Do you go to Church?
I grew up Catholic and went to Catholic school - my kids are both baptized
However we don't go to church (we are registered though since that was required to get our DD baptized)
I feel like we should though....its like something is missing from our lives and maybe church would help??
Then again I am lazy and don't feel like waking up on Sunday , getting dressed and rushing off for Mass....
ugh....
persimmon / 1150 posts
We are both Catholic....
However I was baptized Lutheran, but went to Catholic school so I was converted over to being Catholic. DH was baptized Catholic but went to public, not sure how much he attended church. We were married and DD was baptized in the church.
We don't attend either, I feel like we should as well but honestly I can't pay attention to anything when I'm trying to entertain a two year old during Mass, so we don't go and we are kind of lazy on Sundays (our only morning together as a family)...thinking about going Saturday evenings during lent season to get back into the swing of things. I do wish the Catholic church provided a nursery.
honeydew / 7909 posts
We're Catholic and we go every Sunday (well dh does - I haven't gone since lo was born 3 months ago). Why don't you go Saturday nights? That's what I'm gonna start doing. We finally found a priest we love - that makes it worth getting up early!
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
Some other things that might give you some ideas:
Bible or historical religion study
volunteering, either in church or the community
I am non practicing Catholic, my son isn't baptized and I wasn't married in the church...mass doesn't appeal to me, it never did. I don't mind the readings, but I don't like all the other rituals in the mass.
nectarine / 2085 posts
We go unless we're sick, which means we've missed a whole lot of Mass lately.
Honestly, Mass is a bit of a slog right now. LO is 3 and getting all the way through it rarely happens. I think in a year or so it will get easier. It was super simple when he was an infant, but it's been a struggle in the toddler years.
GOLD / wonderful apricot / 22646 posts
DH is Catholic and I am United Methodist. We go to my church occasionally (where we got married), DS is baptized UM, but we all regularly go to Catholic mass as we prefer the priests. I know there are rules to what I can/cannot do as an unconfirmed Catholic/different denomination. But we as a family believe that our God is God no matter the church (Catholic or my home church), so we are 100% okay with attending mass together.
pineapple / 12234 posts
I am but DH was raised in a non-denominational church. We go every Sunday. DH works a lot so sometimes he can't make it and I'll go alone. Going alone with two kids under 5, is HARD. I'm constantly in the back, rocking or swaying and by the end, I am sweating, sore and stressed. I think I'll have to use the church nursery by the time my third comes along. Sometimes I feel like I haven't gotten much out of going since I spent the whole time distracting or calming my toddler.
We've had them baptized and plan to send them to CCD.
squash / 13208 posts
@HLK208: Side question..... I was talking to a co-worker here about CCD since I plan to put my kids in public school and she said "oh you mean Prep?" Apparently here they changed the name - is yours still called CCD or is that just the term you remember from back when?
grapefruit / 4663 posts
@Mamaof2: They changed the name between me going and my youngest sister (she's 12 years younger) to RE, I wonder if they changed it again?
I'm Catholic, I was not married in the church because my husband believes in God but not religion. Religion has always been my area and we baptized our son in the church.
I need to go to Mass, it provides me a good balance and its something I want DS to remember but its so hard to go alone and I don't love our priest. That said I really want to try to go more during Lent. I think I'm going to start trying different churches in the area, I drive 20 mins now and there are 2 others which are that far away or closer and maybe I'll love one of their priests.
grapefruit / 4903 posts
We're Catholic and go to Mass each week. I also take DD to a Moms and Tots play group at the church every two weeks, just for fun. It's definitely an adjustment with a toddler. We've found that the early Sunday morning Mass works best for her, but like you, we don't love that and sometimes choose the Saturday evening Mass instead. DD has special toys she only gets for church (certain books, stuffed saints, wooden rosaries, etc) that make it somewhat novel for her.
@Mamaof2: @jetsa: It's still called RE (religious ed) at our parish. I taught 5th grade before LO.
pineapple / 12234 posts
@Mamaof2: it's just a term I remember but more commonly I hear religious education program
pomegranate / 3791 posts
I was raised Catholic and went to mass every week in addition to a weekly religion class. I no longer consider myself Catholic, but I'd probably refer to myself as a non-practicing Catholic like @looch: said if I wasn't ever going to mass. All of the parishes I've belonged to don't really consider you a member unless you're attending mass when possible and making some sort of contribution when they do the collections.
pomelo / 5129 posts
@mrsjyw: Just an FYI...you don't have to say your LO was baptized UM. The Catholic Church accepts any Christian baptism so it's not as if Catholics view son as unbaptized 
I'm Catholic but DH is not. We got married in the church (so I am a verified member of our local parish). I have been awful about going weekly lately, but am hoping to change that during lent. We have saturday and sunday night Masses, so I need to quit the "I want to sleep in" excuse too!
