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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]OP, by all means reach out to a neighbor or just go to a Mass!  Perhaps even post here what the nearest Catholic parishes to you are and someone might advise you if one has a friendlier vibe or has a particular Mass that they love.  I'm a lifelong Catholic whose spouse converted after our kids were born. [b]We had agreed to raise them Catholic[/b], and DH was attending Mass anyway, so he enrolled in RCIA to learn more and decided to formally convert.

The communion thing isn't an un-friendly concept, it's a basic tenet of faith and the beliefs surrounding it are different than in Protestant churches.  DCUM likes to make that into a big fight, though.  [b]There are lots of people every week who simply stay in the pew, and no one questions it at all[/b].  You wouldn't be the only person.  After the priest's sermon (called a homily), they will pass around baskets for offerings (i.e. cash).  No obligation to give, although if it makes you feel better put in $5.  Many parishes have gone to e-giving so we never put anything in the basket.  No one knows if we donate online or just choose not to donate, and there's no pressure or awkwardness.  After the Lord's Prayer there is a time when people shake hands with those around them and typically say "Peace be with you" or some other greeting.  Smile and shake hands.

Stand when people stand, sit when they sit.  It's again fine to sit when others kneel.  Most churches have missals in the pews that allow you to follow along with the Mass, the prayers, the readings for the week.  One of the amazing things about the Church when I consider it is that the Mass is the Mass regardless of where you are.  I've celebrated Mass in foreign nations not knowing the language, but knowing what was happening because it's exactly what was happening that same day in my own church in the U.S.

Catholic churches, probably like others, vary in terms of their composition whether they skew towards older folks or a more family-friendly environment.  Some are far more conservative and the priests focus on hot-button political items like abortion or gay marriage.  Others are more moderate or liberal, focusing on social justice and/or the actual messages in the Gospel.  At our large parish in Virginia each Mass is a bit different, from the sunrise no-music service to the organ and choir option to the Mass with a guitar and folk choir.  You'd likely walk away with a very different impression depending on which time you chose.

Because [b]there is a shortage of priests[/b], parishes tend to be quite large (our's has over 1,000 families), so it's not like all the parishoners even know or recognize each other, so do not take offense if you aren't pegged as a newcomer.[/quote]

1. it is a mortal sin for a Catholic parent not to raise their kids Catholic.
2. When regular parishioners do not go to communion, everyone knows it means they have sinned and not gone to confession to have their sins absolved.
3. Very few Catholic men want to be priests anymore because of forced celibacy and the bad rep the church has gotten for protecting pedophile priests.[/quote]

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