11:00AM Sunday Mass
Cyn had a hankering for Gyro Platter at a hole-in-the-wall type of place along East Colfax so, sad to say (or maybe not), that influenced today's Church selection. A quick Google Maps search for Catholic Churches near Pete's Gyros Place (2817 E Colfax Ave), red-pointed a fairly good selection, a few of which we've already been to.
"Ten Thirty Catholic Community" seemed like an odd name for a church but since it was 3 minutes from Pete's, it met a crucial criteria. The other was that Sunday Mass was at 11:00AM.
It turns out "Ten Thirty Catholic Community" shares space with the Capitol Hills Presbyterian Church (see more info on the community below from their website.) We got there late as usual and immediately noticed the differences between the Presbyterian setting and the Catholic setting - there were no images, icons, or the Stations of the Cross on the walls and windows. There were no kneel-ing thingies on the pews either.
The congregation was tiny - including us I counted 38 people. The Homily was the best we've heard so far, touching on the theme of forgiveness and love of fellow man. The celebrant related a somewhat recent experience when we has in Chicago in a parish that reached out to the Gay/Lesbian community and were the target of the Westboro Baptist nutjobs - whom they engaged with in hours filled rantings and ravings across a wall of Chicago police. The priest went on to say that in retrospect his fellow out-reachers failed to live up to the "turn the other cheek" admonition of Christ.
We both thought this little "church" was the best of the 10 we've visited so far in our Colorado Catholic Churches tour.
Ten Thirty Catholic Community's website: http://www.1030catholic.org/about_us/about_us.html
Some info from their site:
10:30 Catholic Community Statement of Beliefs...
We are a Christ-centered, spirit directed, catholic worshipping community. In response to the teachings of Vatican II, we have come together because we are searching for ways to reflect the person and work of Jesus Christ in our time, to our world.
In order to effect this ministry, and recognizing our individual human inadequacies, we gather to celebrate the Eucharist and to offer our support, nurture and energies to each other.
We understand that our relationship to Christ and to each other is in a process of continuing growth toward greater knowledge and deeper intimacy. We believe that the goals of this process are best achieved in Community, where we receive the wisdom and experience of Christians who preceded us in history, and are fed in the present by Christ's presence in the sacraments. In the light of this understanding and belief, this Community will function as a support for its members to accomplish, through their individual lives, the increased awareness of Christ's presence in the world.
We further commit ourselves, as a Community, to the support of those who engage in tasks aimed to heal the economic and social wounds that divide the human family and create conditions that support personal human suffering.
Finally, we affirm the wholeness of the Body of Christ and support all efforts aimed at the unification of His Church. In support of this affirmation, we commit ourselves as a Community to the life of the greater Catholic Church of which we are a part, to ecumenical outreach toward other Christian worshipping communities and to appropriate interaction with other believing faith communities.
We will maintain an atmosphere of openness, dialogue and sharing so that all of our efforts may be aided by the light and strength of the Holy Spirit.
Who Is the 10:30 Catholic Community...
We are a lay-led Community whose members take personal responsibility for our faith. We encourage all members to participate in community life by sharing their time, talent and treasure. Our liturgical celebrations are led by priests who share our beliefs and who have faculties in the Archdiocese of Denver.
You can take a look at our Facebook page for more information.
How Is the 10:30 Catholic Community Different...
Our Community differs from traditional Catholic parishes primarily because we are directed by volunteer committees of laypersons. We own no property, have no pastor nor paid staff; our thrust is to serve the needs of the wider human community through social consciousness and appropriate Christian social action. We attempt to live Gospel values in both our Community and our daily lives.
Community History...
The 10:30 Catholic Community is an intentional worshipping community founded on the principles of Vatican II.
Our Community was formed in 1972 by a group of parishioners who were attending the 10:30 a.m. Mass at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church. As a result of the teachings of Vatican II many intentional Catholic communities were established in the United States. The Capitol Heights Presbyterian Church offered their facilities and the group moved to the church, sharing operational expenses with the Presbyterian community. This ecumenical relationship continues today in our quarterly joint ecumenical worship services, youth group and various social justice activities.
These people are no longer Catholics.
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