Z
Zundrah
Guest
Amen.
Humans are cruel and very evil
but those who follow christ shall have their evil fall away from them. 
Let’s just at the least try to be christians… 
God bless you SeanTom.
xxx jennifer xxx
(Methodist Protestant) This is my "protest" against the Catholic chruch!!!
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but those who follow christ shall have their evil fall away from them. Let’s just at the least try to be christians… God bless you SeanTom.
xxx jennifer xxx
M
Musician
Guest
Zundrah,
Too bad you won’t be able to access the Internet for a while. You could really learn a lot from Catholic Answers…It is a fun place to meet and greet.
Sorry about your experience. It puzzles me. Normally Catholics do not “glad-hand” a lot after Mass with strangers - it is one of our failings! We should go out of our way to greet visitors and yet we are much more reserved than Protestants. I guess one reason is because we are involved in Mass in a very personal worshipful way, and we aren’t as open as Protestants are.
However, Catholics are very evangelistic; but in the way of service. For instance, Catholics, when they evangelize, generally serve the poor and in that way we recruit new members, rather than “sheep-stealing” (trying to get Protestants to convert). I could go on and on about hospitals, schools, clinics, etc., that Catholics have started but I won’t.
Anyway, try again, possibly at a different church. Go talk to a priest. Talk to people on this forum. You’ll find that we Catholics are people just like any other!
Too bad you won’t be able to access the Internet for a while. You could really learn a lot from Catholic Answers…It is a fun place to meet and greet.
Sorry about your experience. It puzzles me. Normally Catholics do not “glad-hand” a lot after Mass with strangers - it is one of our failings! We should go out of our way to greet visitors and yet we are much more reserved than Protestants. I guess one reason is because we are involved in Mass in a very personal worshipful way, and we aren’t as open as Protestants are.
However, Catholics are very evangelistic; but in the way of service. For instance, Catholics, when they evangelize, generally serve the poor and in that way we recruit new members, rather than “sheep-stealing” (trying to get Protestants to convert). I could go on and on about hospitals, schools, clinics, etc., that Catholics have started but I won’t.
Anyway, try again, possibly at a different church. Go talk to a priest. Talk to people on this forum. You’ll find that we Catholics are people just like any other!
T
Tonks40
Guest
This is a beautiful way of approaching the Church. But you’ll be doing more than that…you’ll be opening up more to Christ. Continue seeking Him through the Church…whether you’re on the Internet or not. And don’t be scared to approach your local priest for help.
God Bless!
Z
Zundrah
Guest
Zundrah,
Too bad you won’t be able to access the Internet for a while. You could really learn a lot from Catholic Answers…It is a fun place to meet and greet.
Sorry about your experience. It puzzles me. Normally Catholics do not “glad-hand” a lot after Mass with strangers - it is one of our failings! We should go out of our way to greet visitors and yet we are much more reserved than Protestants. I guess one reason is because we are involved in Mass in a very personal worshipful way, and we aren’t as open as Protestants are.
However, Catholics are very evangelistic; but in the way of service. For instance, Catholics, when they evangelize, generally serve the poor and in that way we recruit new members, rather than “sheep-stealing” (trying to get Protestants to convert). I could go on and on about hospitals, schools, clinics, etc., that Catholics have started but I won’t.
Anyway, try again, possibly at a different church. Go talk to a priest. Talk to people on this forum. You’ll find that we Catholics are people just like any other!
As for the sheep stealing;
I want to be stolen from the protestant beliefs because I want to be catholic but i have soooo many issues…
I am no longer at my methodist church, I left before christmas… I guess you could call me a lost sheep that wondered into a roman catholic field and got scared and ran back out!
