A Catholic MOPS?

[bookgirl32]

I've been asked a few times by a Catholic friend of mine to go to MOPS with her. She's strongly rooted in her faith and I have no doubt that when she says that the Catholic / Protestant debates never come into it she knows what she's talking about. I just wish there were an organization that would focus completely on being Catholic. There is a small group that meets at our diocesan center (and by small I mean about three moms), but it consists of bringing some toys into a big room and letting the kids run crazy while we "try" to talk about things. Don't get me wrong, it is a great group run by great moms, it just seems like more work and stress to try to listen and have a conversation while trying to keep the toddlers out of things (it's not a child proof room), trying to keep the toddlers from crawling all over the babies and trying to keep the older ones from demolishing the toddlers who want to be with them every second. In other words, I need a group that has organized childcare while the moms do a good hour or so of "supporting" eachother.

MOPS may be my only option right now. Any thoughts?

[BlessedbyGodx2]

I don't see any issue with going to a MOPS group if you enjoy it- although I confess I don't know alot about MOPS. I have heard of them but don't know too much about what they exactly do.
Our church has something similar to yours called Mom's Connection. We meet at local parks in the summer and in the church basement in the winter months. Its not exactly child proof but its pretty large so the kids can run around and make noise and the moms can talk. Its just nice to get out. We all bring toys and snacks and meet once a month.
We also have bible study ministry, meals for post partum families, prayer through pregnancy etc etc. I think its really important to have a parish ministry for moms. Being a SAHM or even a working mom can be draining and isolating.

[Arlene]

I went to MOPS until I graduated out (when my youngest entered kindergarten). There were several Catholic moms there and it was never an issue. A chapter has to be sponsored by a church, and it depends what church is holding the meetings whether there is any Catholic/Protestant issues. Usually stemming from the sponsoring church, not MOPS itself.
I say check it out. You might find some good mom fellowship there. Get the feeling of how "Catholic friendly" it is. It may be that you end up getting your mom connection from MOPS and your Catholic connection from your parish. Nothing says you can only belong to one group.

[ALLGIRLS]

I belong to the MOPS group that my (Catholic) parish sponsors! True, the organization itself (MOPS International) is pan-denominational and most groups are protestant, there is a growing Catholic "presence", for want of a better word. There are one or two nonCatholic ladies in our group, but all of our prayers and devotionals are Catholic (we make the sign of the cross b/f all our prayers, and most weeks pray the Hail Mary at some point in the meeting). If you encounter an antiCatholic element, it's most likely the church itself (as most of the participants probably belong to that particular church or one w/ similiar beliefs), not the MOPS program. Do you have enough interest in your parish to start a MOPS group there? That would eliminate any problem w/ Catholic/Protestant animosity.

In Christ,

Ellen

[bookgirl32]

I'm wondering if there would be enough interest. I don't have a lot of confidence in my organizational skills so I would have to find some "help".