Where Did You Meet Your Catholic Friends?

[sturdy]

Fortunately I live in an area with a large Catholic population, although most are not regular churchgoers.

I’m over 40 and most of my Catholic friends are parents of my children’s friends (they go to Catholic school) and from the church choir. We have faith and a love of music in common, which is great. I met more people in two weeks at choir than I did after 10 years in the parish.

I would say getting involved in parish organizations is your best bet - good luck! I think if you get involved in something service-related - i.e. parish outreach - they’ll be happy to have a volunteer and you should meet some very nice people.

Do they offer a bible study group? I haven’t tried it yet, but two of my friends did, and they loved it - they said they met some nice people.

 

[Jay82]

Where did you meet your Catholic friends?

I don’t have any Catholic friends and I think it’s making my faith journey more difficult than it needs to be. None of my friends are religious, and their behaviour has a tendency to rub off on me. For example, they drink and party a lot and I end up joining them because I hate staying home in the evenings.

Having Catholic friends would help me become a better Catholic. Share your advice on how to meet other Catholics.

Thanks

I can relate to what you are saying, but I don’t feel that my non-Catholic friends rub off negatively on me. Growing up just about everyone was Catholic in my home town, so I didn’t think twice about meeting Catholics, and just about all my friends were Catholic as a result. However, when I went off to college, it was a bit eye opening in terms of the varying religions and the fact I wasn’t around everyone of the same faith… but I also learned from the diversity.

After graduating and relocating to a new city for work, where their are fewer Catholics, the majority of my friends are non-Catholics, non-practicing Catholics, or I don’t even know what their religion is at this time. However, they all have something in common and that is they are good people and we share similar values. They know me and know my values. They would not pressure me to do anything they know I would be uncomfortable with and they would respect my decision not to participate in certain activities if I choose not to do so.

I think the best way to meet new Catholics would be to join church/parish activities or try meetup.com and search for Catholic groups. I have found many Catholic groups on their in varying regions. They organize events and outings that span a wide variety of interests/hobbies. Unfortuntaely I am too busy to part take in any of their events, but I do keep myself apprised of the events in case I can attend.

Good luck.

 

[Lifeisamazing]

I think a lot of Catholics feel this way. None of my friends were Catholic growing up, and I went to public school in one town, and Catechism in another, b/c we literally lived on the street that divided the two cities (our street was split vertically down the middle, and to call across the street was long distance!).

So, when I went in to catechism, all those kids knew each other and went to school together during the day. My brothers and I were kinda left out. My mom was not a social Catholic, either, and we were never involved in extra church activities really.

As far as my non-catholic friends, I just try to be the good influence in their lives instead of the other way around. Most of them don’t even go to church and never have, so that is a gap in the friendship at times, for sure.

Now, I am in my 30’s and would really, really love to have a strong circle of Catholic friends. So, I am going to get more involved in my church’s activities.

 

[DiannaK]

Where did you meet your Catholic friends?

I don’t have any Catholic friends and I think it’s making my faith journey more difficult than it needs to be. None of my friends are religious, and their behaviour has a tendency to rub off on me. For example, they drink and party a lot and I end up joining them because I hate staying home in the evenings.

Having Catholic friends would help me become a better Catholic. Share your advice on how to meet other Catholics.

Thanks

I met one of my very best Catholic girlfriends on catholicmatch.com. They had forums there that were women only, or men only. I saw she was from my area, and struck up a conversation.
Other Catholic women I have met by going to Moms’ groups at church, etc.
You have to put yourself out there.