Do you let on that you're Catholic at work?

[mommyof4]

I make no secret of the fact that I’m Catholic, but I don’t go around waving my rosary beads in people’s faces, nor do I sprinkle them with Holy Water when they walk in the room. We’re all different religions, and we don’t talk about it a lot, but it’s not like its a “taboo” subject, either.

 

[Just_wondering]

I’m a teacher in a private (non-religious) academy and I mention being Catholic when it comes up. Actually, being Catholic is something I’m more comfortable sharing with my coworkers than I am with my friends, since I’m still in the process of converting. My coworkers didn’t know me before the beginning of my conversion, so they don’t have preconceptions about me.

I’ve had students ask me my religion, and I tell them. Also, this Friday I discussed the concepts of fasting and abstinence with my students, since I (surreptitiously) gave them the meat dumplings the boss had bought me for lunch. It turns out one of the girls in the class was Catholic, and had never known that we don’t eat meat on Lenten Fridays. It makes me wonder… she’s 14, but surely her parents would know… she says they go to Mass every Sunday.

 

[twosweetgirls]

Yes, everyone at my work knows I’m Catholic. In fact, I’ve given everyone there the little one-decade Rosaries that I make and give away. A few weeks ago, I placed about 15 of them in the break room, with a little note stating what they were and that they were blessed. They were gone by the weekend. The one I made my boss was a really handsome one, made of poppy jasper and mahogany obsidian. He’s yet to say anything about it, but I don’t expect him to. All I know is that it’s no longer on his desk, and presumably in his pocket.

Now, I think my being Catholic at work probably does bother one person there–a gal who absolutely hates my guts. Seriously. I’d most recently overheard her bad-mouthing me to several other co-workers, and instead of confronting her (like I’d wanted to) I went home and made her a one-decade Rosary out of gorgeous ocean jasper and turquoise. I included copies of my favorite Rosary and Divine Mercy CDs, and made a special appointment to have my priest bless the whole thing. I left it for her in her workspace, and I noticed that it was gone. . . but whether to her house or in the trash, only Jesus knows, I guess. And the wierd thing? This gal is, herself, Catholic.

So yes, everyone at work knows about my being Catholic.

 

[Sailor_Kenshin]

Yes, everyone at my work knows I’m Catholic. In fact, I’ve given everyone there the little one-decade Rosaries that I make and give away. A few weeks ago, I placed about 15 of them in the break room, with a little note stating what they were and that they were blessed. They were gone by the weekend. The one I made my boss was a really handsome one, made of poppy jasper and mahogany obsidian. He’s yet to say anything about it, but I don’t expect him to. All I know is that it’s no longer on his desk, and presumably in his pocket.

Now, I think my being Catholic at work probably does bother one person there–a gal who absolutely hates my guts. Seriously. I’d most recently overheard her bad-mouthing me to several other co-workers, and instead of confronting her (like I’d wanted to) I went home and made her a one-decade Rosary out of gorgeous ocean jasper and turquoise. I included copies of my favorite Rosary and Divine Mercy CDs, and made a special appointment to have my priest bless the whole thing. I left it for her in her workspace, and I noticed that it was gone. . . but whether to her house or in the trash, only Jesus knows, I guess. And the wierd thing? This gal is, herself, Catholic.

So yes, everyone at work knows about my being Catholic.

You did your best. I want to see pictures of the Rosaries you make!

 

[GraceDK]

If so, has it caused any problems for you? Sometimes, I find it hard to avoid it. For instance, you go out to lunch with coworkers on a Friday, and when you order appetizers, if you say you can’t eat it, because it has meat in it, people are going to ask questions. Normally, people are pretty professional about it, and I haven’t had any bad experiences, but sometimes it does get a bit awkward. I mean, I don’t flaunt my Catholicity at work, either. I guess I’m a little self-conscious about it. What’s your take on this? Thanks in advance!

My take on it is that I dont quite understand it when believers dont like to tell other people about Jesus Christ who has changed our whole life and made everything new. Why wouldn’t you want your co-workers to know?
Forget about the food by the way. Eat some meat and thank the Lord and then joyfully tell your friends and co-workers what the Lord has done for you so that they too may know the fullness of life. Don’t speak about the meat of the earth but about God who came in flesh. Thats what the world needs to hear.

