Trying to Find the Right Parish (suggestions)

[phillovesourlady2]

I [i]have[/i] decided that I want to become Catholic. [i]BUT[/i]....its very hard finding the right parish. I came from the High Church Anglican position. Basically, they were Anglicans who worshipped with a pre-Novus Ordo Mass style based on the Book of Common Prayer. Actually, it was lovely, it had chanting, incense, everything that ought to be in a Mass. But the closest Catholic thing to that was a Tridentine parish. I tried it out but it was AWLFUL.....the priest couldn't chant, the choir was off key, the organ was off key, everything that could go wrong did.....*sigh* So, today I decided to try the local Catheral hoping that this would be a good Novus Ordo Mass. Boy, was I wrong.....There was NO Latin whatsoever! There was no incense! There weren't even bells rung when the Body and Blood were consecrated! *sigh* I don't want to look at Vatican II as a [i]protestantizing[/i] of the Catholic Church. But I want to find a Novus Ordo Mass that preserves the Latin as Vatican II intended. Something like the Masses on EWTN. They have just the right mixture of Latin and English. *sigh* I need help!!!


P.S. Am I being too picky?

Edited November 28, 2005 by phillovesourlady2

[philothea]

Well... you did ask...

Yes, you are being too picky. The mass is not a performance. You know what is important: pay attention to that. Bells and incense are nice, but they don't change what is really happening at all.

Go to the nearest parish to you, unless there is something [i]horribly[/i] wrong there. (Ask us for confirmation that it's horrible.)

I know it's a hard transition from your background. Help make your local church better, don't shop around and leave them lame.

Edited November 28, 2005 by philothea

[tojo]

Unless you have a good reason to go to a different parish, closest is usually best.

For example, I made my sacraments and frequently attend a charismatic parish, because I'm charismatic (used to be Pentecostal in fact), BUT I'm also really involved with my student parish at college, despite it's being rather liberal and there being many liturgical abuses.

[Sojourner]

Both philothea and tomasio have made good points, and they're probably right.

I myself have come to the conclusion that there are enough difficult things about converting that I don't need to throw going to a parish in which I don't feel connected into the mix. Even though I don't know many people at the parish I've been attending for several weeks, I personally feel more at home, and right now feeling at home is important. Maybe at a different stage in my journey I'll feel differently about the situation.

[RonRule]

I've gone from non-denom to Anglican to RCIA. I definitely feel your pain.

I'm also considering the "closest parish VS. best liturgy" arguments.

[Gal. 5:22,23]

I passed up the two closest parishes (15 min. from my house) for one 40 min. from my house. If you add traffic, sometimes it takes an hour. But one of the closer ones does not adhere to the teachings of Rome - they call themselves "progressive," and the other doesn't offer regular Eucharistic adoration and some things the priest told me made me uncomfortable.

Sooo, I make the drive because the one furthest away has perpetual adoration, actually looks like a Catholic church, and is very faithful to the Magisterium. And lo and behold, they can hardly contain the growth because so many Catholics around here seem to be starving for orthodoxy.

[tojo]

Yeah, my charismatic parish (to many PMers shock, lol) is like that. It's more conservative, prthodox, and in many ways more traditional than lots of other nearby parishes, so it's flooded woth many people who aren't even charismatic at all. In the past 4 years, the parish has increased in size 60% (and it hads hundreds of families already.)

I love that we have a perpetual adoration service, only altarboys, and use bells and inscense, etc, etc, etc.....

Sometimes I hate going to the student chapel, but becuase I liev right here and all my friedns go there, I'm much more rooted in the parishlife there.... *sigh*

[LouisvilleFan]

I would definitely attend a charismatic parish if there was one in Louisville. The archdiocese does have charismatic Masses sometimes, but I don't think there is a parish of charismatic Catholics.

However, I have enjoyed going to Mass at different parishes. I'm still in RCIA and haven't yet decided where I'll become a member, but I would like to be involved with either inner-city or international missions work, so a parish that is actively doing those things would be great.

