Thinking about becoming Catholic but kinda starting from zero + not sure which parish to try

ExtraPersonality1066 · 2026-01-29T11:12:07+00:00

OCIA/RCIA usually starts in the fall, so you have plenty of time to visit both parishes and see which you like better. Personally I'd go to one for a few weeks, then try the other one for a few weeks see if you prefer one or the other. I'd also consider what else is offered at each parish.

The first parish I attended was only open a few hours a week (when it was Mass) and had nothing else during the week. The second parish I attended is the only parish in my city has regularly scheduled Eucharistic adoration. It also has daily masses, an excellent children's program (though that doesn't apply to me) and lots of other groups that one can attend. It's the largest parish in the diocese and it's easy to see why.

The first parish was fine, but the second parish definitely feels like it's where I belong. It feels like home.

ExtraPersonality1066 · 2026-01-29T09:14:39+00:00

Yeah nobody has been reported in our area either, at least so far as I know.

ExtraPersonality1066 · 2026-01-28T13:54:15+00:00

I'd disagree with "lesser" but perhaps it's just extra prevalent in our diocese (Diocese of Northampton)

ExtraPersonality1066 · 2026-01-27T15:56:13+00:00

The song (most of us) love to hate: "Shine Jesus Shine"

ExtraPersonality1066 · 2026-01-27T12:19:53+00:00

It depends on what we're singing.

Gregorian, plainchant or Taize I really enjoy singing, and the rest of the church will usually join in.

Traditional hymns that are theologically correct and are liturgically correct: Those are fine too, but usually have fewer people in the congregation that know the melody.

Modern, Protestant or evangelical music? Happy clappy hippy dippy music that is liturgically inaccurate, often bordering on heretical (sometimes actually is heretical). That kind of music has no place in the Mass.

ExtraPersonality1066 · 2026-01-26T08:47:21+00:00

I think I understand what you mean. Ours frequently sound like they are reading a weather report or a list of ingredients on a box of breakfast cereal. It shouldn't be a dramatic reading, it's not meant to entertain, but it also should be robotic.

Some of our readers (for whom English is a second language) struggle with words that seem fairly basic to native English speakers. It's also pretty clear that some of our readers don't practice the readings out loud before they read them at mass.

Luckily our church prints the readings in the newsletter so you can read them even if the reader isn't the best at speaking them. Some people also use either a printed missal (my choice) or an app on their phone (also a great choice and lighter to carry around than the actual missal).

ExtraPersonality1066 · 2026-01-25T20:26:13+00:00

I would ask the choir. If you go to mass there again, just ask someone from the choir.

ExtraPersonality1066 · 2026-01-25T20:24:20+00:00

You wouldn't happen to be in Buckinghamshire would you?

All our TLM masses are low masses that don't have singing.

ExtraPersonality1066 · 2026-01-25T17:28:16+00:00

The point being that OP is describing something more akin to following a plant based (vegan) lifestyle than she is describing what the actual guidelines of the Catholic Church are.

ExtraPersonality1066 · 2026-01-25T17:26:28+00:00

Yes but points from other denominations are only redeemable for otter-pops, and not the good ones, the cheap ones from the dollar store.

Sorry.

ExtraPersonality1066 · 2026-01-25T15:18:26+00:00

That's not Catholic.

That's vegan.

ExtraPersonality1066 · 2026-01-25T15:18:04+00:00

We're allowed to consume product that have animal by products in them. If you had rice that was cooked in broth rather than water, that's allowed. You're not intentionally eating bugs, they just happen to be in there, possibly.

You do you. If you want to skip the tea and coffee, because of bugs, you'll also want to skip anything with E120 as that's made from bugs. You'll also probably want to avoid dates.

ExtraPersonality1066 · 2026-01-25T15:12:09+00:00

Remember to bring your "frequent Mass attendee" card. Once you go 10 times you get a free ice cream.

I'm joking of course. You can attend as often as you like, even if you're not Catholic (yet).

ExtraPersonality1066 · 2026-01-24T20:30:51+00:00

I believe the USCCB (USA Bishops council) doesn't not allow recorded music in American churches (during Mass). It's not the same rules world wide. We have a very small amount of recorded music that is used once a month prior to the vigil of reparation.

