Best City to Raise Catholic Family

[anp1215]

Now, that is a Blessing!

Do you know of any good neighborhoods in Lincoln?

Thank you!

PAX

Unfortunately no, your best bet is to probably speak to someone who’s actually lived there.

No problem.

 

[Cat]

In the spirit of friendly competition, I see your bid and I raise it. (I don’t play poker, so I don’t really know if I phrased that correctly or not. ) And, I’m not really competitive at all, but this seems like fun.

St. Louis, Missouri

stlrcga.org/x348.xml

There are ~210 Catholic Churches in the greater St. Louis area. Throw a rock and you’ll not only hit a Catholic Church, but also a Catholic school

archstl.org/parishes

Add to that affordable housing (median home price in the greater St. Louis area is $149,900)

deptofnumbers.com/asking-prices/missouri/st-louis/

From the Art Museum, Natural History Museum, Science Center, Metrolink system, world class Zoo (free admission, parking in the lot costs, though street parking is free), St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Missouri Botanical Garden, Parks, Theaters, Various Cultural Neighborhoods, St. Louis has a lot to offer.

stlouisattractions.com/

Greater St. Louis is a major center for health sciences and services. The health care and social assistance industry in the Greater St. Louis employed over 175,000 people in private industry in 2010. There are 53 hospitals in the St. Louis metro area, some ranked among the best hospitals nation wide.

stlrcga.org/x438.xml

health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/area/saint-louis-mo

Home to the World Series 2011 Champion St. Louis Cardinals, the St. Louis Blues, and the St. Louis Rams, three major sports franchises, St. Louis is a world class sports city. There is always something going on in St. Louis.

stlrcga.org/x346.xml

St. Louis is also home to Synergy, the fastest up-and-coming synchronized skating team in Missouri, including the reigning National Bronze Intermediate team, the 7th-ranking National Novice team, the 1st Place Recreational Juvenile team, and the reigning Midwest Sectional Champion Preliminary Synchronized Skating Team, and the Bronze Beginner team and Bronze IJS training team. Here’s a link to the wonderful Preliminary program, and remember, most of these girls are 9 years old or younger: youtube.com/watch?v=gY5uEvjZuHM

 

[Megan7]

Unfortunately no, your best bet is to probably speak to someone who’s actually lived there.

No problem.

Thanks!

 

[joedaddy27]

Wichita, KS.

I know… most people hear Kansas and think, what?? But the diocese is very strong, it still has a Midwestern sense of family values generally. And the biggest bonus for us when we move again is that the Catholic schools are free to anyone who is a practicing member of a parish. Including high school.

The priests are awesome and have one of the highest ordination rates (percentage wise based on population) in the country.

Wichita itself is a mid-size city of about 500K. Not huge but big enough to do everything you’d want (IMO). The cost of living is low and as about anywhere buying a house right now will get you a deal.

I almost asked why you didn’t stay, but your handle answers that!

Catholicism is indeed alive and well in Wichita:
kansas.com/2012/05/07/2326687/catholics-mormons-see-most-growth.html

Fair warning though: summers are hot; winters are cold and sometimes snowy. That said, autumn is outstanding and spring isn’t bad. And after 40+ years around here, I have yet to see a tornado.

 

[Mineral_Blue]

A close friend of mine, her husband, & their 7 children moved to Wake Forest, NC. They have a wonderful parish, true to Catholic teaching, offering many benefits to Catholics of all ages. The area (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill) has much to offer: great schools, homeschoolers, great universities, entertainment, you name it.

And it is not freezing cold! Beautiful, picturesque.

 

[BeckyVirginia]

My family has lived in the Sacramento area for the past 5 years, and it is a pretty good diocese. Some of the highlights: parish school run by the Dominican Sisters, Mary Mother of the Eucharist; an FSSP parish; very strong Catholic homeschooling communities; Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Atrium for kids 3-12 years old.

Some other advantages of this area are: beautiful weather most of the year (though it’s a little damp and cool in the winter, and very hot in the summer); the fact Sacramento is a city but not a metropolis – we live in a suburb and it’s very friendly and has a small-town feel; proximity to the Bay Area in one direction and Lake Tahoe in the other direction.

Best wishes with your moving discernment process!

 

[HouseArrest]

If you are considering homeschooling, you should look up the homeschooling laws in the state you plan to move to.

