Holy Spirit

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Sunday was the final mass at Holy Spirit Church in North Collins, NY.

Man, I spent a lot of time in that church, from about 1966 on.

I was an altar boy for a lot of years. I did readings, sang songs, laughed with friends, and knelt for stations of the cross.

My first confession was there. My first communion and confirmation as well.

As a family we sat on the right side of the church, and there were a lot of laughs in the Fazzolari row.

I recall a Mass when all eight of us were packed in and the  elderly woman in front of us went into a coughing fit, and in the middle of it, she farted audibly,

I was seated next to my Dad and he and I laughed to tears, as Mom gave us dirty looks.

I knew every corner of that church.

Cried there plenty too at funerals of people that I loved.

Yet, I thought I’d be a hell of a lot sadder.

I really lost faith in the Catholic Church.

That has nothing to do with what I believe, but organized religion has truly lost its luster…

…yet it all comes flooding back to me as I drive down Halley Road.

The daily prayer and the occasional beatings by the nuns.

Making lifelong friends with the other Catholic school children.

The school closed long ago.

Now the fine folks of North Collins don’t have a Catholic Church in their town.

Okay, I am a little sad.

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