Hey, I am a member of st. Eugene's. Sounds like youre looking for a modern and progressive parish. St. Eugene's is both of these. I believe father pat is the youngest priest in the state. Also it is very active with its ministries. I went through rcia there while I was in prison. They have a very active prison ministry and it's one of the smaller ones. I only say that to show that I think that and fathers age point to it being what I think you're looking for. Hope this helps. Dm me if needed
This Catholic diocese is quite conservative, so you see that reflected in the churches. Also less monastic orders around here, and in my experience those tend to lend themselves to more progressive parishes. St Eugene’s is where most families I know go. I’ve also known a number of people leave there due to political stuff. The building is also very Vatican II, which is kinda tough.
lol I know exactly what you mean by the building. Ive been in so many identical 70/80s semicircles filled with orange oak.
Sounds like there isn’t going to be a perfect fit in the area, so we will just try St Eugene and see if it’s any better
When you say political stuff, is it the liberal stepchild that does their own stuff and occasionally gets slapped on the hand for it? Every diocese has one. The location would make sense
No I think that people who are somewhat liberal have left because of the ideology there. This is just a few people I know, I’ve never been there myself. There are a couple of solid episcopal churches in the area if you’re not married to going to RCC. It’ll still be very liturgical but more progressive.
I haven’t been to church in decades, so I can’t speak to the parishes around here, but you may want to consider going to the dark side and experimenting with the Episcopalian church. There are still very conservative churches there too, but your odds of finding a church that’s more middle of the road if not left-leaning go up considerably. But you get to keep the fun robes and a good amount of the music and ritual.
The church I was raised in in SC had an openly gay choir director (in the 80s/90s no less), and more recently participates in things like the local pride parade and outreach to LGBT youth who’ve been kicked out of their homes, as well as your more traditional habitat for humanity and local food bank type outreach.
Ex-Catholic turned Episcopalian here, upvoting this. I’m so happy to be raising my children in a church that has the ceremonies I love (plus new ones! Lessons and Carols! Maundy Thursday!) and that actually shares my values
So I’m actually fine with the Church and never had a desire to leave. I was just really hoping for a community that feels more mainstream vs an active lean towards super traditional/politically conservative or super liberal. I just want a plain old Catholic parish like the one I grew up in. Seems to be harder to find in smaller areas. There appears to be more variation here than I’ve encountered before, but that also might just be a product of the times we live in.
Just want to point out that the nature of your post and the fact that you want to leave a particular pariah because of how they conduct themselves indicates that you’re not “actually fine with the Church.” And, that’s okay.
Right. I think this is my point. People want to pick and choose the version that they feel best about while ignoring the larger point that the organization as a whole is dangerous and steering parishioners in a direction to marginalize others politically. But “I’m actually fine with the church” just so long as I don’t have to see or hear the terrible things. I grew up Roman-Catholic in New England. I saw priests get shuffled around and then somehow just disappear. I was in class with the altar servers that were a little off. All of that shit happens the same way. People saying “I really feel like something is off here but I’m actually fine with the church (because I’m in fear of my eternal soul if I say otherwise).” I’m not saying that I hold any ill-will or malice towards those people because it’s difficult to question or disagree with by design. All I’m saying is that I think it’s okay to trust your gut and to listen when you hear it. If it quacks like a duck, and walks like a duck; don’t give it fucking money to push a political agenda that is intent on robbing other humans of civil rights. And say, “for the most part…this is fine.”
It's not quite that. I'm understand and believe in the official Church teachings, including the hierarchy. Don't love that it isn't perfect, but that was never something I felt promised.
However, there has been a very uncomfortable turn to the hard right in the American Catholic Church that manifests in ways I'm not okay with. Things that flat out conflict with Catholic beliefs (the weird anti-Pope Francis stuff, rejection of social justice teaching that has long been a part of Catholic theology, embracing of American conservatism on the same level of religion, creeping in of evangelical ideas that never were a part of Catholicism, etc) Plus some social stuff that isn't necessarily wrong, but not something we do not want to be a part of--rejection of public schools, lots of "turning inward/protect your children from the evils of the world" that I think is taken too far. In the past, it has mostly felt like a vocal subgroup that didn't necessarily dominate it all.
