That darn C & E folks

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AkronPonderer

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… took “my” pew. And they don’t know when to knee and stand!

Actually, I’m glad to see them and welcome them. I just can’t understand their mentality of staying in a religion that says missing Sunday Mass for a trivial reason, is a serious sin.
I can’t get a grip on the atitude.
 
Christmas and Easter. The only days some show up for Mass.
 
I call them two-timers (pun indended:whacky: ) since the only time you see them is at Christmas and at Easter.

I have found an easy way to avoid them:
  • Christmas: Go to the mid-morning Mass. Most them are at home opening their presents. Avoid the Vigil Mass especially and early one and the Midnight Mass.
  • Easter: Go to the Vigil Mass. Most of them will not attence due to the length. They want to be in and out as quickly as possible.
PF
 
Go easy on them.

On the positive side: at least they showed up.

Also, it shows that they DO have some faith in them. It is a starting point. We can only pray that it grows into a commitment.
 
I always called them Santa Clauses and Easter Bunnys. But my wife always corrects me, and say that twice a year is better than not at all. I say:“Yes, dear”, but I’m not convinced.
 
Haha! I do have to admit I know exactly what you mean! I, too, am glad the C & E-ers at least show up…until they chat and munch candy all the way through the Easter Vigil…that’s what happened last night. I was honored to be at my dear friend’s Baptism and the folks she invited were so rude that her boyfriend’s mother and I had to shush them repeatedly. It was especially bad during the Consecration…I fail to understand why folks think it’s ok to behave that way during a holy ceremony. It just blows my mind! They were constantly chatting and opening candy wrappers. They were acting like they were at an entertainment event, a ballgame or something. I found it very disturbing. So I prayed for patience and compassion and it was granted, thank God!!

Happy Easter everyone!

Geraldine
 
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WanderAimlessly:
I call them two-timers (pun indended:whacky: ) since the only time you see them is at Christmas and at Easter.
PF
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Two-timers!!! I love it.

I used to say that there should be a secret Holy Mass announced two weekends before the Holidays for all the regulars!
 
netmil(name removed by moderator):
I used to say that there should be a secret Holy Mass announced two weekends before the Holidays for all the regulars!
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One of our local parishes accidentally had the wrong time put in the newspaper regarding the start time for the vigil.
 
Have you considered that those you are dismissing as C and E Catholics may actually have come to church, any church, for the first time? And the welcome the get is…? No wonder many find the Catholic Church so unwelcoming.

Even if they are Catholic, our attitude should be one of the Prodigal son, even if we suspect the son is probably not here for good.
 
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MariaG:
Have you considered that those you are dismissing as C and E Catholics may actually have come to church, any church, for the first time? And the welcome the get is…? No wonder many find the Catholic Church so unwelcoming.

Even if they are Catholic, our attitude should be one of the Prodigal son, even if we suspect the son is probably not here for good.
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Sounds great!!! From now on we’ll all just celebrate the twice a year (every year, I might add) people who show up, let the kiddies run the aisles, gab during the Holy Mass and cuss at the regulars as they beat out of the parking lot.
Get real. I am so tired of the Kumbaya attitude when it comes to the same people dressing up for two masses a year. Truly, if they want the fashion show, then give the regular parishioners a Holy Mass to have to ourselves without the runway people taking over. If God is moving them to come back the next week, they will be clued in next year.
I’m sorry if I sound uncharitable, but I spent the entire Holy Mass this morning chastising my daughter who watched the other kids partying away. She is normally so good.
 
Actually, I’m glad to see them and welcome them. I just can’t understand their mentality of staying in a religion that says missing Sunday Mass for a trivial reason, is a serious sin.
I can’t get a grip on the atitude.
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**Not all of the “C & E” people are even Catholic, you know. I used to **attend for years the Midnight Mass at Christmas with a good friend and his wife , I don’t know what she was but he is not, and never was a member of the Catholic faith. I think he was a cradle prebyterian and certainly wasn’t a member of any particular denomination and a very irregular church attender of any church.

I’m sure that there are plenty of other non-catholics in attendance as well on the big holidays.

Personally, I’m glad to see the good crowd and so many faces I know but hadn’t seen in church for a while, and people dressed up for a reason.
 
