P
petitefleur
Guest
I used to live and work in Shanghai for 3 years. Due to government restrictions, there’s only one church in the entire city that had daily Adoration, so I always went there.
Coincidentally, I went to work in Shanghai shortly after I was received into the Catholic faith.
Receiving the Sacraments and doing Adoration regularly really helped me to grow spiritually, but I had problems “connecting” with the people there.
This is a source of great sadness to me, since I felt more “connection” with my Chinese friends and students (all of whom were unbelievers), especially when we discussed topics like philosophy, patriotism, etc. For some reason, throughout my entire life (I was raised a Protestant) most people at church were simply not interested in discussing “deep” things such as theology, philosophy etc. A priest who was also a close friend of mine suggested that I may find more “connection” if I go to school again (to learn theology); I did this and had been accepted by this school (I will start in August). However, this very same priest/friend has recently decided to leave the priesthood, and I’m having a hard time in my home country. In the absence of deep, heartfelt “connection” with others in the Christian community, I often sent heart-wrenching prayer requests to those people I had known for 2-3 years, most of which went unanswered! Granted, I was unable to discuss anything at length with fellow parishioners (I tried, but one fellow parishioner suggested people have different “wavelengths” and so the “disconnection couldn’t be helped), but this “failure” at tru friendships and communion really hurt me. My unbelieving friends, no matter how nice and supportive they are, never pray and thus cannot pray for me. For me it’s a source of deep sorrow and insecurity, especially since I grew up in a very distrustful, insecure and at times abusive atmosphere. What makes matters worse is that I’ve achieved a measure of success as a Catholic writer (I wrote one published book and a few essays for Catholic journals). When almost all of my friends are online “strangers” (my editors, readers, fellow forum members) who never actually meet me, while those Christians who actually know me can’t connect with me, it’s SO VERY heart wrenching. It gives me terrible sadness, hurt, anger and insomnia. Not to mention I’m also suffering from other health problems and am almost always misunderstood (I’m a very studious, academically successful girl, yet with a sensitive heart, which is very unusual back where I come from, and triggers lots and lots of misunderstandings and misguided opinions). Please pray a lot for me. Especially for that “warm and peaceful feeling in the heart” that’s so needed for a good nights rest, which can’t be forced or replicated, and which only secure, loving and true friendships seem to be able to supply (but which I currently lack!) please dear friends, pray a lot for me! Thank you
Coincidentally, I went to work in Shanghai shortly after I was received into the Catholic faith.
Receiving the Sacraments and doing Adoration regularly really helped me to grow spiritually, but I had problems “connecting” with the people there.
This is a source of great sadness to me, since I felt more “connection” with my Chinese friends and students (all of whom were unbelievers), especially when we discussed topics like philosophy, patriotism, etc. For some reason, throughout my entire life (I was raised a Protestant) most people at church were simply not interested in discussing “deep” things such as theology, philosophy etc. A priest who was also a close friend of mine suggested that I may find more “connection” if I go to school again (to learn theology); I did this and had been accepted by this school (I will start in August). However, this very same priest/friend has recently decided to leave the priesthood, and I’m having a hard time in my home country. In the absence of deep, heartfelt “connection” with others in the Christian community, I often sent heart-wrenching prayer requests to those people I had known for 2-3 years, most of which went unanswered! Granted, I was unable to discuss anything at length with fellow parishioners (I tried, but one fellow parishioner suggested people have different “wavelengths” and so the “disconnection couldn’t be helped), but this “failure” at tru friendships and communion really hurt me. My unbelieving friends, no matter how nice and supportive they are, never pray and thus cannot pray for me. For me it’s a source of deep sorrow and insecurity, especially since I grew up in a very distrustful, insecure and at times abusive atmosphere. What makes matters worse is that I’ve achieved a measure of success as a Catholic writer (I wrote one published book and a few essays for Catholic journals). When almost all of my friends are online “strangers” (my editors, readers, fellow forum members) who never actually meet me, while those Christians who actually know me can’t connect with me, it’s SO VERY heart wrenching. It gives me terrible sadness, hurt, anger and insomnia. Not to mention I’m also suffering from other health problems and am almost always misunderstood (I’m a very studious, academically successful girl, yet with a sensitive heart, which is very unusual back where I come from, and triggers lots and lots of misunderstandings and misguided opinions). Please pray a lot for me. Especially for that “warm and peaceful feeling in the heart” that’s so needed for a good nights rest, which can’t be forced or replicated, and which only secure, loving and true friendships seem to be able to supply (but which I currently lack!) please dear friends, pray a lot for me! Thank you