I'm Jealous

[lovesMary]

I look at my Evangelical friends and see that their churches offer many ministries, youth groups, and fellowship opportunities. My Catholic Church seems dead by comparison. All there is is Altar society and YLI, which meets at a totally inconvenient time for me so I’ve never joined.

My friends’ churches sponsor kids going to camp and they all go together. They have ministries for alcoholics, for single parents, for all sorts of things. I’m jealous that they are so well organized, while in my church everyone does their own thing for the most part.

Why is it that other Christians seems to do so much more together? They have church vans and organize field trips as a group and seem like more cohesive communites.

I’m jealous!

 

[dolphinlove]

I belong to a wonderful church group in Australia, we all do things together.
Why dont you start the ball rolling and form a youth group within your community?

 

[maryj]

Get involved yourself. I’m guessing you have a pastoral council, see if you can become a member of it.

 

[lovesMary]

We already tried. Everyone is too involved in secular activities. Father said kids are too busy with sports. Most people in my church are involved in other activites and don’t seem to be interested in fellowship groups.

 

[AngloCatholic1]

lovesMary,

I’m not an “offical” Catholic yet, but I’m hoping your experience is particular to your own parish… and isn’t the general “rule of thumb” across the Catholic world.

My wife and I are Traditional Anglicans, and are currently considering a move to the Catholic church. My reasons are primarily doctinal/theological, but my wife (great Mom that she is) wanted to make sure any church we chose had plenty of social activities for our kids. As it turns out, the local Catholic church up the road has more group organizations and activities (for both children and adults) than any other church in our small city.

If your parish doesn’t offer the social activities you want, you have two options. 1) Ask around and see if you can get others involved in starting some of these activities, or 2) See if there is another nearby Catholic parish that already has them.

There is no option 3) be jealous! (That’s getting too close to breaking the 9th commandment). You may have heard the old adage “The grass is always greener in the neighbour’s back yard” (There’s an old movie titled “The Grass is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank!” - which may apply here depending upon the protestant churches involved!).

 

[Sepharad]

I look at my Evangelical friends and see that their churches offer many ministries, youth groups, and fellowship opportunities. My Catholic Church seems dead by comparison. All there is is Altar society and YLI, which meets at a totally inconvenient time for me so I’ve never joined.

My friends’ churches sponsor kids going to camp and they all go together. They have ministries for alcoholics, for single parents, for all sorts of things. I’m jealous that they are so well organized, while in my church everyone does their own thing for the most part.

Why is it that other Christians seems to do so much more together? They have church vans and organize field trips as a group and seem like more cohesive communites.

I’m jealous!

Catholics are generally born into and raised in their religion. Evangelicals, with few exceptions, are generally people who have chosen to join that church.

People who choose a religion are generally more active in it than people who had it placed on them from birth. At least that has been what I have observed.

This is why converts to a religion are almost always more zealous than those born into it.

 

[Ted_in_Charlott]

Our church has just as many activities as any of the mega-Protestent churches in the area, if not more. We also have 14,000 families. I don’t know which came first the programs or the people, I would say a little of both. I would say that there are more people involved at this church than you will find parishioners at others.

home.catholicweb.com/stmatthewcatholic/index.cfm

I left one parish because of many reasons, one being they didn’t have the right mass schedule or adoration. Never regreted it one bit.

 

[1ke]

I look at my Evangelical friends and see that their churches offer many ministries, youth groups, and fellowship opportunities. My Catholic Church seems dead by comparison. All there is is Altar society and YLI, which meets at a totally inconvenient time for me so I’ve never joined.

Well, you have two choices other than moving to a new parish:

Accep it.
Change it.

My friends’ churches sponsor kids going to camp and they all go together. They have ministries for alcoholics, for single parents, for all sorts of things. I’m jealous that they are so well organized, while in my church everyone does their own thing for the most part.

Why do you need a “group”? Other denominations in your area may have tons of activities, but you have the Eucharist. Being busy does not equate to being holy. Stop, go to adoration, and be thankful for what our church has that others don’t.

If you want to be invovled in social ministries, reach out beyond your parish. Many opportunities exist at the diocesan level to serve others in need.

Why is it that other Christians seems to do so much more together?

Are they more together, or just busy?

They have church vans and organize field trips as a group and seem like more cohesive communites.

You have the Sacraments, Adoration, opportunity for devotions. I don’t understand your envy of church vans and field trips.

