relaxed Catholic church? (Boise, Meridian, Emmett: chapel, school, live)

[shannonann]

Hello everyone,
I am looking for a Catholic church in the Boise/Meridian area that is more relaxed, or dare I say slightly liberal?
We just moved out here and had a similar church back home.
Any recommendations for a Catholic church in general, as always there are so many!
Thanks in advance!

[sfs08]

Originally Posted by shannonann

Hello everyone,
I am looking for a Catholic church in the Boise/Meridian area that is more relaxed, or dare I say slightly liberal?
We just moved out here and had a similar church back home.
Any recommendations for a Catholic church in general, as always there are so many!
Thanks in advance!

Do you mean liberal as in jeans and polo on Sundays? Or liberal as in pro-life?

If it's the latter, I doubt it's a true Catholic church.

[cookie88]

We have attended Holy Apostle in Meridian for the past 4 years......they have a website you can check out.

[Raleigh Parent]

Our Lady of the Rosary used to be fairly casual when we lived in Boise but I am not sure if that still holds true.

[ramenfan]

Whatever the definition of liberal connotates, you undoubtedly could not get any more liberal than going to a church that caters to gays and lesbians. A quick search of MCC's website (i.e. the worldwide church network catering to gays and lesbians) yielded one church in Boise.

I'm guessing that using the word liberal here would mean "jeans and T-shirt" but also maybe in the sense that you don't want to be lumped in with the fundamentalists. Or maybe you don't accept all of the teachings. I don't know. I consider myself a fairly liberal Christian and would use what I wrote to describe why.

As far as Catholic churches with traditional masses go, I couldn't tell you.

If you're thinking of non-denominational as well, the Calvary Chapel and The Pursuit try to keep it as friendly and non-threatening as possible. They cater to the unchurched people. They have bands to play Christian music (generally rock songs and ballads, but nothing outrageous) to keep the proceedings lively. I prefer the pastor of The Pursuit, but that's not a condemnation of Calvary's pastor.

[Syringaloid]

I have heard many Catholic friends mention that they don't care much for the masses here. I went to mass once at St. Johns Cathedral and was surprised and disgusted that children were allowed to wear shorts and t-shirts to mass, and then they sang rock religious music and it didn't seem very holy to me. It is a shame that such a beautiful building as the Cathedral allows such things, but then I haven't heard many good things about the Bishop of the diocese either.
Nevertheless, the way the Catholic Church is ran in Boise has kept me away. But, I have heard there is a traditional mass somewhere out by Emmett or New Plymouth or somewhere in that area. I keep hearing more and more people who are Catholic here want the Latin mass again.
I just don't get into the chinga chinga/guitar playing pentecostal music that is sang at most of the Catholic Churches I have been to in Boise.
There isn't even a traditional Vespers and that is sad. I even have family members who don't go to mass at the Catheral anymore because they think the diocese is too modern and tradition has been lost.

[Raleigh Parent]

As a parent with young children who attend parochial school I appreciate a more casual Mass as well as the the traditional Latin Mass. There can be room for both kinds of worship in any parish.

[jufrbo]

Originally Posted by ramenfan

I prefer the pastor of The Pursuit, but that's not a condemnation of Calvary's pastor.

Isn't it Pastor Joe? He is a good guy.

[jufrbo]

Originally Posted by Syringaloid

I have heard many Catholic friends mention that they don't care much for the masses here. I went to mass once at St. Johns Cathedral and was surprised and disgusted that children were allowed to wear shorts and t-shirts to mass, and then they sang rock religious music and it didn't seem very holy to me. .

At risk of turning this into a religious debate, the church has to change with the times, or else it will die. That is why Vatican II happened at all.

As for music it really doesn't matter what seems holy to you. It is intended for worship and as long as it is a "joyful noise" then I'm sure it is fine. The monks who used to chant 1,000 years ago would find the hymns of the 18th and 19th century too disgraceful to play in a church. I'm sure you can find a very calm church though, and if that is what you want that is fine. But the church needs to have an appeal for everyone.

But then again, I'm just a Pentacostal, who like the electric guitars and drums on the platform.

[Sage of Sagle]

I can let this stand Justin, since it does address the "relaxed/casual" idea....