For goth teen Eric "Black Sinister" Abrose it was just another Sunday in the park. He and his friends were preparing to make their chants and incantations to the mother goddess, when they heard a strange sound.

He heard many people casting spells and offering up petitions. They were gathered around an altar, and there was a smell of animals being burned.

They were Catholics, and they come to McFadden Park for their annual parish picnic.

Some Enchanted Evening

"We really didn't know what to do when we saw the Catholics," said Wiccan Samantha Crawford. "We tried just to ignore them, but their music was off key and pretty distracting. It was really hard to concentrate on our circle of power."

After several attempts to finish their incantations, the witches decided to just go over and watch the Catholic Mass.

"What I liked about it was that the way they worshipped has changed very little in two thousand years," said Wiccan Liz Reinhard. "There's just something about ancient rituals that really connect us with the Universal Being."

Other Wiccans were very surprised at what the Catholics were doing.

"I couldn't believe that they were casting a spell on the bread to become the body of Jesus," said Tim "Black Tear" Neelson. "And they also talked about how it was a sacrifice. And they say I'm morbid, man."

Something Wiccan This Way Comes

After the mass was over, the priest, Fr. Max Bradner of Blessed Tabernacle, Ovid, asked the Wiccans to join them in their picnic.

"The Catholics were surprisingly nice," said Crawford. "They made some good food too. I try to be a vegetarian, but the smell of that hot dog made me give in. Goddess forgive me."

Many of our fellow Wiccans said they had an interesting dialogue with the Catholics.

"They told us that they believe that they are the Body of Christ," said Reinhard. "I liked that because I too believe in the goodness of people."

Another similarity was the Catholic's support of nature.

"They were singing about the beauty of the earth and the need to be stewards of creation," said Black Tear. "We too see nature as something to praise and enjoy."

Return Roast

Since the festivities went so well, the Catholics and our fellow Wiccans decided to meet there again next year.

"I like being outside and celebrating mass," said Ruth Putty, a member of the Council of Catholic Women. "It sure saves us money on altar cloth."

Indeed, the Catholics and Wiccans ended up with a feeling of unity after the day of hot dogs and baked beans.

"You take our ritual out of the church and it probably looks pretty pagan," said Catholic Rick Rogers. "I guess that's why we've got to respect these other religious groups."

To make sure that there is a common understanding, one local high schooler decided to let the connection be known to all.

"What was really strange was that I saw this kid Randy Stern from my school, who always makes fun of me, " said goth teen Bradley Keiser. "There he was chanting outside as his priest raised up the offering. I took a picture. I'm telling everyone at school that he's goth."

Copyright 2002 by Nick Popadich   
All rights reserved.