Looking for a Catholic Church

[cisco_1]

Hello. I’m sorry if i posted this in the wrong section but i’m trying to find a good Catholic church. I know most of you are thinking that i can just go to any Catholic Church near by… however I’m not just looking for a specific place to worship but a church that has a good young adult community.

I’ve just moved from the Philippines to Queens New York (since Aug of this year), just to start a new life and gain success in my future and I am alone. All my friends and family are in the Philippines. I want a Church that a great community in where i can meet and build relationships with good people my age (Young adult) and every catholic church i’ve went to so far just doesn’t have any active groups. It’s all “go in - worship - go out”, i’ve not been able to meet some friends.

Now, one my students recommended me to go to his church which is a Protestant Church. In the Protestant Church i was actually able to meet new friends very easily… they were very inviting, holding lots of activities and faith building. It was just very relationship strong and not only was the social atmosphere strong but they were very much in love with god and his word. The Protestant service was just very enjoyable for me… great message/service, great songs being sung, and allot of great people i met, allot of people from my country… etc.

Infact, regardless of me attending the Protestant church, i still go to Mass every Saturday… pray the rosary, watch various videos of Fr Barron and other intelligent Catholic men.

However, due to the fact that making friends is so important to me (friends who I know i can also see as brethern through Christ)… and due to the fact that it has only been the protestant church that has been very social and warm then i’m in thoughts that maybe God has placed me in this church for a reason. I’ve been praying to meet some new people, a christian community, to maybe find love and companionship… and this is the church that has shown to me to have it.

However if i can find a catholic church with this, i’ve visted several websites of the catholic churches i’ve heard about in my area, i’ve seen they have young adult groups but none are active. The only social groups that are active are the ones meant for older people. I’ve asked in those churches and no body knows anything, i’ve taken email addresses and i get no response. Anybody know a catholic church with a great young adult community?

 

[ServusHumilis]

I’ve never been to a Mass in New York but if I were in your shoes I’d be willing to travel if needed and find a traditional parish that offers both the Ordinary and Extraordinary Forms of the Mass. In a city that size I’d expect one. You may be surprised to find lots of people your age attending the Extraordinary Form.

I’ve met plenty of good people of all ages in my similar situation, having met in the hall with everyone after Mass and also joining the shola and choir. Please don’t go back to the protestant church, or at least never leave our Church!

 

[ServusHumilis]

I’ve never been to a Mass in New York but if I were in your shoes I’d be willing to travel if needed and find a parish with a good, traditional priest who celebrates both the Ordinary and Extraordinary Forms of the Mass. In a city that size I’d expect several. You may be surprised to find lots of people your age attending the Extraordinary Form.

I’ve met plenty of good people of all ages in my similar situation, having met in the hall with everyone after Mass for snacks or lunch, and also through joining the shola and choir. Please don’t go back to the protestant church, or at least never leave our Church!

 

[kyrieliberame7]

St. Paul the Apostle Church on 59th St. – Great Young Adult Community

Church of the Holy Innocents on 34th St. – Mass in the EF

American Martyrs Roman Catholic Church - Out in Queens so closer to your location probably.

 

[Takemine]

You are walking on thin ice by going to a Protestant church. Your priorities are sort of upside down if you are looking for a social club and expecting to find it in church.
At some point the Protestants in that church will start to question you, and hopefully you will question yourself, why are you there?
Maybe you could talk to the priest about starting or reactivating a young adult group. Keep going to mass and friendships will happen naturally. If people are not “warm” to you, try being warm to them.
And maybe the “old people” will warm up to you. You might be surprised.
I am definitely praying for you, that you will stay in truth.

 

[JackS79943]

Personally I think what you are doing is fine, it’s good and healthy to hang out with people your age who follow Jesus. Bear in mind the fullness of truth in catholic Church and stay faithful to the bride of Christ and who knows you may even bring home some Protestant believers and start a youth revival where your living

 

[cisco_1]

St. Paul the Apostle Church on 59th St. – Great Young Adult Community

Church of the Holy Innocents on 34th St. – Mass in the EF

American Martyrs Roman Catholic Church - Out in Queens so closer to your location probably.

Thanks. The St Paul the Apostle Church is close to the protestant church i went to, and i’m reading the reviews and it has a great Young Adult group from what i’m reading. Thanks…

-I’m not really a guy who thinks negatively on a different denomination. To me, just as long as the person is following Jesus with a good heart, then i’m no person to judge what type of christian he is. However, i can’t leave the Church… i just can’t fully agree with the Protestant perspective.

 

[ServusHumilis]

Thanks. The St Paul the Apostle Church is close to the protestant church i went to, and i’m reading the reviews and it has a great Young Adult group from what i’m reading. Thanks…

-I’m not really a guy who thinks negatively on a different denomination. To me, just as long as the person is following Jesus with a good heart, then i’m no person to judge what type of christian he is. However, i can’t leave the Church… i just can’t fully agree with the Protestant perspective.

