Been there done that. Good thing we realized it at the time (the kids were in their pre-teens/teens). It was hard tearing myself away from "doing good work", but once I closed that door, I realized it was the best decision we could have made. We've maintained a close relationship with all of our kids (by God's grace) and so far they're still faithful Catholics and still seek our guidance and company regularly. God bless you for writing this. Some people didn't understand our decision (probably still don't) but no regrets. I kinda shudder to think where we would be now had we not discerned then that we needed to keep our attention and time AT HOME, where it belonged/belongs.
Love this! It’s such an important message and one that truly resonates with me.
Years ago, while raising my family, I was blessed to have a pastor who emphasized exactly what you’re saying here. I remember worrying that I wasn’t fulfilling the works of mercy and he said you are by all the things you do for your family! He was adamant about being careful that any ministry we may be called to not interfere with our family life. He warned that spending too much time in church (like the proverbial Church Lady) wasn’t pleasing to the Lord if it meant we were neglecting our families.
I also had some experience with Regnum Christi. Many of my friends were involved in it and I attended some talks and teas, etc. My oldest daughter, high school age at the time, was active very briefly with some of the consecrated lay women. They were relentless in their efforts to sway her into believing that she, too, was called to live a life like theirs. She started feeling very uncomfortable and stopped going to their meetings.
I, too, felt like I was being recruited to join a very elitist organization and once these women finally got the message that I wasn’t going to formally join RC they dropped me like a hot potato. And these were women I knew from my parish or from our homeschool group who now didn’t care to interact aside from superficial small talk at parish gatherings etc. Aside from not wanting to take the time away from my husband and kids that involvement in RC required, it honestly seemed very cultish to me. Too many red flags.
Been there done that. Good thing we realized it at the time (the kids were in their pre-teens/teens). It was hard tearing myself away from "doing good work", but once I closed that door, I realized it was the best decision we could have made. We've maintained a close relationship with all of our kids (by God's grace) and so far they're still faithful Catholics and still seek our guidance and company regularly. God bless you for writing this. Some people didn't understand our decision (probably still don't) but no regrets. I kinda shudder to think where we would be now had we not discerned then that we needed to keep our attention and time AT HOME, where it belonged/belongs.
Love this! It’s such an important message and one that truly resonates with me.
Years ago, while raising my family, I was blessed to have a pastor who emphasized exactly what you’re saying here. I remember worrying that I wasn’t fulfilling the works of mercy and he said you are by all the things you do for your family! He was adamant about being careful that any ministry we may be called to not interfere with our family life. He warned that spending too much time in church (like the proverbial Church Lady) wasn’t pleasing to the Lord if it meant we were neglecting our families.
I also had some experience with Regnum Christi. Many of my friends were involved in it and I attended some talks and teas, etc. My oldest daughter, high school age at the time, was active very briefly with some of the consecrated lay women. They were relentless in their efforts to sway her into believing that she, too, was called to live a life like theirs. She started feeling very uncomfortable and stopped going to their meetings.
I, too, felt like I was being recruited to join a very elitist organization and once these women finally got the message that I wasn’t going to formally join RC they dropped me like a hot potato. And these were women I knew from my parish or from our homeschool group who now didn’t care to interact aside from superficial small talk at parish gatherings etc. Aside from not wanting to take the time away from my husband and kids that involvement in RC required, it honestly seemed very cultish to me. Too many red flags.
Thanks, Melody. Great article!