There seems to be discrepancy among Catholics about the personal relationship thing. Some make fun of the Protestants for that claim and some seem to state they also have a personal relationship. It may even be the same people but I don’t remember.
Catholics believe in a relationship between Creator and created. We have awe and reverence for God and we worship Him. We do not believe in a beer and pretzel Buddy Christ. We believe that that simply reduces the concept of God to just another guy and that we will not accept.
You must have missed all the passages that tell of Jesus sitting to eat with many different people. Even the Pharisees. I believe it was metmom who posted those verses already.