recommend catholic priest to talk to - or just a parish

[Anonymous]

OP - Opus Dei is a splinter group. Please don't judge all catholic churches based on OD!!

I too am conflicted, but it not due to OD. Good luck in your search. Not sure you will find it in a Catholic Church. We are considering presbyterian.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had a similar experience, with Opus Dei. I found that the Jesuits were good to talk to. And ones on college campuses have heard it all. I would seek someone out at Georgetown, although I do not have a name for you.

Opus Dei is the catholic church on steroids. I have found that there are always priests/jesuits who will verify your opinions. At the end of the day the culture of the faith is not going to change and in this culture you are not at liberty to accept or reject any of their doctrine.

WWJD is not based in guilt and shame. In addition, there is no human form (priests) that replace that awesome relationship you have with with God.....talk to him....he'll listen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I also want a Church with activities and a social network. I want to be able to meet similarly like minded people. My DH and I were just talking about this last night, and I don't know if it is just our experiences, but we feel like there are so many younger married couples (like us - in our late 20s) who belong to Christian groups, who seem totally normal and reasonable people and they meet others this way. But then with the Catholic groups, the people in their 20s are NOT the same way. They are orthodox Catholic, totally obsessed, not your average people. Is this just me? Where can I find a group of young Catholics who are not wannabe cult members?

I think this last one is the main thing I am looking for.

I'm not Catholic, but I have several friends like this (except they're in their 30s & early 40s, not 20s) who attend Sacred Heart in Mt. Pleasant, DC (a Franciscan/Capuchin parish, if that matters).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some priests I find really easy to talk with:
Fr. Kevin O'Brien:
http://campusministry.georgetown.edu/67523.html

From Holy Trinity parish in Georgetown, Fr. Mark Horak, Greg Schenden and Leo Murray are all good - and each a little different.

For Father Leo, he is older and I love his POV. An example, I was working with him in preparing for baptism for my daughter and I wondered if there were guidelines for "evidence" of being a good Catholic as Arlington Catholic requires for godparents. He laughed and responded - we are Jesuits!

That totally sounds like Fr. Leo! He is so wonderful! Holy Trinity is a very special place and very welcoming. I would check it out.

[Anonymous]

I recommend reading "The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything". I think you would really enjoy it. One joke he includes in his book:

"A Franciscan, a Dominican, and a Jesuit celebrating Mass together when the lights suddenly go out in the church. The Franciscan praises the chance to live more simply. The Dominican gives a learned homily on how God brings light to the world. The Jesuit goes to the basement to fix the fuses."

There are different ways to worship, even within the Catholic Church. Keep searching to find one that fits you and your needs. My favorite parishes have been led by Franciscans and Jesuits.

[Anonymous]

My favorite priest ever was Father Roy Campbell at Immaculate Conception at 8th & N. He worked in the banking industry until his mid-fifties, retired and became priest. He attended a seminary in Boston which is specifically for priests entering the profession later in life. A wonderful man who had such an interesting and refreshing perspective - maybe because he had been "a civilian" for so many years. I found him much easier to relate to. Unfortunately, he was only temporarily at that parish before being reassigned. Because of him, I started going to mass for the first time in many years.