Baptized Presbyterian - How to convert to Catholicism?

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Hello,

I have searched for the answer to this question on the forum, but so far have not really found a good ‘concrete’ answer. So, here it goes.

I was baptized years ago as a Presbyterian (age 10-12), and also attended a Assembly of God Christian school for 12+ years (Pre-K - 8th grade). I have been asked by my fiancee to convert to Catholicism before our wedding so that we can marry in her church and share the same religious views. I have no issue with this at all, as I believe that sharing the same religious values between the two of us are VERY important. I can’t say I have always been the best Christian follower. However I am very familiar with the word of God, the Bible’s teachings, etc.

What will be required for me to join the Catholic Church? Will I have to attend the traditional Catechism classes? How long does this process take? What should I expect? We’re due to get married in April 2010. Will I have enough time to complete what is required? Will the Church also require us to take any marriage classes in addition to the classes that I will require to join the Church?

Thanks!
 
Hi joleonekc
The first question for you to answer to yourself is: Do I want to become a catholic? If the answer is yes then by all means become one. If no then dont. If you don’t know then search for the answers. There should be a RCIA programme in your fiancee’s parish or in a parish close to you. Most journeys through the RCIA programme allow you to search for the right path and end up with the person being received into the church at Easter but this could vary. Sometime people might postpone their decision to a later date. It all depends on how God touches you. Hope this is of some help Cheers may God bless geoff
 
:wave:FIRST Welcome to the Forums, Good Luck on your journey of faith … 👋

Contact your local parish [either your fiance’s or the one where you live geographially].

Have you set a date? If so ar you working with a prish on Pre-Cana, and arriage prep?

Any way the process most parishes will have you do is attend RCIA [Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults] … this is a formation program that introduces Christianity and Church teaching to adults …

Because you are baptized you would not ‘technically’ be converting … as such there may be options offered like individual instruction [many parishes just do not have the personnel and resources for dual processes for un-baptized and baptized persons] or a seperate foration for those already baptized.

Most RCIA’s run September through May [these categories: Inquiry, Catechumenate [you would not be a catechumen but a candidate for full communion], Election and Mystagogia] … The Elect are brought in at the Easter Vigil and the Candidates for Full Communion are brought in at the Easter Vigil or another suitable time - though the Easter Vigil is most common in my experience]

Some parishes run programs year round. …

Take the formation seriously [which is why you should not rush the process] … you will be asked to affirm:

“I believe and profess all that the holy Catholic Church believes, teaches, **and proclaims to be revealed by God” **

Or some similar statement [sometimes it is done through a serious of questions that you muct answer in the affirmative] … It is a serious question to which you must have a serious answer.

Being a Christian is not for the faint of heart, it is not always easy … but Jesus is always worth it … and being a member of Christ’s Church is a blessing … receiving our Lord in the Eucharist, being fed the Body and Blood of Jesus, united with God in such an intimate way … what a gift and a priviledge - Christ loves us so much …

I will be praying for you and your fiance … Find a priest, they will assist you in getting started on this journey 👍
 
Yes i agree with Geoff, you must first truly ask yourself if you want to convert to catholicism because you want to be in the same faith as your fiance, or is it because you truly believe in the teachings of the Catholic church? As a current convert myself, I have familiarity with these questions. Almost all catholic parishes have RCIA programs, which are Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults. In my parish these classes start in september each year and run until the following Easter, where the new “class” will be accepted into the church at the Easter saturday vigil. The classes are generally once a week, last for an hour or two, and cover soooo many subjects about catholic church teachings along with bible and scripture teachings. You dont have to make any type of pact to enter the church to attend these meetings, they are open to anyone who is curious, as the Church is always open to new possible members. I went to a few classes this past early spring, and I am looking forward to experiencing the entire process this fall. If you are interested in this conversion class, I would go to your local Catholic Church, or whatever one your fiance attends, and speak to the Church secretary about the RCIA classes. They usually have some sort of social event in August to attract new possible people for RCIA (my church held a cookout). As for the marriage in April in 2010, depending on when easter occurs and what part of the month you want to have the wedding, you should have completed your conversion by then. As far as marital classes, yes most parishes require you go through a multi-week class before getting married in that parish. I am not sure whether you will be able to attend this while you are attending RCIA at the same time. I would ask the priest at the parish. I hope all this helps!🙂 Congrats on your engagement, and may God bless you will a long and happy marriage!
 