Grace

 

[maryjk]

Forget about the food by the way. Eat some meat and thank the Lord and then joyfully tell your friends and co-workers what the Lord has done for you so that they too may know the fullness of life. Don’t speak about the meat of the earth but about God who came in flesh. Thats what the world needs to hear.

Grace

Forget about obedience to the Church and to God???

How about joyfully tell you friends and co-workers why you aren’t eating meat.

 

[Anne1964]

All of my co-workers know as it’s hard to miss the religious items around my computer and on my desk. Most of them accept it, two have made disparaging comments and two were so curious about Catholicism that they went to Mass with me one day at lunch.

 

[just_me_1]

my immediate cowworkers know, 4 guys, and a couple other people I don’t see everyday. 2 never go to any church and think I’m nuts, one is a wedding/funeral christian who thinks I am way too serious about my faith, and one who’s a pro-choice anti-war lutheren who knows more bible versus than anyone I know and has some very wierd ideas. we get into some pretty heated debates when it’s just us two! I don’t flaunt it, I hide it, in fact, because I am tired of having them make rude comments and roll their eyes. I try to laugh it off like it doesn’t bother me, because 2 of them are technically my supervisors and it’s awkward. and yeah lent is a pain. we had a big fancy steak dinner for everyone last friday night and I stayed home and had to explain why… …steak…

 

[Kit15]

I let on. I don’t reveal it at hello and my workspace isn’t decorated at all (never mind decorated with anything Catholic). But I do wear a cross necklace that my parents gave me…though that could mean any form of Christianity. I just do my thing and if the subject comes up, I tell the truth.

Everyone had the chance to find out anyway when I got engaged. Of course you get all kinds of questions…where is the wedding and all that. If anyone in my department didn’t know then, they know now. But so far I think only two people really know how devout I am. Since I’m young and have a laid-back personality, I think many people assume I have a more casual approach to the faith.

I’ve never personally received any grief for it though. One of my co-workers kinda stuck stuck her foot in her month once not knowing that how was in the room with her at the time. But she didn’t know what she was doing and things are better now.

 

[KC91]

Most of my friends can guess since I have pictures of the Pope, Jesus and Mary in my School diary. They don’t care as unfortunately most are atheists or non-practicing Catholics.

 

[Milanomayor]

If so, has it caused any problems for you? Sometimes, I find it hard to avoid it. For instance, you go out to lunch with coworkers on a Friday, and when you order appetizers, if you say you can’t eat it, because it has meat in it, people are going to ask questions. Normally, people are pretty professional about it, and I haven’t had any bad experiences, but sometimes it does get a bit awkward. I mean, I don’t flaunt my Catholicity at work, either. I guess I’m a little self-conscious about it. What’s your take on this? Thanks in advance!

 

[Milanomayor]

I wear my Catholicism right out on my sleeve where everyone can see it. I don’t expect another person of a different religion to hide there’s either. We as Catholics need to show our support for our religion and not shy away from it, because I believe that is exactly what anyone who bashes the Catholic faith would want. Be proud of our faith every hour of everyday.

 

[jamesneiman]

I normally don’t try to hide it, but there have been exceptions. For a while I reported to a manager who was a lesbian and got ‘married’ (in San Francisco), and I congratulated her because I was afraid to lose my job (I know that was weak on my part and I have repented for my weakness). I don’t cross myself at meals but I do silently say grace in my heart.

 

[Chiltepin]

For a while I reported to a manager who was a lesbian and got ‘married’ (in San Francisco), and I congratulated her because I was afraid to lose my job (I know that was weak on my part and I have repented for my weakness).

I can sympathize here. I don’t have any openly lesbian coworkers at the school, but I did have a lesbian professor in a rather small Political Geography class in college. I was a little scared to let my Catholicism show, but as it turns out her parents are Catholic and she has no qualms with our kind. You just never know. I am a little uneasy about revealing my faith around gays. I worry they will assume I hate them or something. Certainly hating people is not part of the equation. We are to love the sinner, but hate sin.

Anyway this uneasiness shouldn’t exist. There is just as much likelihood that a heterosexual person would dislike you for being Catholic, given the large numbers of Evangelical sects teaching that we are evil.

