Non Catholic Catholic Church? What?

So what else should a girl at the UK do?

This is a funny experience:

As you can probably tell from reading my blog I am Catholic. I am not a saint, I don't think I am better than anyone else. I respect other religions. But yes as unpopular as it may sound I am catholic.


This post isn't published to offend anyone it was just the experience of a catholic girl in a new country, Not intended as a religious debate, nor as anything other than a telling of my adventures.


So on a Sunday morning walking thru the beautiful busy streets of London I see a catholic church! Its the first one I've seen in London so I am all excited. I can't wait to have mass!!!

So I walk in and the church looks a little bit different but hey it says it's catholic!

So I take a seat on a chair, and I wonder why there is chairs instead of pews.
again I question if it is really Catholic.

So I grab the book in front of me and read through it. It seems to have all the same prayers, even the Nicene creed is on it. I relax.

People are so nice, they smile and say hi. And then they begin sitting all around me. I notice there isn't any decoration like Catholic churches normally do. Not a statue, nor a crucifix. I find it odd but Oh well, its a new country so maybe new customs are still catholic.

Mass is about to begin, I stand start to get in to prayer and then all of a sudden I see her...the priest!

I am shocked!

I am scandalized!

I am confused!

Did Women  Catholic priest become accepted in the UK? Maybe Pope Francis passed a new law or something? Maybe I am dreaming?

I finally realize its a catholic nondenominational church.... I have no idea how this works but I realize I should leave.

But I can't I am surrounded! People are all over and the church is small there is no way to leave. I am an outsider! I am mortified! I wonder if anyone can tell that I don't belong here.

So I stay and hear a pretty interesting mass by a women priest.

I  know why is this a big deal?

For other denomination I totally respect there being women priests, or reverends or anything! GIRL POWER and all that, but as a Catholic, I believe Women play an important, powerful role. I just don't necessarily think that role is to be a priest.

Not only that but everyone was invited to have communion, as in no matter what denomination, no matter what age, no matter anything, everyone was invited as if it wasn't a big deal. Boy was this new for me!

I don't want to go in to a whole debate as to why I am catholic and why these things weren't precisely my cup of tea. I don't intend to defend my views on this platform, I don't think its the place. All I want to do is tell the funny story of wondering in to the wrong place, and feeling utterly lost.