Cycle 14 – Item 241

3 (Sun) September 2023

Holy Buffet

at Wolgok-Dong Catholic Church

2.0

-Wolgok, Seongbuk, Seoul, Republic of Korea-

with W and IZ, maternal kin

After 40 years of service as a Catholic priest, my uncle celebrated his final Mass today.

DID YOU KNOW: In the Catholic tradition, the Eucharist commemorates the Last Supper shared by Jesus and his apostles on Maundy Thursday, the day before his crucifixion.  The priest consecrates wafers and wine at the altar, which are believed to be transubstantiated into the body and blood of Christ, literally.  Parishioners then receive the sacraments as Holy Communion.

Technically, I am qualified to take communion, though I haven’t done so in decades.  Even before (informally) renouncing my faith, I wasn’t really “allowed” because I never went to confession – in theory, good Catholics shouldn’t take communion until they’ve repented their sins.

Which was a bit awkward on this occasion, because we were recognized during Mass as Father Martino’s family, but just sat there when everyone else got in line for body and blood.

Afterwards, a lunch was provided for the priest, his priest buddies, his family, and church VIPs.

The food was whatever, like any other buffet.

Majuang, Korea’s first wine brand, produces a line specifically for use in the Eucharist (misaju), which is apparently permissible to drink outside of the rite.

(See also BOOZE)