Traditional Catholic Moms Spring/Summer 2011 - Page 10

[countryangels]

Thanks for this idea!

And you are right about the crunchy & conservative deal part...

Having said that, a long time ago I read a book, where the guy mentioned that he & his family were as crunchy as you can get. And they

had an amazing love for the TLM/EF & everything orthodox. He even interviewed some orthodox Jews in Massachusetts that were also

into being crunchy,etc. So, he sorta of hinted that you could be both. And I looked up where he lived, he was in New York, but later moved

to Texas. It had some great info. & a bit funny too.

I wish I could find a place that had a strong Latin Mass community, a community feel, yet with a natural family, crunchy vibe to it!

And I am not crazy about Texas or the Texas heat...And New York City is a bit too expensive, even though it has so many activities for

homeschoolers!  Ithaca New York has amazing activites for homeschoolers, they have the local University sponsor free homeschooling field trips/classes at the University(small experiments,etc.) A really neat & unique thing, but way too liberal of an area, NO Latin Mass that I know of...

And it seems that unless you can have the FSSP, or the Institute Christ the King in the area, you will not have Daily Latin Mass, etc.

And I really want daily Latin Mass, at least every Sunday & days of obligation.

Please keep the ideas flowing/coming, it all helps to be able to sort it out.

Blessings & Peace to all of you! 

Thank you for all of your help!

ote:

Originally Posted by LessTraveledBy 

Wisconsin has the Institute of Christ the King in quite a few places, at least Green Bay and Wausau come to mind. If you check their website, you will see all the locations. Not very crunchy, but I think you just can't really have conservative and crunchy in the same place. I do think, though, that wherever you have TLM people, you will also find some homeschoolers.

[Hebaume39]

We are part of the Cathedral parish in Madison (definately crunchy and kind of liberal) but the parish is pretty conservative.  There are plenty of big families and a latin mass (I can't remember if its only Sunday and Holidays or daily).  There is also perpetual adoration at the Holy Redeemer church of the parish.  The Cathedral actually burned down so the parish is two smaller churches.  There's a wonderful community and at least three specificially Catholic homeschool groups in the Madison area (my little one is only two so we're still figuring this part out).  There are also several good Catholic schools.  The bishop often attends mass.  The msgr. gives somewhat long but good homilies.  We go to the eleven o'clock mass which isn't the latin mass but we enjoy the community.  Crunchy and conserative can go together.

[Arduinna]

I hope everyone had a nice Sunday. I just wanted to share that I was sitting in church waiting for mass to start this morning that I it just hit me that I still can't believe I really am Catholic. It just blows me away sometimes. It took me 4 years and a bunch of ups and downs. Sometimes I feel like I can't believe it actually happened and that I got baptized and confirmed. I actually can go up to the altar rail with everyone else and kneel to receive Jesus. It's a miracle. Really. I look back at who I was and what I believed 5-6 years ago and I can't believe I'm here.

Anyway, just had to say that.

On another note, does anyone know of place online that sells nice quality Catholic charms for charm bracelets? 

[PatienceAndLove]

I don't really know about PA homeschooling laws, as I have to work full time to support Viv and I, so she attends the local public school.  I wish I had an answer for you, though!

Try posting in Homeschooling or Find Your Tribe for PA homeschool laws

[Trigger]

Originally Posted by countryangels 

I was wondering if anyone here is either from Wisconsin, Michigan, Idaho, Colorado, Minnesota, Montana or New England area? 

And do you have access to the TLM/EF Mass in Latin?  

You probably aren't going to find a lot of TLM communities and/or Masses in New England.  It's generally a pretty crunchy area (also very liberal); but the Northeast in general is experiencing an increasing shortage of priests, coupled with a declining membership of Catholic parishoners. There are lots of parish closings/mergers going on right now. I'm in a pretty large diocese in NY, and I think there is one TLM offered on a "regular" basis (can't remember if it's once/week or once/month).

The Ann Arbor and Flushing areas in MI are known for tightly-knit "communities" stemming from The Franciscan University of Steubenville.  Be warned, though, that they have a reputation for being cultish in nature.  I personally know a priest who was involved in one such community.
 

