Best Catholic Place to Live

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dhalsim2

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Hi Folks,

I’m new here. I’m a 38-year-old, married father of six kids, ranging in age from two years old to 14 years old. I work as a software engineer. My wife has been a stay-at-home mom since #2 came along. Prior to that she was an elementary school teacher. We have both been CCD teachers in the past.

I feel that we have done an excellent job at catechizing our children from a young age and teaching them our values. However, we have pretty stressed out over the past year because my oldest told us that he’s lost his faith. We don’t know what went wrong and, to some extent, are embarrassed to mention it to our close Catholic friends, because we feel that it may reflect poorly on us as parents.

Our best guess is that we have allowed our family to get to assimilated into secular culture. My son watches music videos, wants to see movies that his friends are seeing, etc.

So my question to you guys is this: What is the best place in the world to raise one’s family in the Catholic culture? In addition to aspects that everyone would want (security, economic opportunity, educational opportunity, etc.), I would want a community conducive to Catholic values and lifestyle. (This is all rhetorical though. I’m not actually moving.) So what places would you consider best? Ireland? Philippines? Latin America? Africa? Utah? It’s hard to consider that outside the US could offer the comfort, security and opportunities as a place inside the US. Are there any pockets of practicing Catholic communities inside the US?
 
dhalsim2 said:
Hi Folks,

I’m new here. I’m a 38-year-old, married father of six kids, ranging in age from two years old to 14 years old. I work as a software engineer. My wife has been a stay-at-home mom since #2 came along. Prior to that she was an elementary school teacher. We have both been CCD teachers in the past.

I feel that we have done an excellent job at catechizing our children from a young age and teaching them our values. However, we have pretty stressed out over the past year because my oldest told us that he’s lost his faith. We don’t know what went wrong and, to some extent, are embarrassed to mention it to our close Catholic friends, because we feel that it may reflect poorly on us as parents.

Our best guess is that we have allowed our family to get to assimilated into secular culture. My son watches music videos, wants to see movies that his friends are seeing, etc.

So my question to you guys is this: What is the best place in the world to raise one’s family in the Catholic culture? In addition to aspects that everyone would want (security, economic opportunity, educational opportunity, etc.), I would want a community conducive to Catholic values and lifestyle. (This is all rhetorical though. I’m not actually moving.) So what places would you consider best? Ireland? Philippines? Latin America? Africa? Utah? It’s hard to consider that outside the US could offer the comfort, security and opportunities as a place inside the US. Are there any pockets of practicing Catholic communities inside the US?
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I heard Malta was close to ideal.

As for places in the US, I’ve met a lot of faithful Catholics in Pittsburgh.
 
dhalsim2 said:
Hi Folks,

I’m new here. I’m a 38-year-old, married father of six kids, ranging in age from two years old to 14 years old. I work as a software engineer. My wife has been a stay-at-home mom since #2 came along. Prior to that she was an elementary school teacher. We have both been CCD teachers in the past.

I feel that we have done an excellent job at catechizing our children from a young age and teaching them our values. However, we have pretty stressed out over the past year because my oldest told us that he’s lost his faith. We don’t know what went wrong and, to some extent, are embarrassed to mention it to our close Catholic friends, because we feel that it may reflect poorly on us as parents.

Our best guess is that we have allowed our family to get to assimilated into secular culture. My son watches music videos, wants to see movies that his friends are seeing, etc.

So my question to you guys is this: What is the best place in the world to raise one’s family in the Catholic culture? In addition to aspects that everyone would want (security, economic opportunity, educational opportunity, etc.), I would want a community conducive to Catholic values and lifestyle. (This is all rhetorical though. I’m not actually moving.) So what places would you consider best? Ireland? Philippines? Latin America? Africa? Utah? It’s hard to consider that outside the US could offer the comfort, security and opportunities as a place inside the US. Are there any pockets of practicing Catholic communities inside the US?
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sometimes it’s not what you did or didn’t do. there is no guarantee your children will follow you in the faith. or maybe he is a prodigal son variety. in this day and age, i don’t know if there is a best place to live.

i know plenty of others who like secular things and have not lost their faith. at this point, i don’t know what to tell you except to pray for his return
 
College Station, TX.

Best economic opportunity, incredible Catholic community, parents homeschool, public school Catholic parents still hold their kids to high standards, catechetical programs of parishes are top notch, Perpetual Adoration, Texas A&M University with America’s premiere Catholic campus ministry, St. Mary’s, is here for the college crowd. Southern values, Texas economic stability in a town where the fourth largest university in the USA will never go away.

I love it here and will never leave. Ask the Vatican, and they’ll tell you that Texans are the beacon of the USA.
 
The Diocese of Arlington (Virginia) is pretty good, especially in the areas close to Christendom College.
 
