Project Home

Western Places to Visit

Eastern Places to Visit

St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church
402 NW Sumter Street
Madison, FL
850-973-2428

by Brian Cohill

I know that I didn't need to travel so far to visit a Catholic Church. It just so happens that my family and friends were on vacation and visited some other friends in Madison Florida. The friends we were traveling with are Catholic and also attended the services with my family and me. We had decided to attend the Sunday Morning Mass. The small town atmosphere and the church itself proved to be a unique an experience in itself, although I was quite apprehensive about attending a small church where I would surely stand out as a new visitor.

We received a warm greeting at the door as we entered the church. Once inside the church, a group of three ladies were standing in the corner singing Hymns. These three ladies made up the choir of the church. The church pews were wooden with a plush red cushion adorning the seats and had a cushioned pull down railing that looked like a footrest. Once services began, I quickly found out that the purpose of the pull down railing was not a footrest, it was for kneeling. In front of the seat facing us were two books, the hymnbook and a prayer book.

As parishioners entered the church, many kneeled about midway down the center Isle and appeared to say a short pray and performed a sign of the cross prior to taking their seat. This is called genuflecting. The church had 6 beautiful stained glass windows down each of its sides. The windows depicted the twelve saints, which were Christ's Apostles. Plaques depicting religious events also adorned the side walls. I later found out that these were the "Stations of the Cross" which represents the crucifixion of Christ from the trial to the burial.

Along the front wall was a statute of the Mother Mary holding the Christ Child. A cross depicting the crucifixion of Christ was in the center of the front wall directly behind the alter and what appeared to be a wall safe that was under lock and key. This is referred to as the tabernacle, which contains the Eucharist or consecrated host. As I understand it, the tabernacle is always under lock except during mass.

The services began by a small processional being led into the church by an Alter Boy carrying a staff depicting the crucifixion of Christ, followed by the Priest, Father Sylvestre who was followed by a woman. The woman following Father Sylvestre is referred to as an Eucharistic Minister or Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist. This person assists the Father during the administering of communion during the service. Father Sylvestre was adorned with a white robe and had a gold sash draped around his neck, which is referred to as a stole.

The service itself was somewhat similar to what I am accustomed to. It consisted of song, prayer, greetings, announcements and a sermon. The whole atmosphere however had a more solemn reverence to it than I have experienced in protestant churches. The songs were slow and somewhat quiet, and the sermon consisted of readings from the scriptures and pulling the meaning into current world events.

It also appeared that communion, or administering of the Eucharist, was the central part of the service. Father Sylvestre unlocked the tabernacle and removed the wine first, from which he appeared to bless it, and then took a drink from. He then removed the bread, or consecrated host, which he also appeared to bless, and then ate. After that, parishioners lined the isle and one by one drank from the cup, or chalice, and ate a piece of bread while the choir and congregation sang a hymn. After all the parishioners, that cared to take communion, had partaken in the ceremony, he returned the wine and unused bread to the tabernacle and locked it back up.

After some closing remarks and a prayer, the mass was ended. Again a processional was formed, and in the same order they entered the church, they exited. After the processional exited the church, parishioners followed, concluding the service.

Outside the church, Father Sylvestre was greeting the parishioners as they left the service. After everyone departed, my friend and I, went to introduce ourselves to the Father. I told him that I was there as part of a religious studies field visit, and asked if I could take some pictures of this beautiful little church. He told a woman who was breaking down the altar that I was from out of town and would like to take some pictures. She appeared to be very proud member of her church. She had already broken down the alter but quickly set it back up for my photos after I had told her it was not necessary.

I had only a few minutes to talk to the Father, as he was on his way to St. Margaret's Church to perform mass there. He did however tell us a little story of the stained glass windows. He told us that when they were looking for the church, they were looking for one that had 12 windows to display depictions of the 12 apostles. When they found this church, the plan was to raise money for windows and have them made installed. After the initial renovation, they were sent the 12 windows in the church, and 'til this day have know idea who made them, who paid for them or who had sent them.

After the service, my wife had asked my catholic friend why they worship Mary. He informed her that they do not worship Mary and that was a myth. During our short time with the Father, it came up in conversation about the myth of worshiping Mary. He explained that Catholics pray to Mary and other saints, but are going to Christ through Mary and the other saints. He said that they are asking Mary and other saints to intercede for them before the throne on their behalf. At this point, Father Sylvestre said that he really had to go and quickly departed for his next mass.

I found the overall experience of this visit quite rewarding. They people were friendly and welcoming. The symbolism throughout the church was quite evident through wall plaques depicting the 14 Stations of the Cross, statues, and the beautiful stained glass windows. The whole small town atmosphere and the church structure were also a throwback to what many would consider simpler times.

Return to top