Have you ever had your priest over for dinner?

[tomch]

If you’re not joking about not having told her yet, I think you should. She might be angry at you for not letting her know, especially if she’s not Catholic.

Actually, I was just joking about inviting my Priest over. That would be a big mistake at this point!

It would be an especially big mistake considering that today is our 18th anniversary! Can you imagine the trouble I’d be in?! That reminds me that I should probably pick up a card and gift on the way home tonight, eh?!

 

[Sarabande]

My husband would like to have our home blessed by our parish priest…since we’re new in the area, etc…thought it would be a great idea as well, to invite him for dinner, or go out for breakfast. Something to get to know him, on a more intimate level. Anyone ever have his/her priest over for dinner? Take him out for a meal?

Could u share your stories…advice? Thank you.

On the Filipino side of my family, every time someone gets a new home or buys a house, they will have a big party and the priest will come to bless each room of the house and then have a mass at the end of blessing all the rooms. The mass is usually done in the biggest room of the house. It’s a huge party, but Filipinos (at least the ones I know, which is A LOT) love to have an excuse to be together and party. The priest will usually stay after the mass and talk and eat with everyone. It’s pretty natual. The priest doesn’t usually know everyone there at the party.

On the European/Caucasion side of my family, my Dad’s best friend used to be in the seminary and has many friends who went all the way and became priests. One of his priest friends actually spent a weekend at our summer home with his father. Another time as a very little girl, I remember spending a weekend in a house filled with what seemed like 20 priests (probably more like 10) who were friends of my Dad’s best friend (at that point married with a baby). It was strange for me because I was only used to seeing them in their black or in their vestments saying mass, and here they were in laymen’s clothes and bathing suits swimming in the Chesapeake. But it was the first time I realized that priests were regular human beings who laughed, talked, cried, etc. Good experience.

Do you know this priest well? If you aren’t planning on having a party, maybe a nice homemade dinner?

 

[ddeluna]

I’m a new Catholic, and my wife and children are still Baptist.

After reading all the above posts, I invited my Priest over for dinner tonight. Do you think I should tell my wife about it, or should I let it be a surprise?

That depends. How long you want to live?

 

[yessisan]

Actually, I was just joking about inviting my Priest over. That would be a big mistake at this point!

It would be an especially big mistake considering that today is our 18th anniversary! Can you imagine the trouble I’d be in?! That reminds me that I should probably pick up a card and gift on the way home tonight, eh?!

What a relief… and yes, a little something would be appreciated by her, I’m sure. Happy anniversary!

 

[tomch]

That depends. How long you want to live?

Hey… I wonder if I would qualify for “martyr” status?! This might be a good idea after all!!

 

[Lovemyfaith]

having a priest over for dinner is really not that unusual around here, umm is it really bad if he comes over and cooks the dinner?

 

[whatevergirl]

Okay–I have to share…the parish priest (who has been reassigned so sad–he will be missed!! )who I sent an email to last night, offered to bless our house today at 2pm, but we were not home to get his message. So, I wrote him another email asking if he has time of course, tomorrow, if he wouldn’t mind blessing the house. He doesn’t have time for coffee, though. The ‘head’ priest of the church…I could also invite him…but, he is ultra-busy. But, it can’t hurt to ask.

Second–the parish office is going to run my supper club idea, by the head priest, Fr Ron, to see if he will accept it, and if so–I can run with the idea, and ask for a posting in the bulletin. So…some progress made today!:bounce:

 

[pansy648]

We invited the parochial vicar over to dinner after my youngest’s baptism. I was more intimidated by that than my own parents coming over! It was a great time and he had the crowd around him the whole time chatting over many different things.

My sister and her husband were very close to the priests in her last parish, and often had them over for dinner, and the IHM Sisters when they were stationed there. If you are lucky enough to have Sisters also at your parish, invite them also. Many of them did not have the financial means the Fathers did and appreciated the offers.

 

[whatevergirl]

On the Filipino side of my family, every time someone gets a new home or buys a house, they will have a big party and the priest will come to bless each room of the house and then have a mass at the end of blessing all the rooms. The mass is usually done in the biggest room of the house. It’s a huge party, but Filipinos (at least the ones I know, which is A LOT) love to have an excuse to be together and party. The priest will usually stay after the mass and talk and eat with everyone. It’s pretty natual. The priest doesn’t usually know everyone there at the party.

On the European/Caucasion side of my family, my Dad’s best friend used to be in the seminary and has many friends who went all the way and became priests. One of his priest friends actually spent a weekend at our summer home with his father. Another time as a very little girl, I remember spending a weekend in a house filled with what seemed like 20 priests (probably more like 10) who were friends of my Dad’s best friend (at that point married with a baby). It was strange for me because I was only used to seeing them in their black or in their vestments saying mass, and here they were in laymen’s clothes and bathing suits swimming in the Chesapeake. But it was the first time I realized that priests were regular human beings who laughed, talked, cried, etc. Good experience.

Do you know this priest well? If you aren’t planning on having a party, maybe a nice homemade dinner?

what a great story-thanks for sharing that with us. That really touched me…I would love to have a big party like that–it’s nice to have big get togethers…

I don’t know this priest very well, but since going to Confession to him, feel very close to him in a quick amount of time. He just has a special quietness to him, I would say. I hope he can come tomorrow to bless our home before he leaves on his new assignment.

