Catholic Info
Traditional Catholic Faith => Catholic Living in the Modern World => Topic started by: AMDGJMJ on August 12, 2023, 05:58:01 AM
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We are hoping to create a web-page and turn the Flyer and Sign-Up docuмents into PDFs for better access, but here is the basic information for anyone interested in coming to the Traditional Young Adults Group Meet-Up in Virginia this year:
I will try and post updates in this thread for those interested. All events will take place at the farm this year to keep things simple with the new baby.
SAINT RAPHAEL MEET-UP 2023
For Young Single Adults (18 – 40)
Will be held this year on the weekend after Thanksgiving:
Friday, November 24th – Sunday, November 26th
Plans include games, hiking, a rosary walk and more.
For additional information please contact:
(Contact info inside the docuмents themselves)
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SAINT RAPHAEL MEET-UP FORM 2023
Friday November 24th – Sunday November 26th
Name ______________________________
Age _________________
Phone ___________________________
Number______________________________
Email ________________________________
Address_______________________________
Please check meals you plan to attend:
Friday Dinner - 6 pm Saturday Breakfast - 9 am
Saturday Lunch - 12 pm
Saturday Dinner - 6 pm
Sunday Lunch - 12 pm
Sunday Dinner - 6 pm
If you have any food allergies, please list them here:________________
__________________________________________________________
The price to attend the event (all meals included) is $150 per person.
Payment is due at time of registration.
If you need to cancel and let us
know ahead of time we will refund you.
Lodging and transportation are NOT automatically provided.
If any women are interested in sharing an Airbnb for Friday and/or
Saturday, please contact us.
CONTACT INFO:
(in the docuмents)
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Sounds like fun
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Sounds like fun
Hopefully it will be. :cowboy:
A few things to add:
1. Deadline for registration is October 24th.
2. Any women wanting to have a place to stay should contact us by September 24th so that we have time to find suitable accommodations for them.
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Bumping this specifically for any women wanting free accommodations. Deadline to RSPV for that is September 24th (less than a month away).
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My brother and I are thinking of attending. Two questions though: is this going to be in Front Royal, Virginia? And what are the Sunday Mass options in the area? As long as there is a valid Sede Mass or an SSPX chapel serviced by a validly ordained priest, I'll be good.
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My brother and I are thinking of attending. Two questions though: is this going to be in Front Royal, Virginia? And what are the Sunday Mass options in the area? As long as there is a valid Sede Mass or an SSPX chapel serviced by a validly ordained priest, I'll be good.
#1: Yes, the event is being hosted in Front Royal, VA.
#2: There are two Mass options for those attending the event.
We attend Saint Athanasius with Father Ringrose which is located about an hour from Front Royal. Father Ringrose holds a position similar to sede-privationism. Sunday Masses are at 7 am, 9 am and 11 am. Most people who attend the event usually go to the 9 am Mass.
Address:
9201 Leesburg Pike
Vienna, VA 22182
There is also a local SSPX chapel in Linden. Father Wiseman and Father Carlisle are SSPX ordained who usually offer the Masses and Sacraments there. So far as we are aware they have only sent valid priests from the VA seminary to the Mission there.
https://fsspx.today/chapel/front-royal/
(https://fsspx.today/chapel/front-royal/)Please let us know if you have any more questions.
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We have had several people ask us this, so I am placing the answer here for everyone who might want to know.
Q. If I am single and not currently interested in getting married or if I am already in a courtship may I still attend the event?
A. Yes to both cases. One of the primary purposes for this event is to support traditional Catholic young single adults who are isolated and who would like to meet other traditional Catholics to help them make solid traditional Catholic friends who will help them to persevere in and keep the Faith.
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We have had several people ask us this, so I am placing the answer here for everyone who might want to know.
Q. If I am single and not currently interested in getting married or if I am already in a courtship may I still attend the event?
A. Yes to both cases. One of the primary purposes for this event is to support traditional Catholic young single adults who are isolated and who would like to meet other traditional Catholics to help them make solid traditional Catholic friends who will help them to persevere in and keep the Faith.
