The Parish

[sanctus]

hey, this is sort of off your topic. but like if you get online at all(i can wait knowing youre into personal stuff) can you help me understand fatima. have you heard of fatima? my priest lent me a book on it and its about mary appearing to three children. is it true? does the church believe in this sort of stuff?

Yes, the Church always believes in miracles from God Maple. It is also very careful and cautious when stories of appearances from the Holy Mother are circulated. There is quite an involved series of
conditions before the church declares an apparition legitimate. No apparition, however, is required belief for a Catholic. It is always something considered in aide of faith, but not necessary for it.
I shall post a short blurb on Our Lady of Fatima for you.

 

[talloola]

Excuse us for caring. So are you saying that you are too far and above us mortals to worry about the needs of a parish! what the hell is your job anyway???

Read his words again, you are missing the point

 

[talloola]

So, the building is not important? where would the parish go to Mass if they didn't take care of the building? What would you most like to see your parish doing then?

Your remarks make you living proof, of the point that sanctus was making

 

[sanctus]

Your remarks make you living proof, of the point that sanctus was making

Thank you. Not too long ago a woman started coming to Mass. She wasn't what we would call a "Church lady". She had never been before you see. She was a bit rough, overweight and loud. But she had a heart of gold, a real gem of a woman. I loved her instantly.

I began getting complaints about her from the "good Christians" because sometimes her language was a little off-colour and she usually wore jeans all the time, even to Mass.

These "good Christian women" never stopped to find out that the lady was working a minimum wage job, raising three kids on her own and was an excellent mother. Her children were clean, fed and well behaved at all times I saw them. She also did not have extra money for "proper" clothes.

Finally, to my sadness, they managed to drive her away with their constant bitching, which obviously she found out about. No amount of persuading from me could compel her to return. She was very hurt to be treated in such a manner by what she considered "Christian" people.

So, that's my point, are we in the parish so concerned with external crap that we fail to see the hearts and souls of the people around us?

 

[talloola]

Thank you. Not too long ago a woman started coming to Mass. She wasn't what we would call a "Church lady". She had never been before you see. She was a bit rough, overweight and loud. But she had a heart of gold, a real gem of a woman. I loved her instantly.

I began getting complaints about her from the "good Christians" because sometimes her language was a little off-colour and she usually wore jeans all the time, even to Mass.

These "good Christian women" never stopped to find out that the lady was working a minimum wage job, raising three kids on her own and was an excellent mother. Her children were clean, fed and well behaved at all times I saw them. She also did not have extra money for "proper" clothes.

Finally, to my sadness, they managed to drive her away with their constant bitching, which obviously she found out about. No amount of persuading from me could compel her to return. She was very hurt to be treated in such a manner by what she considered "Christian" people.

So, that's my point, are we in the parish so concerned with external crap that we fail to see the hearts and souls of the people around us?

My youngest daughter who is 35, with 3 children, and in a common law relationship, has attended
a mennonite church for about 5 years, she works hard in the parish, and she is also a very accomplished flutist, and plays each Sunday during the church service. She is friends with everyone
and happy to help "anyone" in need. She offered to take over the teaching of the little children's
sunday school class,BUT a group of the elderly people got together and wrote a letter to the minister
and protested as she "lives commonlaw". She was dismayed and hurt, and dissapointed. Some time
went by, she no longer attended church, and was in the process of finding a new one, but one day
the minister called her and asked her to come for a "meeting" with him, which she did. He stated
that there was quite an uprising because of "the dilema" and because of overwhelming support for
her "return" to the church, they had made a change in their rules, and they would like her to teach
the little children and return to the services, which she did. I don't know what your position would
have been in the catholic church with this matter. She asked him what their stand would be if she
was a "single" mom, and they stated that it would be fine. I don't understand their position, doesn't
make sense to me, and in my mind fits in with what you stated re: picky and trivial.

