Hi all. Well its Friday night here and Im excited about Mass on Sunday, Im a real worry eh, dont know whats come over me. Denis dont worry Ill book myself in for that brain scan Im sure they will find the problem...

Just wanted to know if there was any support for an introduction category where we could introduce ourselves, saying a bit about who we are and where we are at with our faith.

I realise that this isnt designed as a support network but I think there is a real sense of community here and Id like to know people better. Ive recently moved to a new town (an isolated one at that), guess Im a bit lonely, even though I have quite a few friends(honestly!!) but no real Catholic ones yet. Just an idea which may or may not be popular. Opinions please

-- Courtenay (csiherwood@hotmail.com), May 17, 2002

Answers

"Denis dont worry Ill book myself in for that brain scan Im sure they will find the problem"

Unlikely. There must be a word for scanning an empty void...

-- Molson (dennismolson@hotmail.com), May 17, 2002.

"There must be a word for scanning an empty void..."

Thought you would know this one, its generally referred to as..

ATHEISM

-- Courtenay (csisherwood@hotmail.com), May 17, 2002.

Hi Courtenay:

That sounds like a great idea. I was just thinking it would be good, to get to know people here a little better. I feel I have a good sense of people's personalities here but don't really know anything about them, what they do, what part of the world they live in. Sounds great!!

Gail

-- Gail (rothfarms@socket.net), May 17, 2002.

I'm In!! Let me start:

My name is Jacob Francis Huether - Jake for short. I'm 22 years old, and engaged to be married next spring. I have known my fiance for 5 years, yet we are still virgins (probably weird, eh?). I am a "cradle Catholic", but feel blessed to have a family (mother and father in particular) who are devoted to Catholacism, not like "lukewarm". I have an older brother - who is exactly two years my major (I was born 2 months pre-mature, which put me on the same date that my bro was born 2 years earlier). I also have a younger sister. I will be the first one in my immediate family to graduate from a University (with a degree in Mechanical Engineering). I am fluent in spanish, as my fiance and her family are Peruvian (Peru is in South America - just if you didn't know). But I am North American (mother is Mexican/White mix, father is German/etc. mix).

I hope this starts us off. Thanks for the idea Courenay.

In Christ.

-- Jake Huether (jake.huether@lamrc.com), May 17, 2002.

Hi Courtenay:

It is nice to know a little bit about the folks we're in contact with practically every day. I am a stay-at-home mom and I live way out in the country. This forum is where I come to have 'adult conversation' plus everywhere I call is long distance and since that gets expensive, here I am.

My husband and I have been attending a parish for a little while now. We both come from Protestant evangelical/charismatic backgrounds, and so we are both just learning about the Catholic faith. I have been enamored with the Church for over a year now. It's been an interesting journey.

I have read a lot of Scott Hahn books. Interestingly, he debated a Protestant reformer on the Bible Answer Man (who is a Protestant apologist) and I thought Scott was excellent. In fact, I was nodding my head in agreement to everything he said and then found "He was the Catholic" So, that combined with my interest in the Apocrphya has lead me down this bumpy but exciting road to Rome!

How about you? Were you raised Catholic? I live in the conservative Midwest. What part of the world do you reside?

I wonder if it's possible to do a cyber-Bible study. Scott Hahn has some great material for Bible study on different Catholic apologetics!

Love,

Gail

-- Gail (rothfarms@socket.net), May 17, 2002.

Sorry to cut into your conversation with Courenay. But I had to confirm that Scott Hahn is a great light for Catholicism. I never thought that anyone who studied so much could have so much faith. It is usually the case that when one "questions" too much, they fall away from the faith. In Scott’s case, it actually brought him Home. I wish more people would read his conversion story - it sets straight many non-Catholic misnomers.

Thanks for your post!

In Christ

-- Jake Huether (jake.huether@lamrc.com), May 17, 2002.

Hi Jake:

You are really a very inspiring young man. God Bless You! I really appreciate young people that are so fervent in their faith. The Lord must have some great plans for you and your fiance'.

Scott Hahn is a great blessing to the body of Christ. Your insights to "too many questions" fits me perfectly. I have been so disenchanted with various doctrines in the Protestant world that contradict each other -- it can be infuriating. And at times it has been tempting to give up. I kept thinking, 'someone has to have the answer to these questions.'

I started reading the early church fathers, figuring that since they were closest to the time of Lord's life on earth, that their commentaries would be most useful. To my amazement -- I found they were CATHOLIC! Who would've thunk it! You can find traces of "Catholic doctrines" going all the way back to first, second and third generation christianity!

