Baptized Catholic Returning To The Church After 30 Plus Years - What Now?

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Revert2015

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Hello All -

I was baptized as an in infant into the Catholic Church. I received my first communion, was an altar boy for a while, attended church now and then with my family, and fizzled out by the 5th grade.

I spent 30 plus years wandering in the wilderness, which involved drug and alcohol abuse for 16 years. By God’s grace I recovered and have been sober now for over 11 years. Sobriety involved being a part of a pentecostal church, and then to a couple non-denominational churches after that. A very bad experience at one of those left me angry with the church, which turned into me turning away from the church altogether. I explored other faiths for two years, including zen buddhism and new age. After some dark stuff began to happen with my dabbling in zen and new age, I came running back to Christianity with my tail between my legs. I tried the “softer” side of Protestant Christianity, checking out UCC churches, Presbyterian, and Episcopal churches. FINALLY, after much prayer and discernment, I have found my way back home to the Catholic Church. I finally have zero doubt that this is where I belong and it is a HUGE relief, both for myself and my wife.

All that being said (which was probably too much info), I am in the middle of a move so I haven’t been able to really become a member of a parish yet. That is my intention, as it is to go through the process of officially returning to the Church. I guess I’m just wondering what do I do next? What steps can I take to embark on that journey of sanctity? I’ve never been a very devout Bible reader, though I very much would like to be. Any recommendations there? Is Lectio Divina a helpful way to become a disciplined Bible reader? Any good Catholic commentaries?

And what’s the whole thing about a Spiritual Director? I hear that’s strongly recommended for Catholics. I guess any suggestions for how a freshly returning Catholic can implement structure into his daily spiritual walk would be greatly appreciated. THanks so much!
 
I was away from church for a long time, returning close to 3 yrs ago. I recall there being so many questions in my mind about the Catholic faith…

Yes, finding a parish and a priest is important start. you might call and make appointment with the priest which allows more relaxed time for your questions and his guidance.

Books/Holy Scripture : a Catholic Bible… the Gospels I started with St John.
books written by Saints, there is an abundance.

Bishop Robert Barron has a beautiful series DVD and study guide titled Catholicism, I think one of the best. He has website called word on fire and many you tube videos free.

just a few suggestions from me, but there are some very friendly folks on CAF with knowledge and experience, hopefully will pick up on your thread.

Peace and Good to you! welcome back 🙂
 
LoveMercyGrace said:
I was away from church for a long time, returning close to 3 yrs ago. I recall there being so many questions in my mind about the Catholic faith…

Yes, finding a parish and a priest is important start. you might call and make appointment with the priest which allows more relaxed time for your questions and his guidance.

Books/Holy Scripture : a Catholic Bible… the Gospels I started with St John.
books written by Saints, there is an abundance.

Bishop Robert Barron has a beautiful series DVD and study guide titled Catholicism, I think one of the best. He has website called word on fire and many you tube videos free.

just a few suggestions from me, but there are some very friendly folks on CAF with knowledge and experience, hopefully will pick up on your thread.

Peace and Good to you! welcome back 🙂
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Thanks so much LoveMercy!! These are excellent suggestions. I’ve heard great things about Robert Barron’s DVD series; I may have to pick that up.
 
Go to confession and confess the mortal sins you have committed over the years. By doing this, you’ll return to the state of grace.

Afterward, fortify your soul via prayer, good works, and spiritual reading.

Cleanse yourself of sinful influences in your life.

🤷
 
Revert2015 said:
Hello All -

I was baptized as an in infant into the Catholic Church. I received my first communion, was an altar boy for a while, attended church now and then with my family, and fizzled out by the 5th grade.

I spent 30 plus years wandering in the wilderness, which involved drug and alcohol abuse for 16 years. By God’s grace I recovered and have been sober now for over 11 years. Sobriety involved being a part of a pentecostal church, and then to a couple non-denominational churches after that. A very bad experience at one of those left me angry with the church, which turned into me turning away from the church altogether. I explored other faiths for two years, including zen buddhism and new age. After some dark stuff began to happen with my dabbling in zen and new age, I came running back to Christianity with my tail between my legs. I tried the “softer” side of Protestant Christianity, checking out UCC churches, Presbyterian, and Episcopal churches. FINALLY, after much prayer and discernment, I have found my way back home to the Catholic Church. I finally have zero doubt that this is where I belong and it is a HUGE relief, both for myself and my wife.

All that being said (which was probably too much info), I am in the middle of a move so I haven’t been able to really become a member of a parish yet. That is my intention, as it is to go through the process of officially returning to the Church. I guess I’m just wondering what do I do next? What steps can I take to embark on that journey of sanctity? I’ve never been a very devout Bible reader, though I very much would like to be. Any recommendations there? Is Lectio Divina a helpful way to become a disciplined Bible reader? Any good Catholic commentaries?

