Catholics
Comments
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Sandy, thanks for asking about my sister. I spoke to her last night. They were a long way away from the earthquake zone and are now home safely.
PatMom, you're right, it is interesting the difference between dioceses on how the changes are being implemented. With the exception of the Mass settings we're singing, we'll be in the dark for a few more weeks until all is revealed on the first Sunday of Advent!0 -
Glad to hear all who are traveling are safe. It is tragic that one has to remove religious articles when traveling for our own safety.
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I agree Patsmom.... ?????? who knows
Michelle.... thanks for responding.... I thought it still was the same.
Sas...... girl........ I read daily.... pray..... but do not mention names........... OK GIRL... I WILL TRY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! yes momma!!!!
....... kidding aside..... you're actually on to something imo.xoxox ladies and gent!
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Sas, check out catholic intentions thread. As I looked more closely it seems as if you may have been quoting sagina. I still have the prayer taped to the wall next to my desk at work. xo
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Dear God, bless all on this thread. Keep us faithful to You. Forgive us for our doubts and fears. Forgive our human failings. We are not worthy of Your goodness. Help us to understand that this life is but a second and our reward is to be in Heaven with You for eternity. Forgive our attachments to things of this earth. Let us know Your peace as we place all of our trust in You. Bless us with the wisdom to find cures for those afflicted with disease, especially cancer. Amen.
Good weekend to all here. God bless you.
Mary.
Ps. We brace for our first snow storm here in new jersey!0 -
Mkkjd60, thank you for that prayer, it touched me.
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Thanks Mary, beautiful prayer! Keep 'em coming! xo
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Today a wonderful woman who posted regularly on the Inspire website succumbed to her bc. It crushed me and made me fearful and panicked for my own mom who suffers from stage iv bc. I pray often to trust completely in God. Why can't I trust? Why do I still feel He is not hearing my pleas for her health? How do you all find peace when you are fearful?
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Amen Mary. Beautifu prayerl. My God give you peace and strength and the wisdom to trust Him.
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Mary,
Sometimes, I also find myself having difficulty feeling that God is paying any attention to my prayers. I believe this is a natural thing that happens when we pray so sincerely to God and feel we have not been heard. I find myself asking God, "Are you listening?" I think I become most frustrated when God answers my prayers with a very firm, "No, you cannot have what you ask me to do." This is even more frustrating when what I am asking seems so reasonable to me.
Sometimes, I simply am unable to find the peace I seek so very much when I am fearful. In my heart, I know God is there, paying attention to me, hurts when I hurt, and wants me to trust him and to know he is indeed in control.
I pray for you, Mary. I pray that God surrounds you with love and erases your fears.
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Hello ladies I haven't been online for a few days.
Michello13 was your mum from Wexford? I have a good friend who is from Gorey which is in Wexford. You have relatives in Londonderry. I have a SIL who lives there. If you are a catholic living in NI you refer to that city as Derry but if you are non catholic you refer to it as Londonderry - such are the nuances of life in NI. LOL.
Laura5 I agree with you and Michello13. At the risk of repeating myself the hierarchy has its priorities all wrong. I was at 9 00am mass yesterday and it is a while since I was at that particular mass. I was amazed at the number of free seats there were. Also 60% of priests in Ireland are over 55, 36% are over 65. There are much more serious issues which have to be addressed than the form of words which we use.
Sandy glad your daughter is home safe.
Kay1963 Was at football yesterday, two matches, intermediate first and then the senior match. First match was good but the referee ruined the 2nd match. He gave out the 1st yellow card in the 1st minute. By the 6th minute he had given out 4 yellows and each one for very dubious reasons and that continued throughout the match ( 2 yellows and you are sent off).
Had dose #15 of Herceptin last Thursday and as usual all went OK.
Hope that none of you have been endangered by the snow storms on the East coast. It has actually been very mild here.
Take care all.
Frank
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Speaking of football (American that is), the Eagles kicked some Cowboy butt on the Sunday night game last night! That will probably be the highlight of their season, so I am basking in it right now and it will last until next Sunday when they'll play again. Did I mention I'm a pretty big sports fan? And, unfortunately a very sore loser.
We were in the middle of the storm, but luckily we mostly got rain here because of the temperatures. I had over an inch of ice on my car Sunday morning. Everything melted Sunday though. Further north or west, some people got a foot and a half of snow. And I think there are still some people without power.
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Went to 10 am mass yesterday keep in mind this is a thriving demographic area and it is attached to the most thriving Catholic Elemenatary school in AZ. Empty seats at mass and the homily was about how to dress for mass and how to hold your hands while receiving communion. In my honest opinion the beauty in God was missing from the Homily and it sounded like a 15 minute pet peeve list from the priest. Then we reviewed part 6 of the missile changes via power point, where is the God in this mass? The music was horrible, and the priest kept saying we need to sing more and really celebrate mass....how come they dont get it????
