The problem is that too many parishes have priests who have been poorly formed, there is little reverence for the liturgy and heterodox sermons are the norm. This is not what a faithful Catholic parents want for their children.
It becomes imperative in this modernistic world to find a parish that teaches the orthodox Catholic faith and passes on the great patrimony of the church Jesus established through the apostles. I can tell you that where such parishes exist they are overflowing. Community exists, people from the elderly to children are engaged. And if that means driving by half a dozen or so parishes on the way, it is more important that we relearn the depths of our faith and teach our children truth than to attempt to coexist with heterodoxy.
Where there is not orthodox teaching and practice in liturgical norms the only thing that will result is poorly formed and confused children who are more likely to walk away from the faith.
Pray for your local parish but build community where there is right practice and the faith is not watered down or destroyed by modernism.
We recently switched from the trad parish in our diocese to the normie parish 5 min up the road from us, largely for logistical purposes of having two kids and trying to get a mass time that works with our kids. That said, you are absolutely right. There is something missing from modern day parishes that are largely formed of people selecting the church they want, instead of the church closest to them.
I recently finished E. Michael Jones book 'Slaugher of Cities' and his description of how the urban Catholic communities built around their parishes were dispersed into the suburbs is tragic. I long for the sort of Catholic community that once existed in the US.
We stick with our parish but it's hard at times. A flow of new priests, a music director that frankly makes me feel ill, and certain problems with the building like having no space for parents to take screaming children, all those make it penitential. But the longer we stay, and the more we help out, the stronger the bonds we create.
Thanks for writing this. With so much good Catholic teaching online, there is no need to church hop. I belong to a small parish that’s on the chopping block. The young people drive over an hour away from what would be their local parish. Grandparents are deprived of getting to sit with their children or grandchildren. How is this church hopping any different than a Protestant who does this because the Bible teaching is better. Thanks for addressing this logistical problem.
"Surely you know that if a man can't be cured of churchgoing, the next best thing
is to send him all over the neighbourhood looking for the church that “suits” him until
he becomes a taster or connoisseur of churches." - Chapter 16 of C.S. Lewis' Screwtape Letters.
Thanks for a great article and important reminder.
I've long been opposed to church hopping. This essay sums up why. Thanks for writing this!
The problem is that too many parishes have priests who have been poorly formed, there is little reverence for the liturgy and heterodox sermons are the norm. This is not what a faithful Catholic parents want for their children.
It becomes imperative in this modernistic world to find a parish that teaches the orthodox Catholic faith and passes on the great patrimony of the church Jesus established through the apostles. I can tell you that where such parishes exist they are overflowing. Community exists, people from the elderly to children are engaged. And if that means driving by half a dozen or so parishes on the way, it is more important that we relearn the depths of our faith and teach our children truth than to attempt to coexist with heterodoxy.
Where there is not orthodox teaching and practice in liturgical norms the only thing that will result is poorly formed and confused children who are more likely to walk away from the faith.
Pray for your local parish but build community where there is right practice and the faith is not watered down or destroyed by modernism.
We recently switched from the trad parish in our diocese to the normie parish 5 min up the road from us, largely for logistical purposes of having two kids and trying to get a mass time that works with our kids. That said, you are absolutely right. There is something missing from modern day parishes that are largely formed of people selecting the church they want, instead of the church closest to them.
I recently finished E. Michael Jones book 'Slaugher of Cities' and his description of how the urban Catholic communities built around their parishes were dispersed into the suburbs is tragic. I long for the sort of Catholic community that once existed in the US.
We stick with our parish but it's hard at times. A flow of new priests, a music director that frankly makes me feel ill, and certain problems with the building like having no space for parents to take screaming children, all those make it penitential. But the longer we stay, and the more we help out, the stronger the bonds we create.
Thanks for writing this. With so much good Catholic teaching online, there is no need to church hop. I belong to a small parish that’s on the chopping block. The young people drive over an hour away from what would be their local parish. Grandparents are deprived of getting to sit with their children or grandchildren. How is this church hopping any different than a Protestant who does this because the Bible teaching is better. Thanks for addressing this logistical problem.
https://youtu.be/nkCUcV0XPyw?si=k-NVDEdIVwjn_D23&t=7
I didnt know you were in an Adam Sandler movie
Middle age has its benefits.