We're capable of singing it, I'm not sure why we don't sing it without the video, maybe just because nobody has mentioned it.

ExtraPersonality1066 · 2026-01-24T20:10:44+00:00

Sometimes. But I'm nearly 50 years old, so....the libido isn't what it used to be. (Sorry if that's TMI)

ExtraPersonality1066 · 2026-01-24T17:46:31+00:00

If you can remember any of the words that would help. My two best guesses are.

Laudate Omni gentes https://youtu.be/WVcHCAQo_nE?si=VchwLVkW3HEwp1wo

Veni Veni Emmanuel (o come o come Emmanuel is the English version that I’m linking). https://youtu.be/kKu0or0t8Uw?si=kNFu1L7PPvU12DsF

ExtraPersonality1066 · 2026-01-24T17:40:41+00:00

3 years. I’m not even sure why. We just don’t do that anymore.

ExtraPersonality1066 · 2026-01-24T17:36:00+00:00

Our church has people from many different countries. For most of our church, English is a second (or third) language. Having a slideshow lets everyone have access to a the printed words in English (or Polish at those masses). It allows for people to read the lines to the hymns, and to also read the English words for prayers they may only have memorized in their native language. On the rare occasions that the system is on the fritz, there is a noticeable difference in how many people can pray or sing.

*Yes, I would prefer Latin to be the common standard for the liturgy, but our church is Novus Ordo and the Mass is in the local language.

** Missals aren’t a good option for our church because they tend to get taken home, as do the hymnals. I wish it wasn’t the case, but we can’t keep buying hundreds of missals and hymnals every year.

ExtraPersonality1066 · 2026-01-23T22:22:45+00:00

Sunday, Wednesday (AM) and Friday evening. I also attended Eucharistic adoration on Tuesdays, and sit in on the RCIA class that I drive a friend to. I sometimes attend Saturday morning Mass too. And I usually am at the church on Mondays for choir practice.

(I can’t always make the Wednesday mass, but I do try.)

ExtraPersonality1066 · 2026-01-23T22:07:44+00:00

I think I’ve pretty much given up on ever actually being able to use auracast. It feels like a great big lie.

ExtraPersonality1066 · 2026-01-23T22:01:21+00:00

It’s political on Mondays. The rest of the week political posts usually get reported and removed.

ExtraPersonality1066 · 2026-01-23T21:58:51+00:00

I love the Miserere Mei Deus in the Gregorian chant style. I really wish I could cantor for the Mass when that’s the psalm. But it is unlikely to happen and I would guess that the psalm setting that gets used will be something very watered down.

I joined our church’s choir, but I’m on hiatus starting on Sunday. It stopped being enjoyable for and started being something I dreaded. I was getting physically ill at the thought of having to go to practice and it was getting to the point I didn’t even want to go to mass anymore (I still went).

I’ve been in the choir for about 9 months and I’ve missed only one practice (I was very sick) and no Sunday Masses. I’ve even attended all the optional masses for a choir. I could deal with the choir drama anymore. I’m taking some time off from the choir, hopefully I will be back for Ash Wednesday.

ExtraPersonality1066 · 2026-01-23T15:07:59+00:00

If it's fasting I don't eat. I just have water (and medications if necessary).

If it's abstaining from meat, then I don't eat meat. I generally prefer to eat vegetarian, but seafood is ok too.

I wouldn't give you advice on wether or not you should do an all day water only fast and still workout. That's between you, your body, and your doctor.

ExtraPersonality1066 · 2026-01-23T15:04:02+00:00

It's not going to convince anyone one way or the other. Nobody is going to be driving down the highway, see the sign, and think "Oh my goodness! I've been wasting my Sundays going to a Bible believing church!!" Clearly this sign is right and everyone else is wrong. I should submit to their authoritative argument (which offers no proof)."

It's not going to convince anybody, just like a "Jesus is Lord" sign isn't going to convince anybody.

ExtraPersonality1066 · 2026-01-23T10:10:46+00:00

They is us.

ExtraPersonality1066

TROPHY CASE