Best Catholic Area in the US?

[alicatswimstar]

I am gonna have to put in my vote for of Wyoming. 20% of the population of Wyoming is Catholic. Granted, we have the least amount of people out of all the states in the union (even compared to Alaska) BUT it is a great little state. I just moved to Gillette WY from Redding CA, 1300 miles, and I was a scared, slightly homesick, new bride-but this parish has become a new family for me and my husband. One parish for a town of 30,000, 1700 people in the parish, 24 hr adoration M-F and then in the church on the weekends, great Youth groups, there is a budding new adult group I have joined…etc. The parish seems to be in transition-it is starting to grow its ministries. NFP is key part of the parish, but only has one teaching couple and they teach STM. Yet this ministry is starting to grow too, and and the instructor and deacon are working to change that issue (with me becoming a Creighton instructor eventually…). PLUS I was pleasantly surprised to meet more people who practice NFP in comparison to the BC culture I just left .

Theology of the Body is HUGE here, and more people are open and talking about it. There is a sense that you could practice your faith/First Amendment Rights without feeling like people are going to bash you all the time, but you will meet many people who politely disagree too.

Oh, the Catholic school is literally 25 feet from the parish and it is only K-6th, but again, there is talk of expansion in the next 2 years. What I think is cool about the parish school is that the adoration room for the parish is on the campus, and the classes take over some of the adoration time slots during the week (20-40 min at a time, depending on the age, some classes tag team it). I have gone to adoration during the day, and seen a whole class of 5th graders in adoration, praying a decade of the rosary silently as a class. They may not all be ‘into it’, BUT this kind of exposure must be good for the kids! I never had that opportunity as a kid myself.

So that’s my word explosion on this area…pros and cons for being small, but we have energy and are growing!

 

[october_baby]

What about Texas?

 

[ishnianqueen]

I have friends in the Wichita area, so if you have some family there, I think that’s probably the best bet assuming your husband could actually find decent work there.

However, you mentioned that he was in the nuclear field. In that case, let me throw in another vote for the Washington, D.C., and Northern Virginia area. I LOVE my diocese (Diocese of Arlington) and my parish in particular. It’s so good to know that you will have orthodox liturgies and teachings pretty much anywhere you go. I can’t tell you how many times I went to another diocese and left the Mass either angry or wondering if it was even valid. Bonus: the public schools are so good in Fairfax and Loudoun counties that if you can’t afford the Catholic schools (hard to believe Wichita’s schools are all free!), you can supplement faith teachings through the church and home and still know they’ll be getting top-notch schooling. However, it is a pretty pricey area. My husband and I make it work on his salary alone - he’s a teacher, so he’s not exactly making anywhere close to tons of money - and have one kid and one on the way. It’s doable, but not easy. Depending on where your husband gets a job and how much they can give him will definitely affect where you can afford to live - there’s a pretty big range in housing prices. If you want more details on specific areas, PM me.

I hear Denver is pretty awesome, too. FOCUS is headquartered there - it has to be!

 

[Megan7]

I travel extensively (domestically and internationally) and have found, believe it or not, that one of the most committed Catholic area seems to be Wichita, Kansas. Yes, there are wonderful Catholic parishes and communities across the country. But I find Catholicism to be thriving in the Wichita area and always enjoy my visits to the city. I have considered moving my family from our home area in the past. Wichita would be high on our list as a new home for many reasons. Certainly, the faith community would be a big part of that.

 

[viennetto]

It might be helpful if you let us know where you are now.

I am sure you will get many responses. But I have to be honest, your question makes me feel uncomfortable. While I understand and sympathize with all your issues, I have seen several questions similar to yours and I think you are looking for a panacea that doesn’t exist!

I grew up in a Catholic “ghetto” in the 1950s and 1960s. Everyone in my neighborhood was Catholic – and that is not hyperbole – I met my first Protestant when I was 12! But you know what? There were people who did not go to Mass, husbands and wives who cheated on each other, substance abuse, domestic abuse, unwed pregnancies, depression, etc. And let’s not forget that many of the cases of childhood abuse in the Church occurred in the 1950s and 1960s in those Catholic ghettos.

I guess I am saying that a “safe” environment won’t necessarily save you.

There are saints and sinners everywhere. Listen to where God wants YOU to be.

