I'm a convert , but there's something miss from my Protestant church

[Sr_Sally]

For example, my wife, who homeschools our two daughters in addition to caring for our 19-month old son, recommended a women’s fellowship group, in which ladies with similar family arrangements could get together to discuss spiritual issues, parenting and other such topics. Nobody was interested. In fact, one particularly influential young mom said that she already went to a Bible study and that was enough, preferring instead to get together and drink wine while watching silly movies.

Well, a family who already has their support in place–she has a Bible study group. And who homeschools, maybe just needs an outlet for some adult level fun. Has your wife ever joined the movies and wine parties? It sounds like a good time to me!

We notice that, when we discuss religious topics outside of the context of going to Mass, praying private devotions like the Rosary or Divine Mercy, or Marian apparitions, we’re cut off and the topic is changed immediately.

Now, this would be surprising if I weren’t in such an orthodox parish. Our priests are diligent about preaching the necessity of a living relationship with Christ, and preach the teachings of the Church without compromise.

And private devotions and revelationions are just that–private. perhaps the folks you’ve approached don’t want to make a big show of their devotional life. Maybe they say the rosary etc every day and are being humble, maybe they don’t and don’t want the reminder.

My suggestion would be to see if your priests will agree to start some time of Adoration. Even if it’s just a few hours a week. If you and your wife and even 1 or 2 other couples would agree to take an hour a week, Adoration can be available for your entire parish during that time. Your own relationship with God will benefit, but so will that of any other parishners who stop by and certainly the whole parish will benefit from your prayers.

 

[Pax]

I operate in a mixed parish. There are those that seem only interested in Sunday mass and then there are those that participate in many other ways. This latter group is generally a rather friendly and excited group of Catholics. The downside is that many are quite progressive and liberal in their approach to the faith.

This is a huge downer for those that do not fall under the “progressive tent.” The enthusiastic non-progressives are making some in roads but it is definitely an uphill pull. The main solution is prayer and perseverence. Humbly extending the olive branch to those that are progressive and humbly encouraging those that seem apathetic is our witness. Our prayers are that the Holy Spirit will gift our parish with truth and obedience. Patient endurance is our cross, but we are planted where we are for a purpose. God works in mysterious ways and the Holy Spirit does all of the heavy lifting.

 

[mikeledes]

Well, a family who already has their support in place–she has a Bible study group. And who homeschools, maybe just needs an outlet for some adult level fun. Has your wife ever joined the movies and wine parties? It sounds like a good time to me!

And private devotions and revelationions are just that–private. perhaps the folks you’ve approached don’t want to make a big show of their devotional life. Maybe they say the rosary etc every day and are being humble, maybe they don’t and don’t want the reminder.

My suggestion would be to see if your priests will agree to start some time of Adoration. Even if it’s just a few hours a week. If you and your wife and even 1 or 2 other couples would agree to take an hour a week, Adoration can be available for your entire parish during that time. Your own relationship with God will benefit, but so will that of any other parishners who stop by and certainly the whole parish will benefit from your prayers.

How do you develop friendships rooted in common values and spiritual interests when people are unwilling to go beyong Mass attendance and private devotions (i.e. novennas, apparitions)? There is more to Catholicism than this. Many Catholics just seem to be content with being spiritual while they’re at Mass or doing a devotion. Other than that, they forget about spirituality when they are having lunch with a friend, make a phone call, watch television, go to the movies, or just having a conversation outside the confines of the church. If you do bring up spiritual topics, they show lack of interest. Being Catholic is a 24 hr thing.

God Bless,
Michael

 

[Pax]

A couple of other thoughts came to mind. I would suggest that you scope out those that show even the slightest bit of interest or enthusiasm for something in your parish life. Go up to them and thank them for their witness and tell them that you can see the grace of God working in their life. Get to know them. Once you have a relationship with them, encourage them to tell others and to witness to them.

One of the reasons we have an energy filled parish is because enthusiasm is “contagious.” Joy, enthusiasm, peace, and friendship are things people naturally seek. They need to see that in us. They need to hear it in our conversation, and they need to hear us compliment them. Jesus took sinners and made them saints. The Holy Spirit is working in all of us to that same end. We can be instruments. Our lives and interactions with others are the witness to the Spirit.

 

[mikeledes]

A couple of other thoughts came to mind. I would suggest that you scope out those that show even the slightest bit of interest or enthusiasm for something in your parish life. Go up to them and thank them for their witness and tell them that you can see the grace of God working in their life. Get to know them. Once you have a relationship with them, encourage them to tell others and to witness to them.

One of the reasons we have an energy filled parish is because enthusiasm is “contagious.” Joy, enthusiasm, peace, and friendship are things people naturally seek. They need to see that in us. They need to hear it in our conversation, and they need to hear us compliment them. Jesus took sinners and made them saints. The Holy Spirit is working in all of us to that same end. We can be instruments. Our lives and interactions with others are the witness to the Spirit.

But are there “energy filled” people in your parish who are orthodox? Or are they more liberal?

