IYO: Are Catholic weak on fellowship?

  • Thread starter Thread starter PJM
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
Me too.

TC3033, I’ve never encountered any such attitude at any Catholic parish I’ve ever been to. It’s never a good idea to take at face value things people say about some experience they had because it will naturally be colored by what they thought happened/was intended, and not necessarily what actually happened/what was intended. It’s one of the reasons second hand testimony is not admissible in a court of law, and it’s akin to gossip, also a very unreliable source for information.
Sorry you all don’t believe me, but the story 100% lines up with the actions of the priest and his feelings/treatment about/of non-Catholics. I’d say the source is very, very reliable.

I can share if you’d really like, even though we’re starting to take a hard left off the topic?
 
Sorry you all don’t believe me, but the story 100% lines up with the actions of the priest and his feelings/treatment about/of non-Catholics. I’d say the source is very, very reliable.

I can share if you’d really like, even though we’re starting to take a hard left off the topic?
I heard it before and too many things don’t add up
 
Sorry you all don’t believe me, but the story 100% lines up with the actions of the priest and his feelings/treatment about/of non-Catholics. I’d say the source is very, very reliable.

I can share if you’d really like, even though we’re starting to take a hard left off the topic?
I take you word for it, then. 🙂 However, this is most certainly not typical behavior for a priest or a parish. You don’t have to go into all the circumstances for the sake of all involved. I’d have to wonder about the context of such an action. Some Catholics live in the midst of very anti-Catholic areas and that sort of thing. Then again, priests are human beings who makes mistakes, just as Protestant ministers or Rabbis are and can do the same. Parishes ought not to be unwelcoming. I’ve never been to one that would make an issue of anyone’s religious affiliation. Indeed, we had a guy at our parish who was an usher and played Santa at Christmas parties. No one knew he was a Protestant until one of the Knights of Columbus asked him to come to an informational meeting for the Order. 😛 I’m sorry your friend had such an experience. It’s not typical, though, that I can assure you.
 
In Your Opinion, are Catholics weak on fellowship?
We were good about that, then not so good and now good again. But I must say that it’s mainly the seniors who fellowship the most.
 
I heard it before and too many things don’t add up
OK, so you just don’t believe me…that’s cool.

Sounds like this guy might have been a far out wackadoodle in comparison and a lot of his actions are pretty unbelievable.
 
Hi TC.

Look at it this way: Out of the parishes in my area, I can think of one that I would say is like CAF … but compare that with about a dozen that aren’t.

Regarding your situation, I don’t want to sound like a know-it-all, but it really seems to me like you ought to chalk that one parish (the one that’s caused you so much grief) up to a fallen world. I hope obviously that it will get better in the future, but in the mean time realize that most parishes aren’t like that.
 
OK, so you just don’t believe me…that’s cool.
Indeed 👍. Getting personally invested in an Internet Discussion Forum is often a recipe for grief.

As it happens, I’ve read every, or nearly-every, post on this thread (which people who know me can attest is a very unusual thing for me to do). It has been an interesting experience, to say the least … But as indicated in my post to Jane, I try to keep this in perspective w.r. to my overall experience as a Catholic.
 
Plus, there is the fact that Protestant congregations tend to be far more heterogeneous than Catholic parishes. Protestants typically attend a congregation that meets their desires. If you want a chatty fellowship community, you attend one. So almost everyone there matches that description.

Catholic Churches are typically based on parish boundaries only, with people from all walks of life.
I know you didn’t mean this when you typed it, but I will say that Manassas Baptist Church has more than one congregation affixed to it: you have the regular English- speaking congregation, followed by a Hispanic congregation, with an Arabic congregation and a Vietnamese congregation. I think that probably counts as heterogenous ( although the Baptist Church I grew up in was largely White Anglo- Saxon Protestant, with a Korean and a Latino family in attendance). The fact that the church looks to be a culturally diverse one sort of interests me werchurch.com/about/. It might be a little younger on the whole, as well.
 
I’ll give it a read.

I’m a little perturbed this week. My neighbor across the street told me a story about how he was “called out” for not being Catholic prior to a supper at the church. Kind of irked me and showed me that people do notice and some do care when non-Catholics are in the house. We can go offline if you’re interested…
There are individual jerks everywhere. The actions of a jerk doesn’t speak for a religion, even if he’s a member of the clergy.

For example: I know of a priest who is a major piece of work. He doesn’t like to cooperate/ coordinate with other area parishes. He gets into arguments with other priests, etc.

Point is, there are individuals (even clergy) out there who are off-color / jaded; who are really in need of our prayers.
 
In Your Opinion, are Catholics weak on fellowship?
In general yes. Protestants do a much better job overall. It’s a major issue as to why many are lured away from the Catholic Church into Protestant denominations particularly fundamentalists traditions.
 
If “fellowship” is measured by the amount of noise inside the Church before and after Mass, whilst people are trying to offer prayers, examine their conscience and praise God, I want none of it. My wish is for peace and quiet in the Church.

For me, Fellowship carries a connotation of social gathering being the focal point of being at Church. I go to Mass each Sunday, and whenever possible during the week, because I am a Catholic, believe the teachings of the Chuch, and am trying (in varying capacities) to grow and enrich my faith through God. Not because I want to “see” anyone.

At my old Parish, in the “off-season,” there were maybe a dozen of us attending for Mass or a Communion Service. We usually followed up with a cuppa, some biscuits or cake if someone brought something along. We all knew one-another, and would catch-up sometimes, or arrange times of prayer and Adoration.

So when people complain about a lack of “fellowship,” it makes me wonder what their motives are. Do they participate in the daily recitation of the Rosary after Mass? Come along for adoration? Join the choir? Or even the multitude of social happenings on weeknights?
There are plenty of people you can meet and get to know through these activities.

I feel as if people expect “fellowship” to be handed to them on a plate; whether it be a Parish canteen, tea & coffee or whatever. Perhaps they aren’t willing to go and engage someone, or join in the day-to-day motions of the Parish.

Every so often, I attend the Latin Mass chapel about 25 minutes away. Particularly at Saturday or Sunday Masses, people greet me after Mass outside the Chapel. This Chapel has plenty of “happenings” during the week, too, I’m sure they are well-attended. Compared to what some people think, it seems the Traditional Catholics in this community are more willing to say “G’day” than other city parishes I’ve attended.

Just my 2¢ (or maybe $20) worth. Perhaps I’m out of line.
 
If “fellowship” is measured by the amount of noise inside the Church before and after Mass, whilst people are trying to offer prayers, examine their conscience and praise God, I want none of it. My wish is for peace and quiet in the Church.

For me, Fellowship carries a connotation of social gathering being the focal point of being at Church. I go to Mass each Sunday, and whenever possible during the week, because I am a Catholic, believe the teachings of the Chuch, and am trying (in varying capacities) to grow and enrich my faith through God. Not because I want to “see” anyone.

At my old Parish, in the “off-season,” there were maybe a dozen of us attending for Mass or a Communion Service. We usually followed up with a cuppa, some biscuits or cake if someone brought something along. We all knew one-another, and would catch-up sometimes, or arrange times of prayer and Adoration.

So when people complain about a lack of “fellowship,” it makes me wonder what their motives are. Do they participate in the daily recitation of the Rosary after Mass? Come along for adoration? Join the choir? Or even the multitude of social happenings on weeknights?
There are plenty of people you can meet and get to know through these activities.

I feel as if people expect “fellowship” to be handed to them on a plate; whether it be a Parish canteen, tea & coffee or whatever. Perhaps they aren’t willing to go and engage someone, or join in the day-to-day motions of the Parish.

Every so often, I attend the Latin Mass chapel about 25 minutes away. Particularly at Saturday or Sunday Masses, people greet me after Mass outside the Chapel. This Chapel has plenty of “happenings” during the week, too, I’m sure they are well-attended. Compared to what some people think, it seems the Traditional Catholics in this community are more willing to say “G’day” than other city parishes I’ve attended.

Just my 2¢ (or maybe $20) worth. Perhaps I’m out of line.
Is fellowship measured by the amount of noise inside the Church before and after Mass?
 