And what’s the whole thing about a Spiritual Director? I hear that’s strongly recommended for Catholics. I guess any suggestions for how a freshly returning Catholic can implement structure into his daily spiritual walk would be greatly appreciated. THanks so much!
Click to expand...
Welcome (back) Home! We missed you. The next step is to find a parish in your area and start attending Mass again every Sunday; tryout several different ones near you and choose one where you feel comfortable. Look for one that has weekly Bible Study classes. Since you have made your first Communion, all you really need to do now is go to confession and then you can start receiving communion at Mass again, once you have settled into your new parish. You can call the office and make an appointment with the priest for that or go the weekly confession; the priest can also recommend a spiritual director for you. You also might want to consider attending RCIA for a few months. It will prepare you for adult confirmation, answer your questions and your wife would be welcomed to attend, to find out where you are coming from now on (she will not have to convert to go). You should also have a prayer life; the rosary is a good place to start.
 
Revert2015 said:
I guess I’m just wondering what do I do next?
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Confession.
I’ve never been a very devout Bible reader, though I very much would like to be. Any recommendations there?
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Get the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible and just start with the daily Mass readings. Reflect on what is the Lord saying to you but also check out the study notes to get more insight.
Any good Catholic commentaries?
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Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture series. They are excellent

catholiccommentaryonsacredscripture.com/

Welcome Home!
 
I agree about confession. I had been away for maybe 20 years or so, so when I returned I took time to really think about what I had to confess (believe me, the list was long). There are even some online guides on how to do an examination of conscience before confession.

Welcome home!
 
Revert2015 said:
Hello All -

I was baptized as an in infant into the Catholic Church. I received my first communion, was an altar boy for a while, attended church now and then with my family, and fizzled out by the 5th grade.

I spent 30 plus years wandering in the wilderness, which involved drug and alcohol abuse for 16 years. By God’s grace I recovered and have been sober now for over 11 years. Sobriety involved being a part of a pentecostal church, and then to a couple non-denominational churches after that. A very bad experience at one of those left me angry with the church, which turned into me turning away from the church altogether. I explored other faiths for two years, including zen buddhism and new age. After some dark stuff began to happen with my dabbling in zen and new age, I came running back to Christianity with my tail between my legs. I tried the “softer” side of Protestant Christianity, checking out UCC churches, Presbyterian, and Episcopal churches. FINALLY, after much prayer and discernment, I have found my way back home to the Catholic Church. I finally have zero doubt that this is where I belong and it is a HUGE relief, both for myself and my wife.

All that being said (which was probably too much info), I am in the middle of a move so I haven’t been able to really become a member of a parish yet. That is my intention, as it is to go through the process of officially returning to the Church. I guess I’m just wondering what do I do next? What steps can I take to embark on that journey of sanctity? I’ve never been a very devout Bible reader, though I very much would like to be. Any recommendations there? Is Lectio Divina a helpful way to become a disciplined Bible reader? Any good Catholic commentaries?

And what’s the whole thing about a Spiritual Director? I hear that’s strongly recommended for Catholics. I guess any suggestions for how a freshly returning Catholic can implement structure into his daily spiritual walk would be greatly appreciated. THanks so much!
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Most of the good advice has already been given.👍

First, go to confession. As one poster stated, think about what you have to say for a while, and maybe make a private appointment (not on a regular confession day) or you might not have the time you want.

Go to Mass every Sunday and Holy Day. Try to go every day, if possible. As long as you are in a state of grace, take communion.

Join a Bible Study group in your parish and purchase a Catholic Study Bible. It’s okay to write in these, but I use Post-Its.

Lecio Divina should probably wait a bit. It’s a form of prayer, not just reading.

Pray regularly, morning, noon, and night. The prayers don’t have to be long as long as they are heartfelt.

Talk to your parish about confirmation if you haven’t been confirmed.

Join anything else you find interesting in your parish. Get involved in parish life. If you can carry a tune, join the choir. Clean, when they ask for volunteers. There are dozens of jobs to do.

Most Catholics do not have a spiritual director, but if you are going to pursue an active spiritual life, it would be good. The good ones are in short supply now, so be sure any you find is a good fit for you. And know that it’s not really necessary to have one. You can develop a relationship with Christ on your own.

Check out the website CatholicsComeHome.

Good luck, welcome home, and God bless.👍
 
On top of what others have posted I would suggest getting a copy of Catholicism for Dummies if you want to brush up on basics of the faith. Despite the title it actually has a ton of good information.

You can also access Father (now Bishop) Barron’s videos on a website called formed.org. For $10 per month you get access to a number of catechetical resources. I beleive the first month is free. Many parishes are now offering access to all their parishioners for free.

One other book I might suggest is Imitation of Christ. It really got me to thinking about what it means to live a Christ centered life.

Finally, with regard to spiritual direction, make sure that you find an orthodox director that will challenge you to grow in your interior life. Unfortunately there are many spiritual directors that simply try to make you comfortable becoming what ever you want rather than pointing you to God. Really this would be something I wouldn’t worry about until you’ve put a good base of prayer, mass, and confession under you. Good spiritual direction will have these as central to growth so you don’t want to be discouraged when challenged to run when you are just starting to walk again.
 