God Bless,
Michael

 

[djrakowski]

Are you or are you not in the correct “place” for you? That is the overriding question.

Once that question is answered definitively, then you work to bring the gifts that other “places” offer to where you are.

The amount of energy that is spent to bring in those gifts to where you are is a measure of both how much you valued those gifts and, should the gifts be more important than the “place”, how much you value what needs to be the thing of most value.

Please elaborate on the notion of being in the right “place.” I love the thoughts you’ve expressed, but would like to know more about what you mean rather than assuming…

How do you develop friendships rooted in common values and spiritual interests when people are unwilling to go beyong Mass attendance and private devotions (i.e. novennas, apparitions)? There is more to Catholicism than this. Many Catholics just seem to be content with being spiritual while there at Mass or doing a devotion. Other than that, they forget about spirituality when they are having lunch with a friend, make a phone call, watch television, go to the movies, or just having a conversation outside the confines of the church. If you do bring up spiritual topics, they show lack of interest. Being Catholic is a 24 hr thing.

You’ve nailed it, Michael - this is precisely what I’m missing.

 

[anamchara]

Well, I’m

 

[mikeledes]

mikeledes;3182038:

Yes, I feel this way and have for a long time. I’m still trying to adapt to the Catholic way. In our Protestant Church we took our Sunday service very seriously and reverently just like a Mass but afterward there was always coffee and time for conversation. Most of our events promoted a close connection and created many opportunities for interactions. The events were not always at Church. Many times they were camping trips, all sorts of different parties in homes, Christmas gatherings, Halloween parties etc…we had “all Church retreats” every year up at lake Tahoe for a whole weekend. If you couldn’t afford to go, the Church would help you out. We were right on the lake. It was so beautiful. Another cool thing we did every year was have sign ups for the dinner club ( I have actually forgot what it was called it now) anyhow, it was a rotation thing. It was set up for four couples to attend and you would have to host it in your own home at least once. When you were the host all you had to supply was the house and something to drink. The main meal, salad and dessert was brought by the other couples. Then the next weekend you would go to a different house bringing whatever you were assigned to. You can get to know different people very intimately under those settings. My husband and I had the privilege of having one evening with three other couples where the men all had been in WWII, it was amazing and education evening.

I would say every weekend, something was going on if not at the Church, in different homes. Another thing we did that I feel is different from the Catholic faith is that we would have what was called a “all Church clean up day” everyone came and helped clean the Church. I met some of my best friends helping out with that. There wasn’t any…men do this, women do this. Everyone was involved equally and it was fun.

I don’t have an answer as to why the Catholic Church isn’t like that. It just isn’t. I am involved and go out of my way to help promote more of a connection within my own parish. So it’s not for a lack of trying. But Catholics in general seem more interested in getting their kids sacraments and heading out the door to the parking lot as fast as they can. This is what I’ve found, not always but for the most part.

Now having said all that, I realize that many will say “well, Church isn’t a social club” etc…but you asked if I missed that and yes I do miss the closeness. Our own parish can’t really accommodate coffee and hanging out after Church right now due to the parking lot issues. We will be breaking ground this spring for our Church, once we build it, I’m sure we will have more going on and I’ll be there serving coffee

Thank you for sharing your thoughts, anamchara! This is precisely what I’m talking about. I also think this is one of the reasons why many Catholics become Protestants.

God Bless,
Michael

 

[chewchoo]

we had a 3 night lenten talk last year by a visiting priest. the church was packed. the question and answer session part included questions that i had heard over and over again while listening to the CA radio segments. this got me inspired that many in my parish were interested in learning more about their faith, but when i approached my priest about providing some sort of catholic educational aid in the bulletin, he wasn’t interested.

basically people seem to be interested, but the format and the players are the tricky part.

 

[water]

but when i approached my priest about providing some sort of catholic educational aid in the bulletin, he wasn’t interested.

The priest might have his reason. I participate a study bible group at another parish. Before this group was formed, some folks told me that they needed their pastor’s permission - the reason for that is that a few study groups were formed before but they did not last long. The pastor just wanted to make sure people who want to have a bible study group really think and organize well about it.

Forming and then canceling bible groups can discourage people’s participation sometimes.

 

[CalmDownWisWins]

Quote:
Originally Posted by CalmDownWisWins
Are you or are you not in the correct “place” for you? That is the overriding question.

Once that question is answered definitively, then you work to bring the gifts that other “places” offer to where you are.

The amount of energy that is spent to bring in those gifts to where you are is a measure of both how much you valued those gifts and, should the gifts be more important than the “place”, how much you value what needs to be the thing of most value.

Please elaborate on the notion of being in the right “place.” I love the thoughts you’ve expressed, but would like to know more about what you mean rather than assuming…

The “places” are where people “collect” to get closer to God.

Since any good is within the Church, any “reside-ance” (“place”) where one is reasonably comfortable searching for God in the manner customary to that particular “place” is GOOD and worshipful of God (by definition of being GOOD) regardless of how efficatious the “customary manner” is in it’s task, any “place where good is done” is good but there is only one BEST “place” to “reside”.