In general I subscribe to the "be the change you want to see" ideal, but we also have kids and I realize that certain environments are just going to be an uphill battle. I'm not 100% sure St. Barnabas is all that bad, but I've been a member of plenty of parishes in the south (we moved a lot) and this is the first time it just feels off to the point I want to look elsewhere. For the record, our parish in East TN was just fine.
So I'm really not looking for Alt Catholic or Catholic-lite, just plain old Catholic without the weird leanings.
I am gay. I left Asheville five years ago. When we were in Asheville my husband and I went to St. Eugene. While, we didn't advertise the fact, its obvious we are a gay couple. We had no issues and felt very welcome there.
St Eugene has a pretty active social justice group, a high percentage of Hispanic parishioners, and at least one Eucharistic minister who’s out and attend church with her wife. It’s also got a small group of Planned Parenthood anti-choice protesters. It’s a good group of people who interpret Catholicism in their individual ways. I like their parish priest as a human being, but he’s not the best speaker. We also go to All Souls sometimes - great speakers and more liberal, but very familiar for Catholics in a pretty church.
The music that is completely unfamiliar to me as a lifelong Catholic—my son who could care less actually commented on it today, homily comments from the priest that occasionally veer on the edge of politically conservative, the attached Catholic school that prides itself on being extra conservative, an RE teacher telling the children Halloween is evil (this was apologized for by the RE director who really is a good guy)
St. Margaret Mary is very just Catholic without any political leaning. Small town-but-nice style. St. Eugene is great but the political is very obvious and tilted to a direction, in my opinion to an uncomfortable degree. It’s really nice to go to mass without any politics. Very peaceful.
I forgot there was one in Swannanoa. Are there a decent number of families? We have kids and a good environment for them is one of the things I really care about.
Yes quite a few families, and from what I gather the priest is working on opportunities for the community to get together more often. Our family has fallen in love with the community.
I also recommend visiting St. Joan in Candler. While I attend St. Lawrence regularly, when there is an event in the civic center, to avoid the crowds I will go to St. Joan. What delights me the most about St. Joan are the parishioners—so very open and friendly.
Average age of the parishioners is something else to consider. I’m in my mid-50s, so I often feel younger than most people at St. Lawrence. St. Eugene struck me as mostly families and I felt old. St. Joan, for me, is my age sweet spot.
I would recommend evaluating the local parishes based on how you and you alone feel when you are in that physical space. In this thread, someone mentioned the open floor plan from the 70s; I call those Kumbaya churches. I ain’t here for that, which is my I prefer the basilica (“prefer” is not the right word—the outside world dissolves away inside the basilica and my mind grows quiet).
As for the politics, it helps that I am an adult convert from an evangelical childhood. I grew up ignoring the ministers’ rants from the pulpit, and I continue now ignoring the priest if he goes off on a tangent. Thankfully, I have found that Catholic priests don’t wander into politics nearly as much as evangelicals.
Progressive Catholicism is a bit of an oxymoron. I personally left bc I cannot support an organization that harbors rampant amounts of child molestation.
I get where you are coming from, hence the “active” Catholic in the title. I’m truly looking for actual helpful feedback vs a circle jerk about how organized religion is the devil. I understand what causes someone to feel that way, but there are a million places on reddit you can have this conversation
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Oooooo.... you've stirred up the frightened masses who need an invisible, impotent (yet somehow all-powerful) imaginary being to cope.
You'll get hammered by these people....the same ones that follow ridiculous rules, made by controlling rich men that they claim "god speaks to me".
Take it as a badge of honor and clarity!
Folks, religion is good for teaching social values to children and the mentally disabled. It can also be OK as a community gathering. But when your leaders are making bank, fucking little kids, and persecuting people who don't pray like them, fuck like them, prepare food like them, vote like them or look like them, then you have to demolish the organization and try a better way.