Along similar lines, are you aware of any such social meet ups or web sites for older, unattached folks? At 67, a life-long single, I’m not looking to get married, but sometimes it gets tiring being the Lone Ranger Catholic! I attend Mass every other week in summer and once a month other times at an independent sede house chapel where I don’t speak the language of the people. It’s very difficult making friends not only because of the language barrier, but because I drive nearly three hours one way. There are no traditional Catholics near my home and moving to Canada or anywhere is not an option for the foreseeable future.
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Along similar lines, are you aware of any such social meet ups or web sites for older, unattached folks? At 67, a life-long single, I’m not looking to get married, but sometimes it gets tiring being the Lone Ranger Catholic! I attend Mass every other week in summer and once a month other times at an independent sede house chapel where I don’t speak the language of the people. It’s very difficult making friends not only because of the language barrier, but because I drive nearly three hours one way. There are no traditional Catholics near my home and moving to Canada or anywhere is not an option for the foreseeable future.
I don't know of any specific to older single people but the CMRI have their Fatima Conferences every year in August. I would like to go to that one day. 🥰
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Seraphina, your idea is a good one, and our situations are somewhat similar. While these young people gatherings are a great idea, and I'm replying to give AMDGJMJ a bump to the top of the list, the need you express is real. PM me if you'd like to discuss further.
Let me put my thinking cap on and see what happens. If it's something online, I recommend that it be in LARGE PRINT.
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We have had several people ask us this, so I am placing the answer here for everyone who might want to know.
Q. If I am single and not currently interested in getting married or if I am already in a courtship may I still attend the event?
A. Yes to both cases. One of the primary purposes for this event is to support traditional Catholic young single adults who are isolated and who would like to meet other traditional Catholics to help them make solid traditional Catholic friends who will help them to persevere in and keep the Faith.
I spent "plenty" of time single -- I didn't get married until I was 28 1/2 -- so I will be forever sympathetic to the single.
Plus I have a good memory, so that long period of time is still quite accessible in my brain. It feels more recent than it was.
Anyhow, my point --
My first thought is, "How will you know who is available for pursuit?" I remember very well wanting to know this, in every situation. If I went to an event like this when I was single, I would certainly be annoyed to find a bunch of great young ladies -- all in serious relationships (i.e., courtship, they have a boyfriend, they're not "looking").
So you might want to give some thought to either personal introductions, maybe even a simple "Yes/No I'm looking for a spouse" because let's face it, it's a real desire/need for many. Why pretend? And it's a large part why many young people travel to attend these events. I would go so far as to say you need to make sure their introductions state whether they'd invite attention from the opposite sex -- or not. Because, again, it's the elephant in the room. Yes, friendship is great. But the big desire and big priority for many youth is finding a spouse and getting married. I don't blame them. If it's honorable marriage they're after, then who can criticize?
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Anyhow, my point --
My first thought is, "How will you know who is available for pursuit?"
I'm not Irish but Claddagh rings (https://theirishjewelrycompany.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/9287033509517-Frequently-Asked-Questions-About-Claddagh-Rings) can show a person's availability, as it were, according to how these are worn:
On the right hand with the heart worn outwards, it indicates that the wearer is single and available for courtship. Worn on the ring finger of the left hand with the heart outwards it shows that the heart is occupied, but not yet married. Worn on the left ring finger with the heart facing outward symbolizes an engagement. Worn on the left ring finger with the heart facing inwards the Claddagh Ring declares that the wearer is married.
AMDGJMJ, I'm not saying to get Claddagh rings for all the attendees. But there could be some sort of color-coded system of wristbands or nametags, maybe optional to wear as each person wishes.
As for me, I'm echoing Seraphina and Fifteen Decades Daily! ::)
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Seraphina, your idea is a good one, and our situations are somewhat similar. While these young people gatherings are a great idea, and I'm replying to give AMDGJMJ a bump to the top of the list, the need you express is real. PM me if you'd like to discuss further.