…
xxx jennifer xxx
Z
Zundrah
Guest
But it is easier said then done…
B
bibagirl
Guest
I´m very sorry you had a bad first experience, I guess the people in the congregation felt on edge because they may have felt judged by you (as indeed they were!!) and may not have known what to do. They are just parishioners and may have expected the priest to explain things to you (before or after the mass). Also, as you know, whispering during Mass is very frowned upon so they could not give you a running commentary. Perhaps they assumed you were there just to observe the Mass and not actually partake in it? I don´t really know - I´m just giving suggestions as to their behaviour.Where do I start? Hmm… with my experience…
I went to a catholic church once and it was so hostile, no one spoke to me, no one greeted me, no one explained anything to me and they all just kept giving me weird and very mean looks from the side because I was an “out sider”.
When I got a quick word with a woman at the back of the church I mentioned that I was a protestant from a methodist chruch, then suddenly every one seemed on edge and gave me funny looks as if I should be in their church.
You have the cathechism and the book of cannons, communion, loads of different events during the week that aren’t even explained to you. What are they for? Why has your chruch made it so difficult or even impossible for a new commer to grasp!?
I don’t protest against the covenant made to peter, the keys given to him or even the fact that the pope decends from him. But I think that the catholic church just hasn’t done its best with that covenant…
You don’t go out to the lost sheep but instead you call them “outsiders”…
You stay in you church and look after each other but what happened to christ good words such as - “Do you love me? Go and tend to my sheep.” I don’t see the catholic chruch trending to lost sheeps do you?
The chruch is just a museum of saints and a place of religious routine instead of a place of whorship.
Where is the whorship!? When I go there you are just going to one page to another with out even telling me where I should be in this “book” that I’ve never seen before by the way! There is this other book of hymms and even that has no direction… What is this and why does every body else seem to know what pages to go to but I don’t!?
I didn’t feel like I was in a chruch, it felt more like a temple with images and statues that people were kissing and bowing to! Some of the catholics there even got down on their knees to a statue of joseph (Mary’s husband).
Catholics seem to be like muslims - very religious but lacking in love and peace giving emotions!
And when do catholics even bother to go to protestants and try to convert them!? I’ll give you a big clue, never, that’s when!
Why is all the writings on the walls in a strange language!?
Why was jesus spelt as Jesvs? Why was Mary spelt as Maria?
Gasp… :snowing:
…and also I should mention that I’m not entirly bothered that there are books missing from my bible! There must obviously be good reason for that! So start on me about that issue!
Or maybe they were just an unfriendly parish - unfortunately there are parishes that are like that - I´ve been to plenty of horrible masses, usually in bigger churches. The church in the town where we live is huge and echoing, and all the congregation are aloof and elderly, all over 70. And it´s in Catalan (and my catalan isn´t great, I usuall get by on Spanish) - nobody acknowledges us, I just feel like a total outsider there. My husband and I get stared at because we´re the only people under 70 there. It´s quite depressing. I´m alone in a foreign country but I don´t think there´s much of a community feeling in this parish to get involved in, and I could really do with support and community.
The more positive experiences of mass that I´ve had have been in small parishes, and everything feels more meaningful because there´s a sense of community (even if you don´t know anybody there).
I actually agree with a lot of the points you´ve made. I feel like the Catholic Church is slowly withering and dying off (much like the congregation in our local church).
I don´t understand your complaint about catholics NOT trying to convert protestants - would you not find it irritating if everybody was trying to convery you all the time? Maybe people just respect your beliefs by not trying to convert you.
I´m Catholic but I find the fixation with statues a bit bizarre. I see them more as religious decoration more than anything (I do not mean to offend anybody, but I cannot reconcile worship of statues and “false idols”).
Anyway, I hope you´ll get over this bad experience and try another mass. Maybe you could get somebody to recommend a smaller friendly parish??
Good luck
C
cat3gs
Guest
If I went to a church I didnt know and there was a book in front of me, I would look through it to get an idea of what the church was about.
It seems to me that you went in looking for the negatives. Tell us the positives.
And I know that I dont go to Mass for the personal fellowship. I go for fellowship with Christ. I wasnt welcomed with open arms. I had to do alot of the getting to know people myself…and thats hard for a shy person.But the fullness of the truth SO overshadowed that part of it.
Just relax go in with an open heart and listen. Be patient.
