Sunday Morning Under Big Top

Last year, my husband and I attended Mass under the big top for the first time at the Big E Circus. When we first heard about it, my first reaction was a blend of "Wow, that's something new to me" and "Isn't that where the animals perform and... well, do what we all do after eating?" Some may be appalled that someone even thought to place an alter to God in the center of a circus ring, but by the end of this post, I hope you see things as I came to understand.

Those who work at fairs and carnivals lead different lives than those who just attend them once in a while, but they are essentially the same as you and I. "Carnies" are known to be sly, trick your hard earned money from you, and perhaps lead a less than "saintly" life. Circus performers have similar reputation sometimes - for generations - perhaps stemming from the days when gypsies were more common, and equally misunderstood. The main difference between their job and most of ours is that they travel often and sometimes the trailer is their only home. But they are exactly the same as the rest of us; most are loving, caring and generous and a few can be less than savory.

When I first heard about Sunday Mass under the big top, I thought it was just a convenient place the Big E administration chose to house people who wanted to attend Sunday Services at the Big E. What I didn't understand until I went: this was the Mass for the circus performers and fair workers. They had opened it to share with the rest of us. Here is a group of people often ostracized by a suspicious society, yet where we draw circles to segregate them from "the rest of us" they erased that line in the sand by inviting us to share in a special celebration.

They are people from many different countries - literally around the world - gathered for a short time in a place far from home. Many do not share the same language, but together they are still brothers and sisters by profession - and by faith. Every Sunday morning there is an opportunity to gather with those who share their faith and celebrate it together.

No matter where in the world they are from, no matter where in the world they are now, no matter who is sitting by their side in the stands, all changing several times over the course of a year... they are still one. And they open this oneness to any who wish to celebrate it with them.

There is a group called "Circus Ministries" that celebrate Mass or other Sunday Services with circus performers, race-car drivers, carnival workers, and migrant farm-workers and fishermen. These people are on the cusp of our society, but they still get married, lose loved ones, need spiritual counseling and what many of us find in a place that is close to our home. But they have no permanent home, so the home they take with them is in their hearts. And they take time each week to visit that place and share it with others.

- ESA