Are you involved in your church?

[lak611]

A little off topic but I like to hear any sugestions on how to get more of our fellow parishioners involved in the Church. We can begin a new thread if you would like.

My parish has held a Bible study of which I am a member for the past 6 years. We started “cluster parishes” in my diocese (where a group of neighbouring parishes work together). My pastor is going to advertise our Bible study in the neighbouring parish bulletins. We just finished our last study and will be starting a new one on 10 June. That one will be advertised in the neighbouring parish bulletins. We’ll see if we get new members.

 

[Hatter]

I used to be very involved in my church, especially the youth group. But then the youth leader fell in love with me (he was almost 20 years older and I was just a teen) He behaved in a very unsuitable manner, I told the priest, the priest didn’t believe me, the youth leader started to spread nasty rumours about me in order to lessen my credability (that I ran around with lots of boys etc) and voila…I felt like an outcast, bullied and unwelcome. He did this to several other girls as well. I am one of the few who still goes to church…but I just go to mass and leave as soon as the blessing has been made. I don’t want to get involved. I don’t want to talk to people. I go there for God and I keep as far away from everyone else as possible.

 

[jarg1946]

I’m so sorry that this happened to you.There are bad people everywhere even in church organizations. I’m so glad you took the road you did and continue to go to mass. Had you left the church I think you would have gotten lost with the others who have left also. God Bless you!

 

[vince2paul]

I used to be very involved in my church, especially the youth group. But then the youth leader fell in love with me (he was almost 20 years older and I was just a teen) He behaved in a very unsuitable manner, I told the priest, the priest didn’t believe me, the youth leader started to spread nasty rumours about me in order to lessen my credability (that I ran around with lots of boys etc) and voila…I felt like an outcast, bullied and unwelcome. He did this to several other girls as well. I am one of the few who still goes to church…but I just go to mass and leave as soon as the blessing has been made. I don’t want to get involved. I don’t want to talk to people. I go there for God and I keep as far away from everyone else as possible.

I’m so sorry this happened to you. For me, I felt that I was discriminated because of my age and my nationality. It’s hard for me at first, but I decided that I love Christ & His Church, no matter what. It’s the one which keeps me going to Church and not giving up in my ministry. I just got a quote this morning, it’s wonderful.

*Jesus, the favorite Child of God, is persecuted. He who is poor, gentle, mourning; he who hungers and thirsts for uprightness; is merciful, pure of heart and a peacemaker is not welcome in this world. The Blessed One of God is a threat to the established order and a source of constant irritation to those who consider themselves the rulers of this world. Without his accusing anyone he is considered an accuser, without his condemning anyone he makes people feel guilty and ashamed, without his judging anyone those who see him feel judged. In their eyes, he cannot be tolerated and needs to be destroyed, because letting him be seems like a confession of guilt.

When we want to become like Jesus, we cannot expect always to be liked and admired. We have to be prepared to be rejected.

~ Henri J.M. Nouwen*

I’ll pray for you and especially for these people that hurt you. They definitely need prayer badly.

 

[Hatter]

That’s true, the most important thing is not to be liked but to follow God. But I must confess that I do envy you who “fit in”. I know that because of my background I will never fit in anywhere.

 

[jmcrae]

That’s true, the most important thing is not to be liked but to follow God. But I must confess that I do envy you who “fit in”. I know that because of my background I will never fit in anywhere.

I will keep you in my prayers. I am also someone who has had a hard time fitting in - it’s very difficult and frustrating.

 

[Hatter]

I will keep you in my prayers. I am also someone who has had a hard time fitting in - it’s very difficult and frustrating.

Yes it is frustrating. And I also feel bad because my priest says that if I get sad it’s because I don’t trust God enough. So everytime I feel down about my problematic background I feel that I’m not a good enough Christian, because if I was a good Christian then I wouldn’t feel sad. So I try to push it all furthest back in my mind, but sometimes it is hard to keep it there. I don’t really know what to do about it all. I know that God wants us all to be brothers and sisters and to be a community, a family, but what do you do if you don’t feel welcome or happy in the community? Do you go against God if you can’t cope with the congregation?

Thank you for your prayers. Please pray for me to be able to forgive.

 

[jmcrae]

Yes it is frustrating. And I also feel bad because my priest says that if I get sad it’s because I don’t trust God enough.

This does not seem like a very helpful thing to say.

So everytime I feel down about my problematic background I feel that I’m not a good enough Christian, because if I was a good Christian then I wouldn’t feel sad.