You come to the Sacrifice of the Mass in the very Church God left us to worship Him, whose Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity is truly present in the consecrated Eucharist. There is none of this in a Protestant service; it’s full of humanism and no actual worship of God since they have no valid Eucharist or Holy Orders. It’s not worth going to hear and attempt to be swayed by a false prophet’s version of Christianity, just so you can become friends with some of the people there. I bet if you checked out Holy Innocents Parish you’d never look back. Hopefully you’ll convince some of your Protestant friends to join you at Mass.

 

[cisco_1]

You come to the Sacrifice of the Mass in the very Church God left us to worship Him, whose Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity is truly present in the consecrated Eucharist. There is none of this in a Protestant service; it’s full of humanism and no actual worship of God since they have no valid Eucharist or Holy Orders. It’s not worth going to hear and attempt to be swayed by a false prophet’s version of Christianity, just so you can become friends with some of the people there. I bet if you checked out Holy Innocents Parish you’d never look back. Hopefully you’ll convince some of your Protestant friends to join you at Mass.

Thanks for your reply. I know you and i agree on our views of the Catholic Church but i just hope you also change your views of Protestants. We can’t judge a protestant of not worshiping God in actual just because his ways of approach to God isn’t the same as ours. They ultimately profess the name of God in the name of his Son and his Spirit… and they do fully dedicate themselves to him, just in a different way then what we do. Most of our best praise songs such as Great is thy Faithfulness, Give Thanks, Hark the Herald, etc etc were composed and written by Protestants. Their are allot of great God fearing/serving people in those churches and just because they differ in views towards certain practices, scripture, points of view does not mean that God does not dwell in/with them.

 

[Takemine]

I have Protestant friends, even protestant family members, and while I agree that we are all looking toward Jesus and worshipping God, it is not the same as actually going to their churches and participating.
I think we all want a place to belong. If you meet lots of nice people and they are friendly and welcoming, they will want you to give up your Catholic faith. Going to two churches will get more difficult and you will eventually have to make a choice, because no matter how nice these people are, if you are Catholic, you will not “belong” there and you are putting your faith to the test…for what?
Read up on how Protestantism began and see the errors that were made.

 

[cisco_1]

I have Protestant friends, even protestant family members, and while I agree that we are all looking toward Jesus and worshipping God, it is not the same as actually going to their churches and participating.
I think we all want a place to belong. If you meet lots of nice people and they are friendly and welcoming, they will want you to give up your Catholic faith. Going to two churches will get more difficult and you will eventually have to make a choice, because no matter how nice these people are, if you are Catholic, you will not “belong” there and you are putting your faith to the test…for what?
Read up on how Protestantism began and see the errors that were made.

Yes, no doubt. They will likely make me leave the church and i just can’t do that which is why I am surely going for the Church of St Paul the Apostle. I’ve been researching it allot.

I have been a protestant too in my early years but i left because of learning more about the Catholic faith and i just view the Catholic way to be right scriptural point of view. However, i’m not going to act as a “holier than thou” type due to this… i came to the belief that I am not going to exclude someone of being a christian just because his views on a system of worship is supposed to be. To me, just as long as the person loves God: speaks the truth that God is trinity, that God became flesh/sent his son, that he is the Messiah who died and resurrected and will come again, and also lives as a good person towards others then he is fully a christian regardless of any belief/point of view/worship system.

 

[Takemine]

Look around on Catholic Answers and read about the Magisterium, Authority, Sola Scriptura, before you make your decision. Faith is more than what kind of taste in music is, or a good “message” by a preacher. Faith goes much deeper than that.
It is about the sacraments first and foremost.
You have come to the right place, by asking your question on this forum. I hope you find what you need and want at St Paul the Apostle church. Again, you are in my prayers, Cisco, and I wish you all the best. I hope you will stick around here on CAF!

 

[ServusHumilis]

Thanks for your reply. I know you and i agree on our views of the Catholic Church but i just hope you also change your views of Protestants. We can’t judge a protestant of not worshiping God in actual just because his ways of approach to God isn’t the same as ours. They ultimately profess the name of God in the name of his Son and his Spirit… and they do fully dedicate themselves to him, just in a different way then what we do. Most of our best praise songs such as Great is thy Faithfulness, Give Thanks, Hark the Herald, etc etc were composed and written by Protestants. Their are allot of great God fearing/serving people in those churches and just because they differ in views towards certain practices, scripture, points of view does not mean that God does not dwell in/with them.

The point is you are already Catholic. You are already part of the fullness of the faith, and the very Church which Christ himself founded. What reason could you possibly have to be attending services in another church? None of what you said on protestants do I disagree with but what I said in my previous post still stands. I have protestant friends and family too. It is those who broke away with the Church hundreds of years ago that are to blame rather than those who were handed down and carrying on their errors today who just don’t know any better. You do know better though. Do yourself a favor and at least check out Holy Innocents one Sunday soon. Rather than going to one Catholic parish and one protestant church Sunday, why not check out two Catholic parishes? I would also suggest trying different Mass times Sunday at the same parish.