Some states require more documentation than others. Some states allow students to take classes at the public school and participate in school sports. Still others are on the brink of outlawing homeschooling.

A good site to get started with is www.hslda.org. It should help you understand the climate in each state.

 

[ManOnFire]

In your search, I suggest that you should specify between secular-indulgent catholicism vs secular-minimalist catholicism. I love where I live. We have many like-minded families who value the fun, beauty, and innocence, the way it was meant to be.

 

[JimG]

Wichita, KS.

I know… most people hear Kansas and think, what?? But the diocese is very strong, it still has a Midwestern sense of family values generally. And the biggest bonus for us when we move again is that the Catholic schools are free to anyone who is a practicing member of a parish. Including high school.

The priests are awesome and have one of the highest ordination rates (percentage wise based on population) in the country.

Wichita itself is a mid-size city of about 500K. Not huge but big enough to do everything you’d want (IMO). The cost of living is low and as about anywhere buying a house right now will get you a deal.

I would narrow it down even further. The best place to raise a Catholic family is Colwich, Kansas, just west of Wichita. In the metro area of course, there are plenty of hospitals and healthcare facilities, and if you live in Colwich, you’ll be 10 minutes from the airport. Nearby Newman University has one of the best Catholic liberal arts programs I’ve seen anywhere. Catholic education, both at the elementary and high school level, is without peer.

 

[geerz007]

Grand Rapids, MI, or anywhere in West Michigan. Cost of living saves the day!
But in all honesty, what makes a place a great Catholic community is YOUR faithful presence there. Bloom where God plants you, and don’t be a wimp and move south just because sometimes you’re cold! lol

 

[MrsDDD]

St. Louis is a wonderfully Catholic city.

I would argue that St. Louis isn’t such a great Catholic city- especially for traditional Catholics. There are a lot of very liberal religious communities and Churches. Many Catholics think that female Priests are a good thing and there are plenty of rogue Catholic parishes. There are 10 parishes within 10 minutes of us and there is only one that we will go to. To get to a decent church we have to travel 40 minutes, I would NEVER tell anyone that St. Louis is a great Catholic city.

 

[Megan7]

In your search, I suggest that you should specify between secular-indulgent catholicism vs secular-minimalist catholicism. I love where I live. We have many like-minded families who value the fun, beauty, and innocence, the way it was meant to be.

I like your post!

Could you please specify on the board or via private message,
where that would be?

I like what you said, about innocence, the way it was meant to be

Thanks!

God Bless,

PAX

 

[Megan7]

If you are considering homeschooling, you should look up the homeschooling laws in the state you plan to move to.

Some states require more documentation than others. Some states allow students to take classes at the public school and participate in school sports. Still others are on the brink of outlawing homeschooling.

A good site to get started with is www.hslda.org. It should help you understand the climate in each state.

Good post!

Which states are on the brink of outlawing homeschooling?

Can you please elaborate, thanks!

I have a relative with 10 children, she homeschools, and she said something that even when you look at different states with the same regs. its still different
or something to that effect…
Like for example, Connecticut & Texas are supposed to be “no documents required states” but Texas is easier…

Thanks,

PAX

 

[SwizzleStick]

I would argue that St. Louis isn’t such a great Catholic city- especially for traditional Catholics. There are a lot of very liberal religious communities and Churches. Many Catholics think that female Priests are a good thing and there are plenty of rogue Catholic parishes. There are 10 parishes within 10 minutes of us and there is only one that we will go to. To get to a decent church we have to travel 40 minutes, I would NEVER tell anyone that St. Louis is a great Catholic city.

Unfortunately, you are correct that dissident parishes and CINOs do exist in St. Louis. There was the fiasco with an old polish church. That situation has gone on for many years. There is ongoing scandal at another dissident church that supports women priests and homosexual lifestyles. We also had the situation with the hospital and the singer. And, we also had the basketball coach who publicly supported abortion and embryonic stem cell research. The local paper is liberal (of course) and articles are frequently written in such a way as to paint the Church as a villian, or at the very least as unattractively as possible. I could go on, I’m sure.

