Woke up to my mom listening to online mass

Disclaimer: This is not to promote Catholicism, but to show that there's hope for the misguided boomers still stuck in the INC cult.

This morning, I woke up to the Agnus Dei part of mass and found my mom watching downstairs. Never have I thought this will ever happen in our home, but I'm all for it.

To give context, my mom was born into the cult, my lola and lolo and their families were INCs. My father converted to marry my mom to avoid spiting 7 of her older siblings. I remember my mom being active early on in our lives but being a career woman, she had to choose between abandoning the cult or being present but humiliated for not being able to be present at all times. My siblings and I were never indoctrinated, despite countless attempts from relatives.

Time went on and one day we had a talk about her affairs when she dies, saying how she didn't want to go through a church on her interment. That led to our first talks about religion. We both got to ask questions about each other's religion without judgement or drama. This required acknowledging that she was born into her religion and was not exactly raised to recognize what was right, normal and just.

My mom recalled how belittling the politics was especially to poor families like theirs. Her earliest recollection of her annual contributions summing up to 3000 Pesos as a kid, although not really benefitting from it. I thought of how much their family of 9 would've earned in contributions. I then learned about ministers, whose jobs can't be further away from that of corrupt politicians. Earning their living from hard-earned money of the people, feeding their family with what could have been other poor families' savings.

She told me about how depressing their sermons were, how it's always about suffering, repentance and the importance of obedience. Then compared them to Fr. Jowel's homilies, which she has been binge-watching at the time, how much more peaceful, enlightening and empowering they were. She appreciated that there was no negative pressure, that it was relevant and that she felt heard and understood, instead of berated. She also asked me about saints, and why we worshipped them, and so I told her about what the saints represent, what their roles are, and the tedious process it takes to even be considered. She asked about the churches, why they don't look appealing on the outside, so I explained how it is literally the opposite of INCs'. I explained why we acknowledge Mary, why have fees for conducting the sacraments (esp marriage), etc.

This morning, I was surprised to hear Agnus Dei as I head downstairs and it's not even Sunday. She told me how the mass is so wholesome. Now she tells us whose feast day it is, what the homily for today was about and most of all recites Hail Mary's which I find outstanding considering how the INC ironically doesn't even acknowledge 'Cristo's Mother'.

Takeaway is, there's hope. With the right communication and a shit ton of understanding for the opposite party, we can educate others.