Author Topic: St Marys or Post Falls (Read 12685 times)

Cantarella · « **on:** May 30, 2013, 02:30:55 PM »

Hello all,

We are finally ready to buy our first house and we are doing research where should we buy it to raise our growing family. It appears that St Mary's KS, and Post Falls, ID are both communities with big numbers of Traditional Catholics. Should we relocate there?

I'd love to hear honest opinions. Right now we live in a very secular ultra - liberal area. I understand that we Catholics should not be isolated like the Amish but militant IN the world at the front line. At the same time though, I need to find a strong Traditional community in which my children can thrive in the Faith and socialize.

Thank you!

Capt McQuigg · « **Reply #1 on:** May 30, 2013, 02:33:08 PM »

I think Spokane, WA with the CMRI and St. Michael's Academy (K-12) is an excellent choice. It should be considered alongside those other two locations.

Cantarella · « **Reply #2 on:** May 30, 2013, 02:38:21 PM »

Yes! Spokane is another option for us. Right now we live in Washington State but in the Seattle area :nunchaku:

Capt McQuigg · « **Reply #3 on:** May 30, 2013, 03:04:28 PM »

I am wondering whether I should move to Spokane, WA also. The idea of a K-12 school run by a Traditional Catholic organization sounds like a real dream come true.

Matthew · « **Reply #4 on:** May 30, 2013, 03:35:20 PM »

I would speak with some people who have actually moved there.

Obviously, with a huge number of families you're bound to find SOME friends, right?

Well, not necessarily.

It depends on how serious a Catholic you are yourself -- how anti-world, anti-liberal, etc.

A friend of mine (who agrees with me on most issues -- let's just say he's a great fit for CathInfo) moved to St. Mary's, and he told me how most of the people there have a social "wall" that goes up. They act one way in public, but few of them let their wall down so you can really get to know them.

It comes from being afraid to find out the REAL YOU. So many times, they'd make friends with a family, only to find out they're just like the families they left behind in New York, Los Angeles, or Seattle. So they get gun-shy, and just put up a defensive wall.

My friend told me that after living in St. Mary's for 4 years, he's found THREE families that were not only friend material but managed to open up to him and his family.

Oh, and did I mention that he's very outgoing, and his wife even more so? They are both friendly, social, and extroverted.

Speaking of this man, he also is so social/affable that many worldly people open up to him, thinking he's "one of them". So they invite him to their regular activities, as it were. Let's just say he's been scandalized on countless occasions. In St. Mary's.

So if you're picturing a nirvana of hundreds of serious, well-informed Catholics shunning the world and living Catholicism in their daily lives -- you might want to adjust that image now, or you might be very disappointed.

Ask Elizabeth, who moved to a Sede mecca (Cincinnati, OH) how it worked out for her. Ask if she'd do it again.

Let's put it this way -- there's a Resistance in St. Mary's, but I don't think it measures in the hundreds. It's only a sliver of the population, just like anywhere else. Those are your true, well-informed, serious Catholics who aren't sold-out, invested in, or attached to The World.

Matto · « **Reply #5 on:** May 30, 2013, 03:44:18 PM »

I have heard that it is hard to get a good job in St. Mary's.

MyrnaM · « **Reply #6 on:** May 30, 2013, 04:06:15 PM »

I moved to Spokane 10 years ago, just to be within this community and it was a dream come true for me.

Here is what I noticed about Spokane.

I feel it is the same no matter where you are within a Traditional Catholic community. The people here are all on different levels of spiritual development, so you have to take them where they are at if you want to get along. Some women insist on wearing pants around town while some would not be caught dead in them. Don't even care about that!

Some are privileged to attend daily Mass, while some seem to only be doing the bare necessities. but you can also see them growing in grace, some faster than others.

We have many social activities, especially if you have students at the school, there is plenty of work around the Mount for everyone. It isn't difficult to be in charge of a particular guild or just a member. Guilds from making hosts, to cleaning the church once a month, cooking for the priest once or twice a year, to coming together to pray the rosary at one of our planned parent buildings. Or you don't have to do or join anything.

Just like anyplace in the world, you won't like everyone, but you will love everyone here. Some people are easier to get along with than others, but isn't that the way it is even at your place of work.

My advice is: Either rent or purchase a home within a few minutes of driving time, since my own gut feeling is, in the future you might want to spend a lot more time in Church, and gas is expensive.

We have a beautiful chapel, school, park like grounds all around, and our own cemetery, what else does anyone need.

Emerentiana · « **Reply #7 on:** May 30, 2013, 05:24:13 PM »

Couldnt agree more, Myrna.