The best Catholic place to live is right where you are…(-* You wouldn’t fare any better in Vatican City and you can do so much by living your faith wherever you are. First of course you desire your family to be in a safe place. Ask God where he desires you to be and you’ll know - God Bless.
 
faber7 said:
The best Catholic place to live is right where you are…(-* You wouldn’t fare any better in Vatican City and you can do so much by living your faith wherever you are. First of course you desire your family to be in a safe place. Ask God where he desires you to be and you’ll know - God Bless.
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👍👍👍
 
dhalsim2 said:
…I feel that we have done an excellent job at catechizing our children from a young age and teaching them our values. However, we have pretty stressed out over the past year because my oldest told us that he’s lost his faith. We don’t know what went wrong and, to some extent, are embarrassed to mention it to our close Catholic friends, because we feel that it may reflect poorly on us as parents.
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My (younger) brother did the same; but he came back after some time. If your son is the inquisitive type, he’ll soon find that the Catholic Church has mountains of reasons to support it.

…at worst, just do what we did and shove a Green Scapular under the bed. Stressful and annoying, I know; but know that you aren’t the only ones who are dealing/have dealt with this issue before…🤷
 
johnnyc176 said:
USA Southeast…

ncregister.com/daily-news/protestant-south-becoming-a-new-catholic-stronghold/
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As someone in the Diocese of Charlotte, NC, I have to say that what I have seen happening in the last five years has been amazing. First of all, going to church in general is a big part of the culture here, but the increase in diversity has eliminated a lot of mystery and suspicion of the Catholic Church that once existed here. And I see Parrishes with large RCIA classes. I’m not saying that we are Brooklyn or St. Louis, but keep an eye on what is happening down here. I am sure that God is doing big things!
 
Mexico is largely cathollic but health care is atrocious and it’s a bit anti american and its an impoverished land.

But I know that florida has ave maria near naples florida it’s a whole catholic community with parochial schools, big expensive houses and amenities

avemaria.com/

But really I agree that wherever you are is the best place for you to follow your faith:thumbsup:
 
Ava Maria,located outside of NaplesFlorida. This community,complete with a university is exclusively Catholic,
The founder of Dominos Pizza,a devout Catholic has developed this community.oops! Just noticed this has already been suggested by another poster!
 
dhalsim2 said:
So what places would you consider best? Ireland? Philippines? Latin America? Africa? Utah?
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Utah? Is this a joke? Don’t get me wrong. I love Utah. It’s beautiful. And there are small pockets of Catholicism in Utah…at least in Salt Lake. But on the whole, Utah ain’t Catholic.
 
My wife went to Christendom in Virginia and my sister-in-law went to Ave Maria in Florida. I can see how the surrounding areas might be excellent places to live.

Utah clearly isn’t Catholic, but I didn’t mean it as a joke. When I went on vacation there, I was impressed by the family values, respect for others, sense of human dignity, etc. Even if they aren’t Catholic, the community seems to be very compatible with a Catholic lifestyle.
 
dhalsim2 said:
Hi Folks,

I’m new here. I’m a 38-year-old, married father of six kids, ranging in age from two years old to 14 years old. I work as a software engineer. My wife has been a stay-at-home mom since #2 came along. Prior to that she was an elementary school teacher. We have both been CCD teachers in the past.

I feel that we have done an excellent job at catechizing our children from a young age and teaching them our values. However, we have pretty stressed out over the past year because my oldest told us that he’s lost his faith. We don’t know what went wrong and, to some extent, are embarrassed to mention it to our close Catholic friends, because we feel that it may reflect poorly on us as parents.

Our best guess is that we have allowed our family to get to assimilated into secular culture. My son watches music videos, wants to see movies that his friends are seeing, etc.

So my question to you guys is this: What is the best place in the world to raise one’s family in the Catholic culture? In addition to aspects that everyone would want (security, economic opportunity, educational opportunity, etc.), I would want a community conducive to Catholic values and lifestyle. (This is all rhetorical though. I’m not actually moving.) So what places would you consider best? Ireland? Philippines? Latin America? Africa? Utah? It’s hard to consider that outside the US could offer the comfort, security and opportunities as a place inside the US. Are there any pockets of practicing Catholic communities inside the US?
Click to expand...
Maybe Ave Maria, Florida (near Ave Maria University)? I have heard that it has many large Catholic families.
 
Buffalo, NY and the surrounding region is very Catholic. Economic opportunity is sorta 🤷, but the area is family friendly. I wasn’t Catholic when I was growing up there, but it was a great place to grow up for anyone.
 
phil19034 said:
The Diocese of Arlington (Virginia) is pretty good, especially in the areas close to Christendom College.
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The Diocese of Arlington is amazing, but beware of the DC metro area. It probably wouldn’t be an issue out near Christendom, but the places around DC, where most of the jobs are, are full of crazy traffic and urban sprawl, and the housing prices are extremely prohibitive. You could rent a townhouse almost anywhere else with what we have to pay for a studio apartment. I adore our parish and our pastor, but wish we could transplant them (and our jobs) somewhere else!
 
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