Comments for From the Pews in the Back http://fromthepewsintheback.com Young Women & Catholicism Mon, 06 Sep 2010 04:14:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ Comment on Walking Humbly by jdenari http://fromthepewsintheback.com/2010/08/29/walking-humbly/#comment-1066 jdenari Mon, 06 Sep 2010 04:14:14 +0000 https://fromthepewsintheback.wordpress.com/2010/08/29/walking-humbly/#comment-1066 Thank you for this very reflective post. The fact that you wove the theme of last week's Gospel into this current situation (rising Islamophobia in the face of the new mosque) makes the reading seem even more relevant to daily life. Thank you for this very reflective post. The fact that you wove the theme of last week’s Gospel into this current situation (rising Islamophobia in the face of the new mosque) makes the reading seem even more relevant to daily life.

]]> Comment on To Church Hunt or Not to Church Hunt? by Pat Sykora http://fromthepewsintheback.com/2010/08/19/to-church-hunt-or-not-to-church-hunt/#comment-1050 Pat Sykora Fri, 20 Aug 2010 12:33:23 +0000 http://fromthepewsintheback.com/?p=2012#comment-1050 Before you give up completely, please do go to the University Catholic Center at UT, run by the Paulists. My family and I returned there for a visit last January and it had the same feel and warmth it did 25 years ago when I was a student there. The Paulists are simply remarkable. This is what we now refer to as a "deliberate community", and I think it really makes a difference. There is little doubt in my mind that not only have I remained Catholic in spite of many MANY things that give me pause, but that my own career as a theologian was inspired by places and people like this in the church. They are there, and, frankly, Austin is a pretty good place to find such a community. Through the many years I sat in the pew listening to crappy homilies from (most of) the (diocesan) boys, and found it difficult to impossible to share my gifts due to intimidated pastors, I remembered that the Church is so much more and sought out likewise minded Catholic people to form community with. I know I don't have to tell you that there is more than one way to celebrate as and be a eucharistic people! Now we are in the Boston area, ground zero for you-know-what and seeking out a deliberate community here made a difference as well. (Did you go to St. Ig when you were in Boston?) Of course, I know that there is pain and alienation in the church that is not part of my experience, so I can only speak for my own struggles, but when I think of leaving the Church, I ultimately find myself asking, "Lord, to whom shall I go?" The only truly sensitive, enlightened and faith-filled person in the world is ME!! HA!!!!! ;) Peace on the journey, but also, the blessings of friends and just enough frustration to remind you that the struggle to find and participate in community is worth it. Hook em Horns! Before you give up completely, please do go to the University Catholic Center at UT, run by the Paulists. My family and I returned there for a visit last January and it had the same feel and warmth it did 25 years ago when I was a student there. The Paulists are simply remarkable. This is what we now refer to as a “deliberate community”, and I think it really makes a difference. There is little doubt in my mind that not only have I remained Catholic in spite of many MANY things that give me pause, but that my own career as a theologian was inspired by places and people like this in the church. They are there, and, frankly, Austin is a pretty good place to find such a community. Through the many years I sat in the pew listening to crappy homilies from (most of) the (diocesan) boys, and found it difficult to impossible to share my gifts due to intimidated pastors, I remembered that the Church is so much more and sought out likewise minded Catholic people to form community with. I know I don’t have to tell you that there is more than one way to celebrate as and be a eucharistic people! Now we are in the Boston area, ground zero for you-know-what and seeking out a deliberate community here made a difference as well. (Did you go to St. Ig when you were in Boston?)

Of course, I know that there is pain and alienation in the church that is not part of my experience, so I can only speak for my own struggles, but when I think of leaving the Church, I ultimately find myself asking, “Lord, to whom shall I go?” The only truly sensitive, enlightened and faith-filled person in the world is ME!! HA!!!!! ;)

Peace on the journey, but also, the blessings of friends and just enough frustration to remind you that the struggle to find and participate in community is worth it.

Hook em Horns!

]]> Comment on The Glow, The Dance, The Dark of the Sea by Becky Fullan http://fromthepewsintheback.com/2010/08/13/the-glow-the-dance-the-dark-of-the-sea/#comment-1049 Becky Fullan Thu, 19 Aug 2010 16:36:12 +0000 http://fromthepewsintheback.com/?p=2006#comment-1049 Thanks for the kind words, Becky and Kate. The thing about the un-word-able is so helpful, because it always feels un-word-able when I am trying to write, and yet I keep trying! So it's good to know when it works. Thanks for the kind words, Becky and Kate. The thing about the un-word-able is so helpful, because it always feels un-word-able when I am trying to write, and yet I keep trying! So it’s good to know when it works.