 

[puzzleannie]

I look at my Evangelical friends and see that their churches offer many ministries, youth groups, and fellowship opportunities. My Catholic Church seems dead by comparison. All there is is Altar society and YLI, which meets at a totally inconvenient time for me so I’ve never joined.

My friends’ churches sponsor kids going to camp and they all go together. They have ministries for alcoholics, for single parents, for all sorts of things. I’m jealous that they are so well organized, while in my church everyone does their own thing for the most part.

Why is it that other Christians seems to do so much more together? They have church vans and organize field trips as a group and seem like more cohesive communites.

I’m jealous!

which of these do you see as most necessary in your parish? go to the pastor, explain your reasons and plan for establishing this ministry, gather some like-minded volunteers and go for it.

 

[Sepharad]

I sort of had the opposite problem! My synagogue had so many activities (mostly for kids), that I felt there was little for adults…so although we still go there and my kids still go to their school part-time, I have lately been worshipping at another synagogue occasionally as well, which is more focused on just spirituality and not a lot of outside activities.

 

[Cathdefender]

My church is so busy, i almost feel bad for my priest. He does so much alone and never tires from it. My church is also part of a school to. My priest has Adoration every day and night, Holy Sunday night with the Eucharist. Healing Masses every Tuesday and Thursday, every kind of kid’s activities available, babysitting, bible classes, plus the countless converts and baptisms. On and on.
Maybe try another parish…as for jealousy? No, I wouldn’t be jealous of your friend. You are in the church that Jesus founded. She’s probably jealous of you.

 

[GladCatholic]

Church isn’t for community, it’s for God–we are a liturgical and sacramental religion–we have the Eucharist. The Catholic Church is not about activity, activity, activity…if that’s what’s desired, the parishioners should decide that and spearhead it and do it. But the main focus of the Catholic faith is worship of God and participation in the sacramental life.

Here’s where I’m coming from…right now in my diocese, the bishop is closing 50% of the parishes, and nearly every one of them are the smaller traditional architectural type with beautiful design, statues, deep prayer life, many that are self-supporting (in other words, all debt paid and self-sustaining not costing the diocese a dime), prayer filled parishes. You know what he is using as the model? A mega-church circular barn-style barebones butt-rump ugly church with 44+ ministries! He envisions the protestant mega-church as the model of a Catholic parish…If “no one” in your church is interested, go do it with likeminded people from another parish. You have the Eucharist, Adoration, Mass, all the other stuff is peripheral.

In the meantime, one can’t attend daily Mass unless their workday fits in that teensy tiny window of church services in the a.m. But my goodness, I could attend any number of “ministries” I want every night of the week–but I can’t attend Mass or receive the Eucharist.

Apologies for my curmudgeonly post, but if you want something community oriented, do it but it’s not the Church’s main job. Offering the Mass and the Sacraments are the focus–you want ministries, then organize it and do it.

Glad

 

[Robert_in_SD]

I look at my Evangelical friends and see that their churches offer many ministries, youth groups, and fellowship opportunities. My Catholic Church seems dead by comparison. All there is is Altar society and YLI, which meets at a totally inconvenient time for me so I’ve never joined.

My friends’ churches sponsor kids going to camp and they all go together. They have ministries for alcoholics, for single parents, for all sorts of things. I’m jealous that they are so well organized, while in my church everyone does their own thing for the most part.

Why is it that other Christians seems to do so much more together? They have church vans and organize field trips as a group and seem like more cohesive communites.

I’m jealous!

The “Mega-Churches” that have more programs than your parish do so only because they have more volunteers to run them. The way I see it, you have three options:

(1) Do nothing and stay as you are;
(2) Work to change the non-volunteerism culture in the parish you presently attend; or
(3) Find a more active parish that offers the programs you think you need.

Personally, I believe the best of these options would be #2. I’m guessing there are probably others that feel like you do, but they lack leadership. The priest cannot do everything alone. He needs support from the laity if any real change is to occur.

Pray about the situation more, ask the Lord if perhaps He is calling YOU to a new position of ministry.

Peace,
-Robert

Peace,
-Robert

 

[Nickkname]

I look at my Evangelical friends and see that their churches offer many ministries, youth groups, and fellowship opportunities. My Catholic Church seems dead by comparison. All there is is Altar society and YLI, which meets at a totally inconvenient time for me so I’ve never joined.

My friends’ churches sponsor kids going to camp and they all go together. They have ministries for alcoholics, for single parents, for all sorts of things. I’m jealous that they are so well organized, while in my church everyone does their own thing for the most part.