 

[jamesneiman]

I can sympathize here. I don’t have any openly lesbian coworkers at the school, but I did have a lesbian professor in a rather small Political Geography class in college. I was a little scared to let my Catholicism show, but as it turns out her parents are Catholic and she has no qualms with our kind. You just never know. I am a little uneasy about revealing my faith around gays. I worry they will assume I hate them or something. Certainly hating people is not part of the equation. We are to love the sinner, but hate sin.

Anyway this uneasiness shouldn’t exist. There is just as much likelihood that a heterosexual person would dislike you for being Catholic, given the large numbers of Evangelical sects teaching that we are evil.

I appreciate your thoughts here and will give more contemplation on how to show proper love to sinners such as my former boss. Best wishes to you as well!

Here is a nice quote that I saved:

“There are not 100 people who hate the Catholic Church, yet there are millions who hate what they believe the Catholic Church to be.” --Archbishop Fulton Sheen

 

[Chiltepin]

I appreciate your thoughts here and will give more contemplation on how to show proper love to sinners such as my former boss. Best wishes to you as well!

Here is a nice quote that I saved:

“There are not 100 people who hate the Catholic Church, yet there are millions who hate what they believe the Catholic Church to be.” --Archbishop Fulton Sheen

Oh I sure didn’t mean that you don’t love sinners! I didn’t mean it about you at all. I just meant that I wish that was something non-Catholics and gays understood about us, that we love and want what is best for all people!

Good Quote! :yup:
Archbishop Fulton Sheen

 

[jamesneiman]

Oh I sure didn’t mean that you don’t love sinners! I didn’t mean it about you at all. I just meant that I wish that was something non-Catholics and gays understood about us, that we love and want what is best for all people!

Good Quote! :yup:
Archbishop Fulton Sheen

I didn’t have that impression at all, and I appreciate your sensitivity and kindness!

I was responding to your quite correct observation that many gays feel that Catholics hate them, and I want to try to make gays feel that they are loved and not judged by faithful Catholics.

 

[Janechantal53]

It makes me sad to think that there are those out there who have checklists:

Sinners: XXX
Non-sinners: XXXX

P.S. We are ALL sinners. It is not our job to judge anyone else. I would remind you of scripture which tells us that we should be removing the beams from our own eyes before pointing out the splinter in someone elses.

 

[Chiltepin]

P.S. We are ALL sinners. It is not our job to judge anyone else. I would remind you of scripture which tells us that we should be removing the beams from our own eyes before pointing out the splinter in someone elses.

That is basically what we were getting at, that we love everyone (sinners.) It was not a checklist including gays and non-catholics as sinners. I just mentioned that we should not be afraid to admit to someone who is gay that we are Catholic, because they are no more likely to dislike you for your Catholicism than a heterosexual might be.

If you have never been unfairly judged as intolerant simply for being Catholic, then I guess you might have read something else into our posts. Jamesneiman and I just mentioned that we sometimes feel uncomfortable revealing our Catholicism to people who are openly gay because Catholics are portrayed as so intolerant of gays by the media.

Extra hearts to show the love and for good measure in case I sounded defensive!

 

[Yoeman65]

Being a Catholic-Christian in public is the renewed marterdom. There are people out there that will want to shoot you down for your beliefs. Like the apostles; go away happy to be chosen to suffer along with Christ Jesus for the glory of God.

“I am Catholic - what do you want to know”“Compassion, caring and cooperation is NOT the same as concession” these are statements to remember and use.

Please do not deny your Catholicism to the world (work place) - it is your chance to be named with the saints in heaven.

Do realize that when you carry the name of Catholic, people are watching you, it is a very great responsibility.

Pope Benedict XVI came out in Africa this week and said condoms are NOT the answer. Less promiscuity IS. Wow that strength! Do you think the world as a whole is on his side? NO way!

Like or dislike the things the Church stands for, IT does STAND for the TRUTH.

“If you don’t stand for something you’ll fall for ANYTHING.” Our world has fallen, but the Church HAS NOT. Abortion, remarriage, female priests, perpetual virginity, confession, Eucharist, cultural morality, love, family values, humility - the Church has never changed and never will change. That is what draws souls to the Church. You are an instrument of the Church militant and have a requirement to be ready to give a reason for your HOPE.

If you DO NOT have hope, start digging. You can find it in the Church everywhere. You may not be called to be fed but to feed. Remember I AM will guide you.