PIR - Sunday Catholic Mass

[Darla Frandrup]

Just got back from PIR on 7/25. You have all heard all of the wonderful PIR stories. And they are were not kidding, it is amazing. I want to add that if your are Catholic (sorry, this is the only service I can comment on, I'm sure the other services are amazing too) DO NOT MISS MASS ON SUNDAY AT 7:30AM. Seriously, this ranked right up there with Graduation. The Priest is amazing. Nate (who I had to drag to Church when he lived at home) only missed one service when at BC. The Priest gave sports update before the closing song. The Sailors were cheering for their favorite teams, it was very cute. He told very, very funny stories that were related to the Gospel and the readings and the Sailors (and parents) could relate to. Then he called up all of the Sailors who have graduated and the Recruits that will graduate next Friday. It was very emotional and moving. A DO NOT MISS experience. I thank God that Nate invited us to attend, if your Sailor does not ask you about this, ask them. Could not think of a better way to end our weekend with our sailor.

God bless you all!
Darla

[joanne]

Darla:
I am so glad you started a separate discussion on this; I touched upon it briefly in my PIR experience blog, but I agree with you- that mass was equivalent to, if not more emotional than the graduation! I was so impressed with the hundreds of recruits who were there because they wanted to be, not forced to.. okay, one or two might have fallen asleep during the service, but who can blame them; they were exhausted! That mass completed our weekend. Our son, too, hadn't gone to mass in a few years, much to our chagrin, and now goes weekly as well. We were shocked when when he asked us to attend. When the graduates got up on the alter at the end of the mass to sing "Anchors Away" it was so heartwarming. Thanks so much for posting!

[Claire]

I'm so glad that you have both shared this experience, because it is not something I will want to miss! In fact, just in case my son hasn't made it to mass yet, I will mention it in my letter to him today in hopes that he will go.

My father will be coming with me to Chicago to Ryan's PIR in October. Dad graduated from boot up there in '52, and nobody from his family was there to witness it....so he wants to be sure he's there for his grandson. I've shared with him your experiences at the post PIR mass, and he's very anxious for that as well.

[Michelle Pendel]

Darla, thanks so much for this information (Michelle Pendel). I think that our son will graduate on 10-24. Hopefully he will ask us about mass as well. So it is on the base?

[RhinoNucsMom(Sally)]

Darla, thanks so much for bringing all this up. Myself and my son are not Catholic which made me ask him "Why" he was attending the Catholic services on Sunday. He said the Priest was amazing and it really gave him that extra boost. This guy really seems to rally around these sailors. My son even had to write me the "Lords Prayer" in one of his letters, I wrote him back that yeah, we recite that at the Methodist church as well. We hadn't been to church(with the exception of two Baptist services)since we had moved from AZ to AR, but we both have a strong faith and as long as he is attending some service I feel much relief and Thank God for working through this man. Sally

[Darla Frandrup]

Joann - thank you for sharing your experience too. I'm glad you were as touched as I was. I still get emotional when I think about it. I hope your Sailor is doing well in in A School.

Michelle - the Mass is on base, right at the end of the parking lot you'll be in for PIR. If your son does not ask you, ask him about this. I still get tears in my eyes thinking about it.

Claire - if you do go to Mass, make sure your father goes with you all. They ask for all of the retired military people to stand up. Because your father was in the Navy, he'll get a HUGE hoo rah (not sure how to spell this) from all of the recruits. It was very special.

Sally - I could not agree more, this Priest is amazing. That is so wonderful that your son is attending mass, and if you go with him, you'll know why. God is definitely working through this man!

[Michelle]

Great Information! I have already made a note to tell Mike and make plans to attend before departing GL after PIR. Can't think of a better way to end a perfect weekend with him ~ Thanks again! ~ Michelle

[Ingrid]

Thank you so much for sharing this information. I had no idea. My son is going on his third week of BC and in his first letter he had written that he was going to the catholic mass on sundays with the recruites in his division. I was so excited for him. going to mass with him that sun. we are there with him will be great. I look forward to it.

[Deb]

Hi, I'm a new boot camp mom and happened to see this post. I was under the impression that PIR is one day only Friday - then you leave. (Maybe that was just for the grad and go group). If your son or daughter will be on base all weekend, can you see them again on Saturday and Sunday? This mass sounds wonderful, we are also a Catholic family, so I will definately mention it to my daugher to makes sure she attends while she's at boot camp. This entire website is just wonderful for all of the great advice in so many different areas. Take care everyone,
Deb

[Darla Frandrup]

HI Deb,

You've probably already had a dozen replies to your question about PIR only lasting one day. This is true, but your Sailor will have liberty most of the weekend. We drove in on Thursday evening and stayed through Sunday. Nate had duty one morning, so we had to pick him up a bit later on Saturday, but otherwise was able to spend all weekend with us. It was really fun.

Hope this helps.
Darla

[Jennifer]

I just returned from the PIR 10/10. Our Sailor as well grumbled at attending Sunday morning Mass even though he attended a private Catholic HS. He attended every single Sunday at basic because he felt it connected him to us as he knows we attend every Sunday Mass at home. He did not ask us to attend this past Sunday, but told us we were going. What an experience, - it is definetly wonderful and moving. To us it was equal to the graduation ceremony itself as it was much more personal from him to us-his gift as he called it for our support.To have received a big round of Oooh Yah from them all for my and my spouses prior USMC Service was the absolute best! :) :) :) I wish my brain was a recorder, that never would fade to hear them all - in unison - ask "ARE YOU READY?" (now my son's favorite question!!!) and then sing Anchors Away - I swear God was listening as they sang so loud. Please don't miss this opportunity for your Sailor to give back to you...a memory I and his father will cherish forever.

[Darla Frandrup]

Jennifer - I loved reading your post, gave me goosebumps as if I was there again. I'm so glad you enjoyed it as much as we did. I agree, this is as special (if not even more for me) then the PIR. Good luck to your Sailor!