Thanks for the replies so far.

As to whether I want to become Catholic or not, the short answer is yes. Since I am already a Christian, the particular ‘denomination’ is not important to me. I believe that as long as I have accepted Jesus, then the particulars are not important (other than leading a good-wholesome life). However, it is important to her and her family. This isn’t quite like marrying a Muslim woman when you’re Christian. There will be a few changes I’m sure, but for the most part the foundation is still the same.

To me there are a lot of reasons (for myself and for her) why I think this is important. One, she already has two children and we need to share the same beliefs because I will be stepping into a step-father role. 90% of what we both believe is pretty much similar already. However, being Presbyterian I don’t go to confession and similar other ‘Catholic’ things. She already knows that I’m dedicated to spending my life with her through whatever life will bring us together, that I will work hard every day for us and the children, and I think this would show even more dedication to the fact that I care about what she believes and am willing to embrace it as well. I’ve spoken with my mother about it (my only family member), and asked her advice as well on the matter. She also thinks that this would be a good thing for me and for us. It would also be nice to be able to spend holidays at the same church, etc. I’ve given it a lot of thought.

What brought the whole issue up, is originally we were going to get married at a resort out of town. Recently we have attended a friend’s wedding (at a church which was a ‘proper’ wedding) and she has since asked me if I would consider marrying her at her church instead of the resort. I knew she was Catholic, and knowing that I can only get married to a Catholic woman in a Catholic church if I am Catholic she then asked if I would take the necessary steps to become Catholic so that we could do the ‘proper’ thing. I have no objections to it. I also want her to have the wedding that she has always dreamed of (this is VERY important to me).

The date that we have set is April 24th, 2010. We haven’t really started working the details out yet, other than the fact of what colors she wishes that I wear, etc. Hopefully, I will be moving back to her city shortly, so we can begin the rest of the wedding/marriage prep.
 
I can only fill in a few gaps here.

lt takes 2 years of classes before you can marry according to the last I knew along the Catholic churches guidelines. It’s good stuff they teach, and if it means putting off a few months on your original plans, I doubt you would be losing out here.

baptized at your old church is still valid for all practical purposes because yours happens to be doing it right, yet there is nothing wrong with a second one in the Catholic church.

Welcome to the church, welcome to this board, I hope you keep coming back to both. 🙂
 
I wouldn’t count on the 2 years thing being true . . . could you get a source for that? I was baptized and raised a Protestant, and when I decided to convert, I only needed to be a few months in RCIA before I was fully accepted into the Catholic Church. I’m sure I would be allowed to marry a Catholic woman any time since I converted.
 
Joleonekc, my main advice for you is to try to take the doctrines of the Catholic Church that surprise you or are different from what you’re used to very seriously. I know it doesn’t feel this way to you, but joining the Church is an even greater and more important transition in life than getting married is. You’ll be joining not only with a lovely Catholic bride, but with Jesus Christ’s spiritual Bride, she that is described in great glory in the Book of Revelation and the Song of Songs. That is the Bride who you’ll be one with throughout eternity.