 

[Roger_Wissinger]

God bless our priests. I’ve had 2 priests over and we had a wonderful time. They’re so busy and I’m sure they like time to relax and have a good meal. I think it’s important to have the children see our priest over also.

 

[Catholic_Wife]

After my husband and I got married, we invited our former priest (we went to his new parish to visit him) to lunch after his last mass of the day. We had such a great time, and we learned a lot about India (where he is from) and his family there.

My in-law’s former priest has been assigned to a new parish a couple of hours away, and they would like to go up to visit with him and take him out to eat. Now all we have to do is coordinate all of our schedules. :banghead:

 

[whatevergirl]

After my husband and I got married, we invited our former priest (we went to his new parish to visit him) to lunch after his last mass of the day. We had such a great time, and we learned a lot about India (where he is from) and his family there.

My in-law’s former priest has been assigned to a new parish a couple of hours away, and they would like to go up to visit with him and take him out to eat. Now all we have to do is coordinate all of our schedules. :banghead:

that’s the hardest part of all…!!

 

[4down1togo]

Yes, of course and he was delighted…and then invited himself many more times to our great delight! (And to the previous reply…we keep root beer on hand!) This began almost twenty years ago, when our children were small. Through the years, Father has watched them grow. He has shared in our joys and sorrows. He has introduced his family and has become a part of ours. We have played cards, watched movies, been entertained by the children and their antics. Priests are people too! They have feelings, they need caring people in their life. Remember, Jesus was God and man…He had friends and companions…

 

[Sarabande]

what a great story-thanks for sharing that with us. That really touched me…I would love to have a big party like that–it’s nice to have big get togethers…

I don’t know this priest very well, but since going to Confession to him, feel very close to him in a quick amount of time. He just has a special quietness to him, I would say. I hope he can come tomorrow to bless our home before he leaves on his new assignment.

Hey whatevergirl! I’m glad you liked the story. I always love going to visit that side of the family to remind myself to lay back and enjoy myself once in a while. I realized I may have made it sound like we party during the mass. It’s actually very reverent. The partying happens after the room blessings and the mass.

I hope your priest was able to come by today to bless you home. It’s always wonderful when you can feel a great spiritual energy in the “quietness” of a holy person. Although he may be reassigned, perhaps you will be able to still see him.

 

[acadian]

My husband would like to have our home blessed by our parish priest…since we’re new in the area, etc…thought it would be a great idea as well, to invite him for dinner, or go out for breakfast. Something to get to know him, on a more intimate level. Anyone ever have his/her priest over for dinner? Take him out for a meal?

Could u share your stories…advice? Thank you.

Our beloved pastor was recently relocated to a parish about a half hour away. The only good thing is that it is close enough to visit. Shortly after he started his tenure there, we had an evening on our calendar that was open. We went to an evening Mass and then visited with him afterwards. We (my boys and I) got the grand tour of the rectory and the church offices. We took him to eat afterwards. Nothing fancy - one of those all you can eat buffet places. I had thought it might be a little awkward, but it wasn’t at all. He said he enjoyed it (and seemed to). I know my boys and I enjoyed his company. I hope we are able to do it again.

Although my original intent was just to show up and ask him after Mass if he wanted to get a bite to eat, it turned out that I spoke with him the day before by phone to ask if he wanted me to bring some items the secretary said he had forgotten. He seemed so glad to have someone to talk to that day, that it naturally flowed from the conversation to ask him if he’d go eat with us the next day.

Edited to add that your priest sounds a bit like ours. The peacefulness or “quietness” that he exudes. And the closeness that confession seems to bring. I always figured him to be just an average confessor, though after asking him for some one-on-one advice outside of confession I realized what a gifted counselor he is.

 

[whatevergirl]

Hey whatevergirl! I’m glad you liked the story. I always love going to visit that side of the family to remind myself to lay back and enjoy myself once in a while. I realized I may have made it sound like we party during the mass. It’s actually very reverent. The partying happens after the room blessings and the mass.

I hope your priest was able to come by today to bless you home. It’s always wonderful when you can feel a great spiritual energy in the “quietness” of a holy person. Although he may be reassigned, perhaps you will be able to still see him.

He wasn’t…but I went to a reception for his farewell this afternoon after mass…to say goodbye, and he told me that he has put a word in to another priest…and someone will be out to bless my home. We just received a newly ordained priest at our parish, and another to follow soon…I am thinking of inviting them both over soon. Also–there is a visiting priest from Australia…an older gentleman…who my husband especially enjoys his accent. ha
I might invite him over for dinner…or out to dinner. He doesn’t know his way around, but he mentioned after mass last Sunday that a parishioner was going to ‘feed’ him for that night. lol

Thanks for your posts everyone!

 

[baltobetsy]

The first time I remember having the priest over for dinner was almost 40 years ago, when I was a teenager. He a few too many, and planted a big, sloppy kiss on me.

When DH and I had just bought our house, we invited one of the parish priests to bless it and join us for dinner. I still remember, 20-some years later, what I served, because the priest had atrocious manners. I’ll never forget him licking “Vermont” chicken with corn meal and maple syrup off his fingers - noisily!

A few years later, we started to invite a group of priests and seminarians together for dinners at our house. That was such a blast! We became good friends with the seminarians and stayed in touch after they were ordained.

Just a couple of years ago, some of the teenage boys in our parish wanted to learn to cook some things, so I had them meet me in the rectory kitchen (they don’t have a cook) to prepare a nice meal for the priests. A good time was had by all.

Betsy