[moonshoes]

I live in MA, and while this is not a parish, this is where I attend the TLM. It is a monastery open to the public. I wouldn't say this is a heavily traditional area, heavlly Catholic, yes, but not very traditional. There are a lot of families at the monastery, they run a school and a summer camp, so community is definitely a possibility. And there is a homeschooling group too.

I do know (from having previously homeschooled) that the laws in PA are very strict regarding homeschooling.

Arduinna, that is so fantastic! I feel the same way, even though I am a cradle Catholic. I left the Church for a loooooooong time and am only back for a few years. I feel so blessed!

[CherryBomb]

Hi CA-

My daughter takes Suzuki style lessons from a woman named Allison Edberg, who's lead violinst for the Indianapolis Baroque Orchestra.  She takes lessons once a week (usually, Allison travels to perform so sometimes she goes a couple weeks between lessons).  The kids she teaches are Lafayette String School and they do have opportunities to play with other children occasionally.  It's $20 a lesson and I'm very happy with it, I just wish dd would be better about practicing every day.

I actually live about 45 minutes from Lafayette, but over there there's a pretty strong Catholic community.  TLM is offered once a month, but attendance is pretty weak.  My area is generally very safe, Lafayette has had a large influx of unemployed people from Chicago in recent years and the crime rate has gone up pretty dramatically.  I wouldn't necessarily call it unsafe, but there are areas I avoid.  Unemployment numbers are okay.

Originally Posted by countryangels 

Hi CheeryBomb,

I noticed that you have a child that plays the violin. Do they go to a Classical music school, or do they have a tutor, or are they going to Suzuki?

How many times a week does your child get tutored? Do they play the violin with other children?

May I ask how much is it in your area (the classes/tutoring,etc.) Are you happy with the teacher/school?

Is there a strong Catholic community in your area?

Do you have access to the Latin Mass? Is there a strong Latin Mass community in your area?

Is it a safe area? How is the unemployment situation in your area? 

Thanks for your help!

Blessings to you & your family!

[CherryBomb]

Originally Posted by Arduinna 

I hope everyone had a nice Sunday. I just wanted to share that I was sitting in church waiting for mass to start this morning that I it just hit me that I still can't believe I really am Catholic. It just blows me away sometimes. It took me 4 years and a bunch of ups and downs. Sometimes I feel like I can't believe it actually happened and that I got baptized and confirmed. I actually can go up to the altar rail with everyone else and kneel to receive Jesus. It's a miracle. Really. I look back at who I was and what I believed 5-6 years ago and I can't believe I'm here.

I totally get that.  We converted back in 2007 and still hits me sometimes how far I've come.

[CherryBomb]

CA, I know there is a parish in Indianapolis that offers TLM every Sunday.

[CherryBomb]

Originally Posted by Hebaume39 

Crunchy and conserative can go together.

Very true.  I'm not particularly crunchy, but I know many people in the area who are extremely crunchy and extremely conservative.

[moonshoes]

I'm very crunchy and very traditional. the crunch came first, and then my spiritual journey took me to where I am now. I would say that I find the traditional community to be much more accepting of my crunchiness than the non-Catholic crunchy community is of my Catholic-ness. I'd rather be around traditional Catholics who eat at McDonalds than crunchies who can't accept my religious beliefs.

[Arduinna]

Thanks moonshoes and cherrybomb

[Midwesterner04]

Hi, Ladies! Another orthodox Catholic here!

I think crunchy and conservative certainly can go hand in hand. Much of what people now consider "crunchy," particularly with regard to family life, is really quite traditional.

Anecdotally, I am very committed to attachment parenting and love "natural family living," which I always thought of as traditional childrearing/Christian self-giving within the family or conservative homemaking, until my DH made a lighthearted comment about my "crunch."  I still feel that both AP and much of the NFL lifestyles coexist quite naturally with Church teachings, not that people who choose differently are worse Catholics (these are personal choices and I'm not advocating a rehash of the crunchy vs mainstream Mommy Wars threads)! I'm just saying that I don't think that Catholicism, conservatism, and "crunch" ordered toward human flourishing need to be in tension.

