Community Longing

Every since we moved to Virginia over a year ago, I’ve been searching around, trying to find my place in this big city. We came from the thriving “Catholic Disneyland” of Notre Dame, where we were surrounded by budding Catholic families, ample fellowship, playdates galore for the kiddos, and faithful encouragement. My Catholic faith soared as I shared weekly Bible studies with 8 other women and had regular community with like-minded believers, gals walking the walk and talking the talk.

Before that, we were amidst military life and other couples starting out in marriage. I sought solace in the companionship of other women who were in the same realm in life. They were women of great faith–their prayers got them through fearful nights while their husbands were away. When the hubbies returned, we baby boomed with the best of them as we all began to welcome children into our folds.

Before that it was Princeton, land of the academically rigorous and spiritually devoted. We praised and worshiped. We prayed and communed. We retreated and sought solemnity like I had never seen before. My faith came alive for the first time on my own. I became Catholic.

You could say I’ve been spoiled. Everywhere I’ve been in the last 12 years of my life has served to be a ready-made group of faith-filled individuals and spiritual community. I’ve never had to work for it. God provided and I accepted, readily.

I am desperate for something like Kat described in her last post–some sort of Catholic grouping of women with whom to commune, relate, and lift up spiritually. I’m at a loss. It’s not that such things don’t exist in my world right now, it’s merely that at this time with children as young as mine, it’s harder for me to reach out and take advantage of different possibilities. God is definitely meeting me, loving me, and challenging me like never before as I seek His Will raising these little angels of mine. But boy could I use some faithful encouragement! Our church currently has a women’s ministry that meets in the morning without childcare and our little one naps during that time. I have joined our local MOPS chapter, which has been a HUGE answer to prayer, but I desire more…

How do you find Christian community in your world? Have you started a group on your own or reached out to join something already established? I would love your suggestions and insight as I seek to add a little faithful flavor to my day to day. Blessings!