GOLD / wonderful apricot / 22646 posts
@MaryM: thanks for the clarification! it really helps beacuse i am thinking about converting/wanting to raise DS catholic
pomegranate / 3565 posts
DH and I are both Catholics, went to Catholic school all our lives, married in the Church, son is baptized, registered parishioners, etc. But I probably only go 25% of the time. I should go more. Honestly, DS is at the age where he won't last through the whole mass so it's hard to go with him. Plus, I'm 7 months pregnant so it's even harder to hold him, etc. I try to go with my mom so I'll have the extra help. Need to work on this!
pomelo / 5129 posts
My mom was Methodist and my dad was Catholic. Mom converted when I was a few years old.
We were all baptized Catholic, but my mom held on to her faith until there was a schism at the church she grew up and she wondered why she couldn't just fully join my dad's church. She didn't have to be re-baptized, she just took classes to understand the differences and then was confirmed and took communion on Easter.
The same would go for your son if you raise him Catholic. He could go right into RE with the other kids and get his sacraments the same as anyone else.
Baptism is baptism no matter what (as long as the trinity is evoked during baptism. I think Mormon baptism is the only denomination that doesn't fit into that specification)
eggplant / 11408 posts
We're Catholic, and we go every week. I agree, sometimes it is a slog, but I find the routine very comforting. Honestly, we don't love our parish right now, but we still make an effort to get to Mass. It fills a void, even if it's not always the most inspiring Mass I've ever been to.
I agree-maybe try to find a time that works better for your family. Saturday evening, Sunday evening, or even Sunday night, if that's what works best. Is there a university around you? Maybe look for a Newman Center Mass. They're more casual, usually, and sometimes they have them at off times from regular parish Masses.
pomegranate / 3314 posts
I was raised Catholic and attended Catholic school, while my husband was baptized in the Church of England but is non-practicing. We were married in the Catholic church (though without the full mass) and LO was baptized.
While my husband is super understanding and supportive of my religion, I don't really ask him to come along to mass when I go (which is roughly 25-30% of Sundays). He usually stays home with our LO since she is 21 months old and a handful. I keep hoping that when she's a bit older (and more calm) we will start going together.
hostess / wonderful apple seed / 16729 posts
I'm catholic (DH is Lutheran) but I haven't gone to church since last year for Lent.
My parents go every week and forced us to go as kids. We hated it as kids but in high school I went on my own. It was probably out of habit and a part of me enjoyed going. My sisters and brother do not enjoy going to church like I do. One of my sister now considers herself agnostic. My other sister and brother would only go to church if my mom forced them to go.
For me, I stopped going because of my infertility. I just don't understand why I have not been able to conceive. It's not that I hate the church. I'm planning on going back to church tonight for Ash Wednesday and for lent. It's just hard tying to see what God's plan for me to wait 19 months while letting others have three kids and counting.
I knew this a long time that God isn't a genie and doesn't give away wishes. Still makes me wonder. Infertility has really made me question everything (in religion and in life).
hostess / wonderful apple seed / 16729 posts
@Mamaof2: my church has a Saturday vigil mass at 5pm. It's so much easier going at that time then Sunday AM. Plus, there's less people so I get a good parking spot and always get a seat.
squash / 13208 posts
Thanks for the responses everyone!
They do have a cry room but I kinda hate that we would have to stay in there - I cant see my kids sitting still for 1 hour!
Maybe we will try the Saturday evening mass
In my head I think it would be nice to do Mass on Sunday then go to the Diner for lunch...... maybe in time -
eggplant / 11408 posts
@Mamaof2: one other thing you might consider, instead of the cry room, is to sit closer to the front, or off to the side. I know that when we were little, we behaved MUCH better when we could actually see what was going on! We would count candles, look at the colors of the vestments, etc. If we couldn't see? Forget it!
I hope you find something that works for your family!
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