Time to change parishes?

  • Thread starter Thread starter coolduude
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
C

coolduude

Guest
Hi all,

I’m looking for some advice here. I think it may be time to switch parishes.

Let me explain:
My parish does some things that probably shouldn’t be going on. For example, they hold hands during the Our Father and host LifeTeen Masses, which I don’t agree with. Maybe if they changed a few things, I could cope. But that’s another story. Anyway, today could be the last straw. I was driving by my parish and on the sign outside it said “Walking the Sacred Path- Labyrinth Walk. RSVP (they gave a phone number)”

I’m looking at the ad for this in the bulletin right now and my eyes are poping. They mention “centering prayer, self discovery, revelation, and mindful movement” :eek:
Sounds very New Agey.

Should I switch parishes and get away from this stuff? Or should I grin and bear it?

Help please!

Coolduude
 
It sounds like you are very distracted there and unlikely to participate in the parish. You need to be the judge (along with your family if married), but if that is the case than I don’t see any reason not to change.
 
I’m going to assume that this is your home parish; where you live geographically determines your home parish. You need to stay and fight for the true faith in the face of adversity. Every Catholic has the right to orthodox teachings and a reverent liturgy in his or her own parish. If you are seeing problems, then allow Redemptionis Sacramentum to be your guide in these matters. Paragraph 184 even tells you the course of action to take. When you have a valid complaint, you should always bring it up with the responsible party first. Your next step is the pastor. If the pastor is unwilling to make corrections, then follow RS and submit your complaint to your diocesan bishop. If necessary, you may contact the CDWDS in Rome for the final word.

If every Catholic “voted with his feet” when problems came up in a parish, those people could end up with a weak or dying church right in their own backyard, or worse, a thriving parish that openly promotes heresy. Donate your time, talent and treasure to your home parish. Your stewardship benefits your neighbors the most. Your volunteering gives you an opportunity to change things. Become a leader and insist on orthodoxy from a strong position. In the meantime, try to avoid situations that will only make you angry. You don’t have to attend LIFE TEEN liturgies. Shop at home for the most reverent liturgy you can find and stick to it. If you still see abuses, see above. But by all means stay.
 
Here is two more cents:

It may turn out to be a hard sell trying to get these kinds of things squashed unless you have something to quantify. Suppose you were to complain to the Pastor about this labyrinth thing… and he asks you, “Have you ever been to one?” Unless you have, that is pretty much a conversation ender. So you might want to consider actually checking it out first and seeing what it really is before deciding it has no worth or place.

New Agers and New Thoughters are very big on this labyrinth thing because it is physically symbolic of their view that we - people, that is - have a spark of God within us, and the goal in life is to connect with that spark. Thus it is an ever-winding search within, not without.

It has been my life’s experience that sometimes Catholics with all good intentions see or hear about this kind of thing and try to “adapt” it to fit into a Catholic theological box. They may be greatly misguided in their efforts, but they honestly are not trying to be New Agers, they are trying to be better Catholics. You will have a better idea of what you are truly up against if you witness it first hand.

Some at my parish do the hand-holding thing too. I made up my mind long ago that I was not going to be thrown off participating in the beauty of the Mass over something so small. When one of them happens to sit next to me, I fold my own hands and look straight ahead, and I don’t turn even if the person next to me is flapping me hard enough to extinguish flames. Usually by the word, “Hallowed…” they get the idea. When I am tempted to think about being somehow “better” than those folks, I just look at the crucifix and think of how much “less” I must appear to the One depicted hanging on it. I would rather try to work on that gap than try to change the habits of others around me in the middle of Mass.
 
Gothic cathedrals in France and England have had labyrinthian paths since their construction, over 1000 years ago. Meditation using a labryinth can be very calming and peaceful and help achieve a deep state of prayer. They are also used in hospitals that specialize in cancer patients and transplant services to help a family cope with end-of-life issues.

Just because something has been co-opted by more secular folks doesn’t denigrate the original purpose or continued use of a specific tool.

What are you so afraid of?
 
Can you list anything that you do like at your current parish? You seem to be actively seeking things to be upset about, based on the threads you have started. Except for the hand holding during the Our Father, you can avoid the other attributes you find distasteful. The odds are you will find something to not like at any parish you choose. Instead of focusing on what you don’t like, what might your parish have to offer that you do like?