You do realize I’m not Catholic…
And the longest parish I’ve stayed around was visiting every few months for 7 years (my best friend a member).
Yes of course I know that

And you are trying to apply a different ethos and traditions to Catholic churches.Like expecting cricket at a football ground

That is what I mean by “respect”, and also it is humility.

Some of the other posts have explained aspects of this.

It took me a while when I was first in Ireland to "get " that yes I was lining up for communion with people i did not know, but I came slowly to understand why and that we are all truly one in Christ in ways that do not always mean happy clappy greetings. And I started to a deeper understanding and to value these aspects that you do not.
 
My husband came from a mostly Protestant town. He used to tell me stories of “fellowship”. . An atheist who went to church only for the fellowshipping. His neighbor hit every Protestant church in the town to find one where she liked the fellowshipping and the music. On and on.
They What was fellowship like in 1st century? It usually was a meal ,which is sacred in many cultures. What is called fellowship is often just a friendly chat ,schmoozing and just hanging out. What is missing in most churches is hospitality. Biblical hospitality, which is much more than milk and cookies. It means going out of one’s way to accommodate the person in all ways he needs. The person ,no matter how disenfranchised, is to be welcomed as an honoured guest. A good guide is section 53 of the rule of saint Benedict . No happy slappy ,!! Just treating the stranger as if It was Jesus himself. Not a palsey walsey confab. Dignity ,love, concern.
Welcoming the stranger Is one of the corporal works of mercy it’s also scriptural. And it means going way beyond the normal " how you doing".
The Lord always pushes us to our “better” selves . Not an easy path . What he asks is to go beyond the normal the standard and into the divine.
 
People had regular places to sit. You knew who belonged where. You knew when someone wasn’t there.

I moved out of state before beginning my journey across the Tiber. The last time I returned to my home town and visited my old church showed me something I would never see in my parish.

As I entered the church, I spotted an empty area and took a seat. **Someone came over and whispered, “Mrs. Smith usually sits here.” I moved. Another person caught my eye and told me that another person usually sat there. **The third time was a charm. This was in a church that seats about eight-hundred people.
This would have made me feel more unwelcome than no one interacting with me at all, I would not have gone looking a third time to find a seat.
 
My husband came from a mostly Protestant town. He used to tell me stories of “fellowship”. . An atheist who went to church only for the fellowshipping. His neighbor hit every Protestant church in the town to find one where she liked the fellowshipping and the music. On and on.
They What was fellowship like in 1st century? It usually was a meal ,which is sacred in many cultures. What is called fellowship is often just a friendly chat ,schmoozing and just hanging out. What is missing in most churches is hospitality. Biblical hospitality, which is much more than milk and cookies. It means going out of one’s way to accommodate the person in all ways he needs. The person ,no matter how disenfranchised, is to be welcomed as an honoured guest. A good guide is section 53 of the rule of saint Benedict . No happy slappy ,!! Just treating the stranger as if It was Jesus himself. Not a palsey walsey confab. Dignity ,love, concern.
Welcoming the stranger Is one of the corporal works of mercy it’s also scriptural. And it means going way beyond the normal " how you doing".
The Lord always pushes us to our “better” selves . Not an easy path . What he asks is to go beyond the normal the standard and into the divine.
👍

This has been in my heart too.

Folk are slow to show need. Maybe we are too rich and comfortable? Seems the more well off we are th eless we seek to share at a basic level .
 
In general yes. Protestants do a much better job overall. It’s a major issue as to why many are lured away from the Catholic Church into Protestant denominations particularly fundamentalists traditions.
I don’t disagree with you, BUT

Does this not overlook the very reason we meet for Worship?

In other words is the primary- focus on how we feal, or is it to be on Worship of God?

GBY
 
There are individual jerks everywhere. The actions of a jerk doesn’t speak for a religion, even if he’s a member of the clergy.

For example: I know of a priest who is a major piece of work. He doesn’t like to cooperate/ coordinate with other area parishes. He gets into arguments with other priests, etc.

Point is, there are individuals (even clergy) out there who are off-color / jaded; who are really in need of our prayers.
And, I think, that is where the problem may lie. Him and this Parrish have really been my first (and only) impression.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top