[american colleen]

TM, thanks so much for that last post. It is so upbeat!

I don't despair over the way things are in most parishes, but I do get incredibly sad that so many do not know the peace and joy that they could have if they surrendered themselves to God's Will and quit putting themselves up as the ultimate authority (in the "spirit" of Vatican II doncha know).

In rereading this, it sounds all pious and smarmy, and that is definitely not the way I am at all, but I don't know how else to express it.

[ThomasMore]

it sounds all pious and smarmy

Not at all!  It was a truthful elaboration of the dire circumstances you face at the VOTF! Understood as such!

and that is definitely not the way I am at all

I know this from reading many of your posts over the last year or more.  You're like many here on FR: good and faithful and concerned Catholics.

but I don't know how else to express it.

There may be no other way to express it sometimes.  Those who have walked in your shoes know exactly what you mean.

 

God Bless you,

TM