Conservative Catholic Parish (Chicago, Oak Park, Washington: condo, how much, high school)

[jen4sox]

Looking for a conservative Catholic parish in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. Any suggestions? Have been to St. Hubert, Holy Family, St. Matthew so far. Help! All are way too progressive for us.

[sandwalk]

wow.

[jen4sox]

Wow? Do you have a suggestion?

[sandwalk]

how progressive is too progressive for you?

[jen4sox]

I want a church that sticks to Catholic doctrine and doesn't cater to Cafeteria Catholics. I want a church that doesn't condone disrespect by teens showing up to do a reading in low rise jeans and a belly shirt. I want a church that puts more emphasis on forcing me to hug my neighbor during the sign of peace then teaching and explaining Catholic beliefs and how being a Catholic coincides with current events. The churches I mentioned are nice, but were more about donuts and hugs. I want a solid staff of priests and lay people dedicated to teaching more religion and less politics. Your response would lead me to believe you think the suburban churches are conservative. Are you Catholic?

[jen4sox]

I meant does NOT put emphasis on hugs, sorry.

[linicx]

I understand where you are coming from. When my friends - who do not live in Chicago - faced this same problem, they opted out of the modern church and now attend Latin Mass on Sunday. You might look into that. The following is not meant to be offensive. The only other option I know is Greek Orthodox which is also the Catholic Church.

[CarolL]

Well, it's not the northwest suburbs, but Our Lady Immaculate, on Washington Blvd. and Ridgeland Ave., in Oak Park, has Latin mass, requires women's heads be covered, and does not permit casual clothing (women and girls also cannot wear pants in the church and must wear skirts that cover their legs). The church also has a school, very small number of children, though, who are taught by nuns (in black habits).

Not sure how much hugging is going on (but I know what you mean about that).

[sandwalk]

i was raised catholic....although i do not practice it any longer. i always preferred the more progressive aspects of the church while I was in high school....we had a more "folk-like" aspect for weekly mass....acoustic guitars, tambourines, etc. and more lively music, the priest would interact with us during the sermon/homily by asking for opinions/questiong, etc......this always made going to church more fun and interesting, and less boring. just my opinion, though

[sandwalk]

^and my school/parish wasn't in a city or suburban setting....just a smaller semi-rural city of about 17,000 in northern Ohio. I always thought they did a good job of trying to relate to younger people and try to keep religion interesting...