Catholic Converts, are you happy you converted?

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Yes. I am VERY happy I converted! Was just confirmed this past April.

Have not had anyone make comments about birth control issues and the Church. Maybe because dh and I are much older?

My mother was not happy at all. We mostly just don’t talk about it.

My dad was worried. Not sure how my step-mother feels about it.

My husband, who is still Protestant, has been surprisingly supportive.

My brother has been supportive.

My sons have both been supportive.

I do pray that my dh and two sons will also convert. 🙂
 
Very happy.

I’m not exactly a new convert, it’s been 19 years now but the journey has been rough at times. But it is all so worth it and I have never regretted it, even when I was struggling with my faith.

As for people’s comments, I haven’t had any problems lately. (Some family members were unhappy when I converted and tormented me for years because of it). Those people who know I don’t use ABC think it is a weird religious thing but that’s it really. I’m much more confident than I used to be so when I do encounter anti-Catholicism it dosn’t affect me much.
 
Looking back I would not change a thing. You sometimes feel as though you were blind, deaf and dumb before you encountered the Catholic Church… that things are much more clear now. You see the world in entirely different light. Catholicism is thought provoking and beautiful on many different levels. It articulates very succinctly what we can know about God and what God desires of us through reason, creation, and of course, revelation.

It’s all quite beautiful.

I would be lying, however, if I didn’t say I frequently wished I could go back to being blind, deaf and dumb. I am tired and downtrodden and all of this sometimes makes me feel ill. I hope that over time these feelings will fade away. I suspect my difficulty comes from being so strongly attached to the life I lead in the past. It is easier to turn away from bad things or habits then it is from life long relationships.

It’s probably safe to say that converting from Lutheranism to Catholicism is probably a lot easier then converting from Satanism to Catholicism.
 
I converted 5 years ago, and I could not be happier with my decision. I attribute all the good that followed, becoming a KofC, getting married, making friends, new jobs etc… to finding a home with the catholic church. 👍
 
It’s nearly 59 years since I entered the Church. It was the best thing I ever did! However, to be a follower of Christ is not a “walk in the park.” It is a struggle; a spiritual battle-sometimes every day. I have stumbled and fallen but one of the many beauties of the Church is that is it always there to welcome you back-if you sincerely repent. I continue to be amazed by the richness and depth of the Church-it would indeed take many lifetimes to plumb its depths! As I prepared to be baptized, the priest said to me, " The biggest problem and discouragement will be other Catholics." How true! Try to stick with sincere devote Catholics that will be an encouragement. If you can’t find them in your parish, look on the internet-like C.A.F. is a great source. Give a wide berth to the bad Catholics or you risk being pulled in to their errors and sins. Every day I renounce Satan and all his works before I get out of bed. Remember you will be constantly challenged; be prepared. My prayers will be for you!
 
I converted in 2010.

I am much healthier and happier now, as a result of my conversion.

Nobody who knows that I don’t contracept seems to care one wit about it. It is none of their business anyway, so if I choose to make it known, then I am prepared for scoffing and whatnot. I really don’t care about others’ opinions in that area anymore, because I know the Catholic Church teaches the fullness of truth of marriage and sexuality, just as She does in every other aspect of life.
My family doesn’t exactly like Catholicism because the Church says things they choose to do are sins. Oh well.
I left some friendships behind because they were anti-Catholic atheists, but other than that, being Catholic has improved my relationships because I am emotionally healthier, thanks to the teachings and the sacraments.
I am more of an intellectual person than an emotional one, in part because I was abused and neglected in childhood. So my faith is not something I ever have a feeling about. It was totally a matter of my accepting the Catholic vision as my own, and having a sense of intellectual certainty about it.
 
akka said:
I have been, errr, barred from RCIA, but have been baptised privately.
As for happy, not quite. But I do feel more closer to God, that’s for sure.
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How do you become barred from RCIA?
 
jmcrae said:
Check with your Diocese Youth Ministry office - there is usually something on the Diocesan level for young adults. There is also CCO and NetMinistries for people your age. If one of both of you is attending University, there are also University groups that you can be part of, as well (and you don’t have to be a student to join, although the primary target audience is usually students, and the activities are usually geared toward the University school year).
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Youth ministries? Wouldn’t that be for more teenagers? We are 26 and I don’t think that really counts as a young adult anymore. We would rather not do the College groups,(even though both of us are going back to school for higher/different degrees) I graduated 4 years ago and am married, on my own, ect. Most people in college groups range from 17-22 or 23 and are still in that limbo between childhood and adulthood. The whole point in the age group thing is finding people that are in the same stage of life as we are and that we can relate to and share faith with. We are just in a very different stage of our life then most college students.

