Era Might Posted February 23, 2013 Share Posted February 23, 2013 (edited) My hometown in Boston is only 2 square miles and there were four parishes there at one time...a Polish, a French, and two American parishes. Today it's down to three parishes, and the ethnic Polish parish is very small now, but the American parish is bursting with Hispanics and Vietnemese parishioners. There's a shrine in downtown Boston where they have confession 7+ hours every day. Boston is most definitely Catholic. I'm new to New Orleans. I went to see an author speak yesterday at the public library, just out of curiosity. He was discussing his beliefs in the afterlife, he's sort of a psychic / "spiritual guide" ala John Edwards. He made it a point to mention he's Catholic, though he joked that if a priest heard his talk he'd probably excommunicate him. I guess this guy wouldn't be "Catholic" by strict standards, but seems to be reflective of a Catholic culture in the area...Catholic culture has never been devoid of superstition and shamans on the local level. Also, Boston is home to the Cathedral church for the Melkite Eparchy of Newton, and there is a Greek Orthodox seminary in Boston...there are lots and lots of Eastern Christian immigrants in Boston. Edited February 23, 2013 by Era Might Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Autumn Dusk Posted February 23, 2013 Share Posted February 23, 2013 My hometown in Boston is only 2 square miles and there were four parishes there at one time...a Polish, a French, and two American parishes. Today it's down to three parishes, and the ethnic Polish parish is very small now, but the American parish is bursting with Hispanics and Vietnemese parishioners. There's a shrine in downtown Boston where they have confession 7+ hours every day. Boston is most definitely Catholic. I'm new to New Orleans. I went to see an author speak yesterday at the public library, just out of curiosity. He was discussing his beliefs in the afterlife, he's sort of a psychic / "spiritual guide" ala John Edwards. He made it a point to mention he's Catholic, though he joked that if a priest heard his talk he'd probably excommunicate him. I guess this guy wouldn't be "Catholic" by strict standards, but seems to be reflective of a Catholic culture in the area...Catholic culture has never been devoid of superstition and shamans on the local level. Also, Boston is home to the Cathedral church for the Melkite Eparchy of Newton, and there is a Greek Orthodox seminary in Boston...there are lots and lots of Eastern Christian immigrants in Boston. Not the Boston I know....well the Hispanics, yes, but they don't seem very inclusive to the whites Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Era Might Posted February 23, 2013 Share Posted February 23, 2013 (edited) Not the Boston I know....well the Hispanics, yes, but they don't seem very inclusive to the whites Not sure what Boston you know, I've never lived in the Boston suburbs, so can't really give any insight there, but my experience in Boston Catholicism was generally conventional. It's not hard to find a quiet, reverential Mass in Boston...I've never seen some of the wilder stuff that goes on elsewhere. Boston also has an extensive Catholic school system, hospitals, etc. Not sure what you measure a "Catholic city" on but it's not hard to find anything you're looking for in Boston. Of course, Christianity has been in decline throughout the Western world. Back in the 1970s in Boston in many parishes you had to get a ticket just to get into midnight Mass...you don't see that kind of bursting at the seams Catholicism anymore, but that's not unique to Boston. And just because other areas of the country have growing Catholic infrastructure doesn't say much...Boston is one of the most developed cities in the country, it's no surprise that other areas are in expansion mode whereas Boston is in historical mode. Edited February 23, 2013 by Era Might Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lilllabettt Posted February 23, 2013 Share Posted February 23, 2013 NYC is a great place to be Catholic. Boston is a great place to be Catholic. Harvard itself is a great place to be Catholic. D.C. is wonderful. - my favorite. Cleveland - okay Birmingham- good. Currently living in Tulsa, and the Church is solid here - small but exceptionally fervent. In my experience, the Catholic Church is good at doing cities. I can think of a couple urban dioceses that are disaster zones ... but for the most part, the Church knows how to make the most of the diversity and rhythms of city life. Same thing with in the rural areas ... there's real devotion in the farmlands. Things are a lot more hit and miss in the suburbs. IMO --- that is where you sometimes find the weird stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sister Marie Posted February 23, 2013 Share Posted February 23, 2013 What about Philadelphia? I love living here... lots of Catholics... not always "go to Sunday Mass" Catholics, but there is a heavy Catholic influence on the general society... even protestants identify their homes by the "parish" they "belong" to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tufsoles Posted February 23, 2013 Share Posted February 23, 2013 Sister marie I lived in a palce like that for awhile. It was odd at frist but I thought it was cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SstrAli Posted February 23, 2013 Share Posted February 23, 2013 Lincoln Nebraska diocese.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tufsoles Posted February 23, 2013 Share Posted February 23, 2013 Oh no. it was a military base. It probably is not like that now. With constant moves culture changes constantly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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