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Been away from the boards for a little bit, tried to catch up will go back and re-read, but what I have glanced at, I thought I'd share another prayer I wrote while on retreat....love you all daily and pray for you even more!
On sacred ground I fall on my knees, sweet Jesus, in adoration to the King of Kings. I implore You Lord to feel the love that pours from my heart for You, Creator of all, merciful and loving to Your daughter. Here I sit with You, so close You are to me, I hear You saying, Come to Me, sit with Me, talk to Me. And with my words I pray to You, O Lord, to help me walk the path chosen for me for I know I am not in control. You are all that I am and all that I have. I give it all to You, sweet Jesus, to rest my burden in Your arms, and my head upon Your shoulder.
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Frank, yes my Mum is from Cleariestown in Wexford. Her sister (my Aunt) lives in Derry. You're right...she always does refer to it as Derry but when I write to her I write Londonderry on the envelope.
Kay, glad to hear you missed the worst of the storm. My BIL was in Pittsburgh for the Steelers game yesterday. Hope he makes it home because he's driving me to my chemo treatment tomorrow morning!
mmm5, I just shake my head sometimes! How to dress for Mass - really?
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My family was driven out of our local parish up north by a pastor who frequently complained about money, and about the dress and behavior of the parishioners, like the ones who leave during and immediately after communion. He also bragged about how he increased the collection by browbeating the parish about increasing donations for six months straight when he first arrived. It didn't help that the director of the CCD program threatened the parents who dared to take their kids home 15 minutes early from the last CCD class of the year (on Mother's Day) with not allowing the kids to make their Confirmation the following year. The final straw was 7 years ago when he went into a twenty minute long tirade at the end of the noon mass, after half those attending had already left. In addition to bringing up money, he pointed out specific parishioners at the mass who were dressed in ways that he felt were not appropriate. When we finally got out of there at 1:30, I was shaking with anger that someone who is supposed to be a man of God would treat people that way. I tried going back to that parish, but every time I did, my anger was getting in the way of my worship. As time went on, I learned that a number of people left the parish in the months after that, including several ushers and their families.
We found another parish where the staff is welcoming and cares about the parishioners. It was a twenty minute drive instead of a five minute one, but well worth the trip. People in that parish stay until the end of mass consistently because they want to.
I think that the parish here is as welcoming. I hope that it stays that way since there are far fewer options here. The attitude of the pastor and staff can make all the difference in the experience that people have.
I wonder how those priests and parish staff memebers who are so full of themselves and their own power that they drive people away from the Church answer for that in the next life, because not everyone they drive away seeks out another Catholic church.
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Gina
That prayer was beautiful. Thanks so much for sharing just what I needed
Liz0 -
Kay
An avid Eagles fan here also and basking along with you. Any day we beat the Cowboys is a good day! I know that you shouldn't pray to God about your home team winning but alas I always do. This week was saying many thank you prayers for the team and the city really needed a win. What a way for a team to come together. I always try to teach my boys that you win and loose as a team. They truly won as a team on Sunday
Liz0 -
It is tough Pat.....
I am just trying...... to stay with SOME parish........ so my youngest son will have some place to feel like.... he can marry in some day.....
??????????????????
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Hello,
It's so nice to find this thread! I was diagnosed three weeks ago and I'm having a hard to getting through Mass without crying. Usually I can keep it together, but when I go to Mass I start thinking about my children (17, 14, 12, and 10) and how sad I am that this is happening to US (not just me). I worry all the time about how I'm going to do everything I need to do for them when I'm dealing with this illness.
I know I need to ask Jesus to help with with the burden. But I don't want to make a spectacle of myself, either, by bawling in church. I skipped Mass this week because I'm such a wreck.
Thanks for reading this.
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Ardychan
First off sorry you had to find us, but glad that this forum is offering some help. It is so difficult in the beginning. So much information flying at you and decisions to be made. As I was reading your post I just wanted to tell you to "breathe". Your mind is whirling and as a mom our thoughts always go right to our kids. Please try to take one day at a a time. As for mass do what seems right to you but it is ok to cry. Tears are very therapeutic and what better place to receive comfort than in God's house. I know you are trying to shield your own fears from your kids but I have to tell you through my own journey my kids were the biggest support I received each in their own way. We all learned so much about each other and the experience helped all of us grow. They will have each other for support and the older ones will help the younger ones and sometimes vice versa. My prayers will be with you and your family.
Liz0 -
Kay/Faulkh I'm guessing that Eagles are a Philly team and that Cowboys are a texas team (?). Faulkh the team I went to see and support on Sunday are so successful b/c thay always play as a team. You could put them on a field at dead of night, blindfolded and they would still be able to pass the ball to each other accurately so integrated are they as a team.