 

[selfactivated]

My youngest daughter who is 35, with 3 children, and in a common law relationship, has attended
a mennonite church for about 5 years, she works hard in the parish, and she is also a very accomplished flutist, and plays each Sunday during the church service. She is friends with everyone
and happy to help "anyone" in need. She offered to take over the teaching of the little children's
sunday school class,BUT a group of the elderly people got together and wrote a letter to the minister
and protested as she "lives commonlaw". She was dismayed and hurt, and dissapointed. Some time
went by, she no longer attended church, and was in the process of finding a new one, but one day
the minister called her and asked her to come for a "meeting" with him, which she did. He stated
that there was quite an uprising because of "the dilema" and because of overwhelming support for
her "return" to the church, they had made a change in their rules, and they would like her to teach
the little children and return to the services, which she did. I don't know what your position would
have been in the catholic church with this matter. She asked him what their stand would be if she
was a "single" mom, and they stated that it would be fine. I don't understand their position, doesn't
make sense to me, and in my mind fits in with what you stated re: picky and trivial.

I had a simular experience in the salvation army. Their preachers rotate so every few years we get new people. When I first moved to Texas I was very gung ho. Volunteered for everything. I was the Sunbeam leader two years and very Loved by my girls and it was recipricle. I was Secratary of the Home leage. I ran the Angel tree program all for two years. The new Captains came in and found out I was Bi Polar and took all of my positions. I was devistated. But I still did what I was allowed. 12 years altogether.

My point is if you Love where your at you ignore the ...........sorry for the word........Biddies. As long as I was useful I stayed. I stopped being useful and I left. Hope that made sense

 

[talloola]

I had a simular experience in the salvation army. Their preachers rotate so every few years we get new people. When I first moved to Texas I was very gung ho. Volunteered for everything. I was the Sunbeam leader two years and very Loved by my girls and it was recipricle. I was Secratary of the Home leage. I ran the Angel tree program all for two years. The new Captains came in and found out I was Bi Polar and took all of my positions. I was devistated. But I still did what I was allowed. 12 years altogether.

My point is if you Love where your at you ignore the ...........sorry for the word........Biddies. As long as I was useful I stayed. I stopped being useful and I left. Hope that made sense

yes, very good sense, and not at all fair, but quite often life isn't fair.

 

[sanctus]

I had a simular experience in the salvation army. Their preachers rotate so every few years we get new people. When I first moved to Texas I was very gung ho. Volunteered for everything. I was the Sunbeam leader two years and very Loved by my girls and it was recipricle. I was Secratary of the Home leage. I ran the Angel tree program all for two years. The new Captains came in and found out I was Bi Polar and took all of my positions. I was devistated. But I still did what I was allowed. 12 years altogether.

My point is if you Love where your at you ignore the ...........sorry for the word........Biddies. As long as I was useful I stayed. I stopped being useful and I left. Hope that made sense

The "Biddies" are usually the most formidable people to contend with in a parish. dedicated ladies, but very determined to have things go as they are accustomed to. I find them at times the most irritating group to work around in a parish situation.

 

[sanctus]

and they would like her to teach
the little children and return to the services, which she did. I don't know what your position would
have been in the catholic church with this matter. She asked him what their stand would be if she
was a "single" mom, and they stated that it would be fine. I don't understand their position, doesn't
make sense to me, and in my mind fits in with what you stated re: picky and trivial.

Their position was one of perceived morals, since traditionally The church and other Christian communites support the Sacrament of Matrimony as the only correct way to live with the opposite sex. That being said, my position would've been the same as the minister's. Sometimes, in trying to live the gospel, we fall victim to being too much like the infmaous Pharisees of the New Test. But the reality of life means we often have to meet people where they are in order to draw them into the faith.

 

[sanctus]

I had a simular experience in the salvation army. Their preachers rotate so every few years we get new people. When I first moved to Texas I was very gung ho. Volunteered for everything. I was the Sunbeam leader two years and very Loved by my girls and it was recipricle. I was Secratary of the Home leage. I ran the Angel tree program all for two years. The new Captains came in and found out I was Bi Polar and took all of my positions. I was devistated. But I still did what I was allowed. 12 years altogether.

Why did they take you away from what you were doing? I mean, yes, you were bi-polar, but did it ever get reflected in the work you were doing? If you were so well loved by the people you were helping, I'd welcome someone like you being so involved.

 

[AndyF]

What do you mean "bring back Christmas Midnight Mass"? I've been a priest since 1996 and I always hold a Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve.

This must be a first for South Dundas Glengarry. I don't mind the long drives either, and the masses are always packed to the doors. But for some reason nothing this year. (unless I got the wrong info!.:sad10.

I thinks it's because the priests in this diocese are really overworked. Most are racing from one parish to the next between masses.

