Part 1 is here.
I think at this point I should note a few things:
If someone is coming back to the Catholic church, I would recommend that they go straight to their local parish and talk to the pastor there. We did things sort of backwards. Not understanding that we had done anything out of the ordinary by attending a non-Catholic church, we simply registered at a parish and began attending. I would also consider connecting with Catholic Answers or some other reputable organization that can help formulate questions to ask the pastor in regards to the parish. Sadly, as happened to us, there are parishes that are not as scrupulous about the faith as they should be. I don't say that to be critical, but to possibly save someone else grief.
The other thing I want to note (given that I mention attending a non-Catholic bible study) is that I would strongly recommend a Catholic bible study especially to those who do not know their faith well. I know several people who attend wonderful non-denominational bible studies that are edifying to their faith. However, some bible studies, as I found later in my journey, target Catholics in an effort to evangelize- not out of a sense of viciousness, but out of concern.
On to Part 2:
I am realizing that putting this journey into words in not going to be as easy as I thought! Part 2 is going to be brief. Part 3 will have to come after some serious thought (and prayer!).
With the "Catechism of the Catholic Church" in hand, I was ready to face the world... or so I thought.
Who knew there was so much to learn? When my young daughter came and asked me- "Do you know that so and so says it is a sin to not go to church every single Sunday?"- I confidently replied, "that is silly". Our priest clearly stated that Catholics were no longer under obligation to attend mass every Sunday. Of course, it was recommended yet not necessary. Just to show her that there were no worries if we missed mass once in a while, I opened my handy dandy CCC and read that.... clearly I was misled! Uh-hem. Lesson one upon returning to the church- it is important to learn our faith and to form our conscience according to the faith.
I hesitate to tell this next part. I am not encouraging others to "church hop". However, I confess that after attending mass for a few years, I realized that it would not do to come home from church each week and explain to my young children that our priest was possibly misled in some matters of the faith (and to be honest, I was getting confused). I also lacked the confidence or knowledge to act for possible change. (I would handle things differently today, but that is another story.)
Fortunately, were introduced to a church that had several priests who passionately shared their faith and their reverence for the Eucharist.
My father-in-law had given me an article about some homeschooling families who met at a church each month after First Friday noon mass. I had held on to this article (I usually lose such things), yet each month for an entire year met with a new obstacle to attending this mass.
Finally one Friday, I had determined that we were going to go. I cannot stress the fiasco it was to get there- I woke up on that morning to put on my one and only pair of nice slacks to realize that they had a huge rip in them. As it was, my kids were less than thrilled to be going on this adventure and I had not been feeling well. Regardless, I ran to the store to purchase slacks, packed up a lunch and the kids, and went to mass.
I have to say that I was overwhelmed by this church. To see all these people in the middle of the week (hundreds I think) attending mass. And the priest... an ancient looking elderly man who boomed with passion for the faith when he got up to give his homily and showed reverence beyond anything I had known for the Eucharist. I was humbled. But then...
Does satan know how to knock us human weaklings down or what? My girls and I (I had all girls back then), happily gathered outside the church in hopes of finding these fellow Catholic homeschoolers. I spied a face that I recognized, and thought that surely she would welcome us and invite us in. Rather than the friendly greeting I had anticipated, I was briskly brushed aside. I have to say that the shock of it was rather like a slap in the face.
Mass forgotten and offence taken, I grabbed my girls and headed to the car. Only, behind us was a voice calling-"are you here to join the homeschoolers?" "No, really," I told this stranger. "We're going home." My eyes were blurry with tears and I was embarrassed. Thankfully, with a little prodding, we decided to grab our cooler full of food and "stay for a few minutes".
To be continued...
***I want to clearly note that I don't mean to be critical of any priest. I don't know the story or motivation for what happened at the first parish we attended. I know that we are called to pray for this priest, and I won't elaborate any more than necessary to tell my story.