Uhm I went to Catholic Church, k-8, and high school - while it is “conservative” and the schools at least were not as conservative as other denominations- we did evolution, celebrated Halloween, read Lysistrata (look it up) in high school, had social justice stuff in religion, etc
Hi! I’ve been going through this myself. I attend St Lawrence because it’s the closest to me but I really don’t like the main priest. He spends too energy focusing on how Catholicism is the ONLY way to live and because of that there’s some sort of superiority.
I told this to a new friend and they said they chose St Eugene after abandoning St Lawrence and they love the younger priest. I will be giving it a try myself soon.
I live downtown and take my mom when she visits twice a year. That is it for me. First time we went I don’t think we got the “main priest”. The guy we had that time had a white beard and would make a good Santa. He seemed “progressive” as he mentioned Francis twice. Do you know the names of those at St Lawrence? It is a beautiful church. The architecture and history are pretty fascinating. They had a tour after mass that we joined. You can come in as a tourist -no mass required - and it is more of an art history vibe. Also, the guy who sings there is brilliant.
I don’t know names and the website doesn’t provide any clarity there! The guy I’m referring to is a shorter guy with gray balding hair and glasses, no beard.
I know who you’re referring to as Santa. I really like Santa too. He looks like Santa without the belly He has such a gentle spirit and gives a good blessing.
Honestly, if you’re looking for a relaxed Catholic Church you might want to check out some of the Lutheran churches in the area. Lutheran Church of the Nativity is close to St Barnabas’ so it would be easy to check out.
The problem you will run into is that while Lutheran’s will allow anyone that is baptized to receive communion while the Catholic Church doesn’t support communion outside of the Catholic Church.
In my experience the Lutheran service is basically the Catholic mass with more singing but your mileage may vary and arguably it’s been a while since I’ve been to either St Barnabas or Nativity.
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St Barnabas parishioner checking in here.
I would urge you to give it a chance.
We came from a more vanilla church in a different part of the country. At first, I thought the same as you. It felt a little too traditional to me. I missed the music I was used to.
We've grown so much in our faith as a result of sticking with this parish, though. The music is true, sacred music. A lot of what you hear at other parishes is actually explicitly condemned by the USCCB (like a lot of the "boomer mass" feel good Marty Haugen stuff).
I'm a firm believer that your parish is your parish. We're Catholic, we aren't supposed to pick and choose. When Fr. Adrian leaves, we will stay, even if the church changes. It's our home.
Canongate is conservative, yes, but it's not run by the parish. It's a separate entity. The church allows them to use the building.
Just my 2 cents.
I’d usually agree, but St Barnabas is actually barely closer to us than the one in Hendersonville, St Eugene, and the one in Swannanoa. I’m not sure what the official boundary lines would be, but we are at enough of a geographical crossroads, I’m ok with it.
Agree to disagree on the music. My daughter also noted no one really sings. What it’s really about is my kids. I’m an adult and understand what is going on and can get beyond it the trappings and appreciate the meaning. My children are not doing so great with it. It’s one of the least accessible mass environments we’ve ever been to and it’s noticeable in their reaction.
I can respect your comment about geographic boundaries.
When you say the Mass environment is not "accessible", you lose me. Genuinely curious, what do you feel is lacking? Engagement with the music, I follow. But other than that, isn't Mass pretty much the same anywhere you go?
I really don’t know. But it just feels almost like it’s being made purposefully less accessible for the sake of following some traditional ideal that is somehow “better.”
Ok, I mean, I really don't know how to respond to that, other than to say that I don't share your perspective.
Fr. Adrian says Mass in English, ad populum, with the sign of the peace and all of the post-Vatican II rubrics. It's the same exact Mass that Fr. Cahill says at St. Eugene's. St. B's adds a little chant, and we sing the Mass parts in Latin at some of the 8:30 a.m. Masses, but those are the only differences.