Wow, it gave me a feeling of security like I've never had before.

You see, in Protestantism, you are NEVER told that early church writings even exist (hmm, I wonder why). They will point you to books ABOUT the early church fathers, but not that you can actually READ for yourself what they said.

Well, better go. God Bless!

Gail

-- Gail (rothfarms@socket.net), May 17, 2002.

Hi Gail and Jake well we can have our own litle introduction forum. Firstly Jake all the best for your upcoming wedding, thats two people on this forum who are engaged to be married(Mateo is the other).

"Hail Hail the lucky ones,... I refer to those in love!"

sorry I just cant grow out of corny Pearl Jam lines but you know what I mean, congratulations and God Bless. Right time to bore you to tears with a quick bio.

Im 26 years old and live in Gisborne New Zealand on the East Coast of the North Island.

It is one of the more islolated areas in NZ and together with the far north of the country has the highest proportion of the indigenous Maori population('Tagata Whenua' or 'people of the land') at around 50%. The area is one of the poorest using a socio economic measure but has a remarable sense of togetherness and 'whanau'(extended family) in a country that is often considered the most egalitarian in the world.

I dont really know how I got here or why . My faith is a strange mix of cynicism and belief, but I think my heart has always been in the right place.At the end of the day I think I would fight and die for the Church if the need be.

I had the most exciting and loved childhood as Dad was in the army and we moved every two years throughout NZ, Austrlia and South East Asia. The eldest of six children I was raised as a Catholic but have not been a 'practising Catholic' for many years now. I hope that I have turned a bit of a corner in my life in terms of my faith and really do want to learn more so Ive come to the right place here.

I read all the posts here and still want more! I am very ignorant of the Bible and Church doctrine and theology and love hearing from the diverse posters here Brian, Jean, Chris B, Mateo, Gene, Marly Lu, Emerald, Kathy, Chris Coose, Dominic, LUG, John and many others and yes even Fred and Joan sometimes! I could do without The Mole, what a dropkick. Since graduating from Uni in 98 I worked for gold minning exploration companies in Western Austrlalia before before spending the next few years travelling and working through Asia and Europe.

Hedonistic doesnt begin to describe my behaviour and needless to say my body and mind took are rather heavy bashing over those years(it was certainly fun though).

Im a first year history/economics teacher at the local high school and as such have yet to learn to say no. As a result Im also coaching a rugby team and run a school Mountain Bike Club. In my spare time I go tramping/hunting and Im studying extramurally towards my Masters in Environmental Management. I also love my music and consider myself something of a expert in modern *'rock'* music. Remember all:

"Every hair on your head is counted, you are worth hundreds of sparrows." (From the band Sparlehorse but taken from Luke somewhere I believe)

God Bless I look forward to learning more from you Jesus freaks!

-- Courtenay (csiherwood@hotmail.com), May 17, 2002.

"Jesus freaks" 'freak' meaning someone who is right into something as opposed to just plain freaky.

-- Courtenay (csiherwood@hotmail.com), May 17, 2002.

This member has been here almost three years. Aged 57 supposidly educated but still learning to type and use a CPU. Canadian born degree in Physical Therapies Certified Pastoral Councilor in Psychiatrics Student/teacher of Classical Guitar. Post seminary student - never ordained. Poet and writer sadly unpublished.

Born Jewish converted at age 12 consider myself simple Christian.

-- Jean Bouchard (jeanb@cwk.imag.net), May 18, 2002.

Hey Courtenay:

I have got a good friend from New Zealand. How he landed in my home town, right smack dab in the middle of the mid-west in a town with the population of 80 is quite a story. But anyway he's a cool dude. What are the churches like in New Zealand? What is the largest denomination there? Graeme (my NZ friend) came from a very staunch conservative church, I can't remember which one though.

I pray that the spiritual hunger will continue to grow, and that you will come to know the grace of God in it's fullest!

Love

Gail

-- Gail (rothfarms@socket.net), May 18, 2002.

hi Gail NZ is a strongly secular society.Religious organisations, Id say it would be safe to say they have very little social or political or even moral influence at all these days. I believe The Church of England is the largest demnomination, followed by Catholic and then Methodist . The Seventh Day Adventist is also popular as are the evangalical new age churhes. I dont think the Church is as polarised as is it sounds like it is in the US.We dont have the real extremes of either end of of the spectrum(ultra liberal or ultra conservative) from what Ive seen but generally Id say we are very orthodox. I remember as a teenager a real rise in the charismatic movement but i think thats died out a bit. God bless and love Courtenay

-- Courtenay (csisherwood@hotmail.com), May 19, 2002.