Why I Boycotted Church This Easter and Why That Was OK

As a Catholic, I look forward to Easter more than I look forward to Christmas. I love the period that Lent gives me for self-reflection and to place a special focus on developing my relationship with God. I love the personal growth I get from it and the peacefulness over the six weeks. I love Holy Week; I love the long masses; I love the rituals; I love the sense of community… I just love Easter.

This year, however, Easter was a little bit different for me. I didn’t make as much of a commitment to Lent. I wasn’t at Church everyday like I normally am. I didn’t give up anything for the reflective period.

I went to Church on Holy Thursday. I stayed for Adoration. I woke up the morning of Good Friday, the biggest day in the liturgical calendar for us Catholics who take the day to reflect on the Lord’s ultimate sacrifice… But I didn’t want to go to Church. I can’t ever remember missing Good Friday mass. I’ve missed the occasional Christmas mass, but I have never missed Good Friday mass until this year.

There were a number of reasons I didn’t go. Each broke my heart more than the previous one.

My memories of Church were always centred around community. I was active in the Church from a young age; I had friends in the Church, and I was an altar server, a reader and a choir member…