Building Christian Community: Any Ideas?

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donanobis said:
What is your definition of outreach? Did you help out?
dona
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Outreach is the social service ministry: food, clothing, housing assistance, etc.

I didn’t help out because no one ever called me back! Even after I went to the volunteer fair and told one of the workers that no one called me back and she was dismayed. Still no call. Then, before Thanksgiving, there was another announcement in the bulletin. I called again. No call back.
 
donanobis said:
purplesunshine
You are fed up and Kage_ar made a suggestion. How would you answer the response from kage_ar? Have you ever approached your parish council or a parish council, if you don’t have a resident parish, and what were the results? I said I thought it a wasted effort in most cases. What would your response be?
dona
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This new parish does have a parish council, but as I mentioned, it meets once a year and no one seems to know when. I think they reason they meet publicly is for the sole purpose of discussing finances. I think it would be a waste of time and I would feel very uncomfortable being a cranky whiner.

Better to go look around for a new parish, I think.
 
donanobis said:
purplesunshine
You are fed up and Kage_ar made a suggestion. How would you answer the response from kage_ar? Have you ever approached your parish council or a parish council, if you don’t have a resident parish, and what were the results? I said I thought it a wasted effort in most cases. What would your response be?

dona
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I have gone to priests, and to councils…even to the bishop. The bishop who runs my dio is not on track. One can hardly expect churches to follow suit. IMO letters to Rome do little and when I write them i feel like a tattle tale, especally when i have NO ONE backing me up. Sometimes the parishioners ARE out of the priests control (rudeness, etc) and isn’t really the church’s fault, though its a church problem that needs addressing.

Church councils are often a complete joke. They are typically run by people who are either over extended or in it for some kind of popularity contest or political benefit.

I was actually told by a bishop that no allowances could be made for my allergy even ONCE A YEAR so I could participate because it would “send the wrong message to all those who oppose him” and when I asked him what I should do to keep my faith, he said to pray that God forgives whatever sin is causing my allergy. 🤷 Yep, the bishop.

I have now (after nearly a 2 year search) found a parish with a great and understanding priest who balances tradition and people’s needs and brings the most popular forms of Catholic worship today together while standing firm on the truth of the Church. As a whole, the parish embraces this. The people are wonderful.
 
Prison Ministry is another outreach program. It’s all about the inmates and sharing your faith with them and helping folks that are at probably the lowest point in their lives.

Start a scripture study.

Perhaps you can find yourself useful in the choir in another capacity besides directing. or with the skill of a director you might start a Gregorian Schola.

Everytime I joined any ministry I didn’t call. I went to the meetings.
 
ElizabethPH said:
Prison Ministry is another outreach program. It’s all about the inmates and sharing your faith with them and helping folks that are at probably the lowest point in their lives.

Start a scripture study.

Perhaps you can find yourself useful in the choir in another capacity besides directing. or with the skill of a director you might start a Gregorian Schola.

Everytime I joined any ministry I didn’t call. I went to the meetings.
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And don’t forget join 40 Days For Life!! Check out their website.
 
Reading all these posts I think I have allowed myself to get off track from my original intention. It really doesn’t matter which parish I attend. What I am looking for are ideas on how to build community. :grouphug:

I’m not necessarily looking for ministry.

There’s a difference.

In a secular sense, I would be asking, how do I go out and find a new group of friends.

BUT I’m asking in the Catholic sense.

People to pray together, to share Sunday dinner together, maybe to go on Catholic outings together, to basically be a small support group for one another in a society that is getting increasingly scary and … well, not supportive of Catholic values. We had that with some of our PFI friends, but life intrudes. Several have become gravely ill, others are juggling work, a masters in theology and family. Life goes on.

I guess I’m hoping to create something local.

Do I put an ad in the bulletin or local diocesan newspaper saying “Want to Be Friends”? I don’t think so. That’s just creepy.