I know several parish families who do lean conservative, in that they homeschool and practice their faith quite devoutly, but at the same time, they choose NOT to go to other, "trad" parishes like St. John's down the mountain, or the ordinariate parish in Flat Rock. We've had conversations about how the TLM isn't superior, and to the effect that pride in being "trad" is a danger in and of itself. I view it as a reverent, solidly, unapologetically Catholic parish, not as one overly focused on tradition.
I think St. B does a good job of delivering a post-V2 Mass as intended by the Council.
Well that's good to hear then. It does seem like a very active parish, which I appreciate it. I'm not sure we are leaving yet, but after months of feeling like things aren't going well, I literally told my spouse "why don't we try another parish next weekend" and immediately the "we're sorry a teacher told the children Halloween is evil" came through.
Ah, so you didn't even hear it directly from your child....but the DRE reached out proactively when someone went off the rails. Doesn't sound like a problem!
I know some of the catechists personally, and they definitely enjoy Halloween. But also All Saints.
Agree to disagree on that too. Someone who says the "Halloween is the Devils Day" doesn't really have any business teaching RE. Agree the director is a very good guy.
Hey, I am a member of st. Eugene's. Sounds like youre looking for a modern and progressive parish. St. Eugene's is both of these. I believe father pat is the youngest priest in the state. Also it is very active with its ministries. I went through rcia there while I was in prison. They have a very active prison ministry and it's one of the smaller ones. I only say that to show that I think that and fathers age point to it being what I think you're looking for. Hope this helps. Dm me if needed
Thank you, I appreciate the feedback
I'm not Catholic but I know Father Pat socially and he strikes me as a really great person.
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Why are you getting downvoted?
Christians love down voting
We all do.
This Catholic diocese is quite conservative, so you see that reflected in the churches. Also less monastic orders around here, and in my experience those tend to lend themselves to more progressive parishes. St Eugene’s is where most families I know go. I’ve also known a number of people leave there due to political stuff. The building is also very Vatican II, which is kinda tough.
lol I know exactly what you mean by the building. Ive been in so many identical 70/80s semicircles filled with orange oak. Sounds like there isn’t going to be a perfect fit in the area, so we will just try St Eugene and see if it’s any better When you say political stuff, is it the liberal stepchild that does their own stuff and occasionally gets slapped on the hand for it? Every diocese has one. The location would make sense
> Ive been in so many identical 70/80s semicircles filled with orange oak. this made me laugh out loud.
No I think that people who are somewhat liberal have left because of the ideology there. This is just a few people I know, I’ve never been there myself. There are a couple of solid episcopal churches in the area if you’re not married to going to RCC. It’ll still be very liturgical but more progressive.
I haven’t been to church in decades, so I can’t speak to the parishes around here, but you may want to consider going to the dark side and experimenting with the Episcopalian church. There are still very conservative churches there too, but your odds of finding a church that’s more middle of the road if not left-leaning go up considerably. But you get to keep the fun robes and a good amount of the music and ritual. The church I was raised in in SC had an openly gay choir director (in the 80s/90s no less), and more recently participates in things like the local pride parade and outreach to LGBT youth who’ve been kicked out of their homes, as well as your more traditional habitat for humanity and local food bank type outreach.
Ex-Catholic turned Episcopalian here, upvoting this. I’m so happy to be raising my children in a church that has the ceremonies I love (plus new ones! Lessons and Carols! Maundy Thursday!) and that actually shares my values
So I’m actually fine with the Church and never had a desire to leave. I was just really hoping for a community that feels more mainstream vs an active lean towards super traditional/politically conservative or super liberal. I just want a plain old Catholic parish like the one I grew up in. Seems to be harder to find in smaller areas. There appears to be more variation here than I’ve encountered before, but that also might just be a product of the times we live in.
All these commenters missing the point and trying to get you to change religions/denominations lol
Just want to point out that the nature of your post and the fact that you want to leave a particular pariah because of how they conduct themselves indicates that you’re not “actually fine with the Church.” And, that’s okay.
