Our Lady of Fatima Parish Mission — Attraction in Phoenix

I left this church in tears because I felt chased away. Some background on me, I am a Catholic that is used to Tridentine Masses (Traditional Latin) where the women wear chapel veils. That is my preference and it feels disrespectful when people dress casually at Mass. I am also from out of state, from a cold environment, and not accustomed to the summer heat of Arizona. I was in town for a funeral (non-catholic) and was visiting this church the night before for a vigil mass. This was a one overnight trip and I only brought one set of clothes that had to serve as my clothing for airport travel, Mass, and standing outside for hours in Arizona heat. I was wearing dress pants (I would normally wear a dress) and a blouse with wide straps BUT no sleeves, the edge of my shoulder was showing. Some young man stopped me at the entrance to the church and told me I had to cover my shoulders. He brought me back outside and gave me a scrap of cloth to wear that was not even an actual shawl and who knows who wore it before me. While I can appreciate Vatican rules, this was very poorly executed. The way it was done felt like a humiliation ritual, like I was being marked as an outsider that's hasn't been to church. You should be so thankful that I was not a returning Catholic or someone who was going to church for the first time. I understand the idea of seeing that standard, but the way this was handled was so poorly done I couldn't stay for the Mass and had to drive to a different church. I am writing this because you could have chased away someone that didn't know better and made them feel rejected, out of place, and unwelcome in church. You made me feel unwelcome. There are so many new people seeking God right now and I would hate for them to experience what I experienced here. I prefer wearing a chapel veil, but I would never force someone to wear one in order to enter a church. You need to seriously evaluate how you practice this standard before you do someone the harm of scaring them away from the...

Hard to find but it's the most peaceful and safe place to go. Had the pleasure and honor 🎖 to meet with the order of Maria Teresa 😀 lady's, I always wanted to meet her but time and money 💰 didn't allow it. It was the greatest surprise of my life, they are beautiful and kind there was no criticism, or judging or any unkind of any sort. The best experience that would last a lifetime and then some. It's hard to explained something so amazing, I can't imagine anything better. The lady's some of them had been to Puerto Rico 🇵🇷 and the culture that many have no idea 💡,what it is or what we are all about. from our beautiful African culture to our history it was refreshing, they have been all over the United States of America 🇺🇸, and abroad. They blessed me with her book 📖 and a picture 📷 of her there work is for free and most importantly willing to help anyone. I thank God for allowing me to experience this. I didn't want to leave, and go back to town and see and hear the brutality of the world, even though I had to. When you are around positive well intended loving and helpful people w good intentions is hard to not be there. There were 👩 ladies 🚺 from all...

+JMJ...Paid a very brief visit to this Church. Doors were locked but was able to take a few photos of the front yard and of the outside of the shelter home called "Gift of Mary" run by the Missionaries of Charty. These are a religious order of women founded by Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta. For the love of God and neighbor, the Missionaries of Charity work with the the Bishop to provide for the spiritual and material needs of the poorest of the poor. Hope to be able to visit again and find the Church open so as to enter into a prayerful...