Anyone Ever Feel Like Leaving the Church?

[EasterJoy]

Ah, the righteous condemnatory zeal of the recent convert/revert. A staple of this forum!

Being saddened because fellow Catholics think their inability to find anything at a Mass that is stimulating enough to justify the expenditure of more than “x” minutes a week is hardly confined to those new or newly returned to the Church.

Having said that, it is far easier to have a lax attitude if you haven’t been enough other places to appreciate the treasures we have, that is true. Familiarity does breed contempt.

 

[stanncie]

This is great advice.

I’ve been going to the same parish for many years, but knew nobody. A couple of years ago I felt compelled to get more involved. I’m in the choir now, as well as a Scripture Study group. In both cases, most of the folks involved do not come with spouses, boyfriends, or other family members. I also volunteer fairly often for work that needs to be done in groups.

I now know people from all of those groups, many of whom are single, and of all ages. When I go to Mass alone, inevitably I’ll be greeted by someone, often several, people I know. And because people see me there so often, I occasionally make new friends just because someone will approach me saying I seem familiar. I often go alone, but now I look around and see that I am worshipping with friends.

I’ve found it is a very friendly group in that parish, but I wouldn’t have known that the first several years.

Beyond that,it seems I now run into people I know from my parish everywhere I go.

It’s important to take steps like this. I’m an outgoing person, but when I see people alone at Mass I don’t necessarily assume they want to meet me, or that they are even necessarily lonely there. Sometimes being alone at Mass helps us realize just Who we are really there with. It’s not unusual to for some to like being alone at Mass, so people like me who would love to get to know you don’t disturb you. It’s not others feeling like you do don’t exist to me; it’s that I have no idea you feel that way. For all I know, I don’t exist to many of those who worship alone) because we haven’t met.

I agree with this advice wholeheartedly. After I moved to where I currently am I attended many parishes in my area to see which one I fit best in. I was going to a church downtown that I liked very much because it’s old and has lots of saint statues lol! it reminded me of the churches of my childhood. Anyways I went there for a while but really didn’t know anyone and didn’t get involved so i was pretty much on my own. I don’t really mind being at mass alone but afterward I did wish I could talk to some people.

One Sunday i decided to try another parish close to me but in a much poorer neighborhood. I went there for a couple of weeks and same thing, I liked it but didn’t know anyone. Although I did like it a bit more because the people were a lot younger in this parish and there seemed to be lots of activities. Still it wasn’t like anyone came up to me and introduced themselves.

I saw a banner one Sunday for a young adult group and decided to call. I started going to their meetings and although i didn’t like it much at first i pressed on. Fast forward to now and what a difference! I can’t step into church now without someone stopping me to say hi lol!
At first it was just the people from the group but it’s expanding more and more to people in many different ministries. The more I became involved with activities, volunteering, serving as usher, etc the more people I met.

Suffice it to say I never feel alone at mass now, I can always find people to sit with if i want or at least exchange a few words before or after mass.