God Bless
Z
Zundrah
Guest
The positives? There was one positive; I felt christ’s spirit in the chruch with me, that is why I went there again…
I knew for a fact that this catholic faith was definately Christ’s chosen chruch. I felt him in there…
That’s what I say, but I can’t motivate others to preach to me can I? I’m still stuck with all my methodist beliefs but I’m also stuck with a heart that desires more of christ - that’s why I went into what catholics call “Christ chosen one and only true chruch”…
This was my experience, I know the church is true but a church is only a church because of the people in it, not because it is a building called a chruch.
This is why I’m so upset, because I think I know what I’m searching for but I don’t know how to recieve it!
xxx jennifer xxx
R
rinnie
Guest
Wow, kind of reminds me of the time I went to my MIL for Christmas dinner. I told my Mother everything just like you expressed your experience with the Church. My Mom said wow I bet you were just as much as a joy for them too. I think you need to look within yourself not the Church. First of all you should have gone with someone who could have explained our faith to you, and helped you along the way. sorry church is not social hour for catholics. We are there to pray, spend time with God, and concentrate on the teaching’s of Christ. I take you saying we are like muslims as a insult. But instead of fighting with you I will do the Catholic thing to do. I will pray for you, and if you ever come to my Church I will be kind, explain the best I can, and leave the rest up to God. So maybe the next time you may want to say excuse me, I am here for the first time, do you mind if I sit with you, and could you help me along the way. I bet you would get nothing but a positive experience out of it.Where do I start? Hmm… with my experience…
I went to a catholic church once and it was so hostile, no one spoke to me, no one greeted me, no one explained anything to me and they all just kept giving me weird and very mean looks from the side because I was an “out sider”.
When I got a quick word with a woman at the back of the church I mentioned that I was a protestant from a methodist chruch, then suddenly every one seemed on edge and gave me funny looks as if I should be in their church.
You have the cathechism and the book of cannons, communion, loads of different events during the week that aren’t even explained to you. What are they for? Why has your chruch made it so difficult or even impossible for a new commer to grasp!?
I don’t protest against the covenant made to peter, the keys given to him or even the fact that the pope decends from him. But I think that the catholic church just hasn’t done its best with that covenant…
You don’t go out to the lost sheep but instead you call them “outsiders”…
You stay in you church and look after each other but what happened to christ good words such as - “Do you love me? Go and tend to my sheep.” I don’t see the catholic chruch trending to lost sheeps do you?
The chruch is just a museum of saints and a place of religious routine instead of a place of whorship.
Where is the whorship!? When I go there you are just going to one page to another with out even telling me where I should be in this “book” that I’ve never seen before by the way! There is this other book of hymms and even that has no direction… What is this and why does every body else seem to know what pages to go to but I don’t!?
I didn’t feel like I was in a chruch, it felt more like a temple with images and statues that people were kissing and bowing to! Some of the catholics there even got down on their knees to a statue of joseph (Mary’s husband).
Catholics seem to be like muslims - very religious but lacking in love and peace giving emotions!
And when do catholics even bother to go to protestants and try to convert them!? I’ll give you a big clue, never, that’s when!
Why is all the writings on the walls in a strange language!?
Why was jesus spelt as Jesvs? Why was Mary spelt as Maria?
Gasp… :snowing:
…and also I should mention that I’m not entirly bothered that there are books missing from my bible! There must obviously be good reason for that! So start on me about that issue!
R
rinnie
Guest
By the way, I bet if you start all over and say I want to try the Church can you guys help me step for step what to expect, You would find alot of people on this site more then willing to do so.
C
cat3gs
Guest
For me what helped was just letting go…yea ok, it took 10 yrs to let go but it happened
I was letting pride get in the way of what God wanted for me. So I just started reading everything I could get my hands on!!! Listening to people who happened to be Catholic and watching EWTN. If you dont have people or EWTN, go to the library, bookstores anywhere you can find something to read.
And Mass was a bit easier for me to follow because I was converted to Lutheran before I became Catholic. But I was totally lost and felt like a moron the whole time. But nothing was going to stand in my way of learning it. Ask the church to borrow a missel. Read over it gobs of times. Just dont let your frustration stop you from going. Forgive and forget.
God Bless
Z
Zundrah
Guest
…I’m sceptical about that, unfortunatelyBy the way, I bet if you start all over and say I want to try the Church can you guys help me step for step what to expect, You would find alot of people on this site more then willing to do so.
… (but I will try)…I want to try the Church can you guys help me step for step what to expect? …please…
xxx jennifer xxx
Z
Zundrah
Guest
I can’t just walk up to a stranger and ask to sit with them and expect them to explain everything to me! No one would do that! I am in England you know, people are very mean over here… you can’t even smile at some one on the street!So maybe the next time you may want to say excuse me, I am here for the first time, do you mind if I sit with you, and could you help me along the way. I bet you would get nothing but a positive experience out of it.
R
RebeccaJ
Guest
That no one will talk to you. :tiphat:…I’m sceptical about that, unfortunately
I want to try the Church can you guys help me step for step what to expect? …please…
xxx jennifer xxx
Yeah, seriously, you’ve been, now, you know what to expect. Though, every week can be different than the last. Especially when we are not in ordinary time. The first time I showed up for Mass on Palm Sunday, I just about turned around and walked back to my car.
Blessing leafs!
Z
Zundrah
Guest
That no one will talk to you. :tiphat:
Yeah, seriously, you’ve been, now, you know what to expect. Though, every week can be different than the last. Especially when we are not in ordinary time. The first time I showed up for Mass on Palm Sunday, I just about turned around and walked back to my car.
I filled in a membership form at the church on the first day I went there! What a commitment… maybe too soon, you might ask? I think not! You are so friendly Rebecca J! :harp::heaven::bible1:
xxx jennifer xxx
B
bibagirl
Guest
I wouldn´t say that!! - my experience of English people has almost always been very positive. Very polite and helpful, and always willing to club together and roll up their sleeves in aid of a good cause.
R
RedSoxWife
Guest
I haven’t finished reading the whole thread but I wanted to reply to this part of the OP. If you believe that Jesus told Peter that he was the Rock and upon that Rock he would build his Church than you must know that it goes on to say that the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it. By saying that the Catholic Church hasn’t “done its best with that covenant” you’re basically saying that Jesus lied when he said that Hell wouldn’t prevail against it. And since I’m pretty sure you believe that Jesus was perfect, you can see where we have a problem.
I’ve never heard non-Catholics called “outsiders.” I wasn’t Catholic when I walked into our parish and I was welcomed with open arms. And while I know parishes are different from place to place ours has a lot of outreach into the community. I have heard complaints that our Church “steals” members from other churches… usually through its cursillo programs and soup kitchen. Judging an entire Church on what you saw during one experience probably isn’t going to be very accurate…
R
RebeccaJ
Guest
You are so friendly Rebecca J! :harp::heaven::bible1:
xxx jennifer xxx
*
O God, you are my God-- for you I long! For you my body yearns; for you my soul thirsts, Like a land parched, lifeless, and without water. (Psalms 63:2)*
I think, where the Holy Spirit guides you, is neither too soon, or too late. Follow God, and you’ll do alright.
Romans 8
22 We know that all creation is groaning in labor pains even until now; 23 and not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, we also groan within ourselves as we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in hope we were saved. Now hope that sees for itself is not hope. For who hopes for what one sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait with endurance. 26 In the same way, the Spirit too comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit itself intercedes with inexpressible groanings. 27 And the one who searches hearts knows what is the intention of the Spirit, because it intercedes for the holy ones according to God’s will. 28 We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.
Z
Zundrah
Guest
…you obviously haven’t lived here long enough…
Z
Zundrah
Guest
…we have Gods promise that the church shall never fail. But while the four walls of the church are still standing, the people in it are perhaps maybe not…
I have faith in Christ’s promise, but I have little faith in the people that reprisent him in the church!
…I’m still going to this church…
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