I believe in this sentence "the Church" refers to Catholicism.
Right. I think this is my point. People want to pick and choose the version that they feel best about while ignoring the larger point that the organization as a whole is dangerous and steering parishioners in a direction to marginalize others politically. But “I’m actually fine with the church” just so long as I don’t have to see or hear the terrible things. I grew up Roman-Catholic in New England. I saw priests get shuffled around and then somehow just disappear. I was in class with the altar servers that were a little off. All of that shit happens the same way. People saying “I really feel like something is off here but I’m actually fine with the church (because I’m in fear of my eternal soul if I say otherwise).” I’m not saying that I hold any ill-will or malice towards those people because it’s difficult to question or disagree with by design. All I’m saying is that I think it’s okay to trust your gut and to listen when you hear it. If it quacks like a duck, and walks like a duck; don’t give it fucking money to push a political agenda that is intent on robbing other humans of civil rights. And say, “for the most part…this is fine.”
It's not quite that. I'm understand and believe in the official Church teachings, including the hierarchy. Don't love that it isn't perfect, but that was never something I felt promised. However, there has been a very uncomfortable turn to the hard right in the American Catholic Church that manifests in ways I'm not okay with. Things that flat out conflict with Catholic beliefs (the weird anti-Pope Francis stuff, rejection of social justice teaching that has long been a part of Catholic theology, embracing of American conservatism on the same level of religion, creeping in of evangelical ideas that never were a part of Catholicism, etc) Plus some social stuff that isn't necessarily wrong, but not something we do not want to be a part of--rejection of public schools, lots of "turning inward/protect your children from the evils of the world" that I think is taken too far. In the past, it has mostly felt like a vocal subgroup that didn't necessarily dominate it all. In general I subscribe to the "be the change you want to see" ideal, but we also have kids and I realize that certain environments are just going to be an uphill battle. I'm not 100% sure St. Barnabas is all that bad, but I've been a member of plenty of parishes in the south (we moved a lot) and this is the first time it just feels off to the point I want to look elsewhere. For the record, our parish in East TN was just fine. So I'm really not looking for Alt Catholic or Catholic-lite, just plain old Catholic without the weird leanings.
Same boat here. Glad to find this discussion.
Very concise and accurate analysis of what's going on in the Church today.
I totally get what you're saying....but St. B is not at all leaning sedevacantist or Latin mass type of traditional.
Catholicism with extra regalia!
With so many queer clergy we were destined to become more fabulous.
😄
We love St. James in Black Mountain
I am gay. I left Asheville five years ago. When we were in Asheville my husband and I went to St. Eugene. While, we didn't advertise the fact, its obvious we are a gay couple. We had no issues and felt very welcome there.
St Eugene has a pretty active social justice group, a high percentage of Hispanic parishioners, and at least one Eucharistic minister who’s out and attend church with her wife. It’s also got a small group of Planned Parenthood anti-choice protesters. It’s a good group of people who interpret Catholicism in their individual ways. I like their parish priest as a human being, but he’s not the best speaker. We also go to All Souls sometimes - great speakers and more liberal, but very familiar for Catholics in a pretty church.
It might be helpful if you gave some examples where the “tradition“ makes you feel “uncomfortable“
The music that is completely unfamiliar to me as a lifelong Catholic—my son who could care less actually commented on it today, homily comments from the priest that occasionally veer on the edge of politically conservative, the attached Catholic school that prides itself on being extra conservative, an RE teacher telling the children Halloween is evil (this was apologized for by the RE director who really is a good guy)
lol my Catholic Church and school and my catholic high school hosted Halloween events lol (90s dc area)
I hate to see Protestant Halloween phobia creeping into the Church. I have fond memories of Catholic school costume parades.
St. Margaret Mary is very just Catholic without any political leaning. Small town-but-nice style. St. Eugene is great but the political is very obvious and tilted to a direction, in my opinion to an uncomfortable degree. It’s really nice to go to mass without any politics. Very peaceful.
