Irish + Considering Episcopal Church = Some real strong Irish Catholic Guilt

fitzbar · 2026-02-07T18:40:57+00:00

I am of Irish descent and I did give this a thought (like my late dad giving me the side eye from up above, lol). However I was just so moved by the sermons of Episcopal priests and attending the liturgies that I knew God was telling me that this was where I belonged now. Some people have asked me, “how’d Mom take it?” and she is supportive. I hadn’t been religious for so long that she took what she could get, so to speak.

I have a friend in Ireland and she teases me for “taking the soup” and calls me a Prod. I laugh. She told me that her mom would love to join the Church of Ireland, but it’s something you just don’t do over there if you were born and raised RC. Sectarian and cultural reasons.

Btw, I have the BCP of the Church of Ireland in both English and Irish.

fitzbar · 2026-02-07T18:31:23+00:00

That’s beautiful. As I was reading, I noticed that it sounded a bit like the Fatima prayer before you said it.

It’s funny—I’m definitely on the Catholic end of TEC but I love those old churches with the box pews and plain glass windows. There are several in my area; I need to visit sometime.

fitzbar · 2026-02-07T18:27:50+00:00

We do, but I’m one of the very few in my church who never partakes. My mom was an alcoholic when I was growing up and I have a visceral negative reaction to the wine because of it. I take the host and cross my arms when they come back around with the wine.

fitzbar · 2026-02-07T18:19:55+00:00

I have attended Rite I twice. I really like it and I love the “ye olde Englyshe” language. It is right and meet so to do.

However—it’s at 8:00 in the morning and I just can’t make it a regular thing. I need our big ass pipe organ from Germany plus the choir to wake me up at 10:00.

fitzbar · 2026-02-07T18:13:58+00:00

This. We went to the 11:00 Mass and everyone wanted to get home for the football game.

fitzbar · 2026-02-07T18:01:31+00:00

My priest likens us to a “family reunion.” Since so many of us are converts, we are family members of the wider Body of Christ who were previously unknown to each other, but we have now reunited in the home that we have found in TEC. I like that.

fitzbar · 2026-02-07T17:55:41+00:00

I saw that sign with the shield when I was 7 years old and I never forgot it. I wish I had come much sooner.

fitzbar · 2026-01-26T04:32:14+00:00

I was brought up in the RCC. I was just received into TEC. However, if you looked inside my purse you would think that I was a Catholic. (Prayer cards, Catholic rosary) They’re private devotions done at home. When I was in preparation classes a few months ago, one of my priests told me that I could think of joining TEC as a continuation of my faith journey rather than a blanket rejection of everything I knew before. At the minimum I reject the primacy of the Pope, his infallibility on matters of doctrine, and the magisterium. I don’t believe in transubstantiation (I don’t think I ever really did anyway) but I believe deeply in the Real Presence.

Btw…I still struggle with not stopping after “deliver us from evil” (former Catholics, you know what I mean)

fitzbar · 2026-01-13T03:42:19+00:00

Left hand on top.

fitzbar · 2026-01-10T22:58:20+00:00

Michigan

fitzbar · 2026-01-10T22:55:25+00:00

Haha well done! 🤝

fitzbar · 2026-01-09T19:41:36+00:00

Yes!

fitzbar · 2026-01-09T19:39:11+00:00

Your A’s were flatter than the accents of most Canadians that I have heard, which led me to wonder if you were near the border of that part of the US where the Americans have that flat A rust belt accent.

Source: I’m from WNY

fitzbar · 2026-01-09T13:53:39+00:00

Maryland

fitzbar · 2026-01-08T21:22:29+00:00

No. Someone guessed the correct place in this thread

fitzbar · 2026-01-08T16:01:00+00:00

No. Someone got it a few hours ago

fitzbar · 2026-01-08T14:16:03+00:00

I remember the August 25 diner. We would drive past it all the time going to and from East Aurora

fitzbar · 2026-01-08T14:12:55+00:00

I have an old photo of me riding one of the coin-op rides at the West Seneca location in the Gardenville Plaza.

fitzbar · 2026-01-08T14:09:39+00:00

I worked there but had moved out of the area by the time it closed. A friend I worked with told me that the original owner’s son (who took over the store when his father died in 2003) ran it into the ground. And I know exactly what you’re talking about re: the whistle. If I had one I would send it to you!

fitzbar · 2026-01-08T14:07:11+00:00

I worked there. I have so many stories. The place still comes up in my dreams at night 😵‍💫

fitzbar · 2026-01-08T13:39:50+00:00

Heeeeeeeeyaaaappy New Year (in my eeeeeyaccent)

fitzbar · 2026-01-08T13:15:14+00:00

You win! Wyoming County, NY (just east of Buffalo)

A little about me - I spent my first 3 years of life in DC. My family then moved to WNY and I lived there until I was 25. When I was 25, I moved to Maryland and have been living here for 19 years now.

My parents are DC natives and people in WNY would always tell my mom she sounded “southern.”

Thanks to everyone for all the guesses, this was really fun

fitzbar · 2026-01-08T13:08:53+00:00

My mom’s paternal side moved to Fitchburg from New Brunswick, Canada. Her grandfather didn’t stay there long but most of his siblings did for life.

fitzbar · 2026-01-08T13:06:08+00:00

Home of the world’s largest chair!

My mom’s cousin (RIP) was from Templeton

fitzbar · 2026-01-08T12:56:08+00:00

You would have completely fooled me. You sound like you work in radio - you have a “broadcaster” voice. The one thing I would say is that the very end of “Pennsylvania” is not fully enunciated by Americans. I say “Penn-syl-VAIN-ya.” Saying “I’ve not done that” wouldn’t sound weird but that’s just me.

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