So, tossing the ball back your way.(No good smiley for that. Foo!)
 
Catholic_Home said:
Reading all these posts I think I have allowed myself to get off track from my original intention. It really doesn’t matter which parish I attend. What I am looking for are ideas on how to build community. :grouphug:

I’m not necessarily looking for ministry.

There’s a difference.

In a secular sense, I would be asking, how do I go out and find a new group of friends.

BUT I’m asking in the Catholic sense.

People to pray together, to share Sunday dinner together, maybe to go on Catholic outings together, to basically be a small support group for one another in a society that is getting increasingly scary and … well, not supportive of Catholic values. We had that with some of our PFI friends, but life intrudes. Several have become gravely ill, others are juggling work, a masters in theology and family. Life goes on.

I guess I’m hoping to create something local.

Do I put an ad in the bulletin or local diocesan newspaper saying “Want to Be Friends”? I don’t think so. That’s just creepy.

So, tossing the ball back your way.(No good smiley for that. Foo!)
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Ministries are a good way to form that community relationship. Aside from starting your own social club and that’s not creepy at all. Correct me if I’m wrong…you said you are older? Get a senior group going. And getting a scripture study started is a great way to come together as a group to share your faith and to make friends. I find all of this in my parish.
 
Start Lenten FISH suppers (Fellowship In Someone’s Home). Put up fliers, pick a topic and have the first week at your house. See where it goes from there!

Community grows out of shared interest, ministry or volunteering leads to community.
 
Catholic_Home said:
Outreach is the social service ministry: food, clothing, housing assistance, etc.

I didn’t help out because no one ever called me back! Even after I went to the volunteer fair and told one of the workers that no one called me back and she was dismayed. Still no call. Then, before Thanksgiving, there was another announcement in the bulletin. I called again. No call back.
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WHAT in the world is going on here!! I am sure we don’t even live in the same state. I volunteered for our St.Vincent DePaul a year ago. I went to a couple of meetings. Appeared very interested. They said they would call me to make visits. They never did. I was really angry about this non followup on their part. And the exact same thing happened to me as happened to you. Last month THEY PUT AN ANNOUNCEMENT IN THE BULLETIN SAYING THEY *DESPERATELY *NEEDED HELP. Indeed they do.

This makes NO sense!!! My BP is going up,up,up…
 
ElizabethPH said:
Ministries are a good way to form that community relationship. Aside from starting your own social club and that’s not creepy at all. Correct me if I’m wrong…you said you are older? Get a senior group going. And getting a scripture study started is a great way to come together as a group to share your faith and to make friends. I find all of this in my parish.
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Elizabeth, is it ok to just start a ministry or social club on your own without the endorsement of the pastor? Especially if you put your notice in the church paper? I think this might get a little tricky.

I have had bad experiences with church sponsored scripture studies. The last one I went to was run by a nun who said “does it really matter if Mary was a virgin or not?” But I guess if these sort of things don’t bother you then it is ok as a substitute social club. I think the same criteria would apply though if you wanted it in your home and wanted to advertise in the church paper. Who would oversee the group to make sure you are staying on track? at least that is what they might say regardless of what they may otherwise teach themselves (probably only a few make out of line comments like about Mary’s virginity?)
 
donanobis said:
Elizabeth, is it ok to just start a ministry or social club on your own without the endorsement of the pastor? Especially if you put your notice in the church paper? I think this might get a little tricky.

I have had bad experiences with church sponsored scripture studies. The last one I went to was run by a nun who said “does it really matter if Mary was a virgin or not?” But I guess if these sort of things don’t bother you then it is ok as a substitute social club. I think the same criteria would apply though if you wanted it in your home and wanted to advertise in the church paper. Who would oversee the group to make sure you are staying on track? at least that is what they might say regardless of what they may otherwise teach themselves (probably only a few make out of line comments like about Mary’s virginity?)
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So if that’s what you have to do; do it. It doesn’t have to be so tricky.