You’re heading into the most magnificent blessings. So I’d just recommend you try to keep your thinking cap on as you listen to the doctrines in RCIA and accomplish whatever studying you’ll do on your own to learn about the faith. Ask questions when you have them, and pray for guidance and illumination as you proceed. Don’t join the Catholic Church if you don’t believe in and accept all the doctrines. But I think your idea of going through RCIA is a good one; it’ll show you what the Church is about, how she is structured and what her important teachings are. Pray for guidance and take it all seriously. And good luck, and God bless! 👍 🙂
 
Lief_Erikson said:
I wouldn’t count on the 2 years thing being true . . . could you get a source for that? I was baptized and raised a Protestant, and when I decided to convert, I only needed to be a few months in RCIA before I was fully accepted into the Catholic Church. I’m sure I would be allowed to marry a Catholic woman any time since I converted.
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The source was from my parents, they have e been happily married, yet left the church once it stated, their marriage was not recognized by the Catholic church due to the “new” 2 year time frame. They no longer really believe in Christianity any more, much less consider themselves to be Catholic. They stopped going to mass shortly after being told that by the church. That is my tragic source I have drawn upon. Someone more learned, please, by all means, speak up, I don’t consider myself to be all knowing, there is a great deal I still have to learn.
 
Well, I know you need to spend two years in the conversion process if you weren’t baptized and raised in a non-Catholic Christian setting. I learned that in RCIA. So if you were converting from, say, atheism, without a Christian background, it would take at least 2 years before you could convert and get married. But if you can provide your certificate of baptism and assert that you’ve had a Christian background, that should be enough for you to enter the RCIA and be in it just a few months before getting married.
 
joleonekc said:
Hello,

I have searched for the answer to this question on the forum, but so far have not really found a good ‘concrete’ answer. So, here it goes.

I was baptized years ago as a Presbyterian (age 10-12), and also attended a Assembly of God Christian school for 12+ years (Pre-K - 8th grade). I have been asked by my fiancee to convert to Catholicism before our wedding so that we can marry in her church and share the same religious views. I have no issue with this at all, as I believe that sharing the same religious values between the two of us are VERY important. I can’t say I have always been the best Christian follower. However I am very familiar with the word of God, the Bible’s teachings, etc.

What will be required for me to join the Catholic Church? Will I have to attend the traditional Catechism classes? How long does this process take? What should I expect? We’re due to get married in April 2010. Will I have enough time to complete what is required? Will the Church also require us to take any marriage classes in addition to the classes that I will require to join the Church?

Thanks!
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I was raised Baptist but became Presbyterian in High School then was a Pres Youth Director out of College and almost became a Minister. I came home to the Church Easter 2008 after much deliberation. Send me a PM and I’ll be happy to help in any way possible.

Welcome home!

The first thing I would suggest would be to pickup “Rome Sweet Home” by Scott Hahn to give you an idea of the differences (he was from a much more conservative Pres Church than I came from though)

Joe
 
joleonekc said:
Thanks for the replies so far.

As to whether I want to become Catholic or not, the short answer is yes. Since I am already a Christian, the particular ‘denomination’ is not important to me. I believe that as long as I have accepted Jesus, then the particulars are not important (other than leading a good-wholesome life). However, it is important to her and her family. This isn’t quite like marrying a Muslim woman when you’re Christian. There will be a few changes I’m sure, but for the most part the foundation is still the same.

To me there are a lot of reasons (for myself and for her) why I think this is important. One, she already has two children and we need to share the same beliefs because I will be stepping into a step-father role. 90% of what we both believe is pretty much similar already. However, being Presbyterian I don’t go to confession and similar other ‘Catholic’ things. She already knows that I’m dedicated to spending my life with her through whatever life will bring us together, that I will work hard every day for us and the children, and I think this would show even more dedication to the fact that I care about what she believes and am willing to embrace it as well. I’ve spoken with my mother about it (my only family member), and asked her advice as well on the matter. She also thinks that this would be a good thing for me and for us. It would also be nice to be able to spend holidays at the same church, etc. I’ve given it a lot of thought.

What brought the whole issue up, is originally we were going to get married at a resort out of town. Recently we have attended a friend’s wedding (at a church which was a ‘proper’ wedding) and she has since asked me if I would consider marrying her at her church instead of the resort. I knew she was Catholic, and knowing that I can only get married to a Catholic woman in a Catholic church if I am Catholic she then asked if I would take the necessary steps to become Catholic so that we could do the ‘proper’ thing. I have no objections to it. I also want her to have the wedding that she has always dreamed of (this is VERY important to me).