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NightRider:
Haha! I do have to admit I know exactly what you mean! I, too, am glad the C & E-ers at least show up…until they chat and munch candy all the way through the Easter Vigil…that’s what happened last night. I was honored to be at my dear friend’s Baptism and the folks she invited were so rude that her boyfriend’s mother and I had to shush them repeatedly. It was especially bad during the Consecration…I fail to understand why folks think it’s ok to behave that way during a holy ceremony. It just blows my mind! They were constantly chatting and opening candy wrappers. They were acting like they were at an entertainment event, a ballgame or something. I found it very disturbing. So I prayed for patience and compassion and it was granted, thank God!!

Happy Easter everyone!

Geraldine
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Yeah, and what are the chances that these people would be upset if you were to talk through a movie? …Sorry, but, that is the type of vibe I’m picking up from these people you mention…
 
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AkronPonderer:
… took “my” pew. And they don’t know when to knee and stand!
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Looks like we need to return to the pew tax system. (or was that ever only Protestants?)

I felt foolish at the Vigil. When it was time to sit for the homily, I sat. Thus the candidate beside me sat, but the rest of the people didn’t. They finally sat down, right about when I was about to get up again.:o A large portion of the front half of the nave was filled with visitors (catechumens bring family), so that is probably why it happened.
 
Looks like we need to return to the pew tax system. (or was that ever only Protestants?)
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I’ve never heard of a Catholic pew tax, although our Jewish friends often require tickets for attendance at the High Holy Days.

Synagogues, of course, charge dues for membership in the local congregation. Non members have to pay to get in on certain days.

From the website of the Bloomington , IN website:
Ticket Policy
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All Beth Shalom members automatically receive tickets (early September). One-adult household memberships receive one ticket and two-adult household memberships receive two tickets. Children under 18 years of age do not need tickets. Children of members residing in their member parents’ household or children who are full-time students up to age 23 are considered as included in their parent’s membership. Tickets are given (on request) to visitors to Bloomington who belong to another synagogue, although contributions are appreciated. Tickets for children and relatives of members, whether residing in or out of town are $25. Tickets for non-members are $150 for adults and $50 for students.
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We would love to make High Holy Day Services open to all who wish to join us for worship, as we do on every Shabbat and on other holidays. Unfortunately, our limited space will not allow that.
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At our parish, Father said he does not really mind the C & E Catholics. His point was, at least they showed up and maybe, just maybe the Holy Spirit will use this opportunity to enter into their heart.
 
posted by netmil(name removed by moderator)
Sounds great!!! From now on we’ll all just celebrate the twice a year (every year, I might add) people who show up, let the kiddies run the aisles, gab during the Holy Mass and cuss at the regulars as they beat out of the parking lot.
Get real. I am so tired of the Kumbaya attitude when it comes to the same people dressing up for two masses a year. Truly, if they want the fashion show, then give the regular parishioners a Holy Mass to have to ourselves without the runway people taking over. If God is moving them to come back the next week, they will be clued in next year.
I’m sorry if I sound uncharitable, but I spent the entire Holy Mass this morning chastising my daughter who watched the other kids partying away. She is normally so good.
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You not only sound uncharitable, you are being uncharitable.
I am truly sorry for you and everyone else who feels as you do. You have missed the point that these people are responding to the call of God.

You probably would have had a problem coming to my wedding. I lived with my boyfriend, did not attend Mass, boyfriend wasn’t Catholic… The only thing I knew and told the Bishop who I asked to marry us was “I am not sure why but I just don’t think I would feel married if it wasn’t by a priest.”

Today, I and my children attend every Sunday, I was confirmed as an adult, teach CCD and am very involved in my parish.

But 19 years ago, I wasn’t even a C and E. God meets and calls to everyone where they are at. I am sure that at least the angels were rejoicing.

I also said, and later someone confirmed that some are not even Catholic.

I pray that all who have a problem with this, God will fill your heart with enough love to welcome those whose kids are not as well behaved or adults who don’t seem to understand when to kneel or sit. Imagine the trepedition you would have coming again when all you feel are unwelcome glances and glares. Learning how to behave at church is a process. Not all obey the Lord the first time we hear Him calling to us.

I am truly saddened by this unloving attitude.
 
At my church we tend to use PACE Catholics (Palm Sunday, Ash Wednesday, Christmas, Easter) I’m not sure why, and we are glad that at least they come:) Fr. R still jokes about it every now and then, especially the next couple of Sundays after Easter when he’ll make a comment like “Wow, now I recognize all the parishoners again!” It’s sad that they don’t come for every mass, but at least they come for a couple of them:)
 
I think the pew tax grew out of French Catholic traditions. I seem to recall seeing evidence of it in Montreal and New Orleans.

MariaG: I think most people are glad C&E’ers show up. Many were just taking a light-hearted notice of the phenomenon.
 
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