Author Topic: Traditional Catholic Networking (Read 3679 times)

copticruiser · « **on:** February 18, 2012, 11:44:29 PM »

Im Trad Catholic I get excited meeting like minded Trads online or in person. We have a guest cabin so when there are ANY traveling my doors swing WIDE open. The advantages are catholic discussions and meeting of new people. A once complete stranger becomes a new aquaintant over a meal and discussion.

So How Many Of us are open to doing this sort of thing?

I was just imagining opening a directory (kinda like a bed n breakfast) and finding a few small handfuls of such Catholics thoughout Canada and the USA. Wouldnt it be neat if you were travelling through Canada and you spent 1 day with a trad family. Or if someone was going through one of the 52 states and had time to stop in and visit a trad family along the way?

This idea is in my head for the simple fact that:

A The Catholic Church is in a Crisis
B There seems to be a Remnant type church evolving and Id personally like to know where to find them
C Except for Forums like these where are ALL the CATHOLICS?
D I also hate to see great single Catholics just pray for a spouse instead of meet one
E The mennonite around here live in communities and it is so rewarding and nice to see

Birds of a feather flock together. It reminds me of the Underground Railroad to Canada. All those faithful Americans hiding and providing for those poor Blacks to try to get them across the border. We need such open hearts and hospitality.

When I first moved to ( I call it menonite land) I was impressed that whenever I stopped at any particular familys place (just like a JW) even though they knew me not they offered me lunch or dinner and engaged in charitable conversation even though they knew I was a gung ho Trad Catholic. Maybe part of it was they had never encountered a Catholic Family that LOVED to speak about the faith and valued the same morals they did. Anyways these strangers quickly became friends because of their hospitality and time for us.

Maybe you guys in the US are spoiled. Maybe there are so many trad cath that you see them all the time. I guess with a pop of 300million vs 30million your odds are greater. Still if I could know 20 families instead of 5 I would still go for it. I find people are a gift and souls are whats important. I have learned much on this forum in such a short time. My only desire though is to meet some of you in a more personal way.

Gotta run its late but give us your honest opinion appreciate the feedback

Your friendly Canadian

Telesphorus · « **Reply #1 on:** February 19, 2012, 12:13:01 AM »

I'm going to a wedding in Texas this summer. Maybe I could meet up with Matthew.

copticruiser · « **Reply #2 on:** February 19, 2012, 12:30:05 AM »

ok I better cover my bases a little. So if your at odds with someone maybe just keep it to phone or internet. I think personally I would come up with some sort of screening process to make sure I know who it is whose coming for dinner.

Thats why something like this requires a little bit of practical parameters and safety nets. I know recomendations help alot. Like the family we didnt know did in fact attend a SSPX church in their hometown so we knew the same mutual priest. Which helps alot.

I picked up a hitchhiker once with the kids in the van while crossing our local ferry. Before I allowed myself to endanger my kids or myself I did ask the local ferry workers if A they knew him B is he safe? The answer was oh yeah been around for years so I took the local vehicaless hitchhiker and we had the greatest talk all the way to town and my kids were super quiet. LOL Then the poor guy ended up dying a month later (alcohol) but the kids and I remember him bowing his head down in prayer before I started the vehical. Now whenever we think of the poor guy the kids and I say a Hail Mary for the repose of his soul. So stuff happens for a reason.

Catholic Samurai · « **Reply #3 on:** February 19, 2012, 01:50:42 AM »

Quote from: copticruiser

. I think personally I would come up with some sort of screening process to make sure I know who it is whose coming for dinner.

That won't be necessary.

If ya ever see a hurst pull up into your driveway being driven by a Tejano feller (looking kinda like the guy in the avi), with two hyper dogs in the back seat that look like Cerberus and a polar bear, you'll know for certain it's me.

Catholic Samurai · « **Reply #4 on:** February 19, 2012, 03:09:40 AM »

It sounds to me like what you want to do is turn your house into a kind of Trad Social Center or a network of "Catholic" rest-stops.

But would this be something exclusively for Trads or would you be catering to non-catholics too? I think the latter would be difficult unless they were referrals from a non-catholic friend you trusted. I can't think of any other way to do that at the moment.

