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Mar 25th, 2025
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 20
Junior Member
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Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 20 |
Could you pray for me? I am caught between two worlds, neither of which fully embrace me. I am American and alone in faith, no one in my family, except a cousin, practices their Catholic faith anymore. In the eastern churches I am questioned about pedigree, and excluded because I only speak english. In the west, I am just a strange Catholic who crosses herself backwards.
How can I find a spiritual advisor in the east, when our priests are too busy.
Please pray for me to find my spiritual home.
Thank you
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 64
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Posts: 64 |
+Glory to Jesus Christ!
Glory to Him Forever!
Lord have mercy!
Sharon, I will pray for you!
In Christ,
God bless you,
Liz :-)
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 392 Likes: 1
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 392 Likes: 1 |
Dear Sharon,
I see you live in New York City. Have you ever attended St. Michael's Russian Catholic Church? It is fully eastern liturgically, but the members are ethnically diverse. The people are wonderful there and don't care what your ethnic background is. I will keep you in my prayers.
In Christ,
Anthony
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 20
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Junior Member
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Posts: 20 |
Liz and Anthony,
God Bless you for your prayers, I am most grateful.
Anthony, in fact I was planning on Vespers at St. Michaels this evening.
Thank you both so very much, I will remember you in my prayers.
Sharon
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 64
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Posts: 64 |
+Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory to Him Forever! What a great idea, both of you!  I don't even remember whether or not that suggestion ran through my mind...maybe I was being silly! I'm sure you will enjoy St. Michael's, Sharon! God bless you, Liz :-) [ 01-19-2002: Message edited by: Liz ]
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,191 Likes: 3
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,191 Likes: 3 |
Rose,
You wouldn't happen to be the RoseofSharon who used to post on Catholic Convert are you?
Dan Lauffer
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,775
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Posts: 1,775 |
Dear sister RoseofSharon, may the Lord guide you where He will. And, may the Lord also give you a peaceful soul and a heart filled with love of God and your neighbor.
Blessings!
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 37
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Posts: 37 |
Chin up! I ask that the prayers of St. John Chrysostom will guide you. I know the feeling of being cast out. Since being immersed into the Eastern Christian world, I believe I have come to have "Greekophobia." Please don't misunderstand, some Greeks I know are wonderful, but there are a handful in my parish who make it very hard for converts (mostly Norwegian & Irish), and for Slavs and Ethiopians who have joined the church. When I was still Roman Catholic, I never found anyone who shared my interest in Eastern Christianity, so I understand how you feel misunderstood by both sides. Forgive my babbling.
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 118
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Posts: 118 |
Originally posted by Mikhail: Chin up! I ask that the prayers of St. John Chrysostom will guide you. I know the feeling of being cast out. Since being immersed into the Eastern Christian world, I believe I have come to have "Greekophobia." Please don't misunderstand, some Greeks I know are wonderful, but there are a handful in my parish who make it very hard for converts (mostly Norwegian & Irish), and for Slavs and Ethiopians who have joined the church. When I was still Roman Catholic, I never found anyone who shared my interest in Eastern Christianity, so I understand how you feel misunderstood by both sides. Forgive my babbling. Brother Mikhail, If only a handful of Greeks in your parish are a p.i.t.a.(but not the kind you eat!), would you give some thought to being only half a "Greekophobe?" Just kidding God bless and prayers for Rose: May the Paraclete be your Companion along the way. FG [ 01-20-2002: Message edited by: Free Greek ]
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 20
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Posts: 20 |
Thank you all for your prayers and your very, very kind replies. I believe your prayers were heard.
Father is helping me to assimilate, he has been a blessing from God.
I am learning to pray the office according to the eastern tradition.
(p.s. I am roseofsharon of COL)
Thank you all and God Bless You!!
Sharon
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,196
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Sharon,
From another convert Sharon, I can understand where you are right now. My grandparents (at least one set) DID come from the Carpathians, but they were all Jews. There are some folks who still believe that your value as a person in the Church depends upon the zip code your grandparents came from. Those are the folks who truly and earnestly believe that we baptize in the name of the pierogi, the holupki and the pysanki. Pray for 'em.
It can get mighty lonely being the sole Catholic in the family, and even lonelier being the only Easternish type in a sea of RCs. BTDT. 'taint any fun, but I can truly say that with perseverence, it it can serve to make your faith stronger.
Meantime of course, pray like crazy, and continue to seek your spiritual home.
I'll pray too - we Sharons have to stick together.
In Christ,
Sharon
Sharon Mech, SFO
Cantor & sinner
sharon@cmhc.com
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 20
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Posts: 20 |
Dearest Sharon,
Your sense of humour is truly a gift, I laughed so hard, sitting here alone, my cat looking at me though crazed more than usualy...
"we baptize in the name of the pierogi, the holupki and the pysanki. Pray for 'em."
Thank you for your words of wisdom and courage to persevere. God Bless You,
another Sharon
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