Attending church with Protestant family

[jtavington]

Long story short: I converted about twelve years ago from Southern Baptist to Catholicism. My parents who I live with for health reasons initially did not take it very well at all, but my mother especially has changed dramatically in the last two years. She took me to Holy Thursday and daily Mass even after I made clear that these were not obligations for me. I’d like to attend Sunday morning services with her this week as a thank you. (I attend the vigil Mass, so I’ll still be fulfilling my obligation).

But I have some anxiety about how to gracefully handle the actual attendance itself. I was somewhat well-known at that church because my disability is rather conspicuous. What’s the best way to deal with the inevitable “we miss you and hope you come back?” and participating in Sunday school classes small enough where silence isn’t really an obligation?

 

[Horton]

That would be a nice thing to do with your mother. As far as the expressions of missing you and wanting you to come back, just be gracious. I would just say thank you and wish them well. With sunday school I would just deflect any attempt to challenge your beliefs.

 

[DarkLight]

Deflection and a bit of humor. For people who just say that they miss you, a gentle “yes, it is nice to see everyone again” or something will work well. As a guest, it’s probably best to pretend you didn’t hear any challenges to Catholicism. Pretending you heard something else that’s similar but not an attack is a valid tactic.