I have found a home at Mary, Queen of Peace. Today's Mass was one of those experiences that stays…read morewith you long after you pull out of the parking lot.
Walking up to the doors this morning, I was rethinking my sweater and thermal -- it's 70 degrees, for goodness sake! But the cold weather is coming, and I'm always a little chilly with nothing to cover this bald head, so I didn't sweat it... pun intended.
The church is beautiful, and the windows behind the altar are clear, not stained, so we can see creation itself through those windows. The trees, the sunrise and sunset -- it's truly gorgeous.
Sure enough, the weather outside turned wild -- wind whipping the trees behind the altar, rain falling sideways and pounding on the roof -- all while Fr. Cooper prepared the meal at the table of our Lord.
It's hard to describe the feeling -- sitting, kneeling, and praying in a bright, beautifully lit and quiet pew, all while the storm raged outside the walls.
It was a powerful reminder of what the Church is meant to be: a place of refuge, clarity, and light when the world feels loud.
At one point, Fr. Cooper's mic cut out briefly because of the weather. But instead of feeling like a distraction, it felt symbolic -- a reminder that even when things falter around us, the heart of the Mass -- and Christ's love for His Church -- remains steady.
John was holding the door as we left Mass, and I commented on the timing -- the rain had stopped momentarily, leaving us all dry as we headed to our homes, fed, loved, and safe. He said it stopped right as he opened the doors. Nice.
I walked out to the truck feeling deeply grateful -- for the beauty of the liturgy, for the peace inside those walls, and for the simple blessings of the day that followed.
MQP is a parish where reverence, warmth, and real community come together. It's a place that helps you notice grace not just during Mass, but in the ordinary moments that come after. I'm very thankful this is my church.
Come visit us anytime. We promise you, as they say at every Mass, "a life-changing encounter with Jesus.
