Reflections on First Friday

by Dan Skantar

It's Friday night, work is finished, and the weekend is here.  What's your plan?  Happy hour?  Shopping?  Workout?  Collapsing in a weary heap on the couch?  Good ideas all, but do you ever think that even your "down" time is stuck in a rut?

Why not break that routine with an uplifting evening at CAC's First Friday Mass and Supper?

On the first Friday of every month, CAC gathers at a selected parish in the diocese for the evening liturgy.  Locations criss-cross Pittsburgh and have included St. Ferdinand (Cranberry) and Holy Trinity (Robinson), among others.  Oftentimes, a benediction and adoration before the Blessed Sacrament follows the Mass.

I feel a wonderful peace in church on First Friday.  Before Mass, the church is so quiet that you can almost hear the candles flicker.  This interval of calm is a perfect timeout for contemplative prayer.  In those preciously still moments, I reflect upon the crucifix and the statuary, silently unloading my week's worth of frustrations, prayers and petitions before God.

As a single Catholic, sometimes I feel a bit lost in the sea of families at Sunday Mass.  It's nice to share the richness of the Eucharist with other singles and be reminded that we are here.

Afterward, the CAC crew, fortified in spirit, heads for a nearby restaurant.  These Friday night suppers are an excellent way to make new friends in a casual setting.  Recent dining stops have included Del's (Bloomfield), North Park Lounge (Cranberry) and a Chinese buffet (Robinson).

At dinner, expect the table chat to run the gamut from sports to films to the latest CAC scoop.  (A month or so ago we debated the merits of "chick flicks" and "guy flicks".)  You can learn a lot about the club and upcoming events at these meals.

If you are looking for an easy way to explore CAC, come out to First Friday Mass!