The date that we have set is April 24th, 2010. We haven’t really started working the details out yet, other than the fact of what colors she wishes that I wear, etc. Hopefully, I will be moving back to her city shortly, so we can begin the rest of the wedding/marriage prep.
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Hi joleonekc!

You sound like a really good “catch”. I think the idea of RCIA is a good one but perhaps you should also have a talk to the Parish Priest because becoming Catholic is very different from just “another denomination”. We are all Christians but there is a vast difference between being Catholic and Protestant and you do not want to embrace something you know very little about.

When you talk of “the wedding she has always dreamed of” you must remember that she is probably thinking of “the marriage she has always dreamed of”. The wedding in the Catholic Church is special with the Mass etc. but it is more about the marriage. She has found you and wants to spend the rest of her life with you and has chosen you not only as a husband but a Father to her children. That you are prepared to become Catholic is a splendid thing but you have to study a lot and may find some of the teachings a little “strange”. So it is important to pray about this. Congratulations.

Now let’s see what other people have to say.

:):)🙂
 
You do NOT need to be Catholic in order for her to marry you. Do not convert for only that reason. She can marry you as you are now.

Please understand, Catholic is not just another denomination. Why don’t the particulars matter to you? Isn’t the truth about our existence and about our creator important? more important that anything?

Becoming Catholic is serious business. I hope and pray that this is where you a headed, and welcome you, but do not convert for the wrong reasons.
 
joleonekc said:
I knew she was Catholic, and knowing that I can only get married to a Catholic woman in a Catholic church if I am Catholic she then asked if I would take the necessary steps to become Catholic so that we could do the ‘proper’ thing. I have no objections to it. I also want her to have the wedding that she has always dreamed of (this is VERY important to me).
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This is not meant in any way to discourage you from checking out RCIA because I think it’s best if a couple shares their faith. But just to clarify, you do not have to become Catholic in order to marry your fiancee in the Catholic Church.

Probably the best thing for both of you would be to meet with a priest and begin your marriage preparation, especially since you already have a date in mind.
 
Agreeing with the previous posts, you do not need to be Catholic to marry your fiancee in the Catholic Church.

My husband is Baptist and we had our wedding in my Catholic church complete with a Mass. Since you are already Baptized, the marriage would still be considered sacramental. It is my understanding that if a Catholic marries someone who is not Baptized, then the marriage would not be sacramental.

In any case, it is very honorable of you to convert for the sake of your new wife. But as others have said, becoming Catholic is serious business. You essentially will be pledging that you believe ALL the the Church teaches in front of the congregation and it’s really important that you mean it. So the best thing to do is to start by learning everything you can about what the Church teaches and determine if you can honestly make that commitment.

Many prayers going up for you. 🙂
 
agapewolf said:
You do NOT need to be Catholic in order for her to marry you. Do not convert for only that reason. She can marry you as you are now.

Please understand, Catholic is not just another denomination. Why don’t the particulars matter to you? Isn’t the truth about our existence and about our creator important? more important that anything?

Becoming Catholic is serious business. I hope and pray that this is where you a headed, and welcome you, but do not convert for the wrong reasons.
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I agree with you. It is best not to convert until he is absolutely convinced and has a deep Faith.

Incidentally the Catholic Church is not a denomination at all!

Cinette:)
 
I thought the Catholic Church was another denomination too, when I was Protestant :o :).

I definitely had no clue that the Catholic Church has more members than all Christian denominations, and the Orthodox, combined! I had no clue that the Orthodox make up about 300 million of the Christians in the world, Catholics 1.2 or 1.3 billion, and Protestants and all other Christians around 500 million or so.

And I had no clue that historically, the Catholic Church was the original Church Jesus founded, and everything else from then on is a break-off from that original root that has a continuous Tradition and doctrine.
 
Thanks again to everyone for the responses. It seems that this has generated some interest, and I really appreciate all the feedback.

