My Family doesn't want to go to Mass

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Im somewhat distressed with this, I had an argument with my dad about why he doesn’t go to Mass and told me that a majority of the people he knows doesn’t go, most of our family and he doesn’t feel the need to. I asked why did he stop going to Mass and he said that he didn’t like what the Church teaches and I asked what does the Church teach and he said he doesn’t know. After a while I said you are cutting yourself off from Christ by not going and that point he said don’t preach like that to me again.

I am at a loss, I don’t know what to do and it really is a problem for me because I am the only one who goes to Mass in my immediate family. I find it upsetting that my dad said to me that he doesn’t want to know the gospel of the Church and the rest of my family doesn’t want to go.

Is there anyway to convince them to go or is it just going to be me sitting in the pew for the time being?
 
There is no way to convince anyone and the more you try the more alienated you will be. My suggestion is go to Mother Mary. Pray the rosary all four mysteries every day for the intentions of your family return to the faith. It is the only help that is necessary. You are never alone in a pew Jesus is present with you.
God Bless You
 
The plain sense of the Gospels is very plain: Preach to those with ears to hear only. (Remember the shake the dust from your feet, don’t toss pearls before swine and if your brother won’t listen even to the Church verses.)

You’ve put the words in his ears. Trust the Holy Spirit to speak to his heart and stop talking yourself. Pray for your parents and family, instead, do fasting and self-denial on their behalf, and especially offer works of mercy for their benefit. You can trust the Lord with everything else, so be at peace!

Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice! Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near. Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me. Then the God of peace will be with you. (Phil 4:4-9)
 
You’re going to Mass is a great witness, even if it does not feel like it all the time. Keep going and pray for them. It may be years, but with God’s help their hearts may be touched and they will start going too!
 
Keep going on your own, offer communion for them, and take it easy in your approach next time you speak about it. Tackle one remark at a time.
We don’t go to church because everyone else does or doesn’t.
We go to meet Christ at the table.
Sometime down the road you can tell him that no matter the sins of men, Christ is still present in the Eucharist and is waiting for him there.
He doesn’t like the “preaching” because he knows you are right.
Christ’s arms are outstretched on the cross…not pointing accusingly. But people think that’s what it’s about. 🤷
Be gentle with them. Ask Padre Pio to intercede for them. God bless you for trying.
But remember not to hound them about it. Give the Holy Spirit a chance. 😉
 
Pray for your family. Don’t badger them to go to Mass or return to the faith, it will alienate them. Keep practicing your faith and do not mention it at all to them. Let them be the ones to ask…and they will. It may not happen tomorrow or next month but one day they will find themselves in a situation where they will seek God again.

Some do it on their deathbed when faced with their own mortality, others when they are diagnosed with illnesses, others when their child is sick, others when they are in danger etc. It’s a natural human reaction in those situations. There is an emptiness in human beings that only God can fill.
 
Catholic_Nation said:
Im somewhat distressed with this, I had an argument with my dad about why he doesn’t go to Mass and told me that a majority of the people he knows doesn’t go, most of our family and he doesn’t feel the need to. I asked why did he stop going to Mass and he said that he didn’t like what the Church teaches and I asked what does the Church teach and he said he doesn’t know. After a while I said you are cutting yourself off from Christ by not going and that point he said don’t preach like that to me again.

I am at a loss, I don’t know what to do and it really is a problem for me because I am the only one who goes to Mass in my immediate family. I find it upsetting that my dad said to me that he doesn’t want to know the gospel of the Church and the rest of my family doesn’t want to go.

Is there anyway to convince them to go or is it just going to be me sitting in the pew for the time being?
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I understand your distress. My entire family left the church by 1970. My parents wouldnt let my sister and me go anymore. I prayed for my parents. God put this scripture passage in my head during prayer, Matthew 10:37.

37 He that loveth father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me; and he that loveth son or daughter more than me, is not worthy of me.

So I kept loving God even though they were angry at me for it. They never reconciled with the church, my mom had faith in God, Jesus and Mother Mary but was wary of the church. My dad reconciled with God ten months before he died.

I still pray for my parents.
 
Catholic_Nation said:
Im somewhat distressed with this, I had an argument with my dad about why he doesn’t go to Mass and told me that a majority of the people he knows doesn’t go, most of our family and he doesn’t feel the need to. I asked why did he stop going to Mass and he said that he didn’t like what the Church teaches and I asked what does the Church teach and he said he doesn’t know. After a while I said you are cutting yourself off from Christ by not going and that point he said don’t preach like that to me again.

I am at a loss, I don’t know what to do and it really is a problem for me because I am the only one who goes to Mass in my immediate family. I find it upsetting that my dad said to me that he doesn’t want to know the gospel of the Church and the rest of my family doesn’t want to go.