BTW, what is your opinion of Parish Alive which is going on into the second year? I joined a group last year but only for the first session. In your diocese it may be going by another name.

AndyF

 

[selfactivated]

Why did they take you away from what you were doing? I mean, yes, you were bi-polar, but did it ever get reflected in the work you were doing? If you were so well loved by the people you were helping, I'd welcome someone like you being so involved.

Like I said the preachers were changed regularly. The Finches were young and open to help. The Bush's (no joke its Texas) were very stern. I have come across many prejudice people in my life.

 

[sanctus]

BTW, what is your opinion of Parish Alive which is going on into the second year? I joined a group last year but only for the first session. In your diocese it may be going by another name.

AndyF

Parish Alive? The only thing that i am familiar with under that name is a traditionalist Anglican movement. (http://parishalive.ca/) Is this the same group? Can you descirbe a bit more of what this about? Are you in the dicoese of Toronto? I'm in the dicoese of London, but under an Eastern Rite(Byzantine) Bishop.

 

[sanctus]

Like I said the preachers were changed regularly. The Finches were young and open to help. The Bush's (no joke its Texas) were very stern. I have come across many prejudice people in my life.

I want to add some comments, but am getting picked up by my sister to go get a bite to eat before we go back to the funeral home. I didn't want you to think I was ignoring you~I'll pop back on tonight;-)

 

[selfactivated]

Just Be Well My ramblings arent important. My point was Im going to help people no matter what others think. Dont forget to take care of you at this point its easy to get sick under these conditions.

 

[AndyF]

Parish Alive? The only thing that i am familiar with under that name is a traditionalist Anglican movement. (http://parishalive.ca/) Is this the same group? Can you descirbe a bit more of what this about? Are you in the dicoese of Toronto? I'm in the dicoese of London, but under an Eastern Rite(Byzantine) Bishop.

It would be the Catholic Diocese of Alexandria-Cornwall, my apology. :color:
Here's the link to my parish and explaination: http://www.alexandria-cornwall.ca/pa.php

Your affiliation explains why it would not be familiar to you, sorry.

AndyF

 

[csanopal]

Parish Alive? The only thing that i am familiar with under that name is a traditionalist Anglican movement. (http://parishalive.ca/) Is this the same group? Can you descirbe a bit more of what this about? Are you in the dicoese of Toronto? I'm in the dicoese of London, but under an Eastern Rite(Byzantine) Bishop.

Might be their version of ours? Good group though, really gets people in the parish motiavted!

 

[sanctus]

It would be the Catholic Diocese of Alexandria-Cornwall, my apology. :color:
Here's the link to my parish and explaination: http://www.alexandria-cornwall.ca/pa.php

Your affiliation explains why it would not be familiar to you, sorry.

AndyF

Thank you. I'll take a look at the site. We did have something in our diocese a few years back called "Living Church". didn't last long, as it proved somewhat counter-productive to its stated goals which were to re-emerge the church as a vibrant force in the community.

 

[marygaspe]

Thank you. I'll take a look at the site. We did have something in our diocese a few years back called "Living Church". didn't last long, as it proved somewhat counter-productive to its stated goals which were to re-emerge the church as a vibrant force in the community.

Funny, it seems as if the Church is coming around to wanting a balance between what evolved out of V2 and the traditions. Allot of talk now about the Latin Mass returning. In fact, two parishes within driving distance of me are already featuring regular Traditional Latin Masses on a sunday in addition to the Novus Ordo Mass.

 

[Libra Girl]

During the hurricane 3 years ago here I wanted to allow the use of my fridge to the churches in town. I called St Bridget first, they asked if I was a member and I said I used to be but no longer was. They suggested I call Sally Ally or the Baptist churches. Peoples insolin was going bad and I had electricity! They said no.

I can so identify with that! A couple of years ago I had a new kitchen installed, leaving me with a surplus of 1 tumble-dryer, a fridge-freezer, and a freezer (the freezer was less than two years old, and the other two less than four) and sundry smaller items. I rang around several charities and churches of all denominations and told them you're welcome to the items, just come and pick them up. Some never got back to me, and others passed me onto their vergers, (one of whom told me that they didn't have any poor people in their parish?? another told me to sell them or put them in storage) Even social services were not interested!! It beggars belief that these organisations didn't know of someone that would have benefitted from any one of these things offered...