Jesus wept and felt deep sorrow. He felt very sad when He was rejected by the Jews. Can we think that Jesus was not a very good Christian, or that He didn’t trust God enough?

Bring your sorrows to Jesus, for He certainly understands. He’s been there, too.

Thank you for your prayers. Please pray for me to be able to forgive.

Please pray for me, too. It is a great struggle, at times.

 

[jarg1946]

Unfortunately your parish priest did not give you a good answer. We all feel pain in some way. That doesn’t make us bad Christians. This prayer is a prayer that helps you in time of need or I should say has helped me.

Jesus, Help Me!
In every need let me come to Thee with humble trust, saying,
Jesus, help me!
In all my doubts, perplexities, and temptations,
Jesus, help me!
In hours of loneliness, weariness and trials,
Jesus, help me!
In the failure of my plans and hopes; in disappointments, troubles and sorrows,
Jesus, help me!
When my heart is cast down by failure, at seeing no good come from my efforts,
Jesus, help me!
When others fail me, and Thy grace alone can assist me,
Jesus, help me!
When I throw myself on Thy tender love as Father and Savior,
Jesus, help me!
When I feel impatient, and my cross irritates me,
Jesus, help me!
When sickness and loneliness overcome me,
Jesus, help me!
Always, in weakness, falls and shortcomings of every kind,
Jesus, help me and never forsake me.

God Bless you!
Jo Anne

 

[jc-servant]

I used to be very involved in my church, especially the youth group. But then the youth leader fell in love with me (he was almost 20 years older and I was just a teen) He behaved in a very unsuitable manner, I told the priest, the priest didn’t believe me, the youth leader started to spread nasty rumours about me in order to lessen my credability (that I ran around with lots of boys etc) and voila…I felt like an outcast, bullied and unwelcome. He did this to several other girls as well. I am one of the few who still goes to church…but I just go to mass and leave as soon as the blessing has been made. I don’t want to get involved. I don’t want to talk to people. I go there for God and I keep as far away from everyone else as possible.

I don’t know if there are any all women groups at your parish, but maybe you would feel comfortable spending time with all ladies?

I went through a spiritual renewal program called Christ Renews His Parish (CRHP) which had women from 18 to retired grandmas who went through a retreat and then 6 months of weekly formation meetings together. We then gave the retreat to the next “team” of ladies. We were able to share ourselves in a way that most of us had never done in our entire lives, even with family. We were able to share the burden of past hurts which made the burden lighter for each of us as individuals. We are still very close even though our initial retreat was a couple of years ago. We support each other through births/deaths/injuries even now. These women are my sisters through Christ and I feel like I’m not on the journey alone anymore.

I will pray that you can find something appropriate that will provide you with support, safety and spiritual nurturing within the church! Please don’t ever let one individual or even a group of them steal your faith and your church from you! Jesus wants to see you each week at His Father’s house even if no one else is welcoming. He is there waiting to love you unconditionally!

 

[jc-servant]

I’m currently in the choir and on the carnival planning committee. I will likely be an RCIA sponsor again in August. I used to be in our fine arts organization and I served during communion. I also spent some time working with our Lifeteen ministry. I’m in a monthly Bible study with by CRHP team.

I was a committed weekly adorer for our PEA before my mother was diagnosed with cancer, but I felt it was better to become a sub until I could be certain that I would not be running out of town unexpectedly on weekends.

Sometimes I feel like “work” gets in the way of my volunteering at church! Maybe I’ll hit the lottery and get to spend all of my time as a volunteer at church.

 

[fellowChristian]

I have been a substitute/teacher of Religious Education Classes from kinder-6th grade for the last two years. And I am a member of the Pope John Paul II Society of Evengelist and I supply pots of soup for Soup Night during Lent.

pjpiisoe.org/index.htm

 

[pippin]

I’m a lector and EMHC. I also serve on the Parish Council.

 

[Epsilon_Omega]

That’s true, the most important thing is not to be liked but to follow God. But I must confess that I do envy you who “fit in”. I know that because of my background I will never fit in anywhere.

That isn’t true at all. Believe me. I bet if any of us teens had to go through that, we would totally feel the same way. But you stuck with the church. You will fit in somewhere. The reason you feel you don’t fit in, is because the people you were with don’t fit in with you. You will find a place. I guarantee it. I’ll be praying

 

[THutch04]

After being Catholic for a year I STILL don’t have a parish, but at school I’m pretty involved. I’m a cantor and a lector and I also assist with RCIA as well as participate in various other campus ministry organizations.