I find that most of our friends are not Catholic because of a lack of people our age in the Parishes we have gone to.
 
I am extremely happy that I converted! I was Greek Orthodox and came into the Church on Divine Mercy Sunday in 2005. In the following years my health suffered due to cancer and a brain aneurysm but my faith and dear family saw me through everything and I am now in very good health. Praise God! When I had the aneurysm an ER doctor told my husband that I had a grim prognosis but my husband was able to get me to Mass General Hospital and along with great medical care and many prayers I survived with out any lasting problems. My family doctor considers this a miracle since only 1-5 % of people with my situation come back from it. So yes, I am very happy to be Catholic. God has shown great mercy to me.

My family of origin was not so happy about my conversion and we sadly have not been able to have peace with them because of it but they are in my prayers daily.
 
Like always, I thank you all for sharing your conversion story. Every time I see a thread like this, no matter how long it is, I read though it all. The feeling I get inside my soul is
indescribable. May the Holy Spirit continue to strengthen and guide you on your jurney.

jesus g
 
I’m feeling very inspired & excited for RCIA 👍 Thanks for sharing everyone! :tiphat:
 
Very inspirational, I believe that once I have converted my life will be fuller and richer… I am very excited and glad that I am on this journey… bring on 2013.
 
DoxieMama said:
Hello! I am going to start RCIA in a couple weeks. I am currently Lutheran, but I have been wanting to convert to Catholicism for awhile. I’d like to hear from converts about your experience, and whether you are happy now.

Also, how do you deal with negative comments from family, friends, etc. about the beliefs of Catholicism, such as not using contraception to prevent pregnancy? Thanks :o
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I am happy as can be after being born and raised in the Anglican Church. It was a HARD decision initially but one that I am happy that I have made. Sometimes there are moments when I miss some things (popular Anglican hymns, lots of singing, a good energetic sermon) but I do not miss those things ENOUGH to ever want to look back. I am happy and growing.

Most people are surprised because I really was a very fiery agnostic/atheist during my teen to 20s. So that alone gets some negative comments already. Some feel like they can’t be themselves around me anymore. It’s okay. I am in a much happier place now.
 
TrixieMcGee said:
Youth ministries? Wouldn’t that be for more teenagers?
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The Pope would actually exclude teenagers - he considers “Youth” to be between the ages of 18 and 35.

In our Diocese, young adults are ages 18-35, and there are a variety of opportunities for them - faith days, retreats, music, World Youth Day pilgrimages, and more, and in our parishes we typically do Youth groups for kids aged 11-17, with young adults and mentors as the leaders.
We are 26 and I don’t think that really counts as a young adult anymore. We would rather not do the College groups,(even though both of us are going back to school for higher/different degrees) I graduated 4 years ago and am married, on my own, ect. Most people in college groups range from 17-22 or 23 and are still in that limbo between childhood and adulthood. The whole point in the age group thing is finding people that are in the same stage of life as we are and that we can relate to and share faith with. We are just in a very different stage of our life then most college students.
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But the adult groups aren’t doing it for you? :confused:
I find that most of our friends are not Catholic because of a lack of people our age in the Parishes we have gone to.
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Are you looking for groups of people who are exactly 26 years old and married? Or are you looking for adults (people who are married and have their kids and careers happening) or are you looking for married students … ?

Anyway, the first stop would be the Diocese, in any case, since they’ll be able to point you to either their own resources, or other parishes that have what you’re looking for, or at least something that might fit.
 
jesuspsr said:
Like always, I thank you all for sharing your conversion story. Every time I see a thread like this, no matter how long it is, I read though it all. The feeling I get inside my soul is
indescribable. May the Holy Spirit continue to strengthen and guide you on your jurney.

jesus g
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Same goes for me!! So heart warming and so enriching. I am a born catholic but entered a more profound conversion 30 years ago…
Reminds me of the Psalm,"…I shall make my boast in the Lord, the humble shall hear and be glad"…
Thank you all for your sharings.
There is only one I had some misgivings though… and as a brother has cautioned in this thread …
If we contracept and not willing to admit it in confession and be reconciled to the Church, we cannot receive the Lord, the greatest gift.
SEX IS NOT A PRIVATE MATTER. WE ARE ALSO GUIDED BY THE INFALLIBILITY OF CHURCH TEACHING IN THIS AREA. Pope Paul VI in Humanae Vitae, has some very encouraging advise on this issue.

