Maria Kruger, Plettenberg Bay – In response to Mary Bowers Wake up to stop the loss of Catholics , yes, visiting parish priests could bond us together on a more intimate family level.
When Mrs Bowers talks about her parish priest as her second father, I can share this: I was born in a priest’s house after World War II and lived there until aged five.
We Catholics can learn a lot from our Protestant brothers and sisters. They show real interest in and love for each other, and socialise and befriend one another. We should also become real friends, not just people who recognise each others’ faces “from church”.
My third point is the Eucharist. How on earth can people even contemplate going to another denomination when only we have the real body of Christ? That is the reason why I could never leave.
It does not matter whether I like the hymns or how many individuals in the Church do horrible things. Nor does it matter if I like the homily or even if I understand each word the priest utters.
It would be nice if we could rid the Church of all that irritates or angers us. But the fact is…we can’t.
Yet we have the Eucharist—the most glorious miracle of all!
Let it change us to be kind, forgiving, understanding and generous. We don’t have to like everyone but we do have to love everyone.
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