Let me put my thinking cap on and see what happens. If it's something online, I recommend that it be in LARGE PRINT.
That makes sense especially the LARGE PRINT. 😅🤣
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I spent "plenty" of time single -- I didn't get married until I was 28 1/2 -- so I will be forever sympathetic to the single.
Plus I have a good memory, so that long period of time is still quite accessible in my brain. It feels more recent than it was.
Anyhow, my point --
My first thought is, "How will you know who is available for pursuit?" I remember very well wanting to know this, in every situation. If I went to an event like this when I was single, I would certainly be annoyed to find a bunch of great young ladies -- all in serious relationships (i.e., courtship, they have a boyfriend, they're not "looking").
So you might want to give some thought to either personal introductions, maybe even a simple "Yes/No I'm looking for a spouse" because let's face it, it's a real desire/need for many. Why pretend? And it's a large part why many young people travel to attend these events. I would go so far as to say you need to make sure their introductions state whether they'd invite attention from the opposite sex -- or not. Because, again, it's the elephant in the room. Yes, friendship is great. But the big desire and big priority for many youth is finding a spouse and getting married. I don't blame them. If it's honorable marriage they're after, then who can criticize?
Great suggestions! Thank you, Matthew!
We have been thinking of having introductions on Friday evening where everyone stands up and gives a short description of themselves and some of their hobbies. Maybe that would be a good time to mention if they are currently open to courtship.
We really appreciate any tips people can share. All for the greater honor and glory of God! 😇🙏
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I'm not Irish but Claddagh rings (https://theirishJєωelrycompany.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/9287033509517-Frequently-Asked-Questions-About-Claddagh-Rings) can show a person's availability, as it were, according to how these are worn:
On the right hand with the heart worn outwards, it indicates that the wearer is single and available for courtship. Worn on the ring finger of the left hand with the heart outwards it shows that the heart is occupied, but not yet married. Worn on the left ring finger with the heart facing outward symbolizes an engagement. Worn on the left ring finger with the heart facing inwards the Claddagh Ring declares that the wearer is married.
AMDGJMJ, I'm not saying to get Claddagh rings for all the attendees. But there could be some sort of color-coded system of wristbands or nametags, maybe optional to wear as each person wishes.
As for me, I'm echoing Seraphina and Fifteen Decades Daily! ::)
I LOVE Claddagh rings!!! And... I am Irish to boot... We actually met Father Chazal while visiting distant relatives in Ireland about 5 years ago. 😅
Neat idea for the nametags! Maybe we could add a sticker "open to courtship" on the name tags or would that be weird?
Seraphina and Fifteen Decades Daily, I was thinking earlier that you both should exchange phone numbers. 🥰
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Great suggestions! Thank you, Matthew!
We have been thinking of having introductions on Friday evening where everyone stands up and gives a short description of themselves and some of their hobbies. Maybe that would be a good time to mention if they are currently open to courtship.
We really appreciate any tips people can share. All for the greater honor and glory of God! 😇🙏
A couple points --
1. Some people (especially ladies) can be very shy on this topic. That's why you need to make sure it doesn't get left out. BUT
2. I think it would be best to go for SUBTLE, again, because a good feminine woman will be bashful about advertising herself. So I think "open to courtship!" would be too forward for some (many?). I think something more like a color code, the border around the nametag, or something.
3. I should also add -- this color code is for the benefit of those seeking spouses AND those NOT seeking spouses. Both types will be interested in some kind of system, subtle but effective, to let everyone know who is available/interested in romantic attention -- and who is not.
4. There's also the phenomenon that many people aren't open to love/marriage until they meet the right person -- then they totally change their mind. So you don't want to force them to commit to a person they are unaware of, who doesn't exist to them yet. It's kind of like going against nature. Just let them think they want to stay single. So you have to be careful how you word it -- I mean, how you ask them "are you open to courtship?". Now that might actually be a good way (the best way?) to ask the question; I'm not shooting it down. I'm just throwing this point about human nature out there.
