Lawn Chair Catechism - Session 3

Chapter 2 - We Don't Know what Normal Is

. . . It is NORMAL for lay Catholics to be excited Christian activists.

. . . It is NORMAL for lay Catholics to be knowledgeable of their faith, the Scriptures, the doctrinal and moral teachings of the Church, and the history of the Church.

. . . It is NORMAL for lay Catholics to have fellowship of other committed lay Catholics available to them, to encourage, nurture, and discern as they attempt to follow Jesus.

. . . It is NORMAL for the local parish to function consciously as a house for formation for lay Catholics . . ..  (this is taken from the book, Forming Intentional Disciples by Sherry Weddell which we are studying this summer over at CatholicMom.  Join in the conversation on your blog or in the comment box.

Discussion Questions:Are you comfortable talking with others about your relationship with God?
Would you say that you’re a “normal” Catholic using the criteria outlined above?
Or are you a “typical” Catholic, fighting that feeling that interest in the faith is only for a few pious eccentrics?
In your parish:
Do you personally have, within your parish, a group of Catholics you meet with regularly, to discuss the faith, study the faith, and encourage each other to greater virtue?
At this time, does your parish have in place a working system for actively mentoring those who want to grow in their relationship with God?

Just looking at the title of the chapter  I'd have to agree.  What is normal?  I certainly cannot qualify as "normal" is you take it to mean "usual".

I feel as if I have an unfair advantage in answering these questions.  After all, it is my job, career, vocation, basically my life's work - to talk about my faith and teach others about the faith.  I am NORMAL!  Wow, didn't see that one coming.
However, I think I live in a very small world.  In my small world most everyone goes to Mass each week, thinks confession is a good thing, is involved in ministry, say they'll pray for you and do, were sitting on the edge of their seats waiting to hear who our new Pope would be, plan dates/get togethers around Mass and/or Adoration and carry a rosary on their person just about always. Please do not take this to mean my friends are oh so very holy or overly pious.  We are not, but we live our faith out on a daily basis and really do work for Jesus.

I participate in Cursillo and it is through this group that I meet with other women to discuss my faith life. It is not a parish group, but a diocesan one which is open to all Catholics.  My work parish does not have any small group devoted specifically to spiritual growth but our Bible studies certainly help people learn more and in turn hopefully deepen their faith.  My home parish has some great small groups - Men's, Separated and Divorced, youth ministry- which all help a person grow in their relationship with God. 

Lawn Chair Catechism, Session 2

So, I'm a little behind in answering our questions, but sometimes life happens and blogging not so much.

Here are the questions:
In your own faith:
Have you always been Catholic?
How did the instruction and mentoring you received help you – or prevent you – from having a personal relationship with God?
If you were raised in a Catholic home, are your family members all still Catholic?
What events among your friends and family seem to explain why some are Catholic, and others are not?

I have always been Catholic and to the best of my recollection attended Mass on a regular basis with my family.  We (4 children) all went to Catholic elementary school and all but 1 of my siblings attended Catholic High School.  Our instruction was mixed with some of the sisters having us memorize our lessons but since we did not use the Baltimore Catechism with questions and answer format it was very odd!  Other told us everyone who was not Catholic was going to hell and used fear to keep us following the rules.  I was too afraid of God to really have a personal relationship with him until high school.
In high school we had many opportunities both in our parish and school to learn about God's loving nature and his mercy and forgiveness.  Looking back, it was almost all about love, the total opposite to what I was taught in elementary school.  Somehow it all balanced out in my brain and soul.  As a teen is when I began to what I would say was a personal relationship with God.  Especially instrumental in that was a retreat experience called "Christian Awakening."
As far as my siblings, once they had children of their own they went back to church and are raising their children Catholic.  So, yes, we're all still Catholic :)


In your parish:
How’s your “retention rate”?  What percentage of 8th graders in your parish are still practicing the faith at age 18?  At age 24? Do young adults in your parish stay in touch with their childhood faith community, or do they drift away to an unknown fate?

I'd say the retention rate in both the parish I work and the parish I worship in are similar. A very high percentage of families drop in for the sacraments and then come occasionally to Mass.  Many second graders have never been inside the church building except as part of religious instruction and often the second time for confession is before confirmation in 9th grade.  Children do what their parents do for the most part.  I think the rule of thirds used to work, one third are active practicing Catholics; one third are nominal and the last third are there to make someone happy  but don't really get it.  Now it might be fourths, with the last fourth really looking at the whole Church as an imposition but somewhere deep inside they have a need to make sure their child has "walking papers". Some come back to marry, but not nearly as many as in the past.

You can also take a look at the answers of people who did this in a much more timely fashion!