I Am Despairing

[Lil Red]

[quote name='MissScripture' post='1293298' date='Jun 11 2007, 07:53 PM']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...[/quote]
precisely.

[catholicinsd]

Well at least people are coming to Mass

[Sojourner]

[quote name='Lil Red' post='1293390' date='Jun 11 2007, 10:36 PM']oh no, you're making me feel old! :[/quote]
he's just trying to make himself feel young ...

[Lil Red]

really, everyone, i appreciate the suggestions, prayers, and reminders. i need them all :

phatmass is too good to me

[Luthien]

I know how you feel Lil' Red. I remember when I was in Maine, you would find it a hard task to find a truely Catholic parish. The situation you described sounds hauntingly familiar to my experiences.
I know it seems so hopeless, but I would like to let you know, that what you are doing is so so good. And of course you have all of our prayers.

You are doing good things for Christs' glory, always remember that.

[jckinsman]

I'am so sorry but our parish is perfectly perfect and all conservative latiny and stuff...... and besides if it wasn't for vat.2 you just wouldn't be in this mess now would you???? So just be quiet and let the children come dressed as they will,we don't want them to leave for the "two square", church down the road do we??? It's them just expressing themselves, and after all,... if they don't have good self esteems how can they focus on the LLLOOOOOOVVVVVVEEEE! What if someone for got to brush their teeth and they just wanted minty fresh breath for the babe in the mini-skirt next to them,HUH?????? You could be damaging future fornication here!!!! And I am sorry, but my lipstick and gallon of perfume was not placed on perfectly,I was just to horried to look at!. ... so I was a smidge late for mass. I also needed Gas too but,God doesn't want me to run out,does he?????? I mean if you really think about it you'd see, MASS,isn't just about you and JESUS anymore,get with the year 2007,Its all about me,and the way I look and the people I see and the kind of doughnuts they have ...... oh and If I can make the noon showing of "Rampant Sex,druken-drug-a-lious ,hack someone to peices with a chainsaw nightmere" So if by chance Father so-n-so has a few of those silly baptisms we can always cut it short at the "Cume-by-yah"










As I read your thread my Husband was saying"Amen sister". So I hope your a sister!


We don't get the title of the most underchurched state in the US for nothing you know! In all seriousness ,if you have not seen the humor,and not already blocked me, I would just like to say I do feel your pain. It is so frustrating. We need to really pray for our Priests to have the courage to not be afraid to speak the truth from the pulpit! (Thank you Father Harris!)
These kinds of subtle abuses,deteriorate the laity.Have people become so desensitized to it that they can no longer see it? Or do the people see it and say nothing about it. I for one WILL say something to a person dressed immodestly. That way if the whole '
"maybe they just don't have something nice" thing, Is never an issue. Women can cover themselves up!
I think you can say it ALL in a nice way.How they take it,is not your problem. These abuses are! May God be with you you are in our prayers!

Edited June 12, 2007 by jckinsman

[ofpheritup]

[quote name='Terra Firma' post='1293048' date='Jun 11 2007, 02:56 PM']Don't despair ... God is always working, even when things appear the blackest.[/quote]

I have, I don't go to church anymore.

[farglefeezlebut]

I posted in this thread before but my interent crashed and it didn't get through.

Firstly, prayers.

Secondly, try to ignore all the stupidity that's going on around you. It might help to shut your eyes and only open them at elevation.

If you set a good example and keep on prayibng and trying not to judge (yes, I know it's hard) then people will follow. Or if they don't their loss. Don't let their silliness come between you and Jesus. Don't let anything come between you and Jesus. Because He's there whether people care about Him or not. Nothing else matters.

A prayer by St. Teresa of Avila:

Nada te turbe;
nada te espante;
todo se pasa;
Dios no se muda,
la paciencia
todo lo alcanza.
Quien a Dios tiene,
nada le falta.
Solo Dios basta.

(Translation:
May nothing disturb you;
May nothing shock you;
Everything passes;
God doesn't change,
Patience achieves everything.
He who has God
Lacks nothing.
God alone is enough.)

