Jessie, if you feel badly for your friends because they have misunderstood our Catholic faith, you should pray for them. Maybe they are lost sheep, and we should pray that they will find their way back to God.

When you are ready and have the courage, perhaps you can try meeting up with your friends again. I know it's not easy because they hurt you, but by offering love and kindness, you might end up helping them in the end. The sheep may be so lost that they won't know to come to God. Perhaps they need to see another sheep on the road, then they will follow. If they don't come, don't chase after them. This will only drive them further away. All you have to do is stand your ground, but do it with a smile.

Who knows if this will work. But at least we have to try. I think this is what Jesus would want us to do. It is the hardest to try to love the people who hurt us. That's why I think our journey as Catholics will never be smooth or easy. But who would want to walk down a flat and straight path all the time? That would be so boring! =)