Nobody likes to talk about religion but here I go...

A picture of Magellan's Cross in Cebu (I take no credit for this photo)

Growing up, I was surrounded by religion from the relics, statues and Bibles littered around the house. My grandmother had her 3pm and 6pm rituals. My mother had her perfect Mass attendance and nightly rosaries. Actually it was the whole community and country in fact was dedicated to the Roman Catholic faith. When you were at the mall and the 6pm bell rang, everybody stopped for the Angelus. Going to Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation was something I (not so much enjoyed) but I did not much mind it. As the priests preached and read out their homilies, I used to feel a sense of peace and at times, inspired.

Sadly, it seems those days are long gone. When I go to Mass, I no longer feel that sense of peace. When I hear priests and pastors, I am no longer inspired half the time I feel like I am being lectured and scolded. It is becoming more of a chore then anything else. Do not get me wrong, I have faith in God, a being beyond our own comprehension, an almighty power. I keep my own personal prayers and the random 'chats' that I have. I have no idea which direction the Catholic church is going. One thing is for sure... I feel I have lost faith in the system.