Good Shepherd Parish

An amazing little church nestled amongst the cottages in Oak Bluffs. I stumbled across this place whilst perusing the aforementioned region. I saw that it was a Catholic church and from past experiences assumed it would be unlocked. It was a Friday afternoon after all. It was unlocked and I entered. I'm not sure how old the actual building is, but it has to be 100 years or more. This little church turned out to be the gem of my trip to Martha's Vineyard. I spent an hour and a half inside looking, reflecting, and finding peace. Nobody was there and nobody ever came in. Just God and me. The stained glass throughout the chapel is absolutely beautiful. Around 10 or 12 motifs hang on the walls depicting the crucifixion of Christ. I saw a book with names handwritten in it. My first thought was for visitors or members to sign. That seemed out of place though. I looked through the names and got back to the beginning. This is where I read prayers for the dead. I had never seen this before. I am not a Catholic. I wrote my Dad's name in the book. He passed awhile back and that was the catalyst for many things, including this journey to the edge of America. I prayed at the altar. As I was leaving I thought I should go to the balcony and see the big stained glass window up close. I was pleasantly surprised to find a pipe organ. The pipes were very antiquated. The organ may have been the same era or perhaps replaced. I don't know. It was definitely still in use. As I left I got a little holy water and crossed myself. If I was wrong for this because I am not Catholic, forgive me. It seemed like the right thing to do. I had a definite moving, religious experience here. Thank you to those who keep the church in repair.