What's a gal to do?

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juliasmith

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I am frustrated and in need of some advice. Everyone here at Catholic Answers has been a wonderful help so far.

I am so frustrated with having to re-introduce myself to my priest(s) every time I see them. I understand we have a huge parish (3000+) parishioners, but really…

I have been going to them since March of this year. My son has been baptised, I have had several meetings to discuss an annulment, my former involvement with the occult, etc. I say hello after each mass I attend.

I am not asking to be chummy-buddies. But I would like to be able to greet them and not have to go through introductions every time.

I realize this is probably petty, but is there something I could do to perhaps make myself a bit more memorable so we don’t go through this again? I am planning on taking over our quilt ministry, but doubt that will do the trick.

The secretaries know me quite well. They are probably sick of hearing from me and seeing me. I just do not see how the priests could possibly forget who I am every time.
 
It took my Pastor 4 years to know my name… I teach CCD and I am an EM and I help with the Youth Group and (etc. etc. etc). I started to feel like you do, then I was asked why I’m doing so much…that is when I realized that I was recognized and known by the one who really mattered 🙂 .

I know you want to be recognized, but my whom?

The one who really matters has written your name on his hand and knew you before you were born.

Big Hug.
 
Thanks. I guess I got a little full of myself. It just seemed like I was invisible.

Four years!?

Perhaps I should just be a bit more patient with the good Fathers.😊
 
Priests remember faces but ask them to remember names and our situations, it will be difficult to do for all parishioners.

What would you like your pastor to remember something about you?
 
How different from me. I change church once priests begin to recognize me.
 
You are not invisible. You just don’t have contact with him on a day-to-day basis.

I work with a Youth group and make them wear name tags. I recognize the faces but not all the names. The think it’s funny when I say, Which one are you? It’s not that I don’t care … I’m just old"

Just remember, you are a very important member of the Church.😃
 
Some people just have good memories with names, and others don’t.

Two years ago I went on retreat and was surprised to see a priest I hadn’t seen in at least 15 years. I went up and said hello, and to my amazement, he remembered my name.

Of course, this is a priest who was on the team that translated the Catechism of the Catholic Church into English. He has a brilliant mind, to say the least.

Myself, you can introduce yourself to me and fifteen minutes later, I’ll have to ask what your name is again.

Jim
 
Hi Julia. You seem a bit hurt… at not being known, by name… by your priests. I’m sorry. But, I think this is more common, than people realize. Our priests are, after all… human beings just as we are (I’ve been reminded of that, several times… by the good people here at CAF). You, yourself pointed out that the parish has about 3,000 members. Keep in mind that in addition to parishioners… your priests also see many, many faces during the week. Schools, hospitals, nursing homes, prisons, shelters… and must have a terrible time keeping names straight.

This might help, too. You could remind Father of your name (volunteer it, before he asks) as you approach to shake his hand, after Mass. “Hi Father, Julia Smith. Have a wonderful week”. Something along those lines. 🤷

God bless.

(P.S. Another thought, to lift your spirits… when this situation gets you down. Keep in mind that Our Lord Jesus DOES know your name! 🙂 And He calls each of us, BY name! Isn’t that wonderful!).
 
In my parish, following mass, the priests usually do not greet people by name…they just stand there and shake people’s hands as they leave and maybe say “hello, have a nice day.” It is only if a person really stops and has a conversation that the priests might actually talk but I rarely hear them say the person’s name. I don’t do it either as I stand outside after mass to greet people. Perphaps by not saying individual person’s names they are in a sense, not showing any favoritism. I would not worry about it. I can tell you one thing, if you go often to see a priest out side of mass or are really involved in the parish, they know who you are.
 
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