This weakness, and it is a weakness, is very humbling as any weakness in this area is. And yet, we are called to take up arms as militants (we are the Church Militant are we not?), to fight the good fight. A struggle, I assure all, we will win the battle if we persevere in Faith and Hope and Love.!!! A GOOD CATHOLIC, IS SYNNONIMOUS WITH NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING! with all its accompanyment of struggles and fears and failures! The Confessional is our Hospital and Intensive Care Unit, all rolled in one. Im sure many will attest the great help it is in assisting us in growing in our struggles and failures; that we have broken with bad habits and grown in good ones in replacement.

“In your goodness, you will show favour to Zion, Rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.Then you will be pleased with lawful sacrifice, Holocaust offered on your altar.”(Psalm 51 )
We are the temples of the Holy Spirit, and when we destroy the temple by serious sin, like contraception or pornography, whatever is offered on the altar of our hearts is not acceptable to the Lord unless we repent and go to Confession.
. Thank you for your honesty and proclaiming the joy of the Lord in the bearing of your individual crosses…It gives me great consolation in the midst of my own cross in life.

A wonderful reminder of St Peter,“Christ suffered for you and left you an example to have you follow in His footsteps.”

“The suffering of the present are as nothing compared to the glory to be revealed in us at
the coming of the Lord.”(St Peter/St Paul)
Once again, my deepest gratitude for your sharings.

Yours in the Sacred Hearts
Kentcara2003(SSCC 3rd Order)
 
I became a Catholic 50 years ago when I was a student at a Protestant College. I had been intending to become a minister. People there didn’t like it. Some spoke to me to try to keep me from becoming a Catholic, and some people were telling stories about me behind my back. My parents said they would kick me out of the house. (Though they didn’t after this.) This was before the time when contraception was controversial and argued about, so this didn’t come up then. In fact. I later had five children (and my wife had three miscarriages),
In future years, people I knew generally didn’t confront me about what they didn’t like about Catholic beliefs, perhaps because I seemed to be formidable a person. This did happen several times, and then I was quiet. It would have meant useless anger, it seemed.
My feeling was and still is expressed by St. Peter in the Gospel of Saint John, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (John 6:67-8).
I am very happy now… My wife likes to go to daily mass, and we say the rosary together every day. I enjoy writing and have published books and articles on religion and on Biblical theology, always as a Catholic. I feel I am accomplishing something for the faith.
 
jmcrae said:
The Pope would actually exclude teenagers - he considers “Youth” to be between the ages of 18 and 35.

In our Diocese, young adults are ages 18-35, and there are a variety of opportunities for them - faith days, retreats, music, World Youth Day pilgrimages, and more, and in our parishes we typically do Youth groups for kids aged 11-17, with young adults and mentors as the leaders.

But the adult groups aren’t doing it for you? :confused:

Are you looking for groups of people who are exactly 26 years old and married? Or are you looking for adults (people who are married and have their kids and careers happening) or are you looking for married students … ?

Anyway, the first stop would be the Diocese, in any case, since they’ll be able to point you to either their own resources, or other parishes that have what you’re looking for, or at least something that might fit.
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I have never heard “Youth” referring to any other group but teens before. I didn’t know that youth in the Catholic world refered to 18-35. I already explained what didn’t do it for us in the adult groups. No, in the adult groups we find that we are generally youngest by about 20 or so years. Generally it is people in their late 40’s to their 50’s, 60’s, and even some in their 70’s. Nothing wrong with older people, but they tend to be in very different stages of their lives and tend to treat us like children.

I am not looking for people exactly 26 and married. People around 20-35 will do, just preferably a group with at least a mix of people that are married and single or something. Not college groups where everyone is in a different stage of their life. It is very different being married, on your own and working/supporting yourself/your family, then it is in college. I know that in college I did not understand a lot about married life or fully being out on my own in the real world.

We have tried college groups and we certainly stood out and didn’t fit in so much. We were just in a very different stage of our life and they didn’t relate to us very well. They related to us in some ways, but they didn’t understand the realities of married life or what it was like not relying on student loans or Mom and Dad footing the bill. They just weren’t really independent even though they were adult age. They were in that limbo between adulthood and childhood.

In our last Parish I made one friend that was my age, but that was because I met her at work and she told me about the Church. I would have never met her if I just went to the Church or groups, because they had no adult Bible studies at all (even though it was a very large Parish with thousands who attended the Church every week) and she is in the choir, so she sat in the back balcony. I just never expected that such a large Church wouldn’t have any of it’s own adult groups.

I am just saying that having groups by age is something that I miss about my old Church. They only had about a hundred members, but they had a Jr. High group, a High School group, a College group, an Adults group 20-35, and a 35+ group. People brought their friends to these groups and it was really nice being able to meet new people around your age that you could relate well to and you could discuss faith with.

I am not bashing the Catholic Church, just saying I miss this. I really wasn’t looking for advice , I already have just decided to make friends our age through different venues.
 
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