When you're the only Catholic around. .

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Does anybody have any practical advice about enriching and maintaining your spiritual life and beliefs when you are the only Catholic around? I’m currently stationed in a place where I am the only practicing Christian (that I’ve come across) where I work. I’m used to having at least a few other Christians to help and encourage me in my beliefs on a day to day basis. I’ve been at my current duty station for a month and I can already see the trouble in being the only one around. I’d appreciate anybody’s advice on keeping my faith strong. Thanks!!
 
You could call some friends, family members and say some prayers at night. You could also participate or read more on CAF’s forums. 🙂
Besides this, pray daily rosary.
 
I live in Utah and Catholics are few and far between (although our Catholic population is growing:thumbsup: ). Just remember we’re all in it together in the communion of Saints! We are mystically united to each other on earth as well as to the souls in purgatory and the souls in heaven.
 
ladylinguist said:
Does anybody have any practical advice about enriching and maintaining your spiritual life and beliefs when you are the only Catholic around? I’m currently stationed in a place where I am the only practicing Christian (that I’ve come across) where I work. I’m used to having at least a few other Christians to help and encourage me in my beliefs on a day to day basis. I’ve been at my current duty station for a month and I can already see the trouble in being the only one around. I’d appreciate anybody’s advice on keeping my faith strong. Thanks!!
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Keep in contact with friends and family.
Lots of quiet prayer and faith.
Exhibit a peaceful Love to your co-workers.
The Lord may have put you there to be a light to these people.

James
 
Laudatur Iesus Christus.

Fully conscious and actual participation in the liturgical celebrations is “the primary and indispensable source from which the faithful are to derive the true Christian Spirit.” Vatican II, Sacrosanctum Concilium, Sec. 14.

Perhaps you should undertake the Divine Office, also known as the “Liturgy of the Hours.”

THE DIVINE OFFICE
Christ Jesus, high priest of the new and eternal covenant, taking human nature, introduced into this earthly exile that hymn which is sung throughout all ages in the halls of heaven. He joins the entire community of mankind to Himself, associating it with His own singing of this canticle of divine praise.
For he continues His priestly work through the agency of His Church, which is ceaselessly engaged in praising the Lord and interceding for the salvation of the whole world. She does this, not only by celebrating the eucharist, but also in other ways, especially by praying the divine office.
By tradition going back to early Christian times, the divine office is devised so that the whole course of the day and night is made holy by the praises of God. Therefore, when this wonderful song of praise is rightly performed by priests and others who are deputed for this purpose by the Church’s ordinance, or by the faithful praying together with the priest in the approved form, then it is truly the voice of the bride addressed to her bridegroom; lt is the very prayer which Christ Himself, together with His body, addresses to the Father.
Hence all who render this service are not only fulfilling a duty of the Church, but also are sharing in the greatest honor of Christ’s spouse, for by offering these praises to God they are standing before God’s throne in the name of the Church their Mother.
. . . And the laity, too, are encouraged to recite the divine office, either with the priests, or among themselves, or even individually. Vatican II, Sacrosanctum Concilium, Sec. 83-85 & 100 (emphasis added).

The Liturgy of the Hours are available online at Universalis and elsewhere.

The books are available through many online services, e.g., Catholic Book Publishing or Borders .

Consider joining and assisting Christ and the whole of His Church in our daily praise and prayer.

Pax Christi tecum.

John Hiner
 
ladylinguist said:
Does anybody have any practical advice about enriching and maintaining your spiritual life and beliefs when you are the only Catholic around? I’m currently stationed in a place where I am the only practicing Christian (that I’ve come across) where I work. I’m used to having at least a few other Christians to help and encourage me in my beliefs on a day to day basis. I’ve been at my current duty station for a month and I can already see the trouble in being the only one around. I’d appreciate anybody’s advice on keeping my faith strong. Thanks!!
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Hi LadyLinguist…I can identify with what you are saying and first and foremost is always prayer…to pray about your situation. An excellent move in this direction too is daily prayer such as mornings and evenings…it is not so much the time you give to it I think, as to be faithful to these times…even if only five minutes morning and evening. In fact, if in a ‘splash of great ardour’ one sets up a hefty prayer routine, ninety nine to one hundred, very soon one will abandon it. Better to start very small and then build up very slowly if you wish over a long period, would be my advice.

I had no sense of community whatsoever as my parish has problems with me (I suffer Bipolar) and it really is their problem and not mine and about time, I think, they dealt with it and moved on - but they dont seem to be able to achieve this…when I was given this computer and then came across Catholic Answers, I very quickly realized that I could adopt a Catholic Discussion site/Catholic Answers as my community and I have done this and all to my own spiritual profit I think. I have really grown thanks to this community and growth means change. Frankly, I love the place! It is not the ideal of say having a close parish around one…but sometimes the ideal is out of reach and one needs adopt second best which may prove to be the ideal.👍

Blessings and regards…Barb:)
 
JRKH said:
Keep in contact with friends and family.
Lots of quiet prayer and faith.
Exhibit a peaceful Love to your co-workers.
The Lord may have put you there to be a light to these people.

