a sign outside of the St. Mary’s lot.