As I stood on playground duty today, looking up at the "Heritage Building" at school, and the church, I was struck by the crosses on the roof.
I swear I was also watching the kids, I can multi-task...be on duty and day dream...I'm good at that!
The crosses struck a chord with me because I was hit with a very forceful realization that I love being 'A Catholic'.
I do not for one moment profess to be a 'Good Catholic' (and only Catholics will really understand what that means).
I never went to a Catholic school. But until I left home at 18 I went to Mass with my family every weekend.
I did go to a Catholic teachers' college...now it is a university.
It was called McAuley College way back when I was one of its students.
Now it is Australian Catholic University...or ACU.
And that was the first time in all of my schooling that I felt at home.
It was a perfect fit for me.
I finally felt like I fitted in.
I'd never felt that before.
And in every Catholic School that I taught at thereafter (six so far) I've felt the same thing.
I belong.
I fit.
I'm home.
I don't go Mass every weekend anymore.
But I do love being in the church.
Being Catholic is a huge part of who I am.
I may look like a part-time Catholic.
But on the inside, I'm 100% full-time Catholic.
And I'm very proud of that.
Very nice Thea!My girls were raised catholic and went to a catholic private school from kindergaten to 12th grade.My husband was catholic.Iam a greek orthodox so I was raised in the greek church.
ReplyDeleteYour blog was refreshing to hear,many people wont touch religion but I think if its not a soap box message its good.
Blessings!
That sounds like a wonderful experience you had today which led to this blog post. I get everything you said.
ReplyDeleteIt keeps us grounded and real to acknowledge what we feel in a public space like your blog.
Have a wonderful Friday. You did it-2weeks!
ps I hate playground duty because I am too cautious
I've only ever worked in Catholic or Christian schools (currently Uniting Church) and I love it too.
ReplyDeleteWorship services at school are one of the highlights of my week.
:-)
Yay Thea I LOVE it too! I think we're all part time Catholics in a way though, and that's ok ;)
ReplyDeleteI also often send a thought up via the crosses on the church roof while watching my kids on the school playground - so nice to know I'm not the only one.
I grew up catholic and attended Catholic Kinder to Year 12. Until I was quite an older child around 10 or 11, I actually just thought that everyone was Catholic.
ReplyDeleteI have great memories of my schooling years and understand your comments.
But, I am sending my eldest off to the State Primary next year.
What a lovely post, Thea. I'm sorry I missed it (I've been so busy and absent from the online world lately)!
ReplyDeleteYou know what? I don't think there is such thing as a 'Good Catholic'. I know a lot of Catholics, and I don't know any who are. We all have our faults and some of us choose to take different things from our religion (as I do), and I think that's okay.
I think it's the community of the Church that makes it such a great experience. Yep - it needs changes, but essentially, all the ingredients are there.
xxx