Gifts ARE only from the Church, but each “place” within the Church has it’s own gifts to offer.

My “place” as a Catholic would be wonderfully enhanced by those gifts from other “places”, either by re-invention/imitation by “natives” of my “place”, or by the “natives” of other “places” willfully incorporating themselves into my “place”.

I would prefer the latter, for various and obvious reasons!

 

[Em_in_FL]

I think a lot of people are looking for ways that they can benefit from the social aspects of the parish community.
But what about turning that around… if you’re the one that has the enthusiasm, then why not VOLUNTEER to teach CCD classes? Or help arrange Youth Group meetings? Or assist in Pro-life fund raisers? Or arrange for a group of volunteers to go work for Habit for Humanity?

In my experience… those who work to support OTHERS find fellowship faster than those who are simply seeking the fellowship for themselves…

Just a thought!

 

[chewchoo]

The priest might have his reason. I participate a study bible group at another parish. Before this group was formed, some folks told me that they needed their pastor’s permission - the reason for that is that a few study groups were formed before but they did not last long. The pastor just wanted to make sure people who want to have a bible study group really think and organize well about it.

Forming and then canceling bible groups can discourage people’s participation sometimes.

i wasn’t trying to form a bible study, i was trying to add something useful and educational in the bulletin. people take one home every week, hopefully a few will read it. let them have something useful in addition to the parish schedule.

 

[mikeledes]

we had a 3 night lenten talk last year by a visiting priest. the church was packed. the question and answer session part included questions that i had heard over and over again while listening to the CA radio segments. this got me inspired that many in my parish were interested in learning more about their faith, but when i approached my priest about providing some sort of catholic educational aid in the bulletin, he wasn’t interested.

basically people seem to be interested, but the format and the players are the tricky part.

There is just too much apathy in many Catholic parishes. If there are interested parishioners, the priest is apathetic. If the priest is excited about something, the parishioners are apathetic. We need to wake up, brothers and sisters, and seriously do something about this. Not only do we need to improve catechesis, but we must also establish a spiritual support system, namely, good fellowship groups. Christianity is not only meant to be vertical (God), but also horizontal (fellow Christians). The Cross is a combination of the vertical and horizontal and that’s the way Christian spirituality should be as well.

God bless,
Michael

 

[djrakowski]

I think a lot of people are looking for ways that they can benefit from the social aspects of the parish community.
But what about turning that around… if you’re the one that has the enthusiasm, then why not VOLUNTEER to teach CCD classes? Or help arrange Youth Group meetings? Or assist in Pro-life fund raisers? Or arrange for a group of volunteers to go work for Habit for Humanity?

In my experience… those who work to support OTHERS find fellowship faster than those who are simply seeking the fellowship for themselves…

Just a thought!

My wife and I have volunteered for plenty of service opportunities at the parish, but that’s not at all what I’m talking about. That’s gone quite well - it’s life outside of formal parish activities that’s not gone as well.

And then when we’ve suggested outside activities, nobody’s interested. It’s like they’re satisfied in knowing us only as fellow parishioners, and only within the confines of some formally-structured activity within the parish, and that’s enough for them.

 

[Pax]

But are there “energy filled” people in your parish who are orthodox? Or are they more liberal?

God Bless,
Michael

We’ve got both. Unfortunately, the liberals are holding most, but not all of the leadership positions. Change seems to be in the wind, but it comes slowly.

 

[kage_ar]

Last year, our Parish did the Great Adventure Bible Study. It was packed to the walls standing room only.

We are getting close to our 3rd “Why Catholic” session, those have two faucets, the lecture searies and the small group fellowship.

Some are on the RCIA team, some serve as part of the Social Justice committee, some teach CCD or volunteer with the teens… there is CCW and Cursillo, K of C.

We have a weekly adult class (meets during CCD time), it has gone on for years. They do not repeat the same series though, they move from one to another. They did Apologetics, Scott Hahn’s Bible Study, they keep choosing different series and it keeps people engaged!

 

[water]

i wasn’t trying to form a bible study, i was trying to add something useful and educational in the bulletin. people take one home every week, hopefully a few will read it. let them have something useful in addition to the parish schedule.

I understood that wasn’t a bible study. As I mentioned, the priest has his reason that you might not know. Maybe your information wasn’t helpful/needed at all to him.

 

[mikeledes]

The problem is how does fellowhip go beyond Adoration, a bible study, a rosary? In other words, outside the confines of a church? Why can’t so many Catholics discuss spiritual issues while having coffee at a Starbucks? Or while sitting in a bench in a park? Why does it seem that Christian fellowhip ends once Mass or the Rosary is over?

God bless,
Michael

 

[TOP]

The problem is how does fellowhip go beyond Adoration, a bible study, a rosary? In other words, outside the confines of a church? Why can’t so many Catholics discuss spiritual issues while having coffee at a Starbucks? Or while sitting in a bench in a park? Why does it seem that Christian fellowhip ends once Mass or the Rosary is over?

God bless,
Michael

Because they are the sick, looking to be healed. How does fellowship heal?Tim