*Deleted. I'll just save the rest for later. It's late. Like where you're going with this.

Caraffa · « **Reply #5 on:** February 19, 2012, 06:01:45 PM »

Actually, this is close to something that I was thinking about the other day; that is, the possibility of having a Cathinfo meet-up at some point.

MaterDominici · « **Reply #6 on:** February 19, 2012, 07:50:06 PM »

Quote from: Telesphorus

I'm going to a wedding in Texas this summer. Maybe I could meet up with Matthew.

Quote from: copitcruiser

I think personally I would come up with some sort of screening process to make sure I know who it is whose coming for dinner.

Thats why something like this requires a little bit of practical parameters and safety nets. I know recomendations help alot.

I await your list of references. :wink:

ServusSpiritusSancti · « **Reply #7 on:** February 19, 2012, 08:54:38 PM »

Quote from: Caraffa

Actually, this is close to something that I was thinking about the other day; that is, the possibility of having a Cathinfo meet-up at some point.

That would be awesome. I'd love to meet you guys. :cool:

Sigismund · « **Reply #8 on:** February 19, 2012, 10:14:42 PM »

I mean no disrespect and am very fond of you but I like to keep the real world and the internet separate.

copticruiser · « **Reply #9 on:** February 21, 2012, 03:17:06 PM »

Quote from: Sigismund

I mean no disrespect and am very fond of you but I like to keep the real world and the internet separate.

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f Sorry I cannot relate as I live in one world I cannot the separate the two as I am the same both online and offline. I could see it a problem though for those who have false identity online then it would be hard to face the reality of real people finding out who you really are. (Not saying this is you)

As the world keeps turning us Catholics can take advantages of some of these modern technologies, dont you think? Catholics could only travel at the rate of a horse, now I can go visit Rome by plane or hop on a bus and listen to Michael Voris etc

The internet gives you access to an entire world of hopefully Trad Cath. If I had to rely on my average community for stimulating minds, fiery faith, and holy example Id have little or no faith (being that Im out in the wilderness).

This just aint 1950 anymore where Catholics looked, dressed and acted like Catholics , clergy included. Never heard of no RAPPER PRIESTS back in those days. Another topic yeah I know they had their issues but my goodness take a good look around at OUR issues.

Nah Im greedy. So when I had absolutely no clue about large families and I knew I would eventually have one. I cornered every large family out there and had ears like DUMBO. When I wanted to perfect my gardening skills I did the same thing. Hung out with the gardeners.

So when I have an appetite for simple, wholesome, real, worth their weight in gold traditional catholics I will scoop up their emails, plan a visit or two 5 years from now to the USA, and feel good that the NO are not the norm for Catholism and there is no such thing as being Slain in the Spirit or talking in tongues while in mini skirts and hands waving in the air.

Thats where Im coming from if you wanted to know :roll-laugh2:

Matthew · « **Reply #10 on:** February 21, 2012, 05:24:06 PM »

Quote from: Sigismund

I mean no disrespect and am very fond of you but I like to keep the real world and the internet separate.

Yes, I suppose there is no common ground possible between "the real" (such as yourself) and "the unreal" which apparently describes myself and other members here.

As a man who would be single today had I not used CatholicMatch.com as a means to find my spouse, I'm a bit offended by your smug assertion that the Internet is somehow not made up of real, flesh and blood individuals.

In fact, you have me scratching my head as to HOW you manage to fit into the world so well that you're able to eschew Internet friendships. I, for one, can't find many other serious Catholics in my area -- at least not anywhere close to my age or state in life.

If I stuck to "the real world" it would be me, my wife, my 4 children, and my mother-in-law. Occasionally, we see my wife's father and her 2 brothers. Besides Church, those are the only people we see on a monthly basis. I hope you're not compromising too much on your choice of friends.

The Internet is no more than a "phone book on steroids" which can be used to reach out to people in a way that wasn't possible 50 years ago. It can be used for evil or for good.

