Parish Switch

Jeremy and I have very recently switched parishes.  During Catholic Schools week here in town, we had a discussion about where we wanted to send Anna to school.  The answer was easy.  But the parish we were attending gives their parish money to one of the other Catholic schools in town. 

So we talked about switching, primarily for that reason.  We want Anna to go to Mass in the same parish that she attends school in.  It just makes sense.

However, today I was reaffirmed in one of our other reasons for doing so.  Most of our friends go to this parish.  We didn't really have friends who were our age and our stage in life that we saw reguarly at Mass at our old parish.  Obviously the reason we go to Mass is for the Eucharist.  However, a big part of my church experience as a child was the fellowship.  We, as children, actually looked forward to Mass each week.  We looked forward to seeing our friends at Mass.  Most of our relationships as children were built around what we hold most sacred as Catholics.  And I want that for my children as well.  We just weren't getting that at our old parish.

Now Anna will see all of her little friends each week, attending Mass.  It's so important to surround yourself with holy people to make yourself holier.  I want to surround my daughter with other children whose parents strive to make them holy as well. 

There are other reasons, including the awesome Adoration Chapel at our new parish, it's the parish I grew up in, the one my parents still attend, it's more conservative overall, and multiple others.  And we're happy that we've made the switch, it has been good for our souls :-).