Revert2015 said:
All that being said (which was probably too much info), I am in the middle of a move so I haven’t been able to really become a member of a parish yet. That is my intention, as it is to go through the process of officially returning to the Church. I guess I’m just wondering what do I do next? What steps can I take to embark on that journey of sanctity? I’ve never been a very devout Bible reader, though I very much would like to be. Any recommendations there? Is Lectio Divina a helpful way to become a disciplined Bible reader? Any good Catholic commentaries?

And what’s the whole thing about a Spiritual Director? I hear that’s strongly recommended for Catholics. I guess any suggestions for how a freshly returning Catholic can implement structure into his daily spiritual walk would be greatly appreciated. THanks so much!
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As a revert myself, the best advice, this side of God Himself speaking directly to you:

MAKE AN APPOINTMENT AND TALK TO A PRIEST

You will get 101 answers here to your questions and beware of ill trained church staff who will mislead you. TALK TO PRIEST.

May your journey home be quick and joyful.
 
Catholic1954 said:
Welcome (back) Home! We missed you. The next step is to find a parish in your area and start attending Mass again every Sunday; tryout several different ones near you and choose one where you feel comfortable. Look for one that has weekly Bible Study classes. Since you have made your first Communion, all you really need to do now is go to confession and then you can start receiving communion at Mass again, once you have settled into your new parish. You can call the office and make an appointment with the priest for that or go the weekly confession; the priest can also recommend a spiritual director for you. You also might want to consider attending RCIA for a few months. It will prepare you for adult confirmation, answer your questions and your wife would be welcomed to attend, to find out where you are coming from now on (she will not have to convert to go). You should also have a prayer life; the rosary is a good place to start.
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Well stated.👍
 
In addition to all the wonderful advice and to the heartfelt welcomes, I would very very strongly advise you to NOT STAY ALONE! Find a prayer group. Find Brothers and Sisters in Christ. There is nothing like it. It is wonderful. It is necessary, for we are weak.
Isn’t it wonderful to have a home?
Blessings on you and your family.
 
As many people have said, a good confession is a must. I’d make an appointment so you have plenty of time. I had to do a lifetime confession last week because of my impending reception into the Church. Its not as hard as you might think.

Secondly, if you have a few parishes in your area I’d go to Mass at different ones until you feel comfortable enough with one to go back every week. Far better that you do this and then go every week.

As you have spent a long time going to protestant churches, you might want to consider an Ordinariate parish, where you will find a lot of parishioners and quite possibly priest who may have a similar background and will know where you are coming from.

Get into a routine of daily prayer and try to start praying the Rosary. I find the easiest way to do this is to get to Mass early or just pop into a church for half an hour. Ideally, don’t just go to Mass once a week, go as often as you can. At least one extra Mass per week in addition to Sunday will help to keep your mind focused on God.

Educate yourself about your faith. I’ve found that the booklets published by the Catholic Truth Society are very good for this. They are fairly short so easy to get through and quite cheap and cover lots of topics including sacraments, various saints, different prayers and devotions and so forth.
 
Revert2015 said:
Hello All -

I was baptized as an in infant into the Catholic Church. I received my first communion, was an altar boy for a while, attended church now and then with my family, and fizzled out by the 5th grade.

I spent 30 plus years wandering in the wilderness, which involved drug and alcohol abuse for 16 years. By God’s grace I recovered and have been sober now for over 11 years. Sobriety involved being a part of a pentecostal church, and then to a couple non-denominational churches after that. A very bad experience at one of those left me angry with the church, which turned into me turning away from the church altogether. I explored other faiths for two years, including zen buddhism and new age. After some dark stuff began to happen with my dabbling in zen and new age, I came running back to Christianity with my tail between my legs. I tried the “softer” side of Protestant Christianity, checking out UCC churches, Presbyterian, and Episcopal churches. FINALLY, after much prayer and discernment, I have found my way back home to the Catholic Church. I finally have zero doubt that this is where I belong and it is a HUGE relief, both for myself and my wife.

All that being said (which was probably too much info), I am in the middle of a move so I haven’t been able to really become a member of a parish yet. That is my intention, as it is to go through the process of officially returning to the Church. I guess I’m just wondering what do I do next? What steps can I take to embark on that journey of sanctity? I’ve never been a very devout Bible reader, though I very much would like to be. Any recommendations there? Is Lectio Divina a helpful way to become a disciplined Bible reader? Any good Catholic commentaries?

And what’s the whole thing about a Spiritual Director? I hear that’s strongly recommended for Catholics. I guess any suggestions for how a freshly returning Catholic can implement structure into his daily spiritual walk would be greatly appreciated. THanks so much!
Click to expand...
This little book… brizek.com/prayer/pieta.htm helped, and inspired me a lot when I reverted back to th Catholic Church.
 
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