1 /5 Mike: The church itself is absolutely beautiful, but we were very disappointed by an upsetting experience today. Our family of five is new to attending Sunday Mass—we’ve recently made the decision to go for the sake of our children. This was my first time in a church in 20 years, so I was feeling a bit lost and just wanted to quietly observe and get comfortable.
As we sat down, an usher approached and asked if we’d like to present the offering. Our daughter struggles with anxiety and is very shy, and with such a large congregation present, we knew it wouldn’t be a good idea—especially since we ourselves were unsure of the process. We politely declined and explained that we were new.
The usher, an older Hispanic woman, continued to insist—in Spanish—and became pushy and rude. When we again declined, she said, “The Holy Spirit is watching,” and followed it with, “I guess you don’t mind disappointing the Holy Spirit... just know that God heard you say no.”
I was stunned. That kind of judgmental, condescending attitude is exactly why many people—especially younger generations—turn away from church. Its the opposite of what Christianity is supposed to represent. After that experience, we’ve decided not to return to this parish and will be exploring other Catholic churches in the area.