 

[ServusHumilis]

Thanks for your reply. I know you and i agree on our views of the Catholic Church but i just hope you also change your views of Protestants. We can’t judge a protestant of not worshiping God in actual just because his ways of approach to God isn’t the same as ours. They ultimately profess the name of God in the name of his Son and his Spirit… and they do fully dedicate themselves to him, just in a different way then what we do. Most of our best praise songs such as Great is thy Faithfulness, Give Thanks, Hark the Herald, etc etc were composed and written by Protestants. Their are allot of great God fearing/serving people in those churches and just because they differ in views towards certain practices, scripture, points of view does not mean that God does not dwell in/with them.

The point is you are already Catholic. You are already part of the fullness of the faith, and the very Church which Christ himself founded. What reason could you possibly have to be attending services in another church? None of what you said on protestants do I disagree with but what I said in my previous post still stands. I have protestant friends and family too, but I don’t worship with them. It is those who broke away with the Church hundreds of years ago that are to blame rather than those who were handed down and carrying on their errors today who just don’t know any better. You do know better though.

Do yourself a favor and at least check out Holy Innocents one Sunday soon. Rather than going to one Catholic parish and one protestant church Sundays, why not check out two Catholic parishes? I would also suggest trying different Mass times Sundays within the same parish.

 

[cisco_1]

My reason for going to the Protestant church was to find a good circle of friends. When living on your own and completely alone for the first time, one of the wisest decisions you can make is choosing the people who will be in your friend circle… while i agree with your view on the catholic church, allot of the catholic churches have a much inferrior social community than protestants do. It’s good to have a social community when you know the people around you are good and also have high respect/love for God, regardless of different doctrine beliefs… that is pretty much my main reason. But thanks to everyone here who gave me info on some churches with a good social community.

 

[ServusHumilis]

My reason for going to the Protestant church was to find a good circle of friends. When living on your own and completely alone for the first time, one of the wisest decisions you can make is choosing the people who will be in your friend circle… while i agree with your view on the catholic church, allot of the catholic churches have a much inferrior social community than protestants do. It’s good to have a social community when you know the people around you are good and also have high respect/love for God, regardless of different doctrine beliefs… that is pretty much my main reason. But thanks to everyone here who gave me info on some churches with a good social community.

The reasons for going to church are to receive the sacraments and adore Christ in the Eucharist. Again, this is not to be found within the protestant churches. What they offer as far as services is fine for them, but as Catholics we know better. And if it were me having moved to a new city I would want my circle of friends to be largely Catholic.

Perhaps the Catholic churches have a big community in the Philipines but I’m sad to say where I live on the west coast it’s often not the case. This is why I’m suggesting churches that offer the EF Mass where I’ve found there’s a community in every case. We go to Mass to pray, sing, and receive Christ in the Eucharist. Then after Mass we all go to the hall and hangout, sometimes for hours eating lunch, snacks, drinking coffee and chatting. I’ve met every regular attendee at my parish and know most by name. The priests are always around to talk with too. If we stick around long enough, it becomes time for adoration… the Eucharist having been exposed in the church since the end of Mass.

What I’m trying to suggest is not to choose your church for the wrong reasons. The reason to be there is not to socialize. Perhaps any programs whatever parish you go to seem to be in your opinion lacking can be, in time, suggested or even established by you.

 

[ServusHumilis]

My reason for going to the Protestant church was to find a good circle of friends. When living on your own and completely alone for the first time, one of the wisest decisions you can make is choosing the people who will be in your friend circle… while i agree with your view on the catholic church, allot of the catholic churches have a much inferrior social community than protestants do. It’s good to have a social community when you know the people around you are good and also have high respect/love for God, regardless of different doctrine beliefs… that is pretty much my main reason. But thanks to everyone here who gave me info on some churches with a good social community.

I understand but I’m afraid what you’re doing isn’t even an option. It’s up to us as Catholics to make the communites up in our own parishes but the main reasons for going to church are to receive the sacraments and adore Christ in the Eucharist. Again, this is not to be found within the protestant churches. What they offer as far as services is fine for them, but as Catholics we know better. Also if it were me having moved to a new city I would want my circle of friends to be largely Catholic.

Perhaps the Catholic churches have a big community in the Philipines but I’m sad to say where I live on the west coast it’s often not the case. This is why I’m suggesting churches that offer the EF Mass where I’ve found there’s a community in every case. We go to Mass to pray, sing, and receive Christ in the Eucharist. Right after Mass is Eucharistic exposition. We all go to the hall and hangout, sometimes for hours eating lunch, snacks, drinking coffee and chatting. I’ve met and spoken with every regular attendee that goes to my Mass and know most by name. The priests are always around to talk with too. If we stick around long enough, it becomes time for adoration back in the church.

Perhaps any programs whatever parish you go to seem to be in your opinion lacking can be, in time, suggested or even established by you.