There are a ton of different ways to accomplish this, I'm sure.
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Maybe we could add a sticker "open to courtship" on the name tags or would that be weird?
Something clear but subtle like a green dot, as in "green light" might work, so long as none of the fellows are color-blind. Or some other little sticker with an obvious meaning? A little heart or rose or such. Anybody up on medieval flower symbolism?
Another idea for the more shy/hesitant attendees would be to print in tiny typeface on little mailing labels that people could add to their name tags if they want, similar to car bumper stickers: "If you can read this, you're too close!" (Just a joke there, or maybe not! :laugh1:)
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Something clear but subtle like a green dot, as in "green light" might work, so long as none of the fellows are color-blind. Or some other little sticker with an obvious meaning? A little heart or rose or such. Anybody up on medieval flower symbolism?
Another idea for the more shy/hesitant attendees would be to print in tiny typeface on little mailing labels that people could add to their name tags if they want, similar to car bumper stickers: "If you can read this, you're too close!" (Just a joke there, or maybe not! :laugh1:)
I like this idea, e.g. green dot.
Maybe like traffic lights: Green for totally open to courtship, red for "not interested", and yellow for those like Matthew said: "There's also the phenomenon that many people aren't open to love/marriage until they meet the right person -- then they totally change their mind."
Just kidding! (except about the green dot idea)
Also, I got a chuckle from Soubirous' bumper sticker comment. :laugh1:
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A couple points --
1. Some people (especially ladies) can be very shy on this topic. That's why you need to make sure it doesn't get left out. BUT
2. I think it would be best to go for SUBTLE, again, because a good feminine woman will be bashful about advertising herself. So I think "open to courtship!" would be too forward for some (many?). I think something more like a color code, the border around the nametag, or something.
3. I should also add -- this color code is for the benefit of those seeking spouses AND those NOT seeking spouses. Both types will be interested in some kind of system, subtle but effective, to let everyone know who is available/interested in romantic attention -- and who is not.
4. There's also the phenomenon that many people aren't open to love/marriage until they meet the right person -- then they totally change their mind. So you don't want to force them to commit to a person they are unaware of, who doesn't exist to them yet. It's kind of like going against nature. Just let them think they want to stay single. So you have to be careful how you word it -- I mean, how you ask them "are you open to courtship?". Now that might actually be a good way (the best way?) to ask the question; I'm not shooting it down. I'm just throwing this point about human nature out there.
There are a ton of different ways to accomplish this, I'm sure.
Good points!!! Thank you!!!
And I like the idea of something more subtle. We don't want to make things awkward for anyone. :cowboy:
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Something clear but subtle like a green dot, as in "green light" might work, so long as none of the fellows are color-blind. Or some other little sticker with an obvious meaning? A little heart or rose or such. Anybody up on medieval flower symbolism?
Another idea for the more shy/hesitant attendees would be to print in tiny typeface on little mailing labels that people could add to their name tags if they want, similar to car bumper stickers: "If you can read this, you're too close!" (Just a joke there, or maybe not! :laugh1:)
Oo! I like that idea of a mini-emblem or green dot. Maybe a little mini Holy Family sticker? :popcorn:
And lol... That is a hilarious but great idea about the "small print"!!! :laugh2:
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I meant to write a reminder here this past Sunday but forgot...
If there are any young women who are interested in coming to the event who would like a free place to stay, please let us know by this Sunday September 24th.
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I like this idea, e.g. green dot.
Maybe like traffic lights: Green for totally open to courtship, red for "not interested", and yellow for those like Matthew said: "There's also the phenomenon that many people aren't open to love/marriage until they meet the right person -- then they totally change their mind."
Just kidding! (except about the green dot idea)
Also, I got a chuckle from Soubirous' bumper sticker comment. :laugh1:
This is why it's sad that old-timey courtship signals fell out of favor. Use of fans, flowers, even hats for a lady to let others know they could approach or not. Even demure maidens could flirt!
