Anyone else's parish not give a flaming hoot whether they live or die?

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In your discourse there is no joy or happiness in joining the Catholic Church. No acknowledgement you are there for Worship of God. And how you came back to the Church is a wonderful thing.

It’s all negative discourse.

I truly believe you are feeling out of sorts about your old community shunning you. And transferring that to your new community.

You asked.
 
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Roseeurekacross said:
In your discourse there is no joy or happiness in joining the Catholic Church. No acknowledgement you are there for Worship of God. And how you came back to the Church is a wonderful thing.

It’s all negative discourse.

I truly believe you are feeling out of sorts about your old community shunning you. And transferring that to your new community.

You asked.
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Yes, that is true. When we joined, when we were received, it was indeed joyous. We were ecstatic to have found or way to the Church. We left Orthodoxy because we believed that the Catholic church is correct and true on all matters. We were glad to leave the Orthodox faith.

The lack of welcome after really putting ourselves out there, and being embarrassed over and over again, has really dampened what was originally a beautiful spiritual homecoming.
 
Brettbat said:
Yes, that is true. When we joined, when we were received, it was indeed joyous. We were ecstatic to have found or way to the Church. We left Orthodoxy because we believed that the Catholic church is correct and true on all matters. We were glad to leave the Orthodox faith.

The lack of welcome after really putting ourselves out there, and being embarrassed over and over again, has really dampened what was originally a beautiful spiritual homecoming.
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Have you got a Rosary or bible study group you can join.

In big communities, in any community really, it’s a get to know people slowly one on one. And that usually happens through a shared group or interest. Like Adoration, Rosary, bible study or one of the catechism programs. Retreats, talks, over drying a mound of dishes…
 
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Roseeurekacross said:
Have you got a Rosary or bible study group you can join
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Would really love to join the Bible study, but it is in the morning, during my work schedule. We have 24 hr adoration, and I have been several times. There is a Rosary group after the morning masses. Would love to go to that. I wish more activities were in the evenings, rather than during work.
 
Why not start an evening rosary group. If there is call for it, people will turn up.

Same as the bible study.

Or start with a regular Adoration time.
Can your wife attend the groups in the morning or day
 
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I’m not a convert, Brettbat, but it’s happened to me, too. I do think people care if you live or die. I think they want you to be happy. I know it hurts, but I think the hurt is unintentional. I think people get set in their ways, consumed with their own problems, and they don’t realize they are neglecting new members of the church. I really don’t have the solution, either, except to take as much part in church activities as possible. Join the choir, go to Bible study, volunteer to be a lector, things like that. Our church does have a Fellowship Sunday the first Sunday of every month. People are invited to the reception hall for coffee and doughnuts. If you have something like that at your parish, maybe volunteer to bring a special treat some Sunday like cupcakes, brownies, etc. My parish also asks for people to volunteer to clean the church. You could do that if your church asks for volunteers to clean.

Have you let others know you want their friendship? You have to do that, or people assume they are interfering in your private home life.
 
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Are you active duty, by chance?

I won’t give away your actual location, but since you’re not in Seattle proper (although we both know everything up here falls under the Archdiocese of Seattle, whether you’re five or a hundred miles away from St James’), you’re at a relatively small parish.

I feel quite welcome even at the Cathedral, and have been there multiple times and stayed for coffee hour after Mass, but as I’m “on my own” in this and we don’t have children, I admit I feel more comfortable at the chapel on base where my “odd” situation still makes it easy to find ways to fit in without standing out. We’re used to the “weird” in ways civilians may not be. We have a Knights chapter at the chapel, so I was wondering if the military chapel near you has one. Of course, if you’re not active duty, the point is moot. Just wondered if you’d considered that angle if you are.

I’m an RN in the Air Force…most of the patients I call back on a daily basis are Roman Catholic (we can see religious affiliation in the medical record). Even Cardinal Dolan himself said that the Commandant of the Marine Corps once told him that if it weren’t for the Catholics we’d cut the force strength in half across the DOD (my guess is he’s not far off). There are a lot of us here, if you are active duty, and I’m sure the base would welcome the assistance!
 
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The fact that most parish activity takes place during the working day is inevitably a barrier. I understand why, we have rather grim dark winter evenings so obviously many older people prefer not to go out then. However in the UK the state pension and typical retirement age is going up. Who wants to wait until 70 to get involved in their parish?
 
Please, compose a letter to

Archbishop J. Peter Sartain
710 9th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104

Give the shepherd a chance to make a correction in his flock.
 
TheLittleLady said:
Please, compose a letter to

Archbishop J. Peter Sartain
710 9th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104

Give the shepherd a chance to make a correction in his flock.
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I second this. I’ve never met him directly, but after seeing the way he’s reached out to us here I have nothing but good things to say about him.
 
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TheLittleLady said:
Give the shepherd a chance to make a correction in his flock.
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I think he should talk to his priest first. If the priest feels admonished by the archbishop, it could cause real friction between the parishioner and his priest and fellow parishioners.
 
ConstantLearner said:
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TheLittleLady:
Give the shepherd a chance to make a correction in his flock.
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I think he should talk to his priest first. If the priest feels admonished by the archbishop, it could cause real friction between the parishioner and his priest and fellow parishioners.
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I honestly thought he’d done that already.
 
Pup7 said:
I honestly thought he’d done that already.
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Yes, I have. Our priest is great, and he had a lot of good suggestions, which I have done. Unfortunately, he is now on sabbatical for several months.
 
It could be something fixable like poor communication whereas something like not having enough working people to justify an evening group doesn’t really have a solution.
 
ConfusedLucy said:
It could be something fixable like poor communication whereas something like not having enough working people to justify an evening group doesn’t really have a solution.
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I would say that knowing where he is working people shouldn’t be an issue.
 
Check out the parish’s Websites. You can learn a lot about what’s offered from the Website. If it looks promising, try that church one Sunday. You may find it radically different (the people) and love it.
 
ConstantLearner said:
Check out the parish’s Websites. You can learn a lot about what’s offered from the Website. If it looks promising, try that church one Sunday. You may find it radically different (the people) and love it.
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Yes, that’s a good idea. We’re going to try some other parishes. Not many around, but they can’t be worse than where we are.
 
Only if the parish has a staff member or volunteer who keeps their website updated. Just because your parish does this does not mean the parish up the street does.
 
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