I Am Despairing

[Sojourner]

Kudos to people who stay in parishes like these despite their frustrations.

[homeschoolmom]

[quote name='Terra Firma' post='1293092' date='Jun 11 2007, 05:02 PM']Kudos to people who stay in parishes like these despite their frustrations.[/quote]
Amen.

[Lil Red]

[quote name='dUSt' post='1293028' date='Jun 11 2007, 01:36 PM']Some things you may or may not be able to do:

Include little catechesis flyers or sections in the bulletin. A different topic each week. (I hope that phatmass will be able to help with this in the near future with pre-made printable bulletin inserts)

Start up a group that prays the rosary immediately before or after mass, which will definitely cut down the social chatter scene inside the sanctuary.

If your priest doesn't care, then he shouldn't have a problem with you doing these things. If he's simply lazy, then you'll be helping him out. If he's opposed to these things, then I'd take it up with the bishop.[/quote]
i will have to see about the bulletin thing

someone tried to do the rosary before or after the masses (i think it was the KCs) and it was promptly shot down by the priest. he does have a problem with it. and unfortunately, we are without a bishop and the administrator prefers not to get involved in these situations.

[MissScripture]

Out of curiosity, what would one do if the Bishop had a problem with it?

[misereremi]

Prayers, lil Red. I was having similar bitter feelings about my parish- it's not liberal but people can be quite irreverent out of habit- most people do dress up big time, but they're not going to confession, do not believe in the real presence, and chat a lot after mass. And don't come to the pro-life walks, the talks on icons that the priest gives, our youth events, etc. etc. I usually hold it down because I don't want to sound like I'm judging, when I'm the biggest sinner I know.

But it was getting to me, so last week I had a bit of rant to the parish priest about how I felt this was a let down. And then the following Sunday it was amazing...the priest who gave the homily said that the mass intention was for the parishioners to be more reverent! We had a period of exposition of the Blessed Sacrament before the final blessing, and nobody left in a rush. And afterwards so many people turned up to the Corpus Christi procession through town...(and not just older people) I couldn't believe it. It was so moving Sometimes we all just need to be told.

I myself need to be more reverent by making an effort to bring a change of clothes for the weekday masses. I didn't realise I was being irreverent in my sneakers and tracksuit , but I do now.
God bless

[mortify]

[quote]what bothers me is this:

if dressing up doesn't matter...
if coming on time doesn't matter...
if staying until Mass is done doesn't matter...
if you don't believe in the Eucharist...
if you don't agree with the Catholic Church on much of anything...

...why bother coming at all?[/quote]

I agree with you, I think some people still see the benefit in going and raising children in a religious environment even if they don't agree with everything the Church teaches.

Now it's interesting that you're a youth minister, that's a wonderful vocation, you alone can guide so many souls closer to Jesus. Have you ever talked to the youth about these issues? If you can convey the reality of the Mass, the Eucharist, and the Presence of Christ in the tabernacle, they'll realize sacredness of the Church and that alone can affect many of the problems you see. If you could come to mass as a group nicely dressed, showing reverence, and genuflecting you could make quite the impression on other people. I personally wouldn't worry if someone considers you a "pharisee," or "rigid," or what not, as long as the intention is to guide others by your own good example. Getting like minded people involved would be great as well, particularly if you could get this group to teach CCD.

Anyway, these are just some ideas, I don't know if they're practical, what do you have in mind?

Btw, does being a youth minister limit you to that parish? Are there conservative novus ordo parishes around?

Edited June 12, 2007 by mortify

[Socrates]

At the risk of this being the kind of post you said you'd delete, things are overall pretty good at my parish (though it's one of those "evil ultra-conservative" parishes), and the priests have not been afraid to speak out about "controversial things" such as the need for modesty in clothing at mass, the sin of contraception, and the necessity of Confession of mortal sins before receiving Holy Communion.

I think more priests need be unafraid to speak out about such things, and not be so worried about upsetting people or "driving people away."
If the priest does not teach on such things, it is unlikely many of the parishioners will know the truth otherwise. And while some people may get upset, or just not listen, I think in the long run this can have more of an effect than you'd think. Some people are just ignorant, and need to hear the truth. And people will ultimately respect someone who stands up for truth even when it is unpopular, than someone who is spineless and lets himself get pushed around by others.

