So, Saturday evening found us at the Cliff Breakers in Rockford. Father Nnaso celebrated with a wonderful party for about 100 friends. We were seated at individual round tables in a big room with a dance floor. The waitstaff served the most delicious appetizers. Shrimp wrapped in phyllo, Italian sausage in a hot sauce, meatballs, and the most delicious bruschetta. Champagne was poured for the toast and then our meal came. We had salad, fillet mignon, chicken wrapped in puff pastry with a spinach sauce, mixed vegetables, roasted baby potatoes, and the grand finale...a wonderful cake with strawberry filling. Groan!! We ate so much...it was like Thanksgiving. During and after dinner there was a Christian band. They entertained with beautiful music...they even passed out sheets of the words to the songs so we could join in. Joyful music...I thought to myself...I wish we could sing like this in our Mass. 
When dinner was over a DJ friend of Father's took over. He said that Father Nnaso loved to dance, but he didn't want to dance alone. "Please everyone, come up to the dance floor and join in...doing a dance in the African style." You know how people are so shy and usually don't start dancing until a few others start out? This music and dance was so easy...just moving with the percussion rich music in a very simple natural way. We all went to the dance floor (minus Joe with his sore back) and joined in the joyous celebration with our Priest. He was so happy and danced with us.
Some nuns were there too. They joined in the fun These pictures are so dark, but I wanted to show them, Here he is with the Nuns.
Father greeting some people. Others were in their native dress. Vibrant colors and interesting hairpieces. The men in flowing garments were on the dance floor too.
The DJ said that he was going to play one of Father's favorite songs. Would we all come up and form a circle around him to wish him well. Can you imagine 100 people in a circle holding hands and singing "We Are The World?" We sang it over and over...some of the Priests started doing the wave. They laughed and dipped down and up and it continued around the circle over and over. I'm a Catholic of seven years and found out on Saturday night that Nuns and Priests are very much like everyone else. They can be joyous and have a good time.
Here are two Nuns and friends talking on the dance floor. They all had such stamina...the songs went on forever and many of us had to go and sit down to rest. When we went home...they were dancing to Frank Sinatra music.
Here he is bidding good bye to a couple from our Church. The party went on long after Joe and I left. We are blessed to have this wonderful man leading us in our Church. On Sunday morning, when we went to Mass, we said,"Where is Father?" He got a replacement for the 8 o'clock Mass. He was home in bed. It was truly a night to remember. Thanks, Father, for inviting us and making us a part of your well deserved celebration.
When dinner was over a DJ friend of Father's took over. He said that Father Nnaso loved to dance, but he didn't want to dance alone. "Please everyone, come up to the dance floor and join in...doing a dance in the African style." You know how people are so shy and usually don't start dancing until a few others start out? This music and dance was so easy...just moving with the percussion rich music in a very simple natural way. We all went to the dance floor (minus Joe with his sore back) and joined in the joyous celebration with our Priest. He was so happy and danced with us.
Some nuns were there too. They joined in the fun These pictures are so dark, but I wanted to show them, Here he is with the Nuns.
Father greeting some people. Others were in their native dress. Vibrant colors and interesting hairpieces. The men in flowing garments were on the dance floor too.
The DJ said that he was going to play one of Father's favorite songs. Would we all come up and form a circle around him to wish him well. Can you imagine 100 people in a circle holding hands and singing "We Are The World?" We sang it over and over...some of the Priests started doing the wave. They laughed and dipped down and up and it continued around the circle over and over. I'm a Catholic of seven years and found out on Saturday night that Nuns and Priests are very much like everyone else. They can be joyous and have a good time.
Here are two Nuns and friends talking on the dance floor. They all had such stamina...the songs went on forever and many of us had to go and sit down to rest. When we went home...they were dancing to Frank Sinatra music.
Here he is bidding good bye to a couple from our Church. The party went on long after Joe and I left. We are blessed to have this wonderful man leading us in our Church. On Sunday morning, when we went to Mass, we said,"Where is Father?" He got a replacement for the 8 o'clock Mass. He was home in bed. It was truly a night to remember. Thanks, Father, for inviting us and making us a part of your well deserved celebration.
Balisha
1 comment:
Balisha, Your parish does the most amazing things and you are so active! You may remember that my SIL is a nun- she is just like anyone else! She loves to have fun, dance, have a few drinks.... etc. She is now 70 years old and acts 20 years younger. Glad you had a good time!
~ Sue
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