B
BrockH
Guest
My younger brother and I were received into the church of late grandmother, a devout parishioner on July 20 of this year. I never met her (she passed shortly before my birth). After stories of her strong Roman Catholic faith and growing up with Catholic relatives, I became interested. My aunt and I began attending this parish a few years ago off and on. I was then too young to drive. When I earned my license, I began driving to Mass. Finally, after lots of study, I was received.
My aunt is no longer active in the church and was never a member here in town. My mom (her sister) and my uncle (their brother) have all left the Catholic Church. My mom has came to Mass a few times since my involvement (I am a pianist), but my aunt last came for Easter Sunday. Their dad, my grandfather, was a strong Catholic (were are Polish) for most of his life, Mass every Sunday, the Rosary, Holy Days, etc. My grandma was Catholic but wasn’t active until she moved here and was really excited about her faith. My grandfather stopped attending Mass when he got sick about 25 years ago and never really went back except for a handful of times. After two of my brothers being still-born and my grandma dying from a horrible disease, never meeting her grandchildren (her biggest dream to a grandmother), etc., he is bitter with God. He no longer feels that prayer works. It is a very sad situation. He was the “priest” in the family for a long time. Then my grandma was the last one of that family left in the Catholic Church when she passed.
The rest of the family is very Catholic (most anyway). I wish I could bring my grandfather back into the church or praying the Rosary or getting involved in some way.
I have been praying the Divine Mercy for “Retired Catholics” and for my grandfather. He loves to talk about the Church (in a good way) and hear about all of the new things that I am discovering in my faith journey and music ministry involvement.
He identifies himself as being “Catholic but doesn’t practice it.”
Any suggestions?? I feel that maybe if he comes back, his children will follow (maybe). He is 83 years old, by the way.
My aunt is no longer active in the church and was never a member here in town. My mom (her sister) and my uncle (their brother) have all left the Catholic Church. My mom has came to Mass a few times since my involvement (I am a pianist), but my aunt last came for Easter Sunday. Their dad, my grandfather, was a strong Catholic (were are Polish) for most of his life, Mass every Sunday, the Rosary, Holy Days, etc. My grandma was Catholic but wasn’t active until she moved here and was really excited about her faith. My grandfather stopped attending Mass when he got sick about 25 years ago and never really went back except for a handful of times. After two of my brothers being still-born and my grandma dying from a horrible disease, never meeting her grandchildren (her biggest dream to a grandmother), etc., he is bitter with God. He no longer feels that prayer works. It is a very sad situation. He was the “priest” in the family for a long time. Then my grandma was the last one of that family left in the Catholic Church when she passed.
The rest of the family is very Catholic (most anyway). I wish I could bring my grandfather back into the church or praying the Rosary or getting involved in some way.
I have been praying the Divine Mercy for “Retired Catholics” and for my grandfather. He loves to talk about the Church (in a good way) and hear about all of the new things that I am discovering in my faith journey and music ministry involvement.
He identifies himself as being “Catholic but doesn’t practice it.”
Any suggestions?? I feel that maybe if he comes back, his children will follow (maybe). He is 83 years old, by the way.
