Cannot go to Mass

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velvetsky

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Hi,
In the last four weeks I’ve only been once, maybe twice. RCIA starts back up soon and I’m not sure I can face that either.
I am really worried I won’t return at all. I want to be in the presence of Christ in the Church but I can’t get past the feelings of hurt at the sheer coldness and lack of love in the Church I’ve attended for over a year and a bit.

It’s not as though I can get to another Catholic church, this is the main one in my area.
Please can I ask for some prayers.Thankyou x
 
Dear velvetsky,

Cradle Catholic here who can totally relate. Stay close to JESUS, He loves you! ❤️ If you and I lived nearby, you’d surely be welcomed by me … it seems so many of us like minds and kindred spirits live so far apart, yet CAF can bring us together.

Praying for you from today’s Liturgy of the Hours:

Prayers and Intercessions
Christ has taken pity on his hungry people and has worked wonders of love for them. In gratitude and devotion we pray to him:
– Lord, show us your love.

Lord, we acknowledge that all the good things that came to us today came to us from your kindness.
May that kindness not be wasted on us: may it bear fruit in our hearts.
– Lord, show us your love.

Light and salvation of all peoples, watch over those whom you have sent all over the world to bear witness to you:
kindle the fire of your Spirit within them.
– Lord, show us your love.

Make everyone work together to make the world a more perfect place:
guide them to respond to the most urgent needs of our time.
– Lord, show us your love.

Doctor and healer of both body and soul, soothe the sick and be close to the dying:
in your compassion come to us also, and restore our strength.
– Lord, show us your love.
 
velvetsky said:
Hi,
In the last four weeks I’ve only been once, maybe twice. RCIA starts back up soon and I’m not sure I can face that either.
I am really worried I won’t return at all. I want to be in the presence of Christ in the Church but I can’t get past the feelings of hurt at the sheer coldness and lack of love in the Church I’ve attended for over a year and a bit.

It’s not as though I can get to another Catholic church, this is the main one in my area.
Please can I ask for some prayers.Thankyou x
Click to expand...
Is it possible to speak privately with your RCIA director and explain how you feel? He/She might be able to pair you with someone sympathetic who can help you.
 
Don’t know the particulars of your situation, but what is the priest like? Is there a chance you could have a sit-down with him and confide what’s going on?

Sounds like he may need to know this - if people are actually snubbing the RCIA people. Or else it’s just thoughtlessness, and maybe he can say something from the pulpit - in a “non-threatening” way, to exhort people to remember to welcome the newcomer. Because they should be, and maybe some of them aren’t meaning to be malicious, perhaps they simply need reminding? :o

Others may indeed be stuck in a rut, but try really hard not to let them have so much influence over you. :gopray: Focus on God in prayer and the Bible and let him lead you.

This could be - and I’m not minimizing in any way the hurt you must feel, trust me - God’s way of testing your faith now, and your perseverance. Many converts or people with religious vocations to the priesthood or monastery in the past had to face severe opposition from their own families. Sometimes it can be a trial by fire, but the rewards are “out of this world,” as the saying goes.

Do a cost-benefit analysis on this one, in other words. Remember too, that the people in a parish might come and go. The situation could change. And even if it doesn’t, nothing has to taint your relationship with God.

Just some thoughts. Hope they are helpful. God bless you, and I’ll pray for you.
 
Thankyou Phoenix for your kind words.

Waiting: Hi, our priest leads the RCIA and he said he will only offer spiritual support/advice, not friendly support. He didn’t use the word friendly- can’t think of the word but it was along those lines.
 
velvetsky said:
Thankyou Phoenix for your kind words.

Waiting: Hi, our priest leads the RCIA and he said he will only offer spiritual support/advice, not friendly support. He didn’t use the word friendly- can’t think of the word but it was along those lines.
Click to expand...
How many others are in your class? Are there any of them that might be “companions on the journey” so to speak?
 
velvetsky said:
Hi,
In the last four weeks I’ve only been once, maybe twice. RCIA starts back up soon and I’m not sure I can face that either.
I am really worried I won’t return at all. I want to be in the presence of Christ in the Church but I can’t get past the feelings of hurt at the sheer coldness and lack of love in the Church I’ve attended for over a year and a bit.

It’s not as though I can get to another Catholic church, this is the main one in my area.
Please can I ask for some prayers.Thankyou x
Click to expand...
My heart is filled with compassion for you, in hearing the sorrow in your post, I am a cradle catholic, and have been in the same parish for 20 years, and have felt the same thing you are feeling, though I continue to go to mass, because it is Christ in the Eucharist that I seek and to just be in his presence. I will offer my rosary and my next holy communion for you. Gods Peace be with you.:gopray2::
 
velvetsky said:
Hi,
In the last four weeks I’ve only been once, maybe twice. RCIA starts back up soon and I’m not sure I can face that either.
I am really worried I won’t return at all. I want to be in the presence of Christ in the Church but I can’t get past the feelings of hurt at the sheer coldness and lack of love in the Church I’ve attended for over a year and a bit.

It’s not as though I can get to another Catholic church, this is the main one in my area.
Please can I ask for some prayers.Thankyou x
Click to expand...
My heart is with you! I am a convert of 6 years. The church at first does seem cold. As a protestant I was used to people visiting before church, whether they be sitting already in the pew or in the back of the church. As Catholics, we are to come into the church and pray, prepare our hearts to recieve Jesus and then after mass spend some time in prayer while we still have Jesus physically within us.

I know that may seem cold, but try to get to know those in your RCIA class and have some fellowship outside of mass. Also try to get involved with other church activities where you may make friends.

I will be praying for you!
 
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
 
Hail Mary, full of grace.
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb,
Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.

Sometimes you need to “shop around” for a church. Why not try a few and see what the atmosphere is like. I have a choice of three churches and have settled on one because the priests are so nice. My second choice is very old fashioned where the priests have their backs to the congregation when they say Mass and they’re not so friendly but it’s a beautiful church. The third is almost too small and I feel a bit like I’m under a microscope because everyone knows each other.

Anyway, this isn’t about me. My point is you should go where you feel most comfortable. Maybe ask God to point you in the right direction.

I hope that you find somewhere.

God bless you,
Clare
 
Petite, et dabitur vobis (“Ask and it shall be given to you”)

PATER NOSTER,
qui es in caelis,
sanctificetur nomen tuum.
Adveniat regnum tuum.
Fiat voluntas tua, sicut in caelo et in terra.
Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie,
et dimitte nobis debita nostra
sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris.
Et ne nos inducas in tentationem,
sed libera nos a malo. Amen.
 
Thankyou all for praying.

Poor Clare: Hi there, the Catholic Church I was going to was the main one in Chatham, there is another church a train/bus ride in to the next town. But the thing is it’s the lack of care that has really put me off.

I was with the Baptists for about 8 months and it was like a family in that church (Though I never found Christ there, my conversion took place in the Catholic church) but lately they have been encouraging me to come back. I know deep down that doesn’t feel right either.
 
I’d encourage you to check out the other church if it’s within reasonable distance. While one can’t pin one’s faith on the parish, since the parish is changeable, maybe you need that nurturing to help you get “over the hump.” Maybe they’d even let you finish your RCIA there if it would work better.

Prayed for you last night at Mass! 🙂
 
I used to feel that there was a certain coldness in my parish until I began more involved by joining the groups within the parish. Then I saw how much work is done in the background. Please do not give up on your parish, but pray for your members and I am praying for you …
 
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