James
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Well said. 👍 A little something to show, in a discreet way, that you are Catholic or even Christian, might just bring another out of the woodwork. A pocket-sized NT lying around will draw hidden Christians. Mary is a wonderful conversation starter, as long as you are prepared to defend her from the attacks that may come. A strategically placed rosary, already suggested for prayer, would certainly start some conversation. Remember that the second largest church in the world is that of non-practicing Catholics. What better way to call them back to the faith? Someone is waiting for just that little nudge to get them back. Since you feel so alone, God has placed you there for a reason. Just imagine Peter or Paul’s emotions when they arrived at Antioch or Ephesus, amidst pagans, staring death in the face for their beliefs.

Christ’s peace.
 
the Liturgy of the Hours, since even when you can’t attend Mass regularly you know you are joining in the public prayer of the universal church, kind of gets you in the groove, with the rhythm of your day, no matter where you are or what your are doint.
 
Are you still stationed in GA? My darling brother is stationed in GA… at least for a little while longer… he is going to middle east again soon.
 
ladylinguist said:
Does anybody have any practical advice about enriching and maintaining your spiritual life and beliefs when you are the only Catholic around? I’m currently stationed in a place where I am the only practicing Christian (that I’ve come across) where I work. I’m used to having at least a few other Christians to help and encourage me in my beliefs on a day to day basis. I’ve been at my current duty station for a month and I can already see the trouble in being the only one around. I’d appreciate anybody’s advice on keeping my faith strong. Thanks!!
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Post on these boards more! Got a whole community of Christians here!
 
None of my friends or family are Catholic. My extended family is Catholic but they do not practice the faith. They are Catholic in name only and know very little about the religion.

I am constantly on my own and it can be very hard at times. I don’t even know any Christians let alone Catholics. I sometimes wish that I had some Catholic friends for support but then I remember that I’ve got Jesus.

My faith is a very private aspect of my life. Most of my friends don’t even know that I attend Church every week. I’m not ashamed to tell them…it’s just none of their business.

My advice to the OP is that you don’t need anyone else. Live your faith privately and do your best to avoid any occasions of sin.
 
For years I worked in a mill (20yrs) and while there I would get geered at, talked about, and still, for all those years bit by bit God gave me gifts like I would pray for these people every day. Said a novena for two years took around 4 hours per day, for their salvation, joined in their sports, playing cards although I was dead loss and they told me so but I remembered to be “with them but NOT as them”.
Still I prayed and joined in saying to God and my self that Jesus in me is stronger than satin in them( I didn’t believe in satin in them) but the sayiing suited what they did to me.
I would wear a smile each day and ask Jesus to pore His spirit into me and that put a mile on my face and in my whole being.

A competition in darts came up and I never knew much about it but put in and to their amazment I came runner up in the singles final to a person who was No 8 in New Zealand.
That blew them away but still I never thought much about it. But they started playing for money, on the way to work on my bike I saw a 20cent coin and just knew I was to pick it up and that day they played for 20cents. I took their money. The next day they played for $1 and I don’t have money with me but I put my hand in my pocket and there should have been nothing but there was $1 and I put it on the table and took all their money . They never gambled again but they became closer to me.
God started to lead them by my availability and smile no matter what.One day aone of them asked why I was always smiling Iwas able to tell them.

At the end of the time there, a lot of them called me to a meetiing. I went and saw about 7 to 9 of them there. I listened and it was a christian meeting. They came to me after and told me they never understood me at work but now if any person attacked me they would have all these people against them.

7 months latter most of these blokes died of canser. And they all went to heaven. One said to me on his dieing bed “Don’t worry about me Wayne I know where I’m going to” and he died.

Keep on going for you don’t know the amount of work being done just by being there.
The smile Jesus gives can never be broken.

Godbless.
 
Thanks for all the replies so far. I’ve actually just ended up in a situation even more isolated (in terms of religious opportunity) than I was in at the time of my original post. I’ve been sent TDY (temporarily being stationed somewhere other than your official duty station) to a ship that doesn’t even have a priest! They have “Catholic divine services” but I haven’t been able to get off watch in order to go to them, so I don’t know what they’re like. But even more than before, I really feel like the only Christian around. I work in a tiny room with the most vulgar guys I have ever met (and I have met some foul individuals before). I’m trying to pray regularly and read my Bible each night, but I think partly I’m afraid of my faith suffering because I’m such a new Catholic. I was only confirmed just this year and I’m worried about getting out of the habit. Does anybody have any ideas for quick ways to interject little bits of devotional practices in when you only have a few minutes of free time at a time?
 