Traditional Catholics today are dispersed to the four winds -- without the Internet most of us would have few (if any) friends. Water seeks its own level. For the serious (as opposed to worldly) Traditional Catholic, there usually isn't much "friend material" at the local chapel. There are usually a few really good apples at each chapel -- the rest are lukewarm and/or worldly. That doesn't make for many close friends, does it.

The success of CathInfo and other Traditional Catholic fora shows the need that is out there for Traditional Catholics for find others on the same wavelength.

s2srea · « **Reply #11 on:** February 21, 2012, 06:49:16 PM »

Great points Matthew. To prevent any dandruff from that head scratching, I think that Sigismund has the benefit of having a son who is a Byzantine priest. I also think that he is in the older generation of CI posters around here, and may not think like someone who was willing to meet his wife on the internet. I mean, he may indeed have 'thought' about what that'd be like, but may never have been in the same position as holy minded, and marriage intended, trads are faced with today. So I don't think its an issue of the type of friends he's keeping, only that he (objectively) would have no need for the meeting of other trads in real life because

(1)- He has exposure to the Byzantine Rite, where most of us here are Latins; that being said, I believe the Byzantine is the most preserved of all Rites, though not without its problems and liberals. He may have no need, because of the relatively preserved Rite (please argue about this point somewhere else) he belongs to, for interaction with other like minded souls. I'd imagine he just comes on here to get an idea of the goings on's withing one spectrum of the Catholic Church. And since he's being considered for the Deaconite, it would be useful for him to have an understanding of how many in the Latin Church view the Crisis; he has a different paradigm than the majority of us, and this is why he disagrees with much of what's written here.

(2)- His age. I'm not saying someone who is older would never want to meet people (IRL) he's meet virtually, but I think there's definitely less inclination for those older generations to do so; hence the seemingly pointless, "keep the real world and the internet separate", which i think is common for many people, but abundant amongst the older generation, though not exclusive to it.

ServusSpiritusSancti · « **Reply #12 on:** February 21, 2012, 06:54:16 PM »

I agree with Matthew.

If it wasn't for CatholicInfo and the internet, I wouldn't have ANY Traditional Catholic friends. That is one reason of many that I'm glad I found this forum.

Heck, if it wasn't for the internet, my mother wouldn't have found Traditional Catholicism, which means I wouldn't be a Traditional Catholic either. To say you want to separate a Traditional Catholic forum from the real world is quite a head-scratcher.

copticruiser · « **Reply #13 on:** February 21, 2012, 08:04:34 PM »

:scratchchin: So glad to hear that from all of u concerning traditional catholic exposure and friendships. These meeting places are awesome but I do realize not all of us are honest online but I do think the majority is.

Anyone have any rules or guidelines they can share concerning families or friends who want to connect via this forum. Im sure if Catholic match . com services can do it so can this site.

Personally I love just chatting with the dozen or so trad catholics Ive met even the sedes are interesting and I can see their point of view at least the attraction for the conservative consistent catholic church is the same.

But it is always a possibility in the future to go beyond the keypad and meet these wonderful active catholics. For the short term I have wonderful sincere protestant friends who are still relatively new but just so much enjoy our meaningful conversations and feel a closeness with wanting to do the right thing and serve our Lord. Unfortunatly Im no Apologist so in friendships name I share and so the pressure is off.

But to have a real live traditional catholic family or families where we could do a potluck, vacation, wedding invite etc that would be soooooo nice. I do have one caution as me myself personally can maybe over romantize the whole idea. But are traditional catholics very much on the same page spiritually? Morally? Practically? All I have to go by is a few priests and my husband. So not much to compare too. I do hope and pray that if we go by the old catholic teachings and follow her that it should be for the most part high compatibility.

Second day of lent. The eastern right always starts after cheesefare sunday. (ukrainian catholic) So gonna try to get some more spiritual food this lent. So much to learn and apply so little time to do it in.

Your Friendly Canadian :boxer:

Jitpring · « **Reply #14 on:** February 21, 2012, 08:12:21 PM »

Quote from: copticruiser

one of the 52 states

I'll give you a pass though since you're a Canadian.

At any rate, I like your idea.