need advice regarding this sitiuation

[dolly_finn]

Hello all, I need some helpful advice. I have a friend who is in a difficult situation. She is a lapsed Catholic (like since just after her first communion). She is dealing with a terrible illness that tests her daily. She and her husband just bought their first home and while in escrow, the previous owner was literally murdered on the front lawn before the papers for the house were signed. She and her husband decided to go ahead with the sale of the house anyway (since it works for her illness). Since she knows I am a practicing Catholic she asked me for help getting her house blessed.
I have called the rectory near her new home almost every day last week. I explained the terrible situation with the house. Everyone I spoke with was aware of the crime that took place there and agreed that the house should be blessed. I also explained that my friend really needs to speak with a priest, she is looking to come back to the church. Everyone I spoke with was excited by all of that and said that father would call me right back. Well, it has been a week and nothing.
More than having her house blessed, my friend really needs the church. I am so fearful that if the priest doesn’t ever return my phone calls she will go to another denomination for support. Can anyone please advise me on what to do about getting the priest to return my phone call ?? Should I call the other parish in town? What would you do?? I really don’t want to let her down or not bring another lamb to Jesus. Thank you!

 

[boomerang]

Can she simply go to confession and return? It might be easier than waiting for an appointment with an obviously busy priest. Take her to church with you, and get her to go to confession if she is interested. Also, I don’t see anything wrong with calling other parishes until you get a response. But I wouldn’t expect to get a good response to the house blessing unless she, or you, are already members of the parish. They will take care of their own first. If you are not a member, you might not ever get any attention. That’s just how it is. Priests are extremely busy.

 

[Lamentation]

Hello all, I need some helpful advice. I have a friend who is in a difficult situation. She is a lapsed Catholic (like since just after her first communion). She is dealing with a terrible illness that tests her daily. She and her husband just bought their first home and while in escrow, the previous owner was literally murdered on the front lawn before the papers for the house were signed. She and her husband decided to go ahead with the sale of the house anyway (since it works for her illness). Since she knows I am a practicing Catholic she asked me for help getting her house blessed.
I have called the rectory near her new home almost every day last week. I explained the terrible situation with the house. Everyone I spoke with was aware of the crime that took place there and agreed that the house should be blessed. I also explained that my friend really needs to speak with a priest, she is looking to come back to the church. Everyone I spoke with was excited by all of that and said that father would call me right back. Well, it has been a week and nothing.
More than having her house blessed, my friend really needs the church. I am so fearful that if the priest doesn’t ever return my phone calls she will go to another denomination for support. Can anyone please advise me on what to do about getting the priest to return my phone call ?? Should I call the other parish in town? What would you do?? I really don’t want to let her down or not bring another lamb to Jesus. Thank you!

Call a different parish, and if that doesn’t work, another parish.

 

[pianistclare]

Don’t just call and expect the priest to jump.
If you know him personally ask him to do this for you and your friend.
I’m always amazed at the number of people who won’t just TALK to the priest. Just go there and ask him in person. You have no idea how many calls a parish priest gets daily from someone who wants something. And if he doesn’t know this person, if she is not a parishioner, it may well go on the back burner as his priority is his parishioners, the dying, and the many other crises that occur daily, plus his other work.
If it’s that important to the both of you, go see him.

 

[Catholic1954]

Keep calling around, but please keep in mind that this is Summer and a lot of priests are out of town on vacation, and the ones who are around are spread a little thin. You might get better results if your friend would make the call. She can make an actual appointment to speak with the priest and he would be there for her, instead of playing the (not fun) game of phone tag. How dreadful about her house; I hope it all works out.

 

[dolly_finn]

Thanks for the advice everyone. Unfortunately, my friend lives in a different state from me so I am doing all of this long distance. Thanks again!

 

[fred_conty]

If it were me, I would call the chancery of the diocese of your friend. Tell them you are out of town and ask them who you should call to help your friend out. Don’t mention that you already called a priest. Then they will give you a number or they will contact a priest. If they give you the number of the priest you already contacted, tell them that you did and apparently he is so busy that you have had no response from him.

They will help you.