*HUGS*

[Ora et Labora]

[quote name='cmotherofpirl' post='1293309' date='Jun 11 2007, 09:59 PM']Because its bragging and not constructive.[/quote]

oh yes, i see that. it's just...i thought she had some personal problem with ppl who went to good churches. i was just confused i guess.

[Mary-Kathryn]

Don't have time to read everything so please forgive me if I do a repeat:

1. Take your kids to a Latin Mass every month or two. Everyone will have this beautiful experience and example.

2. You can talk to your kids about appropriate modesty. You don't have to hit them over the head with it--have them talk about it, act out skits, then all go to Mass together in your 'Sunday best" as one group.

3. See if you can find a priest doing a lecture series on the parts of the Mass. Being a convert I attended one and boy did it really help! I think it would bring anyone to a deeper understanding--and I bet your kids would have alot to think about.

You may not be able to turn the whole parish around but you have these kids in your hands--and I bet you'll be amazing with them :

Hugs for the terrible time and the things you've witnessed. I know it breaks the heart.

[philosophette]

I was not going to post a response, but after reading everything that everyone wrote, I have to say I FEEL YOUR PAIN!!

I am entering the convent in less than two months. I have been a convert for eight years now, and during this entire time I have felt without a spiritual "home"... kind of like a wandering pilgrim. I have moved twice, so that is part of the problem, but even among the "conversative" parishes (I think titles are so dumb... why cannot we just be CATHOLIC and not have all these politics? so annoying... ) even if there was reverence it quickly became a very judgmental place where if someone came in not dressed properly they were not spoken to kindly - people assumed that they were "liberal" or trying to corrupt the young and other such mish-mosh.

Then there are the liberal parishes where people are nicer to one another, but more because being nice and not "imposing" one's beliefs on other people is part of the vibe.

I think that the best place to be is in the middle - have a clear understanding of what is right, but never assume that people are malicious or purposefully dressing or acting a certain way. There is a lot of poor catechisis out there... and I look forward to being an educator of the young and if nothing else, at least passing down to them a love and respect for the Eucharist.

There is another thread on here from Theologian in Training where he discussed finding hosts all around his church after Mass... all of these things are a real symptom of the culture where faith and belief are accessories, not life, to us. We accessorize with the different groups we belong to as our identity card, but do not fully own the identity. It is sad...

So.. I know your pain very well. I taught religious ed to fifth graders who had no idea what a saint was or what a tabernacle was for, and every week it was a struggle because what their parents fed them was an accessorized form of faith and I wanted to pass onto them a real identity! Sometimes I think as part of admitting the children to the sacraments we should require that the parents attend a "refresher course"...

*sigh*

I'll be praying for you! Hang in there! God is showing you these things for a reason and I am sure He will let you know what He wants you to do when the time is right.

Edited June 12, 2007 by philosobrat

[Seven77]

[quote name='cmotherofpirl' post='1293295' date='Jun 11 2007, 08:53 PM']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.[/quote]

unbloody martyrdom forreal

[prose]

[quote name='Deus_te_Amat' post='1292920' date='Jun 11 2007, 01:02 PM']okay... but when all the skirts and nice black pants ae in the wash... its okay to wear jeans? sorry![/quote]


[quote name='Lil Red' post='1293118' date='Jun 11 2007, 04:54 PM']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.[/quote]

My priest won't allow it either.

[Ash Wednesday]

Why would anyone have a problem with the reciting of the rosary before or after mass?

[prose]

He feels that it distracts the people who are preparing for Mass and do not want to pray the rosary. His thoughts are that the Church should be silent before Mass begins so as people can prepare themselves. He sees a few people praying the rosary as an impediment to that.

As for the jeans question, I heard a priest say once: "If you must wear jeans, please make them the best pair you have"

I think that is what I think too. Casual clothing doesn't bother me so much, but I certainly am dismayed by promiscuous clothing.