In my 37.5 years as a Catholic I had never before attended a non-Catholic *mass*.
Yeah I'd been to a couple of Protestant wedding ceremonies, I've even donned a beanie at a Jewish wedding, and I've probably been to more than 40 different Catholic Churches before.
That is until this past Sunday when I attended my buddy's non-denominational church down here in Naples.
It really was a terrific experience and we'll be back each week this month.
I really had no idea what to expect going in. The facility was modern, lush, and gorgeous. There was coffee and donuts everywhere. The kids were all whisked off into classrooms for the service. I sat on a chair so comfortable one could sleep on - as opposed to a splinter-shooting wooden pew...
It started off with singing, lots of singing. A modern band played about 5 long songs - songs that you'll never hear in a Catholic Church or on the radio north of the Mason-Dixon line - while the thought-inducing, soul-searching lyrics flashed on an overhead screen.
There were a few short readings from Scripture....and then the minister delivered a very good 20 minute sermon. And that was it. No ceremony. No tacky money collecting. Nobody ran for the door at the conclusion; people actually hung out for a long time afterwards (kids were running around the playground and the gymnasium).
Oh yeah, and my kids ASKED if they could go back next week!
Three years ago this same friend had asked me to join his family there when we were snowbirding but I admit I was extremely uncomfortable with the idea of going into a foreign Christian(!) church. It half felt like a betrayal of my Catholic faith. Plus there's always a latent fear of the unknown.
But I've done a lot of Bible-reading and soul searching over the past handful of years and now my initial discomfort seems absolutely ridiculous. I mean the people that I meet, in general, from non-denominational churches are pretty much the nicest, most-welcoming, non-judgmental people I ever have the pleasure of dealing with.
See also - Finally Done!
1 comment:
Well, I can't say I'm not surprised. The sad fact is that you don't realize what you have as a Catholic. I doubt that you have ever read the Catechism. You certainly haven't been taught the truth and haven't seen it lived in the Kennedy catholics that permeate the east.
Don't misunderstand me, I rejoice that you will likely be challanged to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ for the first time, but you will never be satisfied without the Eucharist.
Perhaps you will return a better Catholic when you have seen that even though protestants often do a lot more, they do it with a lot less of the truth.
As for me, I want the truth no matter what, even if I have to endure the lost generation of catholics.
If you looked a little harder you would find real Catholics. They often home school (because most so called catholic schools are cesspools), they never contracept, and they love Jesus more than life.
You of all people should know that if the schools system stinks you education your kids yourself, so if the Catholic Church in the USA falls short of the real thing, then you pick up the official teaching and educate yourself. You at least owe that to your kids to give them the best.
I spent 38 years a protestant and I thank God nearly every day that He led me to the Catholic Church. I wish I could introduce you to the real Body of Christ and you would never look back.
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