It seems to me that you have answered a question she didn’t ask, using a non sequitur. Your mention of the 1950s and 60s has no relevance to her question. She also did not mention physical safety or that her fellow Catholics be free from sin. She did, however, mention Perpetual Adoration, NFP, medical care that respects Catholic teaching, and a few other things that you claim to “sympathize” with. It’s funny, then, that instead of addressing those issues, you rattled off some of your own issues about which you feel bitterness from past experiences (“past” as in 60 years ago, which is probably way before the OP was even born), and conclude with an admonition to basically lower her standards and just fit in and make do. If I didn’t know any better, I would guess that you are some kind of troll. Based on your answer, my conclusion is that you are exactly the type of Catholic the OP would like to get away from, and I really can’t blame her.

 

[viennetto]

aod.org/

Archdiocese of Detroit! Personally, I wouldn’t move into the city, but a lot of the suburbs are fantastic places to live.

Catholicism is huge in this area. Most of my Catholic mom friends homeschool, but some of the best schools in the area are Catholic schools. Like others have said, tuition assistance is available and usually you get discounts if you belong to a supporting parish.

(Expensive also kind of depends on what your definition of expensive is.)

This area also takes Fat Tuesday very seriously thanks to our Polish Catholic community. (Paczki day is a huge event here!) We’ve got Catholic Universities/Hospitals/Counselors…it’s not hard to be a Catholic here.

As for job opportunities, it depends on what field you want to get into and your skill set. There might be opportunities for someone ex-military through some of the defense contractors in town.

It’s not hard to find high-paying jobs with the right skill set.

We also get all 4 seasons and Michigan is just beautiful. I’ve heard others say that Grand Rapids is also a great town to be Catholic in as well. Until I started participating here, I had never heard anyone call Grand Rapids a Catholic town because I usually associate Grand Rapids/Holland with the Dutch/Christian Reform Christians who are very insular and distrustful of outsiders. I have a Jewish friend who grew up in Grand Rapids who had a lot of problems because of his faith (in the late '80’s - early 1990’s).

I grew up in Kalamazoo (1 hour south of Grand Rapids) and West Michigan (in general) is just a lot more protestant than SE Michigan. The cultural difference is noticeable. In SE Michigan, it seems like everyone I meet is a Catholic or ex-Catholic.

Anyway, Michigan - great place to live - if you want Catholic, then you can find it here!

I would say that people who “take fat tuesday very seriously” almost by definition do not take the Catholic faith very seriously.

 

[aspirant]

I would say that people who “take fat tuesday very seriously” almost by definition do not take the Catholic faith very seriously.

 

[brian614]

I moved to the PHX area about 2 years ago and found tons of parishes that offer Perpetual Adoration. You can also always find a parish nearby that is offering confessions.

 

[Giggly_Giraffe]

Ever see how a town can get renovated & become a great new place?

If you wanted to witness the mirracle of renovation in a catholic community, I’d explore Philladelphia. Charles J. Chaput has recently taken his seat as Bishop there. He is very active in strong seminaries, perpetual adoration, and renewal of the schools. He already had cleaned house on his dioceses priests, news paper, & finances. However, it may take many more years to recover from the few bad apples who were there.

Anyways, I think Philladelphia will be like spring time for the catholic faith under this Bishops love of his sheep. With this, it may be an exciting place to be a catholic.

PS: I have already witnessed this as a returning catholic in Denver when his most excellency had already gardened us into beautiful flowers for Jesus.

 

[agapewolf]

St. Louis is the “Rome of the West”

not kidding. This is its nickname.

Lots of NFP docs, I have 3 adoration chapels within 10 minutes of my house.

 

[CatholicFireman]

In my experience, all of these are available somewhere in the Washington DC metro area (Archdiocese of Washington, Diocese of Arlington, etc.). You would also find lots of Mass and confession times available throughout the week, if you’re willing to travel around the area.

The cost of living is also crazy expensive, there’s a huge population with a lot of turnover, and it’s a very politicized climate. But there’s plenty of Catholic stuff-- in many languages, too.

I agree. I’m from Northern VA. If fact I live down the road from an area they called “Little Rome”. Very reverent parishes. Lines for confession weekly. Some masses are “standing room only”.

All Saints parish
Holy Trinity parish
Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton parish
Our Lady of Angels parish

To name a few.

 

[ishnianqueen]

All Saints parish
Holy Trinity parish
Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton parish
Our Lady of Angels parish

To name a few.