I want to assure you all that I simply would not do this ‘just’ for her. It’s something that you have to agree with. Please also understand that religion has always fascinated me, and I have studied many different religions and denominations in college as well. If I felt that it was something that I was opposed to, I would have certainly talked it over with her already and expressed my concern.

Marriage is a lot of love, dedication, compromise, and communication, mixed in with a lot of common sense and friendship as well. And the communication part is definitely something that I, myself, need to work on. We definitely have the love part down, as we are childhood sweethearts reunited. We’ve also been working on the compromise portion of it. Before asking her to marry me, we had the talks about finances, how she raises her children, if there will be more children, bad habits, good habits, how we clean house, what our expectations of marriage are, moral values, etc. Both of us have really tried to bring up every issue that we have thought of so far to discuss with each other. Faith was the last thing to come up. Since she isn’t a truly practicing Catholic (doesn’t go to mass, confession, etc. as often as she should-she goes about as often as I do to church) that’s why it never came up. We are already best friends, and have been since the day of reuniting. When something goes wrong or great, we share those things with each other, ask each other for advice, etc. We’re also VERY dedicated to each other.

With all of that said, she is like a blessing to my life. She has always been that special someone that you’ve always thought of in the back of your mind, and I am that special someone to her as well. Sharing my life with her has really been one of life’s great things.

Do any of you all have any thoughts for me on improving the communication aspect? Will marriage prep. classes actually teach us how to communicate better with each other?
 
joleonekc said:
Do any of you all have any thoughts for me on improving the communication aspect? Will marriage prep. classes actually teach us how to communicate better with each other?
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I think communication skills is a common thing that more couples deal with.

From what you write, it sounds to me like you two are doing better than a lot of couples, lol…It’s always good to try and work on it, though. Communication IS the key to a good marriage. I think it also takes a lot of practice. I’ve always been bad at the communication part with DH. It used to be very hard because when we were dating, he was very harsh about some subjects that sort of caused me to shut down in a way. I’ve gotten better about it, though, due to practice (16 years).

Marriage prep classes do (should) deal with communication. But some classes are better than others. If you attend your prep class and feel that it wasn’t enough, you could always try a session or two with a good priest/counselor.
 
joleonekc said:
Thanks again to everyone for the responses. It seems that this has generated some interest, and I really appreciate all the feedback.

I want to assure you all that I simply would not do this ‘just’ for her. It’s something that you have to agree with. Please also understand that religion has always fascinated me, and I have studied many different religions and denominations in college as well. If I felt that it was something that I was opposed to, I would have certainly talked it over with her already and expressed my concern.

Marriage is a lot of love, dedication, compromise, and communication, mixed in with a lot of common sense and friendship as well. And the communication part is definitely something that I, myself, need to work on. We definitely have the love part down, as we are childhood sweethearts reunited. We’ve also been working on the compromise portion of it. Before asking her to marry me, we had the talks about finances, how she raises her children, if there will be more children, bad habits, good habits, how we clean house, what our expectations of marriage are, moral values, etc. Both of us have really tried to bring up every issue that we have thought of so far to discuss with each other. Faith was the last thing to come up. Since she isn’t a truly practicing Catholic (doesn’t go to mass, confession, etc. as often as she should-she goes about as often as I do to church) that’s why it never came up. We are already best friends, and have been since the day of reuniting. When something goes wrong or great, we share those things with each other, ask each other for advice, etc. We’re also VERY dedicated to each other.

With all of that said, she is like a blessing to my life. She has always been that special someone that you’ve always thought of in the back of your mind, and I am that special someone to her as well. Sharing my life with her has really been one of life’s great things.

Do any of you all have any thoughts for me on improving the communication aspect? Will marriage prep. classes actually teach us how to communicate better with each other?
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Sounds great! 😃

Ironically, it may wind up falling upon you to bring her back into a more serious Catholic experience! Attending Mass every Sunday morning being a good place to start. Anyway, God bless you both magnificently! 🙂 🙂 🙂 Have a glorious marriage and an unimaginable Marriage! :dancing:

This will be SUCH a transition in your life! I wish you all the best!
 
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