Some time back, I wrote two posts detailing how I wasn't welcomed at Ste. Marie's Parish in Manchester and how I even had to struggle just to obtain a parish registration form. These two posts may be found here:
http://lasalettejourney.blogspot.com/2006/01/welcoming-parish.html
http://lasalettejourney.blogspot.com/2006/01/constructive-criticism_24.html
Although I was made to feel totally unwelcome and denied the opportunity to volunteer at the parish (most likely because of my orthodoxy) - among other things the parish has promoted New Age Centering Prayer - and I'm on record as opposing it as well as dissent from Church teaching, the pastor of Ste Marie's - Fr. Marc Montminy - did manage to find the time to send me a letter asking for financial help for the parish.
In his letter dated October 19, 2006, he writes in part: "..our church is a priceless treasure; but like all treasures, it costs money to preserve....We cannot modernize these beautiful buildings without significant financial commitment on the part of everyone in the parish...now I need your help! If everyone does his/her best we can accomplish this goal."
And so it would seem that my money is welcome at Ste Marie's Parish but I am not. When I was new to the parish and looking to fit in, I was denied the opportunity to belong and to volunteer. In short, it would seem that while Fr. Montminy considers the parish buildings to be priceless treasures, he does not believe me to have any worth as a human being. If he had, I would have been welcomed and not to made to feel like a pariah.
I guess we all have our priorities.
Paul.
10 comments:
I have had the same response from people who are catholic but not practicing, because they felt the "church" was only about money and not about faith. So they stopped going because they see the church as a money hungry one.
Maybe someday we can all feed each other the way God intended.
Isn't it a shame when Catholics cannot welcome the stranger Marie Cecile? The purpose of my posts was not to bash either Fr. Montminy or Ste. Marie's Parish. But when we can't even be Christ to fellow Catholics, something is radically wrong.
I'm not the center of the universe. Nor would I want to be. God is the center of my universe. However, a simple welcome would have been nice.
When we cannot even welcome another Catholic, another member of the Mystical Body of Christ, how will we be able to bring Christ to non-Catholics?
I too look for the day when Catholics who remain faithful to the Magisterium are not treated as lepers in their own parish. Until that time, I strive to remain welcoming to everyone I encounter, irregardless of their faith tradition, ethnic background, skin color etc. This because we are all children of God.
Mother Teresa is our model here. The saintly religious never excluded anyone and was able to see Jesus in every human being. This should always remain our goal. This is why I oppose every form of unjust discrimination wherever I encounter it.
I think that St. Marie's, like most parishes in the dissent-laden Manchester Diocese, is beginning to feel the pressure from a lack of donations.
But hey, all is well they tell us. Sure it is.
And yes Paul, I too have felt quite unwelcome in my own Parish after many years away, due to marriage, etc. When I came back it was to an awful lot of coldness. For me it has been three years to feel any warmth, and even then it's slow in coming.
But your right too, our Catholic faith is a model after Christ and he welcomes the greatest of sinners to faith, but we in our day don't.
Thank you for what you said and letting me say what I too needed to say.
God love you.
Some priests believe that the laity are only good for donations. Others feel threatened by lay people who really know their faith and view such people suspiciously.
You would think that Father Montminy would have had the good sense to not send you an appeal for donations since he couldn't even welcome you to "his" parish.
You have worth when they need money from you. But your worthless to them otherwise. I no longer give to the diocese of manchester. Instead, I donate to organizations which are orthodox and actually doing some good.
Sounds like the rantings of a child having a temper tantrum. Anyone that has any knowledge of Rev. Montminy knows that he values every individual as created in the image and likeness of God. Your bad experience is no excuse for your poor behavior at this point....
Mark 11:25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.
May your failings never be thrown in your face again and again and again.....
You have mentioned your desire to become a priest, that you might have a vocation. I would assume with this kind of attitude, that will not happen.
Obviously you are registered, perhaps you need to un-register.
The comments left by "anonymous" are hateful and inappropriate. Unworthy of a Christian.
Anonymous, the person from Ste Marie's who wrote this: "Obviously you are registered, perhaps you need to un-register," is revealing something here. Asking you to un-register simply because you have written about how you and other Catholics were not welcomed at that parish is very disturbing.
It reveals a mind-set which is truly deplorable. We should all pray for this person.
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