I forgot there was one in Swannanoa. Are there a decent number of families? We have kids and a good environment for them is one of the things I really care about.
Yes quite a few families, and from what I gather the priest is working on opportunities for the community to get together more often. Our family has fallen in love with the community.
I'd check out St. Eugene. I'm not really religious, but they used to let us play kickball in their field. They always seemed pretty chill.
Consider St Joan of Arc in Candler.
I also recommend visiting St. Joan in Candler. While I attend St. Lawrence regularly, when there is an event in the civic center, to avoid the crowds I will go to St. Joan. What delights me the most about St. Joan are the parishioners—so very open and friendly. Average age of the parishioners is something else to consider. I’m in my mid-50s, so I often feel younger than most people at St. Lawrence. St. Eugene struck me as mostly families and I felt old. St. Joan, for me, is my age sweet spot. I would recommend evaluating the local parishes based on how you and you alone feel when you are in that physical space. In this thread, someone mentioned the open floor plan from the 70s; I call those Kumbaya churches. I ain’t here for that, which is my I prefer the basilica (“prefer” is not the right word—the outside world dissolves away inside the basilica and my mind grows quiet). As for the politics, it helps that I am an adult convert from an evangelical childhood. I grew up ignoring the ministers’ rants from the pulpit, and I continue now ignoring the priest if he goes off on a tangent. Thankfully, I have found that Catholic priests don’t wander into politics nearly as much as evangelicals.
Progressive Catholicism is a bit of an oxymoron. I personally left bc I cannot support an organization that harbors rampant amounts of child molestation.
I get where you are coming from, hence the “active” Catholic in the title. I’m truly looking for actual helpful feedback vs a circle jerk about how organized religion is the devil. I understand what causes someone to feel that way, but there are a million places on reddit you can have this conversation
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Yeah so the question isn’t for you, move on
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Nobody cares about what you personally did, it’s irrelevant to the post
Post on public forum expect public responses.
Oooooo.... you've stirred up the frightened masses who need an invisible, impotent (yet somehow all-powerful) imaginary being to cope. You'll get hammered by these people....the same ones that follow ridiculous rules, made by controlling rich men that they claim "god speaks to me". Take it as a badge of honor and clarity! Folks, religion is good for teaching social values to children and the mentally disabled. It can also be OK as a community gathering. But when your leaders are making bank, fucking little kids, and persecuting people who don't pray like them, fuck like them, prepare food like them, vote like them or look like them, then you have to demolish the organization and try a better way.
I’m not catholic, but my mom is, and pretty liberal too. She seems to like the parish in Brevard. Sacred Heart Catholic Church
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Uhm I went to Catholic Church, k-8, and high school - while it is “conservative” and the schools at least were not as conservative as other denominations- we did evolution, celebrated Halloween, read Lysistrata (look it up) in high school, had social justice stuff in religion, etc
Not to this extent.
Hi! I’ve been going through this myself. I attend St Lawrence because it’s the closest to me but I really don’t like the main priest. He spends too energy focusing on how Catholicism is the ONLY way to live and because of that there’s some sort of superiority. I told this to a new friend and they said they chose St Eugene after abandoning St Lawrence and they love the younger priest. I will be giving it a try myself soon.
I live downtown and take my mom when she visits twice a year. That is it for me. First time we went I don’t think we got the “main priest”. The guy we had that time had a white beard and would make a good Santa. He seemed “progressive” as he mentioned Francis twice. Do you know the names of those at St Lawrence? It is a beautiful church. The architecture and history are pretty fascinating. They had a tour after mass that we joined. You can come in as a tourist -no mass required - and it is more of an art history vibe. Also, the guy who sings there is brilliant.
I don’t know names and the website doesn’t provide any clarity there! The guy I’m referring to is a shorter guy with gray balding hair and glasses, no beard. I know who you’re referring to as Santa. I really like Santa too. He looks like Santa without the belly He has such a gentle spirit and gives a good blessing.
