I'm glad to know that. And offer you my sympathy on the loss

of your friend, under especially sad circumstances.

Was he from a culture that might consider suicide the honorable thing

to do under certain circumstances?

Different areas and different periods of life may draw one from one parish to another.

This is how it worked out for me:

1.When children were enrolled in the parish school, that was the local parish,where other Catholic children in the neighborhood also attended. During those years the parents are usually active in various programs,- PTA, festivals, Boy & girl scouts, etc. Other parents became friends; a community is established. When children are attending the parish school, the school obliges the parents to contribute regularly and to attend regularly, inasmuch as the parish at large contributes greatly to the maintenance of the school.

The family is likely to stay with the parish they have attended while the children attend high school and even college to encourage church attendance for the family as a group.

While my spouse was ill, I often attended Mass at other churches near the facility where he resided. Time was precious and I was just glad to find a nearby church to fulfill my obligation, while still maintaining ties with my long-time parish church.

Now alone, personal convenience of time has become more important to me than which church building I visit. While I in theory would like like to attend my home parish, I more frequently attend another church which accommodates my late hours of sleeping and rising. I call it my default church - when I'm running too late to attend the church in which I am a registered member, th one with the noon Mass serves me quite well. Meanwhile, I'm still supporting my "official" parish, as my offering is withdrawn automatically from my checking account.

Isn't that the truth?!

O'Connor and Colin Powell - so often lionized as though they were perfectly respectful people.

Have a safe trip, with a little bit

of relaxing thrown in.
A change of scenery is good every now & then.

You and twin stepped up to what sounds like a real mess.

You have the consolation of knowing that you were the mature responsible one when needed.

I hope the twin is getting psychological and scientific help to realize that

he is not the same person as his suicidal brother.
A lot may be determined by whether they were fraternal or identical twins.
Fraternal twins are biologically like any other brothers. Identical twins have so much more in common, and here he may need a well-trained geneticist to explain how they are different, one twin from the other, so he will not feel that similar feelings and actions are inevitable.

I'm sorry for you and all the family in this situation.

Why are you running up your post count? nt

Yes, Christmas music in moderation - ca 1-3 per day.

Spread them out, please, so we're not overwhelmed and then nothing. Please note what will be played, so we don't waste time with ones we're not so fond of and can go directly to the good'uns.

I'm not overly fond of Gregorian chant; prefer the more melodious tones.

Thanks for sharing. I get the reference to German Catholics...

I've been around them all my life, as my area has a deep German heritage. Yes, they are quite rigid, and intent on 'rules', it seems. (Hope I'm not stepping too hard on anyone's toes.)

I'm from a more easy-going background - 1/2 American-Irish (in the US since 1820, but still grounded in Irish loyalty) and 1/2 French-Canadian, mostly, though a bit of German on both sides. I don't fret much re 'rules'; just trying to get through each day with no harm done to myself or others.

Your story is very interesting, and I'll be looking for your posts.