I lived in Spokane for 12 years, before moving to Montana to be close to the three children I have here. I miss Mount St Michael so much!
Remember, all, that no place is a heaven on earth. Where there are people, there are problems.
FYI, the CMRI has another wonderful parish in Rathdrum ,Idaho with a small school and a junior seminary high school . Its truly a heavenly place to attend mass and the area is less populated.
Both churches sit on the top of hills.
And, thank God, there are no terrible tornados to fear there, as there are in St Mary's Kansas. I have been watching the weather there all week, expecting to hear that one went over St Marys.

I have been associated with the CMRI for almost 50 years (will be in 2015). We have had our problems, as all trad groups do, but all in all, its been a Blessed experience!

RomanKansan · « **Reply #8 on:** May 30, 2013, 05:56:35 PM »

The Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to some Pottawatomie Indian Catholics when Saint Marys was a Jesuit mission in the 19th century and promised to protect Saint Marys from the storms that would come. So I don't think there is a tornado danger here.

(A more general assessment of the wisdom of living in Saint Marys is another topic, but we did arrive over five years ago and haven't left yet)

Cantarella · « **Reply #9 on:** May 30, 2013, 07:10:58 PM »

Well, Spokane WA is only 25 min away from Post Falls, ID, so I'd think that the whole area is very good! Lots of Traditional Catholics over there!

parentsfortruth · « **Reply #10 on:** May 30, 2013, 07:15:44 PM »

Quote from: Matto

I have heard that it is hard to get a good job in St. Mary's.

I know a family that came back to Green Bay for this very reason. Didn't take long.

Cantarella · « **Reply #11 on:** June 13, 2013, 06:24:59 PM »

My husband is a truck driver and I am pretty confident he will be able to find work in either city. We're planning a road trip to check Post Falls, ID (we're just 4-5 hours away now) on July and also we'll be going to Kansas on the fall. I can't wait to actually be in these places to be able to form an actual opinion.

Incredulous · « **Reply #12 on:** June 13, 2013, 06:54:02 PM »

Quote from: Matthew

I would speak with some people who have actually moved there.

Obviously, with a huge number of families you're bound to find SOME friends, right?

Well, not necessarily.

It depends on how serious a Catholic you are yourself -- how anti-world, anti-liberal, etc.

A friend of mine (who agrees with me on most issues -- let's just say he's a great fit for CathInfo) moved to St. Mary's, and he told me how most of the people there have a social "wall" that goes up. They act one way in public, but few of them let their wall down so you can really get to know them.

It comes from being afraid to find out the REAL YOU. So many times, they'd make friends with a family, only to find out they're just like the families they left behind in New York, Los Angeles, or Seattle. So they get gun-shy, and just put up a defensive wall.

My friend told me that after living in St. Mary's for 4 years, he's found THREE families that were not only friend material but managed to open up to him and his family.

Oh, and did I mention that he's very outgoing, and his wife even more so? They are both friendly, social, and extroverted.

Speaking of this man, he also is so social/affable that many worldly people open up to him, thinking he's "one of them". So they invite him to their regular activities, as it were. Let's just say he's been scandalized on countless occasions. In St. Mary's.

So if you're picturing a nirvana of hundreds of serious, well-informed Catholics shunning the world and living Catholicism in their daily lives -- you might want to adjust that image now, or you might be very disappointed.

Ask Elizabeth, who moved to a Sede mecca (Cincinnati, OH) how it worked out for her. Ask if she'd do it again.

Let's put it this way -- there's a Resistance in St. Mary's, but I don't think it measures in the hundreds. It's only a sliver of the population, just like anywhere else. Those are your true, well-informed, serious Catholics who aren't sold-out, invested in, or attached to The World.

Great post.
I have friends who moved there and personally I like the place.

I've heard categorizations of once you're in the community, of developing a "bunker mentality" or "island mentality".

In other words, an attitude that "Most outsiders are worldly and not serious about their faith like us".

This accusation seems to have some merit, in that St. Mary's could be called an Accordista town. The small town social pressure induces people to fall into "group think".

It would be interesting to conduct a private poll of the St. Mary's faithful to learn how many support Bp. Fellay unquestioningly. If it the results were highly weighted to Menzingen, the "bunker" claim should stick.

Elizabeth · « **Reply #13 on:** June 13, 2013, 07:39:34 PM »

Quote from: Matthew

Ask Elizabeth, who moved to a Sede mecca (Cincinnati, OH) how it worked out for her. Ask if she'd do it again.

.

:geezer: It was the mistake of a lifetime.

Cantarella · « **Reply #14 on:** June 13, 2013, 07:43:25 PM »

Quote from: Elizabeth

Quote from: Matthew

Ask Elizabeth, who moved to a Sede mecca (Cincinnati, OH) how it worked out for her. Ask if she'd do it again.

.

:geezer: It was the mistake of a lifetime.

Care to share why?