What are the best [Catholic] towns to raise a family?

[CradleCatholic]

Dont forget OLHC Garden Grove

[Jadesfire20]

St. Thomas More in Irvine is rumored to be starting one, as is St. John Vianney in Huntington Beach. The Norbertine Fathers at St. Michael's Abbey still offer the Novus Ordo publically but many of the priests there celebrate the Tridentine Mass in the the private chapel there.

I have also heard the St Thomas More rumor. I was told the TLM is being offered on a trial basis one Sunday a month. The first one was done last Sunday. Let's hope they get a decent attendence so that it stays.

[DivineLiturgy_Addict]

Correction here. I meant to write St. Vincent de Paul when I wrote St. John Vianney. St. Vincent's is a good church, Fr. Jerome Karcher is the pastor there, his father was the late Carl Karcher who is probably rolling in his grave over the direction his company went after they removed him from the board of directors.

[EireItalia]

We are in Front Royal, VA, surrounded by a strong parish community (St. John the Baptist) and scores of young Catholic families. We have the Traditional Latin Mass every Sunday and some weekdays. We have Christendom College, a Dominican Convent, Human Life International, Seton Home Study School, John XXIII Montessori Atrium, Chelsea Academy and Catholic homeschool co-ops, playgroups and moms groups all in our town.

The Shenandoah Valley is beautiful and we are with a couple hours of DC, Arlington, Annapolis, Baltimore and Richmond. (Which may be good ... or not)

We love it here.

[Credo]

Um.... whatever happened to being a leaven to society? The "ghetto mentality" among Catholics isn't a good trend.

[frerejacques]

Um.... whatever happened to being a leaven to society? The "ghetto mentality" among Catholics isn't a good trend.

I've been thinking about this myself, and find it worrisome.

[winoblue1]

I think that Catholicism needs to be lived in communities, and through strong vibrant local communities, the faith acts as a leaven in society... The idea of individuals here and there going it alone doesn't work in real life,,,, the faith needs to be lived, shared and cultivated in communities, whether ghetto or not.

In fact the principle of community is ingrained in our concept of the Church, as salvation is dependent on a community life, receiving the sacraments from a priest means one is bound to participate in community life..... even Catholic hermits need to come together regularly for the sacraments... so community life is essential to share, maintain and spread the faith.

[remnant]

I think that Catholicism needs to be lived in communities, and through strong vibrant local communities, the faith acts as a leaven in society... The idea of individuals here and there going it alone doesn't work in real life,,,, the faith needs to be lived, shared and cultivated in communities, whether ghetto or not.

In fact the principle of community is ingrained in our concept of the Church, as salvation is dependent on a community life, receiving the sacraments from a priest means one is bound to participate in community life..... even Catholic hermits need to come together regularly for the sacraments... so community life is essential to share, maintain and spread the faith.

+1. I am planning on (God willing) moving closer to the chapel I attend so that I can go every Sunday and participate some. As it is, I leave without even getting coffee from the hall as I have almost a 2 hr drive home.

[dakotamidnight]

ahh but none of these are in texas - and I can't leave my beloved texas.

[frerejacques]

In fact the principle of community is ingrained in our concept of the Church, as salvation is dependent on a community life, receiving the sacraments from a priest means one is bound to participate in community life..... even Catholic hermits need to come together regularly for the sacraments... so community life is essential to share, maintain and spread the faith.

I'm not saying don't have a community, I'm saying don't be insular.  Tradition should be lived, but out in the open and within mainstream society and in a way which makes TLM and all of the other wonderful things accessible to anybody who's interested and curious and might like to get involved.

[gjwalberg]

I can see a real appeal to living in a solidly Catholic town.  The city doesn't have to be exclusionary (and shouldn't be!), but I can see why people need to lock arms together to keep the Devil's work at bay.  And I bet the block parties are AWESOME.

Like how the Hasidic Jews have strong neighborhoods in Bourough Park and Williamsburg in Brooklyn.  I can totally see the advantage in a Catholic town.

[Robhaidheuch]

Um.... whatever happened to being a leaven to society? The "ghetto mentality" among Catholics isn't a good trend.

Exactly what I was thinking.  I know it is hard to protect one's family from the onslought of secularism, and corruptive influence, but surrendering to a siege mentality can have negative effects.  The children of such Catholic communities, when they have to encounter wider society, may be ill-prepared for the cultural shock, feel overwhelmed, and possibly succumb to bad influence because of a misguided and exagerrated sense of being perceived as eccentric, and thus try to gain social acceptance.  Living in an anti-Catholic modern society can often have the positive effect of hardening up a positive Catholic attitude by the growing awareness that one is involved in a life and death battle for the Truth.

[StevusMagnus]

I can see a real appeal to living in a solidly Catholic town.  The city doesn't have to be exclusionary (and shouldn't be!), but I can see why people need to lock arms together to keep the Devil's work at bay.  And I bet the block parties are AWESOME.

Like how the Hasidic Jews have strong neighborhoods in Bourough Park and Williamsburg in Brooklyn.  I can totally see the advantage in a Catholic town.

I agree with gj!

[Credo]

The idea of individuals here and there going it alone doesn't work in real life

You're right this it's not necessarily optimal, but it does indeed work.

Ever hear of William Wilberforce? He was a Methodist (had he lived a generation, I think he would have become Catholic), and he changed English social and political culture for the better in the course of his life. Amazing story actually.

[winoblue1]

Well the story is amazing, but it is partly amazing because he did it on his own. My comment was referring to regular, non amazing Christians that need the help and support of community, (in the absence of the supports of the Catholic state) to help create conditions where one is encouraged to virtue and discouraged to vice.