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This is why it's sad that old-timey courtship signals fell out of favor. Use of fans, flowers, even hats for a lady to let others know they could approach or not. Even demure maidens could flirt!
Oh! Yes! You just gave me a great idea! Maybe a pinned flower to be a sign of open for courtship would be nice.
I remember from visiting in Hawaii that single girls wear flowers on the right side and girls who are spoken for wear flowers on the left (sort of like our standard for rings).
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Just throwing out a reminder to any of the ladies interested in having a free place to stay for the event to please contact us by this Sunday, September 24th.
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There are less than 3 weeks left for registration for anyone interested in signing up for the event.
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For any men from Michigan or Northern Ohio interested in the event:
There is another man from the area looking for someone to travel with and share traveling expenses.
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For any men from Michigan or Northern Ohio interested in the event:
There is another man from the area looking for someone to travel with and share traveling expenses.
Wish I could help, but I'm coming up from western North Carolina. I'd be willing to let others carpool with me if they're relatively close to I-77 or I-81 since that's the way I'll be heading up.
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Wish I could help, but I'm coming up from western North Carolina. I'd be willing to let others carpool with me if they're relatively close to I-77 or I-81 since that's the way I'll be heading up.
I am going to send you a PM. :cowboy:
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Two weeks left for registration. :cowboy:
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Today is the final day for registration for anyone interested.
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Praying this weekend for all involved.
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Praying this weekend for all involved.
:pray:
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The prayers are appreciated! Thank you! 🥰
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It's a shame you couldn't post some pics of the event -- even if just group shots, keep them lo-resolution (so you can't zoom in to see fine details, people can't easily be identified, or printed out in poster form for someone's wall)
I'm thinking promotional material for next year. I know you're not making money off this, so it's completely legitimate to want this to succeed. And I'm sure everyone who attended this year wanted this event to succeed -- both 2023 and in the future.
And I know the purpose of the gathering to have fun with fellow Catholics and make friends (not just to find a spouse) but I'm sure those who go home without a spouse picked out will want this to succeed next year and bring even more (and different) people -- you know, to increase one's chances for all the above.
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It would be really cool if you post how many people turned up to the event, the male to female ratio and the average age. I'm really curious to see what the turnout would look like for a traditional Catholic youth meetup like this. ::)
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It's a shame you couldn't post some pics of the event -- even if just group shots, keep them lo-resolution (so you can't zoom in to see fine details, people can't easily be identified, or printed out in poster form for someone's wall)
I'm thinking promotional material for next year. I know you're not making money off this, so it's completely legitimate to want this to succeed. And I'm sure everyone who attended this year wanted this event to succeed -- both 2023 and in the future.
And I know the purpose of the gathering to have fun with fellow Catholics and make friends (not just to find a spouse) but I'm sure those who go home without a spouse picked out will want this to succeed next year and bring even more (and different) people -- you know, to increase one's chances for all the above.
We were so busy hosting and keeping everything going that even though we did intend to get pictures, we did not have a chance to get any.
I guess that is just the way it works out when someone hosts an event who has little children. Even when we had friends watch the two older boys we still had to pick them up, drop them off, and we still had the baby with us the entire time.
Some of the people who came took pictures and said that they could share them with us but we have yet to receive any from anyone. :popcorn:
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It would be really cool if you post how many people turned up to the event, the male to female ratio and the average age. I'm really curious to see what the turnout would look like for a traditional Catholic youth meetup like this. ::)
Without including us:
We had 21 people last year.
(Ages 17-34)
12 men
9 ladies
We had 18 people this year.
(18-35)
13 men
5 ladies
In general most people are in their 20's. There have been a few in their later teens or early 30's
There were 6 more ladies who were tentatively signed up to come this year but who could not make it. From what I understand this was primarily due to the event being hosted during Thanksgiving weekend. Some of the ladies couldn't get off work because of "Black friday" and others were not able to find reasonably priced airfare.
We are planning to host the event in the summer next year when it is not around a holiday so that those who could not make it last year will be able to come. We are still working on pinning down an exact date.