Off hand, we have about four types of churchgoers. Their pecking order can be gleaned from their choice of seats with respect to the distance from the altar. The devout worshippers like to occupy the front seats. Many sport the uniforms of the Knights of Columbus and Catholic Women’s League. As such, they occasionally assist in the offertory and collection. Their attention in the proceedings, like their devotion, is complete and involved.
The humble folk come in early to ensure themselves of seats at the back rows. Shy, they favor this part of the church so as not to be seen, yet be able to see everybody and everything.
For people who arrive just in time or late, rows and rows of empty pews in the middle of the church await to be filled well until the offertory. In the middle of the Mass, it’s hard not to miss the clatter of their heels on the tiled floor as they hurry towards their seats with children in tow.
Regardless of whether all the seats have already been taken or not, there will always be people who prefer to stand by the fringes. The drift near the entrances and outside within hearing distance from the strategically located sound speakers. They are referred to as the "outstanding members of the church." They comprise the fourth group in this short list. As the largest group, they consist of many interesting characters.
Among these are the "drop-bys." They come in late and leave ahead of everybody else. It seems they hardly have time to hear the entire Mass but shows up just the same, if only to fulfill a duty. A few would venture to knell on the pew, bow their heads in silent prayer, make the sign of the cross and depart quietly.
Occasionally, one would find their direct opposite in the same company – worshippers who linger. They are there before the Mass begins and they remain in Church long after everyone else has left. More often than not, they are there for a special reason, to ask for divine intervention. There they kneel in one corner, deep in prayer and oblivious to the Mass being celebrated.
Still others in this fourth group are sweethearts and barkadas. To them the church is an assembly area for a date elsewhere. They opt to stand by the entrances where it is easier to spot a lover or friend as soon as they enter, or when they leave.
When you have so many people from different walks of life all in one place, expect a fashion circus. In my hometown, most people observe one fashion rule -- wear your new clothes to church first. We call it "baptizing" the clothes. Way back then, it used to mean that when one had a new pair of pants or shoes, he would wear them to Mass first to express his gratitude for the blessing. But since the Sunday Mass is also the biggest community gathering in town, it is also the best place to show off one’s newest outfit. The poor who can’t afford much, wear the same polo and pants or Sunday dress -- carefully cleaned and pressed -- to all Masses.
There was a time when rubber shoes, mini skirts, maong jeans, and sleeveless attire would raise eyebrows. A sharp glance from the CWL women was all it look to mortify the guilty party. Of late, new fashion trends and a relaxing of standards have emboldened many to hear Mass wearing leather strapped sandals, rubber and canvass shoes, walking shorts, torn maong jeans, sando blouses, mini skirts, hot pants and cycling shorts. The afternoon Masses favored by the teenagers have been greatly infected by this fashion revolution.
Before the advent of the karaoke, singing in church was the only permissible excuse for performing in public. Everybody here sings. Lustily and with spirited gusto. On Christmas and Easter, they sing with hands clapping and feet trapping. Trouble is everybody likes to sing either one octave higher or lower, an attempt at second voice. Leading the pack are the over-enthusiastic matrons who mill around the church organ and shriek in falsetto and soprano -- in the same stanza. The good news is that even if you are tone deaf and can sing only two notes, nobody minds or laughs at you. By the time the refrain is repeated for the nth time, everybody is already gasping in sotto voice.
It is in keeping with this tradition that our church leaders like tradition that our church leaders like to teach the congregation new melodies and new arrangements from time to time. Only once did they err. Sometime ago somebody came up with a faster, livelier bet for the Lord’s Prayer. Thus, the parish priest rented a set of combo drums to complement the church organ. True enough when the drummer started playing "Our Father ..." a five-year-old boy rushed to the front and started dancing before the altar. Other children followed his example and pretty soon the whole congregation broke down laughing at the sight of a dozen dancing boys and girls. Only the parish priest remained sober as he valiantly tried to proceed with the Mass.
The nuns are responsible for the decorations that dazzle the young and old alike. From the fresh long-stemmed flowers picked from the church garden for the crystal vases to the spotless lace and linen cloth and the polished silver, gold and brass ornaments of the altar. Sacristans and teenage volunteers help cut huge lettered and images out of cartolinas and foil paper to inscribe the theme or gospel on the marble walls. On certain occasions, they would dress up the altar and the statues accordingly. On Christmas, they would set up a life-size belen near the altar. The parish priest would also invite all barangays of the city to hang giant lanterns inside the church to brighten up the place. During Lent, they would depict the suffering of Jesus with candles and dark shrouds over the statues.
Parents and teachers are urged to involve their children in many church activities. This includes organizing graders for the first Holy Communion, involving the school choir, bandoria, class and drama groups during regular and special Masses, or wheedling them into "volunteering" for the offertory and collection.
From adults and children, let’s go to animals. The church happens to be the home of hundreds of maya birds. They nest in the rafters, crevices and nooks above. Their cheerful chirping as they hop and flutter over the chandeliers heighten rather than diminish the solemnity of the Mass. Their presence add character to our church. None has been known to drop a dung on any of the church-goers.
Next to birds, dogs and cats are common sight in our church.
And yet with all the commotion from crying children, barking dogs and a seatmate who likes to sing at the top of his voice, it is of little wonder that some churchgoers are still lulled to sleep. There must be something about the ambience. Maybe waking up early makes it difficult for some to stay alert. Daydreaming while a Mass is going on is all too common. The easiest ones to spot are those who remains standing after everybody else has seated and vice versa. One priest tacked this problem by alternately whispering and shouting while banging his fist on the rostrum during his homily. But he scared some children, so some parents either avoid his Masses or just leave their children with one of the spouses, usually the father, waiting outside.
On some days, the end of the mass is the highlight. It is exhilarating to go in while dawn was just breaking and to come out with the sun already out. People leave the church humming the last bars of the finale with the church bells gaily pealing in the background. Everybody is smiling, obviously in high spirits. It is a good time as any to greet friends, particularly those who have been away; compliment how the other’s children have grown; invite others to a picnic at the beach; and schedule an appointment. For children, it is a wonderful opportunity to nag their parents to buy them balloons, cheap toys and popcorn or cotton candy from the vendors who mill around the exits.
Many people have adjusted their churchgoing habits by attending masses on Saturdays, if only to avoid the hassle of Sunday Masses. It may be more convenient, there’s less traffic and more parking space, and one doesn’t have to rise early in the morning. But they’re sadly missing out on the most interesting and eventful day of the week.