But if the priest is encouraging irreverence, and there's no bishop, I'm not sure what the solution is, other than to pray, and try to set a good example yourself.

[Ash Wednesday]

I'm praying for you, Lil Red, and anyone else that has this problem. I've been moving around so much I don't have a regular parish but I know how you feel. When you see someone that seems indifferent, pray for them. They need our prayers, myself included. I've suffered a lot of trials in my life in the last few years and with the exception of a few pockets of consolation here and there, I feel like I'm wafting through my spiritual life in a massive cloud of frustrating ambivalence and religious indifference, when I know there is a greater source of joy out there but often feel weighed down and just floating along trying to keep my head above water. The only thing that keeps me going is the fact that stopping and sinking isn't a desirable option. God knows I might be one of those people that more reverent people are irritated by.

Anyway prayers again. One way or another, things will be all right.

Edited June 12, 2007 by Ash Wednesday

[Ora et Labora]

[quote name='Lil Red' post='1292851' date='Jun 11 2007, 12:49 PM']"I'm glad I attend 'such and such' church and we don't have these problems"[/quote]

i would personally like to know what's wrong with saying this.

[cmotherofpirl]

Hugs and prayers dearie.
I think you are suffering a slow martyrdom[ and time off of purgatory ] for being there. Never doubt that you are making a difference just by being faithful and modeling faithfulness for the kids. Pray for the soul of your pastor, he is gonna need all the help he can get, when he has to account to St Peter.

[MissScripture]

[quote name='Ora et Labora' post='1293288' date='Jun 11 2007, 09:50 PM']i would personally like to know what's wrong with saying this.[/quote]
Because it really isn't helpful in figuring out what she might be able to do to help her parish. And I think she wanted to specifically avoid mention of the types of Mass and people trying to place one over the other...

[sarcasmguy126]

i don't know quite how to respond but yes some of those things--especially the offensive attire of some people--ticks me off

one thing i get annoyed with is when the priest refers to Christ as effeminite AND masculine (a bishop did that once!) It just annoys me because we all know that he is fully masculine

as much as some of us would like the Mass and priests to be perfect, sometimes they aren't

[cmotherofpirl]

[quote name='Ora et Labora' post='1293288' date='Jun 11 2007, 10:50 PM']i would personally like to know what's wrong with saying this.[/quote]
Because its bragging and not constructive.

[toledo_jesus]

[quote name='Raphael' post='1292899' date='Jun 11 2007, 02:48 PM']Minimalism. People believe in God (all people do, even atheists, except that they fear Him) and think that as long as they put in the minimal effort, God won't completely abandon them. As long as they're someone who's "worse," some people will convince themselves that they won't be going to hell, because they'd have to be that worse person.[/quote]
wait...so it doesn't work like that?

[Lil Red]

[quote name='hot stuff' post='1293034' date='Jun 11 2007, 01:42 PM']That's a great point Ma'am.[/quote]
oh no, you're making me feel old! :

[quote name='mortify' post='1293192' date='Jun 11 2007, 06:13 PM']I agree with you, I think some people still see the benefit in going and raising children in a religious environment even if they don't agree with everything the Church teaches.

Now it's interesting that you're a youth minister, that's a wonderful vocation, you alone can guide so many souls closer to Jesus. Have you ever talked to the youth about these issues? If you can convey the reality of the Mass, the Eucharist, and the Presence of Christ in the tabernacle, they'll realize sacredness of the Church and that alone can affect many of the problems you see. If you could come to mass as a group nicely dressed, showing reverence, and genuflecting you could make quite the impression on other people. I personally wouldn't worry if someone considers you a "pharisee," or "rigid," or what not, as long as the intention is to guide others by your own good example. Getting like minded people involved would be great as well, particularly if you could get this group to teach CCD.

Anyway, these are just some ideas, I don't know if they're practical, what do you have in mind?

Btw, does being a youth minister limit you to that parish? Are there conservative novus ordo parishes around?[/quote]
i try to set a good example for my youth, but i'm afraid i fail a lot.

there are no conservative N.O. parishes around.