9 things Irish-American families did every Sunday in the 1970s and 80s that cost nothing and built the kind of loyalty that modern family life struggles to replicate - Silicon Canals

"Every single Sunday, we were in those pews at St. Brigid's. My brother and I would try every excuse in the book. Stomachache. Homework. Death itself. Didn't matter. My mother would just look at us and say, 'You'll feel better after.' The thing is, it wasn't really about being holy. Half the neighborhood was there, and afterwards everyone would stand around outside talking."

"It was an anchor for the week. You knew where everyone would be Sunday morning. You knew Mrs. Sullivan would ask about your grades. You knew Mr. O'Brien would slip you a quarter for helping him carry something. That shared ritual created accountability. If you missed Mass, people noticed."

The author reflects on childhood Sunday mornings filled with family togetherness, shared meals, and community rituals centered around attending Mass at St. Brigid's church. These weekly gatherings served multiple purposes: they anchored the week, created accountability within the community, and fostered deep loyalty among family members. The author contrasts this with modern family life, where children are scattered across different schedules and commitments, making it difficult to maintain the same level of connection. The piece emphasizes that these rituals cost nothing financially but built invaluable social bonds and a sense of belonging that money cannot purchase.

Read at Silicon Canals