[caz815nupike]

In the same way I hang my cross around my neck and wear t-shirts from retreats I have led or been on around school and anywhere else--unashamed, or speak with my brothers and friends about my faith or religion or theology in general, as well as my own personal views--unashamed....

I would go to Mass, and have, with something displaying my letters or organization name--unashamed.

It is who I am. It is who you are!

Now only if the question were a bit more specific...if the question were either:

1) "Would you wear your lettered sweatshirt to church, seeing as it is somewhat formal attire?"

OR

2) "Would you be ashamed or proud to display your Greek letters in church, thus revealing your involvement in Greek life?"

ya know what I mean?

Either way, I will respond to both variants of the question...

1) I don't believe I would wear my lettered-sweatshirt in Church just because I just don't like wearing sweatshirts to Mass--I'd probably get hot and end up wanting to take it off anyway... Now, I have gone to Mass in the past displaying my letters in two ways: first, when wearing formal attire, I have proudly worn my badge before (and my pin when I was pledging).

2) To answer the second form of the question, the other way I have displayed my letters, spelled out, is this way: my parish has a "Life Teen" program, which I guess you could say "hosts" the Sunday evening--"Life Teen"--Masses. Being that the attendees are all high school and college age, with a few parents in the 'crowd', and that we are in LA (SoCal, woot woot)! the service is not as "formal" as traditional Masses. More upbeat music is played and the sermon relates more to people of our age group and finally, the attire is very laid-back and informal. The point is, I have worn t-shirts deisplaying "Pi Kappa Alpha" on them, and have no problem doing it.
Not only is there NOTHING WRONG with being a person of faith in your religion, I'm proud to be both an active Christian and at the same time, a PIKE!...or just Greek for that matter.

Thirdly, I have also worn my letters in "sweater-form" on retreats and such, being that we're in the mountains and it's quite chilly...and those retreats involved religious activities and reflections. As a leader on retreats I have also referred to my fraternity (and how it has helped me) in my talks and group discussions. No problem...



Anyway, I almost wrote a Dickens-like novelette on the matter, but whatever...I am in no way ashamed to be a member of my Fraternity.