Not sure what parish to belong to anymore.

[Lady Bug]

I think my head is going to explode. It took me about two years to finally decide on a parish for me, but when I finally did, I realized that there are not enough "flexible Mass times" like some other parishes have, if you miss the Saturday Vigil for example.

At the parish I'm currently a member of, I have not been to a Mass there since mid-November. "Things happen" and I have been constantly missing their Saturday Vigil Mass, which is at 4 pm. Unlike a couple of other parishes, if you miss the SV Mass at my current parish, there is no afternoon Sunday Mass to make up for it, only mornings. It is causing me to suffer the inability to consistently attend this parish (as I stated, I haven't been there since mid-November). As a result, I have been going to backup Sunday afternoon Masses at a couple of other parishes, kind of flipping back and forth between those backup parishes. Depending on how late I am on a Sunday, I could make it to a 5 pm Mass, 6 pm Mass, or 7 pm Mass, depending on the parish. But at my current parish, there is no such backup plan.

I ask myself, as much as I used to feel at home in my current parish, should I bother being a member there anymore? I feel like I can fellowship with the people more easily there, based on past experience, but ever since my dad's stay at the nursing home rehab facility, my Mass-going locations have been extremely inconsistent, and the inconsistency is taking a toll on my mental health. I wanted to ask the priest I was confessing to tonight about this, but I felt I needed more time to broach the subject. I was going to ask him, should I be a member of a parish where I tend to be able to make it to more Mass times, if I can't get my first choice of Mass time, or should I be a member of a parish that is closer by so that I don't have to travel as far for activities? (activities, which I sadly have to admit, I can hardly even go to because of problems with my dad, so I don't even know why I'm bringing this up)

Sorry if this is all over the place. I have brain fog tonight and I think I know why, but it's not getting any better (the brain fog that is).

 

[JimR-OCDS]

My wife and myself no longer belong to a parish. Long story, but we're comfortable
spiritually watching the Mass from the National Shrine in Washington DC, on Saturday
evening.

FYI, we have health issues and at age 73, we try to limit our exposer to large crowds.

The bottom line here is, you don't have to belong to a parish for now. Just focus on
union with Christ and let him put the desire in you in order to follow his will.

 

[Lady Bug]

My wife and myself no longer belong to a parish. Long story, but we're comfortable
spiritually watching the Mass from the National Shrine in Washington DC, on Saturday
evening.

FYI, we have health issues and at age 73, we try to limit our exposer to large crowds.

The bottom line here is, you don't have to belong to a parish for now. Just focus on
union with Christ and let him put the desire in you in order to follow his will.

I'm glad you found peace this way. For me, I'd like to establish some sort of support system (I know, way easier said than done) and it's an uphill battle to achieve if I'm floating around between multiple parishes

 

[RileyG]

I'm glad you found peace this way. For me, I'd like to establish some sort of support system (I know, way easier said than done) and it's an uphill battle to achieve if I'm floating around between multiple parishes

Keeping you in prayer.

 

[WarriorAngel]

I have Mass schedules of all the Churches around me for in case.

 

[RileyG]

I have Mass schedules of all the Churches around me for in case.

Same here. Thankfully I live in an area with about 18 Catholic Churches.

 

[FaithT]

Same here. Thankfully I live in an area with about 18 Catholic Churches.

We have three in my suburb. If I’d count the close area outside my suburb it would be much more.

 

[Lady Bug]

I have Mass schedules of all the Churches around me for in case.

Yes I've been doing that for years, lol.

 

[RileyG]

Yes I've been doing that for years, lol.

Even when I lived in a small town, my parents always wanted to attend the Saturday night vigil Mass instead of Sunday at our parish. Usually in the next town over.

 

[FaithT]

Even when I lived in a small town, my parents always wanted to attend the Saturday night vigil Mass instead of Sunday at our parish. Usually in the next town over.

I almost always attend Saturday vigil Mass but I went a couple times for Easter and it was too long so I go on Sunday morning for that.

 

[RileyG]

I almost always attend Saturday vigil Mass but I went a couple times for Easter and it was too long so I go on Sunday morning for that.

I LOVE Holy Saturday, despite it being so long. It's the best the Novus Ordo has to offer!

I still love Easter morning!

 

[Lady Bug]

I like the Sunday Masses more over here, but I am ok with attending Saturday Vigil. What I was saying in my OP though is that at my preferred parish that I want to be a member of, they don't have an alternative Sunday afternoon Mass the way some other parishes do, and that is causing mental stress for me because I'm wondering what the point is of being a member of a parish where I can't even attend its Masses anymore.

 

[RileyG]

I like the Sunday Masses more over here, but I am ok with attending Saturday Vigil. What I was saying in my OP though is that at my preferred parish that I want to be a member of, they don't have an alternative Sunday afternoon Mass the way some other parishes do, and that is causing mental stress for me because I'm wondering what the point is of being a member of a parish where I can't even attend its Masses anymore.

I would speak with the priest, if possible, and determine if it's a good thing for you to transfer your membership over.

Blessings

 

[Lady Bug]

I would speak with the priest, if possible, and determine if it's a good thing for you to transfer your membership over.

Blessings

I will try within the next few months to see if I can go back to my Saturday Vigil Mass (the 4 pm one, I mean. There is a 5 pm one at another parish but it's the 4 pm one that I want to try to reinstate in my routine). However, if I sense that it's not going to work out, then yes I think I may have to consider if I should even be a member there anymore. I feel sad about that, however, but I'll take it one day at a time.

 

[RileyG]

I will try within the next few months to see if I can go back to my Saturday Vigil Mass (the 4 pm one, I mean. There is a 5 pm one at another parish but it's the 4 pm one that I want to try to reinstate in my routine). However, if I sense that it's not going to work out, then yes I think I may have to consider if I should even be a member there anymore. I feel sad about that, however, but I'll take it one day at a time.

May God bless you and guide you!

 

[Lady Bug]

May God bless you and guide you!

I am still going to remain a member at my current parish in the hopes that one day I can focus more on that one. However, the parish-hopping routine continues.

 

[FaithT]

I am still going to remain a member at my current parish in the hopes that one day I can focus more on that one. However, the parish-hopping routine continues.

I church/denomination hopped for a long time.

 

[Lady Bug]

I church/denomination hopped for a long time.

It's something I really don't recommend unless circumstances make it that way, which in my case, is happening. I don't find the "homelessness" enjoyable. Sorry if I'm dragging the subject, lol.

 

[FaithT]

It's something I really don't recommend unless circumstances make it that way, which in my case, is happening. I don't find the "homelessness" enjoyable. Sorry if I'm dragging the subject, lol.

It’s ok.