]]> Comment on To Church Hunt or Not to Church Hunt? by Kate Henley Averett http://fromthepewsintheback.com/2010/08/19/to-church-hunt-or-not-to-church-hunt/#comment-1048 Kate Henley Averett Thu, 19 Aug 2010 16:02:48 +0000 http://fromthepewsintheback.com/?p=2012#comment-1048 Ruth Ann - In response to your question, I hope you'll take a moment to read a piece I wrote during Lent - it will, hopefully, explain why I've left the church. http://fromthepewsintheback.com/2010/04/14/done/ -KHA Ruth Ann – In response to your question, I hope you’ll take a moment to read a piece I wrote during Lent – it will, hopefully, explain why I’ve left the church.

http://fromthepewsintheback.com/2010/04/14/done/

-KHA

]]> Comment on To Church Hunt or Not to Church Hunt? by Becky Fullan http://fromthepewsintheback.com/2010/08/19/to-church-hunt-or-not-to-church-hunt/#comment-1047 Becky Fullan Thu, 19 Aug 2010 14:43:39 +0000 http://fromthepewsintheback.com/?p=2012#comment-1047 I know exactly what you mean. Every time I move somewhere new, I end up doing a big search for a church (so far a Catholic church), and then, after I pick one, I don't really commit to it fully. I've been thinking a lot about whether I should try getting more involved in the one I found here, especially their queer-oriented groups, or whether the fact that I keep not doing so means I should at least start exploring other kinds of churches... I really have the same desires, especially in my sense of church as a community based on something other than (only) personal affinity and enjoyment, and the necessity of that kind of community... but I don't know how or when to push myself in some actual direction to be a part of some such community. It's a huge part of why I can't just comfortably be the eccentric Catholic queer I feel myself to be in my heart, and why I also can't just comfortably sit myself down somewhere else and look around for a different kind of community. At least not yet, not yet, not yet.... neither one just yet... It's more uncomfortable and pressing to me than I know how to express, so I usually let it rest and don't do much about it. But I totally and deeply understand your experience here. In other news, we're gonna go see a play in the NYC Fringe tonight about a Catholic lesbian... I'll let you know how it is. I know exactly what you mean. Every time I move somewhere new, I end up doing a big search for a church (so far a Catholic church), and then, after I pick one, I don’t really commit to it fully. I’ve been thinking a lot about whether I should try getting more involved in the one I found here, especially their queer-oriented groups, or whether the fact that I keep not doing so means I should at least start exploring other kinds of churches… I really have the same desires, especially in my sense of church as a community based on something other than (only) personal affinity and enjoyment, and the necessity of that kind of community… but I don’t know how or when to push myself in some actual direction to be a part of some such community. It’s a huge part of why I can’t just comfortably be the eccentric Catholic queer I feel myself to be in my heart, and why I also can’t just comfortably sit myself down somewhere else and look around for a different kind of community.

At least not yet, not yet, not yet…. neither one just yet…

It’s more uncomfortable and pressing to me than I know how to express, so I usually let it rest and don’t do much about it. But I totally and deeply understand your experience here.

In other news, we’re gonna go see a play in the NYC Fringe tonight about a Catholic lesbian… I’ll let you know how it is.

]]> Comment on To Church Hunt or Not to Church Hunt? by Ruth Ann http://fromthepewsintheback.com/2010/08/19/to-church-hunt-or-not-to-church-hunt/#comment-1046 Ruth Ann Thu, 19 Aug 2010 14:41:10 +0000 http://fromthepewsintheback.com/?p=2012#comment-1046 So why don't you want to remain Catholic? So why don’t you want to remain Catholic?

]]> Comment on A Mary I’d Like to Get to Know Again by Jen http://fromthepewsintheback.com/2010/08/15/mary-id-like-get-know-again/#comment-1041 Jen Tue, 17 Aug 2010 13:41:47 +0000 http://fromthepewsintheback.com/?p=1813#comment-1041 Thanks, Juliette! Thanks, Juliette!

]]> Comment on A Mary I’d Like to Get to Know Again by Besem Etchi http://fromthepewsintheback.com/2010/08/15/mary-id-like-get-know-again/#comment-1038 Besem Etchi Sun, 15 Aug 2010 14:16:40 +0000 http://fromthepewsintheback.com/?p=1813#comment-1038 Thanks for sharing your journey. looking forward to reading more Thanks for sharing your journey. looking forward to reading more

]]> Comment on The Glow, The Dance, The Dark of the Sea by Kate Henley Averett http://fromthepewsintheback.com/2010/08/13/the-glow-the-dance-the-dark-of-the-sea/#comment-1036 Kate Henley Averett Sat, 14 Aug 2010 14:58:43 +0000 http://fromthepewsintheback.com/?p=2006#comment-1036 Sleepy! He's my favorite :) Thanks so much for this, Becky. Every time I ever read anything you write, I think, I didn't even know I was thinking things like this until I read them and they resonated. You have such a gift for putting the un-word-able into words. It's crazy. And so wonderful. And I'm so thankful that you keep sharing it. Sleepy! He’s my favorite :)

Thanks so much for this, Becky. Every time I ever read anything you write, I think, I didn’t even know I was thinking things like this until I read them and they resonated. You have such a gift for putting the un-word-able into words. It’s crazy. And so wonderful. And I’m so thankful that you keep sharing it.

]]> Comment on The Glow, The Dance, The Dark of the Sea by Rebecca Curtin http://fromthepewsintheback.com/2010/08/13/the-glow-the-dance-the-dark-of-the-sea/#comment-1035 Rebecca Curtin Fri, 13 Aug 2010 16:54:34 +0000 http://fromthepewsintheback.com/?p=2006#comment-1035 Pretty sure it's Sleepy. :) Loved this post, Becky. A bio-luminescent sea is one of my favorite sights. You're right, it's marvelous and inspires some sort of reverence. And, when the waves crash the ocean makes its own fireworks display. Pretty sure it’s Sleepy. :)

Loved this post, Becky. A bio-luminescent sea is one of my favorite sights. You’re right, it’s marvelous and inspires some sort of reverence. And, when the waves crash the ocean makes its own fireworks display.

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