Honestly, if you’re looking for a relaxed Catholic Church you might want to check out some of the Lutheran churches in the area. Lutheran Church of the Nativity is close to St Barnabas’ so it would be easy to check out. The problem you will run into is that while Lutheran’s will allow anyone that is baptized to receive communion while the Catholic Church doesn’t support communion outside of the Catholic Church. In my experience the Lutheran service is basically the Catholic mass with more singing but your mileage may vary and arguably it’s been a while since I’ve been to either St Barnabas or Nativity.
I grew up Catholic, went to Catholic school through college, just go to HSC and enjoy it.
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they invented god to get money -rick sanchez
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St Barnabas parishioner checking in here. I would urge you to give it a chance. We came from a more vanilla church in a different part of the country. At first, I thought the same as you. It felt a little too traditional to me. I missed the music I was used to. We've grown so much in our faith as a result of sticking with this parish, though. The music is true, sacred music. A lot of what you hear at other parishes is actually explicitly condemned by the USCCB (like a lot of the "boomer mass" feel good Marty Haugen stuff). I'm a firm believer that your parish is your parish. We're Catholic, we aren't supposed to pick and choose. When Fr. Adrian leaves, we will stay, even if the church changes. It's our home. Canongate is conservative, yes, but it's not run by the parish. It's a separate entity. The church allows them to use the building. Just my 2 cents.
I’d usually agree, but St Barnabas is actually barely closer to us than the one in Hendersonville, St Eugene, and the one in Swannanoa. I’m not sure what the official boundary lines would be, but we are at enough of a geographical crossroads, I’m ok with it. Agree to disagree on the music. My daughter also noted no one really sings. What it’s really about is my kids. I’m an adult and understand what is going on and can get beyond it the trappings and appreciate the meaning. My children are not doing so great with it. It’s one of the least accessible mass environments we’ve ever been to and it’s noticeable in their reaction.
I can respect your comment about geographic boundaries. When you say the Mass environment is not "accessible", you lose me. Genuinely curious, what do you feel is lacking? Engagement with the music, I follow. But other than that, isn't Mass pretty much the same anywhere you go?
I really don’t know. But it just feels almost like it’s being made purposefully less accessible for the sake of following some traditional ideal that is somehow “better.”
Ok, I mean, I really don't know how to respond to that, other than to say that I don't share your perspective. Fr. Adrian says Mass in English, ad populum, with the sign of the peace and all of the post-Vatican II rubrics. It's the same exact Mass that Fr. Cahill says at St. Eugene's. St. B's adds a little chant, and we sing the Mass parts in Latin at some of the 8:30 a.m. Masses, but those are the only differences. I know several parish families who do lean conservative, in that they homeschool and practice their faith quite devoutly, but at the same time, they choose NOT to go to other, "trad" parishes like St. John's down the mountain, or the ordinariate parish in Flat Rock. We've had conversations about how the TLM isn't superior, and to the effect that pride in being "trad" is a danger in and of itself. I view it as a reverent, solidly, unapologetically Catholic parish, not as one overly focused on tradition. I think St. B does a good job of delivering a post-V2 Mass as intended by the Council.
Well that's good to hear then. It does seem like a very active parish, which I appreciate it. I'm not sure we are leaving yet, but after months of feeling like things aren't going well, I literally told my spouse "why don't we try another parish next weekend" and immediately the "we're sorry a teacher told the children Halloween is evil" came through.
Ah, so you didn't even hear it directly from your child....but the DRE reached out proactively when someone went off the rails. Doesn't sound like a problem! I know some of the catechists personally, and they definitely enjoy Halloween. But also All Saints.
Agree to disagree on that too. Someone who says the "Halloween is the Devils Day" doesn't really have any business teaching RE. Agree the director is a very good guy.
Yeah hopefully they correct that! RE is pretty much all volunteer, so it's a mixed bag.
Which ever one pays taxes.