I’m both overjoyed and deeply hurt by my own experiences with FOCUS. No doubt this is an excellent and value add to our Christian community. Really only able to speak to my local experience, I’m hopeful that over the past ten years that the newer missionaries have fostered a more open and honest community.
I’m both overjoyed and deeply hurt by my own experiences with FOCUS. No doubt this is an excellent and value add to our Christian community. Really only able to speak to my local experience, I’m hopeful that over the past ten years that the newer missionaries have fostered a more open and honest community.
The missionaries that discipled me taught me how to go deeper in prayer and I’m grateful for that, but they also shoved me deeper in the closet with some highly judgement statements that made me realize I’d be discarded by my friends if I didn’t fall in line, and the lack of maturity and confidence in my own Catholic faith led me to accept the very rigid daily life they prescribed for me. Truth, in the sense I was taught, doesn’t mean being totally open about everything but instead being open about a few things. My priest spiritual director, who was a chaplain at one of these FOCUS schools, asked me many inappropriate questions and coached me on how to talk to the vocations director & hide my sexuality from him.
Recognizing the good that FOCUS is doing, as evident in this article, it has nevertheless made me realize it’s time for me to finally go share my local experiences with the diocese this year. Otherwise voices like mine will never count.
I’m both overjoyed and deeply hurt by my own experiences with FOCUS. No doubt this is an excellent and value add to our Christian community. Really only able to speak to my local experience, I’m hopeful that over the past ten years that the newer missionaries have fostered a more open and honest community.
The missionaries that discipled me taught me how to go deeper in prayer and I’m grateful for that, but they also shoved me deeper in the closet with some highly judgement statements that made me realize I’d be discarded by my friends if I didn’t fall in line, and the lack of maturity and confidence in my own Catholic faith led me to accept the very rigid daily life they prescribed for me. Truth, in the sense I was taught, doesn’t mean being totally open about everything but instead being open about a few things. My priest spiritual director, who was a chaplain at one of these FOCUS schools, asked me many inappropriate questions and coached me on how to talk to the vocations director & hide my sexuality from him.
Recognizing the good that FOCUS is doing, as evident in this article, it has nevertheless made me realize it’s time for me to finally go share my local experiences with the diocese this year. Otherwise voices like mine will never count.
God bless you.