I think at this point I should note a few things:
If someone is coming back to the Catholic church, I would recommend that they go straight to their local parish and talk to the pastor there. We did things sort of backwards. Not understanding that we had done anything out of the ordinary by attending a non-Catholic church, we simply registered at a parish and began attending. I would also consider connecting with Catholic Answers or some other reputable organization that can help formulate questions to ask the pastor in regards to the parish. Sadly, as happened to us, there are parishes that are not as scrupulous about the faith as they should be. I don't say that to be critical, but to possibly save someone else grief.
The other thing I want to note (given that I mention attending a non-Catholic bible study) is that I would strongly recommend a Catholic bible study especially to those who do not know their faith well. I know several people who attend wonderful non-denominational bible studies that are edifying to their faith. However, some bible studies, as I found later in my journey, target Catholics in an effort to evangelize- not out of a sense of viciousness, but out of concern.
On to Part 2:
I am realizing that putting this journey into words in not going to be as easy as I thought! Part 2 is going to be brief. Part 3 will have to come after some serious thought (and prayer!).
With the "Catechism of the Catholic Church" in hand, I was ready to face the world... or so I thought.
Who knew there was so much to learn? When my young daughter came and asked me- "Do you know that so and so says it is a sin to not go to church every single Sunday?"- I confidently replied, "that is silly". Our priest clearly stated that Catholics were no longer under obligation to attend mass every Sunday. Of course, it was recommended yet not necessary. Just to show her that there were no worries if we missed mass once in a while, I opened my handy dandy CCC and read that.... clearly I was misled! Uh-hem. Lesson one upon returning to the church- it is important to learn our faith and to form our conscience according to the faith.
I hesitate to tell this next part. I am not encouraging others to "church hop". However, I confess that after attending mass for a few years, I realized that it would not do to come home from church each week and explain to my young children that our priest was possibly misled in some matters of the faith (and to be honest, I was getting confused). I also lacked the confidence or knowledge to act for possible change. (I would handle things differently today, but that is another story.)
Fortunately, were introduced to a church that had several priests who passionately shared their faith and their reverence for the Eucharist.
My father-in-law had given me an article about some homeschooling families who met at a church each month after First Friday noon mass. I had held on to this article (I usually lose such things), yet each month for an entire year met with a new obstacle to attending this mass.
Finally one Friday, I had determined that we were going to go. I cannot stress the fiasco it was to get there- I woke up on that morning to put on my one and only pair of nice slacks to realize that they had a huge rip in them. As it was, my kids were less than thrilled to be going on this adventure and I had not been feeling well. Regardless, I ran to the store to purchase slacks, packed up a lunch and the kids, and went to mass.
I have to say that I was overwhelmed by this church. To see all these people in the middle of the week (hundreds I think) attending mass. And the priest... an ancient looking elderly man who boomed with passion for the faith when he got up to give his homily and showed reverence beyond anything I had known for the Eucharist. I was humbled. But then...
Does satan know how to knock us human weaklings down or what? My girls and I (I had all girls back then), happily gathered outside the church in hopes of finding these fellow Catholic homeschoolers. I spied a face that I recognized, and thought that surely she would welcome us and invite us in. Rather than the friendly greeting I had anticipated, I was briskly brushed aside. I have to say that the shock of it was rather like a slap in the face.
Mass forgotten and offence taken, I grabbed my girls and headed to the car. Only, behind us was a voice calling-"are you here to join the homeschoolers?" "No, really," I told this stranger. "We're going home." My eyes were blurry with tears and I was embarrassed. Thankfully, with a little prodding, we decided to grab our cooler full of food and "stay for a few minutes".
To be continued...
***I want to clearly note that I don't mean to be critical of any priest. I don't know the story or motivation for what happened at the first parish we attended. I know that we are called to pray for this priest, and I won't elaborate any more than necessary to tell my story.
1 comment:
Lori, that's what i was thinking ... that when obstacles seem to be everywhere as we try to live out our faith life, we know it is the evil one who is fighting to discourage us and to get a strong hold on us. I am enjoying your story and look forwad to reading more. God bless.
Post a Comment