Why is it that other Christians seems to do so much more together? They have church vans and organize field trips as a group and seem like more cohesive communites.

I’m jealous!

Yet they don’t have the Eucharistic Prescence of Jesus Christ, so really, why be jealous? And secondly, you shouldn’t be jealous, but happy for your friends, and do what YOU can to aid the Church to be better. Complaining and worrying dose nothing. Prayer and penance, on the other hand, dose everything.

 

[embertx3]

I look at my Evangelical friends and see that their churches offer many ministries, youth groups, and fellowship opportunities. My Catholic Church seems dead by comparison. All there is is Altar society and YLI, which meets at a totally inconvenient time for me so I’ve never joined.

My friends’ churches sponsor kids going to camp and they all go together. They have ministries for alcoholics, for single parents, for all sorts of things. I’m jealous that they are so well organized, while in my church everyone does their own thing for the most part.

Why is it that other Christians seems to do so much more together? They have church vans and organize field trips as a group and seem like more cohesive communites.

I’m jealous!

What I miss about the Baptist church that I used to go to was the Family Life Center. Membership was just $25.00 a yr and have access to the spa, gym, basket ball court, game room and other things as well. In the winter time and hot summer days I can go upstairs and walk in circles for miles and get my exercises and not have to worry about being hot, cold, wind and other element. Also, I get to meet different people and socialize. The center was open until 10pm and I think opened around 7a. My children and I spent a lot of time at the center when they were younger and kept my children active and out of trouble most of the time. Not sure how the center was funded; am guessing through donations. It has crossed my mind many times to go attend the church services just so I could get access to the gym but I don’t think that would be morally right. I wish I had the ability it takes to round up people from church to donate and come up with the funds to build such a center.

 

[bpbasilphx]

I have two questions, LovesMary:

1. Which church is bigger–your parish or this pop-evangelical church? Bigger churches of any denomination can simply do more.
2. What are YOU doing to make your parish more vibrant? (Don’t answer me on this one. Discuss it with God.)

 

[JonNC]

I look at my Evangelical friends and see that their churches offer many ministries, youth groups, and fellowship opportunities. My Catholic Church seems dead by comparison. All there is is Altar society and YLI, which meets at a totally inconvenient time for me so I’ve never joined.

My friends’ churches sponsor kids going to camp and they all go together. They have ministries for alcoholics, for single parents, for all sorts of things. I’m jealous that they are so well organized, while in my church everyone does their own thing for the most part.

Why is it that other Christians seems to do so much more together? They have church vans and organize field trips as a group and seem like more cohesive communites.

I’m jealous!

Hi lovesMary,
I’m from the other side of the fence, and I don’t know, your grass kind of looks greener to me.

Jon

 

[dolphinlove]

LovesMary…
Love yr name

To start with, talk to the priest about setting up a coffee/tea store after mass so that way, you get the ball rolling with the parishioners talking to each other? From there, slowly start to introduce other activities when they get to know each other better, perhaps a prayer night or something along those lines.
Also, start a cake stall with the morning coffee to help raise money for the parish, that way you will be raising money for the church and for the tea/coffee stand.
The key is to start small and build from there.
Hope this helps
Dolphinlove

 

[puzzleannie]

The “Mega-Churches” that have more programs than your parish do so only because they have more volunteers to run them. rt

actually most mega-churches of the non-denom variety have several paid pastoral positions, such as youth pastor, children’s pastor, pastor to single and divorced members, pastor for seniors etc., and a variety of other paid staff including their very ambitious music ministries, social service outreach etc. That is because they tithe. If Catholics tithed, they too could have much more far reaching programs.

 

[GailMac]

Hi there LovesMary!

I’m assuming your parish isn’t the only Catholic church you can travel to. You might check out the other parishes around you by going for Mass, and picking up their bullitens. In them you will probably find something to suit you whether that is Legion of Mary, Soldality, Adorers, lectoring, volunteering in the parish proper or elsewhere, whatever, and I’m sure they won’t turn you away if you tell them you are from another parish where these things don’t happen. Talk to the priests at these other parishes too.

I hope this “jealousy” in you doesn’t kindle into something else. Keep in mind in the spiritual life, we have dry spells, and everything seems very dull, boring and mundane and even Communion gets blah and we can start to wonder. This happens to everyone once in a while. Ride it out and pray to be out of the desert. Tell Jesus of your thirst and beg for some living water.

Peace,

Gail