Milchelleo13 were you born in Canada or Ireland?
mmm5 I can understand the priest giving a quick chat on how to receive into your hands and a quick chat on dress code but I think that getting people into church is more important than what they wear when they are there. A few years ago I was chatting to a (very elderly) Irish priest home on holiday. He had spent most of his ministry in a black township in S Africa. He said, in South Africa, mass lasted minimum 2 hours and that they sang from start to finish and everybody sang ! ! if there was a baptism it lasted even longer ! ! BTW where is AZ?
PatMom unfortunately there are some priests like that still around. Not too sure what can be done about it.
take care all.
Frank
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Ardychan~ I cried through mass every Sunday and now 1 year after diagnosis, tears can stream down my face during the mass. Seems we interpret the readings and gospel and homily different once we are diagnosed, and that's okay. God takes all kinds of prayers, sobbing ones too. You need Him more than ever right now, and just as He will hold you in His hand, He will hold your family in His hand too. Your children might surprise you through treatment and show you a glimpse of the beautiful young adults they are going to be soon.
I agree with Liz, breathe, just breathe. Leave it in the hands of the Lord, follow your doctors advice through treatment, and once you let go you can begin to heal.
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Ardychan you have just been diagnosed with cancer. You are allowed to cry and bawl and loose your temper and rant and rave and anything else that you feel like doing, even shout at God in raging anger " What sin did I commit that I'm to be punished thus?" (been there, done that, bought the Teeshirt !) I went through all those emotions and I'm sure your sisters on here also did. However hopefully you will soon settle and with the support of your medical team, family and friends and prayer you will be able to cope. I'm sure when you tell your family that "Mummy isn't very well" they will rally around and support you.
I found that prayer and in particular the prayers of others have helped me travel this cancer journey. So be assured that your sisters on here and this brother on the far side of the pond will be praying for you that just as Simon of Cyrene helped Jesus to carry His cross so Jesus will help you carry the cross that has been so suddenly and so cruelly thrust upon your shoulders.
Did you notice the prayer at the top of the page to St Peregrine patron saint of cancer sufferers?
Before this day is out I will say a prayer for you.
Frank
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Frank
You are correct. Eagles are the Philadelphia team and the Cowboys Dallas Texas. As much as I love football (US style), my younger son switched to soccer this year and had a great experience. They really didnt have a good team and started 0 - 4 then came back to win 5 straight and got into the play offs. His team got to the quarter finals winning 2 more games and losing to the top ranked team in overtime. They played over each of their abilities and really came together as a team. It was such a great lesson for them and one I hope they will carry into adulthood. This is what sports is suppose to be about for our youth unfortunately that is not always the case.
Prayers to everyone
Liz0 -
Andychan,
I find I cry at Mass quite frequently and I no longer try to hide my tears from any watchful eyes. When we are in Our Lord's home, it is just fine to come as we are without pretense of having everything all right in our own personal lives.
I am so sorry you have received this diagnosis. Please remember that you do have the right to feel everything you are feeling. You have the right to cry as much as you need to cry. When you have cried enough, you will stop crying.
Actually, I think it would be lovely to see more emotion from all who attend Mass! Sometimes, I think we try to keep it all inside when we would do better to let it all out!
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A blessed All Saints' Day everyone....
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Thank you for all your encouraging posts. I just had another MRI (this one for the brain). It's the uncertainty that is tearing me apart right now. It really is comforting to know I do have the support and prayers of many people.
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PatMom, it's always sad when a priest turns people away from their parish. We had a similar issue a few years ago in our church. Many people left and some of us decided to stick it out. When he left, many of our lost sheep returned which was wonderful.
Ardychan, welcome to our thread. You're in the early days which are so difficult because you have more questions than answers. When I went to church on the Sunday following my diagnosis, I was doing fine until the priest came over to speak to me and then I just fell apart! What was interesting though was the Gospel, Homily and all the music that day were so appropriate to what I was going through. I felt that God was speaking directly to me. I cried all the way through Mass! Like Frank, the prayers of others have helped me during this journey. So many people come up to me after Mass and tell me they pray for me every day...even people I don't know very well. There is so much power in those prayers. I know it's hard but I found putting my trust in God gave me a lot of peace and strength. I also have young daughters (11 and 8) and worried a lot about them (still do to be honest) and the affect it will have on them both now and in the future. I'll pray for you and your family.
Frank, I was actually born in England and we moved to Canada when I was 9. My Mum moved to England when she was about 18. She met my Dad in England on St. Patrick's Day of all days. She still has her Wexford accent most days though!
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Sagina--------don't want to forget this as I'm catching up. ----you downing ok swettie? this will be posted at the end and it may seem out of context, My concern came from pg 259
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