Our Lady of Guadalupe - ExteriorSummary
Personally greeted by Fr. Vincent Blanco as I entered Our Lady of Guadalupe on February 8, 2009 for the 5:30 p.m. service, I felt this would be an uncommon experience. It was in many ways. Rarely do I encounter pastors greeting arrivals at their churches but this was an exception. From the little girl handing me the missal with a shy smile, to the beautiful and reverential music delivered by a large choir and orchestra, I felt I was in the right place. Sadly, the acoustics of this new mission-style edifice magnify every sound and the din became overpowering. Women in high heels clicked and clacked up and down the aisles during the service, even the mass, with little regard for the noise they were creating. Babies cried, for the most part, without restraint. Although Fr. Blanco delivered a great, extemporaneous homily, I heard little of it due to the noise. Although this Catholic church is warmer than most I've visited, the noise hampered my worship experience. Still, it is worth visiting if you are of the Catholic persuasion. Fiercely multicultural, this large and growing congregation is worth experiencing, offering many weekend service options.