Do you have a community?

[spunjalebi]

Spunjalebi,

We singles have got nothing to “offer” couples, especially to those with children of their own.

It can be equally said the childless have nothing to offer to those with children. Or the coupled have nothing to offer to singles.

Especially if we have got “different” body language, appear a little unsuccessful in life, have got spots or smudges.

Who doesn’t have spots or smudges? Being married doesn’t make you perfect.

 

[spunjalebi]

I will say that there was a time when no one had this idea that anybody was going anywhere. Your parish was your parish, and you were stuck with everyone who lived there. No one was going to go off and join the parish that was more their political cup of tea. Your geographical parish was IT for you!
.

I had to take some time to reflect on this.

I am of the opinion that it’s not necessarily bad we are in a more mobile society; the downside to it is people have taken mobility within the community and family context, thereby making it harder to achieve relationships. It’s one thing if people want to travel to experience something different. In fact, “back in the day” it was considered a traditional part of a young man or woman’s education into adulthood.

Why is it bad to join a parish that’s more of your political cup of tea? Do you know what it’s like to not find a parish where the priests don’t mince words, are not afraid to hold steadfast to Catholic teaching, and provide encouragement for people to truly live a Christian life? As a convert, it is downright frustrating to not find a community which offers this mold. If it means it’s a “political cup of tea,” well maybe I like my tea hot.

When people were stuck with their parishes and never left, they didn’t have to worry about worldly ways infiltrating their churches. They knew while their neighbors might have been annoying (or they just didn’t like each other), at some level they knew when it came to it they needed to provide assistance lovingly and with charity. This is something I have yet to see many Catholic parishes/communities do.

 

[AClaire11]

I’ve never attended a parish where people even said hello to me once. The only priests that have bothered to get to know me on any level are the ones that I received sacraments from. When I try to attend events (if they’re even held), no one talks to me there, either. It’s extremely frustrating and discouraging, especially when I’ve been in this city for 2 years and not once has someone at our parish started a conversation with me. I feel completely isolated and alone in this Church, aside from those with whom I talk online, and that’s just not the same.

 

[Trident_H]

I’ve never attended a parish where people even said hello to me once. The only priests that have bothered to get to know me on any level are the ones that I received sacraments from. When I try to attend events (if they’re even held), no one talks to me there, either. It’s extremely frustrating and discouraging, especially when I’ve been in this city for 2 years and not once has someone at our parish started a conversation with me. I feel completely isolated and alone in this Church, aside from those with whom I talk online, and that’s just not the same.

Well. I know what you mean. So I guess this is me saying hello.

 

[Sarcelle]

It can be equally said the childless have nothing to offer to those with children. Or the coupled have nothing to offer to singles.

Who doesn’t have spots or smudges? Being married doesn’t make you perfect.

Well you know the old saw, if you are not married by a certain age there must be something wrong with you. It is a stigma especially if you go to an Evangelical church where everyone must get married. For Catholics it is much less of a stigma. However older Catholics may get confused if a single is not part of a religious community such as a monk or a nun.

 

[spunjalebi]

Well you know the old saw, if you are not married by a certain age there must be something wrong with you. It is a stigma especially if you go to an Evangelical church where everyone must get married. For Catholics it is much less of a stigma. However older Catholics may get confused if a single is not part of a religious community such as a monk or a nun.

That is a blessing with Catholicism to be called to becoming a priest, monk, or nun. Or, some people are called to living a holy single life.

What I am more interested in is meeting those who pursue holiness. I don’t care about their marital or parenting status. People who have something wrong with them actually have something wrong with them. IMO, people who aren’t married at age 30 (and want to be), or are childless, etc. aren’t defective. I don’t like to decide if they have or haven’t tried hard enough to change their situation. I know enough judgment’s come across me, and I don’t care to do the same to others.

 

[PPeterson]

Embrace your alienation from the joiners. liberal and traditional churches alike need a few wierdos( hello); scifi/fantasy or otherwise, to help dial down the in-group foibles of the crowd they attract.

 

[Trident_H]

Embrace your alienation from the joiners. liberal and traditional churches alike need a few wierdos( hello); scifi/fantasy or otherwise, to help dial down the in-group foibles of the crowd they attract.

This is where I sneak up behind you and embrace you. Because I mixed up the part about being weird with the part about wanting to be an alien. Then I sort of just closed my eyes and went for it! Sorry.

 

[PPeterson]

This is where I sneak up behind you and embrace you. Because I mixed up the part about being weird with the part about wanting to be an alien. Then I sort of just closed my eyes and went for it! Sorry.

Ha! Nice