The labyrinth walk itself though isn’t against “evil”. There are certainly groups that are new agish that have embraced it, but centering prayer is actually a good thing.
 
PatriceA said:
Can you list anything that you do like at your current parish? You seem to be actively seeking things to be upset about, based on the threads you have started. Except for the hand holding during the Our Father, you can avoid the other attributes you find distasteful. The odds are you will find something to not like at any parish you choose. Instead of focusing on what you don’t like, what might your parish have to offer that you do like?

The labyrinth walk itself though isn’t against “evil”. There are certainly groups that are new agish that have embraced it, but centering prayer is actually a good thing.
Click to expand...
You’re right. I can just make an extra effort to avoid the LifeTeen stuff and I don’t hold hands during the Our Father anyway. 🙂

However, this labyrinth business is worrisome. :o
 
challam2010 said:
Gothic cathedrals in France and England have had labyrinthian paths since their construction, over 1000 years ago. Meditation using a labryinth can be very calming and peaceful and help achieve a deep state of prayer. They are also used in hospitals that specialize in cancer patients and transplant services to help a family cope with end-of-life issues.

Just because something has been co-opted by more secular folks doesn’t denigrate the original purpose or continued use of a specific tool.

What are you so afraid of?
Click to expand...
That was my understanding of labryinths, that many churches in Europe included them…
 
DOShea said:
New Agers and New Thoughters are very big on this labyrinth thing because it is physically symbolic of their view that we - people, that is - have a spark of God within us, and the goal in life is to connect with that spark. Thus it is an ever-winding search within, not without.
Click to expand...
Very good point! Labyrinths in Catholic Churches originated as mini-pilgrimages (I guess for the people of say Chartres to be able to get the graces and indulgences of a pilgrimage to Chartres). The modern practice of the labyrinth has as much to do with the traditional practice as centering prayer has to do with Christian meditation.
 
coolduude said:
You’re right. I can just make an extra effort to avoid the LifeTeen stuff and I don’t hold hands during the Our Father anyway. 🙂

However, this labyrinth business is worrisome. :o
Click to expand...
BUT, you still haven’t said if there is anything you actually LIKE about your parish.
 
CDNowak said:
Very good point! Labyrinths in Catholic Churches originated as mini-pilgrimages (I guess for the people of say Chartres to be able to get the graces and indulgences of a pilgrimage to Chartres). The modern practice of the labyrinth has as much to do with the traditional practice as centering prayer has to do with Christian meditation.
Click to expand...
Hi CDNowak,
I go along with the OP on this one. I fail to see the purpose of rituals that “has as much to do with…” What is wrong with the rituals that have come down to us today?
Are these (forgive the phrase) “new agey” rituals used because what is already in place is seen as an impediment to growth in Faith? I certainly derive great joy from the Mass as it is and do not see the need for practices which are a kind of ersatz version of traditional ways.
God Bless,
Colmcille.
 
colmcille1 said:
Hi CDNowak,
I go along with the OP on this one. I fail to see the purpose of rituals that “has as much to do with…” What is wrong with the rituals that have come down to us today?
Are these (forgive the phrase) “new agey” rituals used because what is already in place is seen as an impediment to growth in Faith? I certainly derive great joy from the Mass as it is and do not see the need for practices which are a kind of ersatz version of traditional ways.
God Bless,
Colmcille.
Click to expand...
I agree. Neither centering prayer nor the ‘modern’ labyrinth have anything to do with the historical Christian practices they claim as a foundation. They are used, in my opinion, because the failures in catechesis over the last century included a failure in handing on practices that reflect deeper truths (asceticism, mysticism, even aestheticism).
 
CDNowak said:
I agree. Neither centering prayer nor the ‘modern’ labyrinth have anything to do with the historical Christian practices they claim as a foundation. They are used, in my opinion, because the failures in catechesis over the last century included a failure in handing on practices that reflect deeper truths (asceticism, mysticism, even aestheticism).
Click to expand...
Hi CDNowak,
Thank you for your reply.
It saddens me that failures in catechesis have been allowed to go unchecked.
I pray that we all can work towards restoring those “isms” you referred to and celebrate fully our great Faith.
God Bless,
Colmcille.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top