Is there anyway to convince them to go or is it just going to be me sitting in the pew for the time being?
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You have told them now pray. One thing you could do quite gently, is invite them to Mass every once in awhile. I didn’t come from I kept asking my mother to come to church with me and on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception she did
 
adamhovey1988 said:
You have told them now pray. One thing you could do quite gently, is invite them to Mass every once in awhile. I didn’t come from I kept asking my mother to come to church with me and on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception she did
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How about Confession? I’m the only practicing in my immediate, and my parents and siblings think Confession is done privately with God. But… I don’t want to dishonor my parents by bringing it up(fight on the horizon).
 
All you can do is pray and be a good example to your family. Nothing will be gained by nagging them about it.
 
Upgrade25 said:
How about Confession? I’m the only practicing in my immediate, and my parents and siblings think Confession is done privately with God. But… I don’t want to dishonor my parents by bringing it up(fight on the horizon).
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Well that’s something that I have a little less information on since most of my immediate family isn’t even baptized. Ask them why they think that also if they are going to mass are they receiving Communion without having gone to confession knowing that they have a mortal sin on their soul? Ask them why they think St John mentions mentions mortal sin in the Bible and why St James says to confess your sins to one another and why jesus gave His disciples the power to forgive sins
 
adamhovey1988 said:
Well that’s something that I have a little less information on since most of my immediate family isn’t even baptized. Ask them why they think that also if they are going to mass are they receiving Communion without having gone to confession knowing that they have a mortal sin on their soul? Ask them why they think St John mentions mentions mortal sin in the Bible and why St James says to confess your sins to one another and why jesus gave His disciples the power to forgive sins
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That brings up the authority of the Bible. I’ll try soon so we can hopefully all receive Communion w/o mortal sins at Christmas… The term ‘Christmas and Easter Catholics’ applies.
 
I am the only member of my immediate family who is practicing. My parents stopped going to church when I was around 12. My mother has never expressed an opinion on the issue, but my father stopped going when the pastor at the time mentioned a need for collection funds in his sermon and asked if it was possible for people to give more if they were able. Since then his response has always been “The Church only wants money”. From age 12 I would walk myself to Mass then drive when I was able to. I’ve never badgered my family, I figure, just as said above, to let my faith be my witness.
 
Pray for your family. Keep going to Mass. Don’t bring it up any longer; otherwise, it will just put more distance between you and your family.
 
There is a reason why there are the gospel images of the bruised reed and the smoldering wick.

They demonstrate that there are moments when the greatest of delicacy is called for…and this would be one of them. If we are indelicate, if we are undiplomatic, the result can be that we close a door that God could have used subsequently to pass through and into the life of a loved one…or else the loved one is driven even further away from the Church.

The situation is difficult when it is a parent who is trying to help an adult child recover his or her way back to the faith – and Saint Monica gives us an example of long-suffering and of prayer for her son, Saint Augustine. However, when the role is reversed and the child is the one who is trying to lead the parent, the roles are completely topsy turvy and even greater delicacy is called for.

Your father has heard you and said he does not want you to revisit the topic so, humanly, one must respect that because of who he is.

Assist at Mass, pray, and offer your Communions for your family asking that the Lord will draw them to Himself and allow all of you again to receive the Eucharist one day as a family. And be a model disciple that, hopefully, with God’s grace, will cause your family to revisit their relationship with God and the Church, to examine their consciences, and to return to the practice of the faith.

I will remember you and your family in my prayers and especially when I offer Mass. God bless you.
 
Upgrade25 said:
How about Confession? I’m the only practicing in my immediate, and my parents and siblings think Confession is done privately with God. But… I don’t want to dishonor my parents by bringing it up(fight on the horizon).
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I don’t see precipitating a fight as yielding a positive outcome, neither for your family members nor for their relationship with the Church and her sacraments.

There is a profound truth in the maxim that one catches more flies with honey than with vinegar. Rather than telling someone how they are wrong for not going to confession, I have always found it better to approach the sacrament of confession from a positive perspective, remarking in sermons and in catechesis and in conversations about the many wonderful effects it has for the person, their relationship with God, their own spiritual lives and development, growth in virtue, the conferral of grace – sanctifying, sacramental, and actual – as well as, of course, the forgiveness of sin.

A simple off the cuff and seemingly spontaneous comment, such as how wonderful a confessor Father X is or “I feel like a new person after last night’s Advent penance service” or “I felt the weight of the world fall off my shoulders after confession today” said without any artifice can have much more effect (especially when God’s grace is added to the equation) than a negative comment about what someone should do but isn’t that results in either an argument or hurt feelings.
 
OP, don’t say anything negative to your parents. They are not going to accept judgment from their children. Pray for them and set a good example.
 
WillyAL said:
I’d follow your dad’s advice if I were you.
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It’s a spiritual act of mercy to admonish sinners. It’s not wrong to admonish your parents/superiors when they err. St. Peter was admonished by St. Paul, afterall.

Benedicat Deus,
Latinitas
 
If you look happy to be a Catholic, other people will see your joy and want to join you.
Our priest said.in his homily Sunday that he once baptized a 98 year old lady in a nursing home because wanted the joy her roommate had from being Catholic.

You may have some Masses said for your “Special Intention”
God bless you.
 
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