Someone’s in the Woodbridge/Manassas area. If I were going to recommend a living area, though, I would probably have to veto Woodbridge. I’ve lived there, my husband grew up there, and while the cost of living is substantially less, I would say it’s not worth it for a family with children who may have to go to public school for financial reasons. Prince William schools are good in Gainesville/Haymarket and parts of Manassas, but really hit or miss in Woodbridge and Dumfries (Woodbridge HS, Forest Park, and even Potomac now are ok, but Freedom and Gar-Field aren’t, and my husband is a Gar-Field alumnus).

However, Fairfax County has substantially better quality schools and some really great parishes. I go to St. Raymond’s and it is about as Catholic as it comes. The only thing it doesn’t have is perpetual adoration, but you can still get to adoration at least twice a week. Most of the parishes are really wonderful. I can only think of one that I would stay away from if I could help it (and that’s the one I grew up in).

Stafford County and Fredericksburg are more affordable options to the south that also have better schools and, from what I’ve heard, good parishes. Loudoun County to the west is also cheaper than Fairfax with some really great parishes and good schools.

Although, I have to say, Fairfax and Arlington win when it comes to diversity of languages. I can name a Korean and a Vietnamese parish off the top of my head and at least 5 parishes (more if I think about it) that have regular Spanish Masses.

 

[Saber_Mom]

aod.org/

Archdiocese of Detroit! Personally, I wouldn’t move into the city, but a lot of the suburbs are fantastic places to live.

Catholicism is huge in this area. Most of my Catholic mom friends homeschool, but some of the best schools in the area are Catholic schools. Like others have said, tuition assistance is available and usually you get discounts if you belong to a supporting parish.

(Expensive also kind of depends on what your definition of expensive is.)

This area also takes Fat Tuesday very seriously thanks to our Polish Catholic community. (Paczki day is a huge event here!) We’ve got Catholic Universities/Hospitals/Counselors…it’s not hard to be a Catholic here.

As for job opportunities, it depends on what field you want to get into and your skill set. There might be opportunities for someone ex-military through some of the defense contractors in town.

It’s not hard to find high-paying jobs with the right skill set.

We also get all 4 seasons and Michigan is just beautiful. I’ve heard others say that Grand Rapids is also a great town to be Catholic in as well. Until I started participating here, I had never heard anyone call Grand Rapids a Catholic town because I usually associate Grand Rapids/Holland with the Dutch/Christian Reform Christians who are very insular and distrustful of outsiders. I have a Jewish friend who grew up in Grand Rapids who had a lot of problems because of his faith (in the late '80’s - early 1990’s).

I grew up in Kalamazoo (1 hour south of Grand Rapids) and West Michigan (in general) is just a lot more protestant than SE Michigan. The cultural difference is noticeable. In SE Michigan, it seems like everyone I meet is a Catholic or ex-Catholic.

Anyway, Michigan - great place to live - if you want Catholic, then you can find it here!

Yes! I agree. The Archdiocese of Detroit is wonderful and the Catholic schools are fantastic. Plus, Ave Maria Radio is AWESOME! I have moved to northern Michigan, so I miss listening to my Ave Maria Catholic radio station. Thankfully, hubby got me a subscription to Sirius XM and I’m able to listen to EWTN and The Catholic Channel now.

I know Detroit has a bad reputation - but the suburbs are wonderful.

(And I know someone posted earlier about the comment about taking Fat Tuesday seriously as a negative thing. I’m sure Kal2012 posted that as a joke. We Polish people LOVE to make our paczkis - it’s a huge tradition to Polish Catholics for Shrove Tuesday and should not imply that Polish Catholics are less Catholic than any other Catholic out there. We take our faith seriously).

 

[CatholicFireman]

Someone’s in the Woodbridge/Manassas area. If I were going to recommend a living area, though, I would probably have to veto Woodbridge. I’ve lived there, my husband grew up there, and while the cost of living is substantially less, I would say it’s not worth it for a family with children who may have to go to public school for financial reasons. Prince William schools are good in Gainesville/Haymarket and parts of Manassas, but really hit or miss in Woodbridge and Dumfries (Woodbridge HS, Forest Park, and even Potomac now are ok, but Freedom and Gar-Field aren’t, and my husband is a Gar-Field alumnus).

However, Fairfax County has substantially better quality schools and some really great parishes. I go to St. Raymond’s and it is about as Catholic as it comes. The only thing it doesn’t have is perpetual adoration, but you can still get to adoration at least twice a week. Most of the parishes are really wonderful. I can only think of one that I would stay away from if I could help it (and that’s the one I grew up in).