As for places a crunchy Catholic mama can fit in, I'd give a vote to northern Indiana. There are regular TLMs in South Bend and nearby in southern Michigan, and a bit of a TLM community has built up around those liturgies. There is a lot of homeschooling, including a regional (orthodox) Catholic homeschooling group, and the diocese of Ft. Wayne-South Bend has offered special catechetical resources for homeschooling families. I haven't been to the co-Cathedral in Ft. Wayne, but the Cathedral in South Bend is staffed by theologically orthodox priests and has a vibrant congregation of young families. There are numerous community and farmers' markets (and the produce stands in the more Amish areas are great!), homebirth midwives and birth centers, and friendly smiles to nursing mothers. It is also a pretty conservative place.

ETA: PatienceAndLove, I will be praying for you, your little one, and your little one's father.

[Hebaume39]

Indiana is one of the states where practicing midwifery is still fairly actively prosecuted as practicing medicine without a license.  South Bend is lovely and I attended Notre Dame, but just so you know, most midwifery is still underground.

[Midwesterner04]

The northern Indiana homebirth practices I had in mind are made up of CNMs who practice legally.  I had an out-of-hospital, insurance-covered birth with a non-underground Indiana CNM and was beyond happy with the experience and know of many other moms who have experienced the same thing. That doesn't mean that Indiana doesn't have a long way to go in terms of access to normal birth and midwifery, but the situation in the northern part of the state is less grim than it is in any other place I have lived.

[countryangels]

Greetings in Christ to all!

Thank you so much for the wonderful replies regarding the TLM/EF & a Latin Mass community, natural/traditional/crunchy type living, etc.

Please keep MORE ideas from your respective areas coming! It is very helpful!

Its great! I will have to research them all & see what will be the final outcome.

I wish I could take the best from each of your areas & come up with the ideal place!

Please keep me in your prayers, so I may do HIS WILL & what is right for our future!

I am having a hard time figuring things out...

Thank you!

Peace,

CountryAngels

[mt_gooseberry]

There is a TLM offered every Sunday at Holy Cross Traditional Catholic Church (SSPV) in Helena, MT, where I am originally from.  I never have attended, so I can't give you much more info, other than that I know several of the ladies who attend wear head-coverings in church.  There are several other places throughout the state that offer TLM (www.latinmasstimes.com/montana). 

In general, Montana is a very conservative state, however, it is not difficult to live a "crunchy" lifestyle at all, especially if you are interested in a agricultural or "outdoorsy" lifestyle.  We have moved a lot (7 times in 2 years!) and haven't yet spent enough time at any one church or community to be able to recommend one as being "crunchy AND traditional Catholic," but there is a very strong sense of community support everywhere. 

There is a lot of homeschooling done here as well, and it is seen as a very acceptable option.  With so many rural families, it is something of a necessity actually. 

I don't think the job market is quite as rich as other places, and wages are quite a bit lower here.  However, the cost of living is also lower.

Anyway, let me know if you want more info on Montana!

[Arduinna]

But SSPV are sedevacanctist, IE schismatic and don't recognize the Pope. Unlike the SSPX. 

[heatheresc]

Same here, Arduinna and Cherry Bomb! I converted in 2005, so it's been six years now(!), but It was at least a 5 year process actively getting to the conversion point, starting around my senior year of college. And back then I had not a clue about Latin Masses or what "traditional" Catholicism might be! I was actually drawn to the Church's stance on social justice, which I felt was wrongly ignored by the evangelical churches I grew up in. I still appreciate that aspect of the Church, of course, but I had no idea of the depths of the Church's wisdom! It's a lifelong journey for sure!

[countryangels]

Hi Arduinna,

What a lovely post! Thank you!

A BELATED WELCOME HOME to YOU!

It is a MIRACLE! An AMAZING MIRACLE!!!

I feel like you at times when I am at Church, how BLESSED we are! It is a lifetime journey!

May our Lord continue to bless you & your loved ones!

Blessings to you as you continue the journey!

Peace,

Countryangels

Originally Posted by Arduinna 

I hope everyone had a nice Sunday. I just wanted to share that I was sitting in church waiting for mass to start this morning that I it just hit me that I still can't believe I really am Catholic. It just blows me away sometimes. It took me 4 years and a bunch of ups and downs. Sometimes I feel like I can't believe it actually happened and that I got baptized and confirmed. I actually can go up to the altar rail with everyone else and kneel to receive Jesus. It's a miracle. Really. I look back at who I was and what I believed 5-6 years ago and I can't believe I'm here.

Anyway, just had to say that.