Reading this thread reminds me of one parish I visited here in Louisville while I was still checking out the whole Catholic thing. It was very dry... so dry that Ted Koppel would have brightened the place if he walked through the front doors Most people didn't seem to be participating in the liturgy, resulting in lots of half-hearted mumbling. However, there was one awesome thing that God showed me during this dreadfully boring Mass. When the priest held up the consecrated Body and Blood and everyone sang the Great Amen, I understood what a great gift we have in the Church since we are centered around Christ in the Eucharist and not someone's preaching or an exciting church service. And when I say everyone sang the Great Amen, I'm not exaggerating too much. For some reason, they were half-dead for the rest of Mass, but not that one significant part.

You know, if you look at how many people attend dry, boring Masses, how can you not imagine how many would be drawn if those same parishes were lively and actively ministering to their members and the community?

[Gal. 5:22,23]

Where are you attending RCIA? (I'm from Louisville)

And which parishes offer Charismatic masses?

Edited December 8, 2005 by Gal. 5:22,23

[LouisvilleFan]

You must go to St. Martin of Tours then. Perpetual adoration narrows down the list pretty quick

I'm taking RCIA at St. Anthony's on Market St. in the West End. I've been to St. Martin's a few times and it is a great church, but I'm not sure if I'll join there or not. I'd like to find a church that is more connected with the neighborhood surrounding it. It seems like nearly all the parishinors there drive in on Sunday morning and have little spiritual impact on the people who live there.

They have charismatic Masses at Mt. St. Francis in Indiana. I've never been there, but just seen it mentioned in church bulletins. It seems like they are scheduled every month or two.

[Gal. 5:22,23]

[quote name='LouisvilleFan' date='Dec 8 2005, 05:37 PM']You must go to St. Martin of Tours then. Perpetual adoration narrows down the list pretty quick

I'm taking RCIA at St. Anthony's on Market St. in the West End. I've been to St. Martin's a few times and it is a great church, but I'm not sure if I'll join there or not. I'd like to find a church that is more connected with the neighborhood surrounding it. It seems like nearly all the parishinors there drive in on Sunday morning and have little spiritual impact on the people who live there.

They have charismatic Masses at Mt. St. Francis in Indiana. I've never been there, but just seen it mentioned in church bulletins. It seems like they are scheduled every month or two.
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I'm living in the Atlanta area now. But boy do I miss the 'ville! If I were to move back, I suppose St. Martin of Tours would be my first choice. Before we moved here I belonged to Southeast Christian. Boy will my old friends be shocked when they find out I've gone Catholic on them!

[tojo]

[quote name='LouisvilleFan' date='Dec 8 2005, 04:50 PM']I would definitely attend a charismatic parish if there was one in Louisville. The archdiocese does have charismatic Masses sometimes, but I don't think there is a parish of charismatic Catholics.
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It's pretty rare to have an entirely Charismatic parish. It's great though, because it helps Charismatic Catholics learn how to fully incorporate their Catholic and Charismatic identities into eachother.

[cmotherofpirl]

[quote name='phillovesourlady2' date='Nov 27 2005, 11:23 PM']I [i]have[/i] decided that I want to become Catholic. [i]BUT[/i]....its very hard finding the right parish. I came from the High Church Anglican position. Basically, they were Anglicans who worshipped with a pre-Novus Ordo Mass style based on the Book of Common Prayer. Actually, it was lovely, it had chanting, incense, everything that ought to be in a Mass. But the closest Catholic thing to that was a Tridentine parish. I tried it out but it was AWLFUL.....the priest couldn't chant, the choir was off key, the organ was off key, everything that could go wrong did.....*sigh* So, today I decided to try the local Catheral hoping that this would be a good Novus Ordo Mass. Boy, was I wrong.....There was NO Latin whatsoever! There was no incense! There weren't even bells rung when the Body and Blood were consecrated! *sigh* I don't want to look at Vatican II as a [i]protestantizing[/i] of the Catholic Church. But I want to find a Novus Ordo Mass that preserves the Latin as Vatican II intended. Something like the Masses on EWTN. They have just the right mixture of Latin and English. *sigh* I need help!!!
        P.S. Am I being too picky?
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What diocese are you in and we can ask around? I understand your pain, I used to attend high Church services when I was in England. Remember though, different does not always equal inferior.