Stafford County and Fredericksburg are more affordable options to the south that also have better schools and, from what I’ve heard, good parishes. Loudoun County to the west is also cheaper than Fairfax with some really great parishes and good schools.

Although, I have to say, Fairfax and Arlington win when it comes to diversity of languages. I can name a Korean and a Vietnamese parish off the top of my head and at least 5 parishes (more if I think about it) that have regular Spanish Masses.

Oh I agree about Woodbridge. Dumfries is doing a big facelift but I personally think it’s lipstick on a pig. St. Francis is a beautiful church, though. As far as Fairfax and Loudoun…whip out the wallet. Haymarket and Gainesville are OK but to afford to live around there, look to Nokesville/Bristow area. I love the area around Vint Hill Road. It’s still “the country”.

 

[PatriceA]

Yes! I agree. The Archdiocese of Detroit is wonderful and the Catholic schools are fantastic. Plus, Ave Maria Radio is AWESOME! I have moved to northern Michigan, so I miss listening to my Ave Maria Catholic radio station. Thankfully, hubby got me a subscription to Sirius XM and I’m able to listen to EWTN and The Catholic Channel now.

I know Detroit has a bad reputation - but the suburbs are wonderful.

(And I know someone posted earlier about the comment about taking Fat Tuesday seriously as a negative thing. I’m sure Kal2012 posted that as a joke. We Polish people LOVE to make our paczkis - it’s a huge tradition to Polish Catholics for Shrove Tuesday and should not imply that Polish Catholics are less Catholic than any other Catholic out there. We take our faith seriously).

Thank you! That comment was really bothering me, as a Polish Catholic that just loves Fat Tuesday and all its treats.

 

[KellyPalmer]

Thank you all for the responses! Some of these states do not tax military retirement pay which would make it easier to afford Catholic school. That is a big plus!

 

[KellyPalmer]

PatriceA:
Thank you! That comment was really bothering me, as a Polish Catholic that just loves Fat Tuesday and all its treats.

I’m embarrassed to say that I don’t even know what Fat Tuesday even means.

 

[ishnianqueen]

Oh I agree about Woodbridge. Dumfries is doing a big facelift but I personally think it’s lipstick on a pig. St. Francis is a beautiful church, though. As far as Fairfax and Loudoun…whip out the wallet. Haymarket and Gainesville are OK but to afford to live around there, look to Nokesville/Bristow area. I love the area around Vint Hill Road. It’s still “the country”.

I think when I say Dumfries, I’m thinking Montclair, and you’re thinking Triangle.

Fairfax, definitely not wallet-friendly, but Loudoun has lots of affordable areas - Lovettsville and Purcellville, for instance, are pretty affordable. The closer you get to Fairfax (and therefore DC) the pricier it gets. The OP’s husband is in a nuclear field, though, so they’d probably be ok.

Totally agree with Nokesville and Vint Hill Rd! But even that’s getting built up - we’re doooooomed!

 

[KellyPalmer]

Yes! I agree. The Archdiocese of Detroit is wonderful and the Catholic schools are fantastic. Plus, Ave Maria Radio is AWESOME! I have moved to northern Michigan, so I miss listening to my Ave Maria Catholic radio station. Thankfully, hubby got me a subscription to Sirius XM and I’m able to listen to EWTN and The Catholic Channel now.

I know Detroit has a bad reputation - but the suburbs are wonderful.

(And I know someone posted earlier about the comment about taking Fat Tuesday seriously as a negative thing. I’m sure Kal2012 posted that as a joke. We Polish people LOVE to make our paczkis - it’s a huge tradition to Polish Catholics for Shrove Tuesday and should not imply that Polish Catholics are less Catholic than any other Catholic out there. We take our faith seriously).

We have XM in the new van but I haven’t been able to find EWTN. Can you tell me what station?

 

[CatholicFireman]

I think when I say Dumfries, I’m thinking Montclair, and you’re thinking Triangle.

Fairfax, definitely not wallet-friendly, but Loudoun has lots of affordable areas - Lovettsville and Purcellville, for instance, are pretty affordable. The closer you get to Fairfax (and therefore DC) the pricier it gets. The OP’s husband is in a nuclear field, though, so they’d probably be ok.

Totally agree with Nokesville and Vint Hill Rd! But even that’s getting built up - we’re doooooomed!

Oh yeah, Montclair. Not good. Almost bought a dump of a house there once. Now as far as Nokesville and Vint Hill. You’ve heard of the “Green Crescent” (or something like that) haven’t you?

Nuclear field? Why are we even talking about affordability?