I don’t know if you are familiar with the Divine Mercy Chaplet, it is said using rosary beads. If you don’t have rosary beads then say the chaplet on your fingers. It takes just a few minutes.
here is a link with the entire explanation.
catholicity.com/prayer/divinemercy.html
 
Dear Ladylinguist… try carrying a rosary and/or a small crucifix in your pocket. I have done this for awhile now, and whenever things start getting rough or difficult… I find my little crucifix in my pocket… hang onto it for a moment… and think of Our dear Lord. It helps me to focus on what is important. His love and Sacrifice. Our faith in Him.

Regular praying of the Rosary and Chaplet of Divine Mercy are also helpful. I know how lonely it can be… to be the only Catholic around. I went from living in part of the country where there were lots of Catholics… to now, where there are more Protestants. Hang in there and God bless. 🙂
 
ladylinguist said:
Thanks for all the replies so far. I’ve actually just ended up in a situation even more isolated (in terms of religious opportunity) than I was in at the time of my original post. I’ve been sent TDY (temporarily being stationed somewhere other than your official duty station) to a ship that doesn’t even have a priest! They have “Catholic divine services” but I haven’t been able to get off watch in order to go to them, so I don’t know what they’re like. But even more than before, I really feel like the only Christian around. I work in a tiny room with the most vulgar guys I have ever met (and I have met some foul individuals before). I’m trying to pray regularly and read my Bible each night, but I think partly I’m afraid of my faith suffering because I’m such a new Catholic. I was only confirmed just this year and I’m worried about getting out of the habit. Does anybody have any ideas for quick ways to interject little bits of devotional practices in when you only have a few minutes of free time at a time?
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Short prayers:
“Jesus, I trust in You.” (Can’t get much shorter than that!)
“Glory Be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.”
Apostle’s Creed
Our Father
Hail Mary

How about the Rosary, one decade at a time? Or even two Hail Mary’s at a time…whatever you can mangage. Memorize the mysteries and reflect on them.

Participate in Catholic discussion forums like this one and others. A virtual community is still a community, even though you may prefer person-to-person contact. Don’t just read the posts, respond to them, too. “Talk” to us!

Look for stuff on-line to read to learn more about, and more deeply about, the Catholic faith. Keep your mind busy mulling over a doctrine, and mystery of the faith, a concept you find interesting…anything that keeps Christ in your thoughts.

God’s Blessings to you.
 
Laudatur Iesus Christus.

Guidance for devotional practices is available from the Magisterium of the Church in “The Handbook of Indulgences.” It is a small book, easily carried, containing many brief prayers and other practices specifically encouraged by the Church as worth.

This book can be purchased at many places online, including: crossroadsinitiative.com/resource_info/284.html

Pax Christi tecum.

John Hiner
 
In many occasions we as Christians are thrown into the pit either for God touse us or as Job testing, either way we have the Bible to relate to. God never gives us more than we can take and He has gone before us to prepare the way, and is we pray He is there beside us.
On many occasions like the one I am in now I work with men who are foul mouthed and women who are so deceitful. Last night though as my work mate spoke about life, I fet to mention to a work mate how in bad situations the only way through was to turn to my christian way of living. I realised that he stopped talking and listened. After, he started speaking about how along time ago he gave his heart to God, how he was brought up a catholic but through his fathers bad ways gone against catholic living.

I had asked the Holy Spirit to help me and if so to speak through me ( as Jesus tells us He will), and by the end of the night this man had startes opening up to me about many parts of his life.

Like you, while away from these people we are called to pray for them, when we are with them, to be with them BUT NOT as them (as Jesus tells us) and invite the Holy Spirit in to do His work. For Jesus in us is so much stronger than satin in them.
We christians are never alone stick to your catholic family, for instance I always employ Mary (my mother) to be there, and St Therese to help as in the past she always has. You have the greatest family, those especially in the spirit, and we here who can pray for peace from God for you.
Remember that Jesus tells us that He will give a peace that the world can NEVER take from us. OK! Be strong.
Godbless
 
Godlovestrength said:
We christians are never alone stick to your catholic family, for instance I always employ Mary (my mother) to be there, and St Therese to help as in the past she always has. You have the greatest family, those especially in the spirit, and we here who can pray for peace from God for you.
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You know, when saying that I was the only Catholic around I was entirely thinking of earthly Christians. I completely forgot about our heavenly brothers and sisters who, as you say, are always with us. Thank you for that reminder!
 
ladylinguist said:
You know, when saying that I was the only Catholic around I was entirely thinking of earthly Christians. I completely forgot about our heavenly brothers and sisters who, as you say, are always with us. Thank you for that reminder!
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Thank you, you know, if I could say only one word or sentance to empower a brother /sister then I would feel that Jesus has used me so much, and it allows me to see just how little I really am for it is God’s word that enhances empowers , envelopes the readers heart to listener to how God loves us all.
happy new year.
Godbless
 
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