Your experience is very different from mine. I grew up in a very solidly conservative Catholic parish. I married into another very solidly conservative Catholic parish and there is where I am today. It is about 5 minutes away. So, I stand by my opinion that St. Louis is a great place to raise a Catholic family. We, like every other Catholic community in today’s world, do have problems. But, we also have a huge Catholic population and identity and many thriving and vibrant Catholic schools, parishes and communities here that are loyal to the authentic teachings of Holy Mother Church.

 

[SwizzleStick]

Edited post. I was editing and ran out of time. That happens to me a lot.

Unfortunately, you are correct that dissident parishes and CINOs do exist in St. Louis. There was the fiasco with an old Polish church. That situation has gone on for many years. There is ongoing scandal at another dissident church that supports women priests and homosexual lifestyles. We also had the situation with the hospital and the singer. And, we also had the basketball coach who publicly supported abortion and embryonic stem cell research. The local paper is liberal (of course) and articles are frequently written in such a way as to paint the Church as a villian, or at the very least as unattractively as possible. I could go on, I’m sure.

Your experience is very different from mine. I grew up in a very solidly conservative Catholic parish. I married into another very solidly conservative Catholic parish and there is where I am today. My parish and home school is about 5 minutes away from my home. Many other solidly Catholic churches are 15-20 minutes away. So, I stand by my opinion that St. Louis is a great place to raise a Catholic family. We, like every other Catholic community in today’s world, do have problems. But, we also have a huge Catholic population and identity and many thriving and vibrant Catholic schools, parishes and communities here that are loyal to the authentic teachings of Holy Mother Church.

 

[catholicmommy99]

We lived in Sugar Land TX for 6 glorious years!!! LOVED our parish, St. Laurence, and our lives revolved around the church there. So many prayer groups to join, activities to be involved in, Catholic preschool/school, etc.

I also knew of many homeschoolers there as well. Big homeschooling community!

Public schools in Fort Bend county are very good too!!!

Our friends were all from the church and we still stay in touch. I’d move back in a heartbeat if we could. Unfortunately we were transferred to MI (ugh!) and are trying to bloom where we have been “transplanted”.

Good luck!!

 

[SwizzleStick]

AnneMarie514, I found a few other threads on the best place to raise a Catholic family. Some are older (one is from almost 7 years ago), but you may still find useful information in them to help you make your decision. More (name removed by moderator)ut can’t hurt, might help.

Where is there a good Catholic Community to raise a family in?
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=11157

NOminate your town: Great Places to live and raise a Catholic family
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=6820

Places to live and raise a Catholic family
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=87773

If you could raise your kids anywhere?
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=245108

Best place to raise a Catholic family?
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=71397

AnneMarie514, I found a couple more threads to add to the reading list, if interested.

Chicago vs St. Louis. Which city is more Catholic?
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=178812

Good cities/towns to live in?
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=399322

 

[NewCat2000]

Indianapolis is a fantastic city to raise a Catholic family. The Indianapolis Public Schools are really not good, so many of the families send their children to private school - mostly Catholic. Those schools re renowned for their excellent programs from K-12. My wife went through this system and her education was WAY better than my public education. It was one of the factors that led to my conversion to Catholicism. It’s also a “cheap” city to live in as to cost of living. Consider!

 

[Kenny_Kamel]

I gotta give a shoutout for my current city of Springfield, Illinois. It may not be the most exciting destination but there is a good Catholic community in the area with 9 parishes and a good Catholic high school. This is in a midwestern city of 100,000 people with all the big city amenities. The only thing we’re lacking is a true Catholic university, we have Benedictine University-Springfield which is a satellite campus of Benedictine-Lisle but even the Catholics who attend and work there tell me its far from being a traditional school like Franciscan-Steubenville or Ave Maria.

Diocese of Springfield in Illinois: www.dio.org

Saint Louis, Missouri is a fine Catholic city as well and I’d highly recommend it as well.

 

[marty5150]

Having lived in most parts of the country i would tend to agree with Houston area. It is more of a melting pot but you will find a parish that you like almost anywhere you go. While the weather can be muggy and hot almost anywhere you go will be air conditioned. The University of Texas hospital is top notch and nationally ranked in several specialties. Most of the suburbs are good especially when you get a little distance outside of the city. An hour drive from the Gulf and several different attractions within a 4-5 hour drive (6 flags in Dallas, River walk in San Antonio). I spend my weekends in Houston and work in New Orleans.