The young man sitting on the back of the truck ask me if I'm Catholic

[eucharisteo]

While a group of men from a water mitigation company were here today one of them asked me if I was Catholic. I was trying to figure out how he guessed. He saw the sacramentals all over my wall I suppose but then I saw the St. Francis statue, but that’s not usually the sign. Later I realized I was wearing my Franciscan University t-shirt…dah.

Anyway, I asked are you Catholic too. He said yes. So since he brought it up I asked him what church he goes to. He replied “I don’t go to church”. I looked at him strange and baffled knowing this to be far to common and said “WHy?” I then explained to him how we risked communion with our own family to become Catholic and we always get baffled at people that say their Catholic yet don’t practice their faith. We are somewhat the outcasts in our fundamentalist family now. So I proceded to share and then the party was broke up with insurance questions… so I never got a chance to finish.

This is the group of people I especially want to minister to.

 

[medellinhu]

Go forward. there is so much need out there. The Good Shepherd went away to find the one sheep lost.

 

[ManOnFire]

If only people could see how society has placed pop culture media’s values above the Church’s, it would make more sense. People want to feel good all the time. This includes wanting to be constantly entertained. When it comes to entertaining oneself versus sacrifice for others via The Way, people choose entertainment and shallow amusements that don’t last. Then people wonder why life lacks depth.

 

[eucharisteo]

If only people could see how society has placed pop culture media’s values above the Church’s, it would make more sense. People want to feel good all the time. This includes wanting to be constantly entertained. When it comes to entertaining oneself versus sacrifice for others via The Way, people choose entertainment and shallow amusements that don’t last. Then people wonder why life lacks depth.

You just described the feeling we had trying out a non-denominational bible church several years ago. It only took a few times to figure it out, band entertainment while you eat and either in the audience or in a cafe. It never felt like church, which was there point I believe. My son’s teacher asked them what did they need to do to be saved. My son gave the right answer but the teacher said “nothing”, which shocked my son and he had many problems while there. Good kid. He knew false teaching when he heard it.

 

[ManOnFire]

It took me and my wife to have 5 kids before I really, really “got Catholicism.” I beleive that our modern world affords us so many luxuries that so many people simply elect to have less kids and spend more time and money in their own adult pursuits. I sincerely think that sacrifice is relative. When I had only 2 kids, I was torn between wanting to be selfish vs. being a parent. With 5 kids, I see only 1 honorable path. Now, the more responsible sacrifices I make, the more I really appreciate the little free time.

 

[medellinhu]

Now, the more responsible sacrifices I make, the more I really appreciate the little free time.

Being thankful is something that cannot be given to us. Being thankful is to appreciate the small joys of life as insignificant as they may seem. That is where the real meaning is. There God is made present among is. It seems you got a good grasp of what thanksgiving and sacrifice really means.

 

[Karmartia]

If only people could see how society has placed pop culture media’s values above the Church’s, it would make more sense. People want to feel good all the time. This includes wanting to be constantly entertained. When it comes to entertaining oneself versus sacrifice for others via The Way, people choose entertainment and shallow amusements that don’t last. Then people wonder why life lacks depth.

Well said. I think pop culture and our insatiable desire to be entertained are really just reflections of the worship of “consumerism” that permeates our society. People approach their faith the way they might go to a mall, going to this religion for one thing, and another religion for something else, the same way they might shop for shoes. Why can’t I be a New-Age Buddho-Catholic Free Mason, as long as I look good doing it?

 

[crazzeto]

There is so much need to reach out to non-practicing and fallen away Catholics, God bless you in your ministry. There’s a thread in this forum about evangalizing the DFW area started by someone who is doing a door to door approch. He emailed me some of his materials and they look solid, perhaps you can get with him about idea’s?

I’m so glad you’ve found what God is calling you too! :clapping: