If the title of this post doesn't sound odd enough, let it be known that Corpus Christi University Parish is a Roman Catholic Church (although a collegiate one). Actually, this ultra modern circular-shaped church (with post-modern architecture) was built to save Christian students of UT from worshiping at Student Union and other improper places (Muslim students still have to say their prayers in a small poorly-furnished room at Student Union). Have a look at CCUP facility and you'll get quite an impression.
I had attended CCUP on Christmas Day and had noticed they're not like a typical Catholic Church. First, they worship sitting in a circle with the pastors walking in the center around a table (representing Christ). Second, they have pictures of saints, but their saints include people you don't see in a typical church: Mahatma Gandhi (clad in his famous dhoti and shawl), Kateri Tekakwitha and alike. And they have a music ensemble (although modest) as part of their worship. And the professor of my "Religion in Post-Modern Culture" course (who is a Catholic and an expert in Catholic Studies) says people usually don't treat you so warmly when you enter a typical Catholic Church as a stranger (being greeted by people around you in a Protestant church is a common thing).
Roman Catholic Church has always been the stronghold of conservatism and known of holding fast to traditions all over the history (hence the rift that led to the emergence of Protestantism). And despite all the a.m. facts about CCUP, I was still surprised to hear of a Jazz concert at a Catholic church. That Jazz concert was part of the black history month (held over February) and CCUP had offered their place of worship as the venue for a completely worldly event.
And to add even more to their modern attitude, the pastor welcomed people in the gathering space (the area just before entering worship space) and the pastoral associate (who is a very amicable UT alumnus) issued attendance certificates for music students who attended this concert as part of their coursework.
Going into musical details of the concert takes much time and is off-topic here, but I can't ignore 2 points: the band performed exactly at the place of the wooden table that used to be the altar; and all over the procession, I couldn't escape the gaze of Mary of Magdala who looked at all this with a demure smile from beneath cupola.
I had attended CCUP on Christmas Day and had noticed they're not like a typical Catholic Church. First, they worship sitting in a circle with the pastors walking in the center around a table (representing Christ). Second, they have pictures of saints, but their saints include people you don't see in a typical church: Mahatma Gandhi (clad in his famous dhoti and shawl), Kateri Tekakwitha and alike. And they have a music ensemble (although modest) as part of their worship. And the professor of my "Religion in Post-Modern Culture" course (who is a Catholic and an expert in Catholic Studies) says people usually don't treat you so warmly when you enter a typical Catholic Church as a stranger (being greeted by people around you in a Protestant church is a common thing).
Roman Catholic Church has always been the stronghold of conservatism and known of holding fast to traditions all over the history (hence the rift that led to the emergence of Protestantism). And despite all the a.m. facts about CCUP, I was still surprised to hear of a Jazz concert at a Catholic church. That Jazz concert was part of the black history month (held over February) and CCUP had offered their place of worship as the venue for a completely worldly event.
And to add even more to their modern attitude, the pastor welcomed people in the gathering space (the area just before entering worship space) and the pastoral associate (who is a very amicable UT alumnus) issued attendance certificates for music students who attended this concert as part of their coursework.
Going into musical details of the concert takes much time and is off-topic here, but I can't ignore 2 points: the band performed exactly at the place of the wooden table that used to be the altar; and all over the procession, I couldn't escape the gaze of Mary of Magdala who looked at all this with a demure smile from beneath cupola.
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