Recommendations for my wife to meet other Catholic women?

[He_Man]

My wife and I have been married over a year, and she isn’t from the area (we live outside just Baltimore). There are times when she gets depressed, because she really has very few (none) female friends up here. I’m basically her only friend (not a bad thing at all, but certainly a change for her, since she had close female friends when she was living an hour to the south).

I’ve been looking for ways to help her meet other women. They don’t have to be Catholic per se, but certainly given the importance of faith, that doesn’t hurt. I’ve looked at groups like the Catholic Daughters, but as wonderful as they are the nearby Churches, they tend to be 50+ in terms of ages. My wife is 32, and would love to meet women in their 20s, 30s, or even 40s.

Does anyone have any recommendations or ideas I could share? I’d love to help her out. I myself am more of a loner, and really could care less about hanging out with other people, but she really misses having female friendships. Thanks!

 

[whatevergirl]

She could start a women’s group at your parish–OR–join the one already available. If there exists one that doesn’t seem to be her age group, she could start a dinner club or something, where the women get together to have dinner, either spouses invited or not. Just some thoughts.

 

[Catholic1954]

Is it possible for her to attend daily Mass? I met more great Catholic, friendly women while attending daily Mass than I ever did just attending on Sunday. They got me involved in different parish ministries, and I met even MORE!

 

[kage_ar]

V O L U N T E E R

Call the DRE at the Parish, ask what needs to be done.

Call the Crisis Pregnancy Center, ask what needs to be done.

St Vincent De Paul, Habitat for Humanity, Youth Ministry, Parish Scripture Study, Prayer Shawl Ministry, the Catholic School, Adoration Chapel - these are all opportunities at my teeny parish, you are in a huge city!

 

[dashso40]

She could join one of the Bible study groups at her parish or another club with younger women. I belong to my parish Bible study and the IHM Guild at church and I’m under 40 and i would say there’s plenty of women at these functions around my age.

 

[Laura_Ic]

Hi,
I understand how your wife feels. I have been married for almost 8 years and we have a 2 year old son. I know what it is like to be lonely and how difficult it is to make friends. I really don’t know any other women in my age bracket. At work, the age groups are 16 - 20 and 45+. I have been active with the Christian Mothers for a year now. I just turned 32 and I am the youngest member. Everybody is 50+. I met lots of wonderful women. Recently, I suggested that I really want to try to get younger women to join. The officers were “jumping for joy” at my suggestion. I signed up for the membership committee and we will be coming up with strategies this summer on attracting new/younger members to the organization. I am networking with all ages because you never know who you are going to meet. Volunteering is also a great way to meet others. Good luck

 

[SMHW]

My wife and I have been married over a year, and she isn’t from the area (we live outside just Baltimore). There are times when she gets depressed, because she really has very few (none) female friends up here. I’m basically her only friend (not a bad thing at all, but certainly a change for her, since she had close female friends when she was living an hour to the south).

I’ve been looking for ways to help her meet other women. They don’t have to be Catholic per se, but certainly given the importance of faith, that doesn’t hurt. I’ve looked at groups like the Catholic Daughters, but as wonderful as they are the nearby Churches, they tend to be 50+ in terms of ages. My wife is 32, and would love to meet women in their 20s, 30s, or even 40s.

Does anyone have any recommendations or ideas I could share? I’d love to help her out. I myself am more of a loner, and really could care less about hanging out with other people, but she really misses having female friendships. Thanks!

He Man,

One of the things I’ve leaned in my 50 years is that whenever you move to a new location, or get a new job, or start staying home with a baby, or any other such life changing event… you just have to accept you will be lonely for a while. And the people you do meet often won’t have the things in common with you that were the basis for past friendships. To make new friends, sometimes you have to discover new bases for those friendships.

I don’t know what your wife does with her time. You’ve probably posted about her before but I don’t remember. Does she work? Does she stay home with a child? Is she in school? Before children I think most women make friends via work or school. Once the kids come along, women tend to meet people through the children.

Making friends with the parents of other children can be a huge change from the way things used to be. Career and school friends have work and school in common. Those common interests can be very intellectually stimulating. But you just don’t know what you will get with other parents. But since parenting is such a time consuming activity for people in your age range, child centered activities such as play groups, school activities, and sports teams may be the best place to find friends.

Another suggestion is to figure out some way that you can meet other couples. Is there a ministry at Church that both of you can join? In most parishes, people tend to be involved in more than one way. You’ll both likely meet people that are involved in ministries and non-Church activities that appeal to the two of you individually.

And your wife should consider taking a class at the local community college or at a community recreation center. Chances are that your wife will meet people she recognizes from Mass on Sunday.