As far as a scripture study that also should not be such a struggle as you think. I have started one and I facilitate. How do you think these ministries get started. A lot of times it starts with one person and one idea. You have to start somewhere. If you are against such things fine. But I take offense that you would presume I would be like the nun who dismisses Mary’s perpetual virginity or the other nun the op said her husband said, said that there will eventually be women priests and deacons; both scandalous! As far as your negative and the OP’s negative points of view I cannot help that. But only suggest the simple ideas that I already have. You can put up blocks and obstacles till your blue in the face and you will end up no where.

Elizabeth
 
ElizabethPH said:
So if that’s what you have to do; do it. It doesn’t have to be so tricky.

As far as a scripture study that also should not be such a struggle as you think. I have started one and I facilitate. How do you think these ministries get started. A lot of times it starts with one person and one idea. You have to start somewhere. If you are against such things fine. But I take offense that you would presume I would be like the nun who dismisses Mary’s perpetual virginity or the other nun the op said her husband said, said that there will eventually be women priests and deacons; both scandalous! As far as your negative and the OP’s negative points of view I cannot help that. But only suggest the simple ideas that I already have. You can put up blocks and obstacles till your blue in the face and you will end up no where.Elizabeth
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Whew! you are defensive! How you took my statements as a personal affront are a testimony to your personality. I did not direct any of my statements at you. Your group members must be terrified to say anything for fear of offending you. Chill out!

My statement had to do with the pastor as an overseer of his parish.

dona
 
donanobis said:
Whew! you are defensive! How you took my statements as a personal affront are a testimony to your personality. I did not direct any of my statements at you. Your group members must be terrified to say anything for fear of offending you. Chill out!

My statement had to do with the pastor as an overseer of his parish.

dona
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Really I am not all that terrifying. 🙂 So I apologize for having scared you. :eek: I will agree that if you don’t have a supportive priest/parish what can one do? But giving up just isn’t in my nature I suppose.

Elizabeth is chilling out 😉
 
kage_ar said:
Start Lenten FISH suppers (Fellowship In Someone’s Home). Put up fliers, pick a topic and have the first week at your house. See where it goes from there!

Community grows out of shared interest, ministry or volunteering leads to community.
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I love that idea. I guess I’ll have to clean my house!

We live in a beach community with a long boardwalk and I’ve often thought it would be nice to have a group to walk together and pray the rosary together in the morning or evening. That is something that could include both men and women.

I had thought about a sewing ministry - making prayer quilts or something like that - but it is so limiting. I’d like to find a way that will bring diversity in age and gender together.

Maybe the best idea is to start a Sunday dinner club using some of Father Leo’s ideas? In case you’re not familiar with him, here’s his Grace Before Meals site
gracebeforemeals.com/
 
ElizabethPH said:
Correct me if I’m wrong…you said you are older? Get a senior group going. And getting a scripture study started is a great way to come together as a group to share your faith and to make friends. I find all of this in my parish.
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Again - Not a senior!!! (Yet)
 
kage_ar said:
He is doing the Lenten Mission at my parish 😃
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Lucky you! Would you feel comfortable approaching him to ask about using the Sunday dinner as a tool to build Christian communities? I’ll bet he has some great ideas.
 
Catholic_Home said:
Lucky you! Would you feel comfortable approaching him to ask about using the Sunday dinner as a tool to build Christian communities? I’ll bet he has some great ideas.
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Will do. He will be here the first week of March. I’ll pm you.
 
donanobis said:
I have had bad experiences with church sponsored scripture studies. The last one I went to was run by a nun who said “does it really matter if Mary was a virgin or not?”
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We had major problems with Scripture study (and other things, too) when we were in PFI. Some of the notions put forth were just frightening. Interestingly, as the years went on, the more orthodox sat on one side of the room and the liberals went to the other side. Sad, but true.
 
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