I had several replies to my post #10 above asking me to get myself back to Mass. I just can’t do it. Not here in my small town. I used to attend St. James in Redondo Beach, CA, where the Priest was awesome. I attended nearly every Sunday. When I was troubled I scheduled private times to speak to him for advice. I loved that parish. And the parish where I grew up, Church of the Resurrection in Pittsburgh, PA was the same way. I was an integral part of the Church.
Here in our small California farming town I just can’t do it. Even though Mexicans are a minority in our town, the vast majority of the attendees at the Catholic Church are Mexicans, as is the Priest... and it seems that every one of them pray to the god of political correctness and government cheese. I have nothing in common with them. I could no more ask him for advice about life than I’d ask a child how to build a rocket ship. He just doesn’t have the communications skills or the cultural background knowledge.
Some have pointed out that Church is between me and God, but I see God everywhere else... and scant little of Him at this particular Church. I need Church to be a community. That’s why I go... to share something special with my community. Without the community aspect, I can just as well speak to God in my workshop or back yard.
From what I’ve seen of Catholic Priests here in our town, the measuring stick has gotten pretty short at the Seminaries. My apologies to everyone... I’m just not the type to go to a Church unless I look up to the Priest.
Many years ago my son and I as his careprovider went to our local Parish and I was almost always in tears after Catechism for him due to the snobbery from some Parishiners.
One year we show up for his Confirmation Class and those in power (not the Preist who has since left the Catholic Church) moved the class up a flight of stairs and had the Preist meet us there to let us know it was not accessible and the “teens” had decided to keep it that way....
Well many years late we found a very small Parish down south and went to Adult Catechism both recieved our Holy Confirmation.
Due to sons severe disability Father who is very conservative and does not mince words and who I Love/Respect like a Father I never had comes to our home every other week and we Recieve Holy Eucharist.
Even my physician says Father is the best thing that ever happen to our family in having a trusted person we can turn to.
Don’t throw in the towel and remember there is those that need Eucharist brought to them at home if that would interest you as a service.
We have even had Mass in our home.
Remember it is not God our Father but the misguided Parishiners that are to be held accountable in the end.
Perservere.