Hi, I’m new here (although a long-time reader) and I would like to request your prayers. I apologize in advance for the long story.
I’m a Reformed woman pastor who has slowly been led to the Catholic church.
Looking back, I think I started considering Catholicism already as a theology student, from the day I realized that the “Sola Scriptura” principle was hard to defend when Scripture simply wouldn’t exist without Tradition. Little by little, I began coming closer to the Catholic teachings. The Early Church Fathers did nothing to held me back.
As I entered ministry I got first-hand experience of how much damage the absence of magisterium is doing in my own tradition, and I’ve been finding increasingly difficult to work with some colleagues who are completely relativist, or do not believe in Christ’s resurrection. Part of me is also ill at ease with the fact that as a woman, my ministry is a sign of disunion when it should be a sign of unity.
As time goes on, I’ve been going more and more frequently to evening Mass (although I do not receive), weekly Adoration has become part of my usual schedule, my relationship with Mary has deepened, the Rosary has changed my life, the desire for Christ in the Eucharist is growing in my heart.
I’ve now reached the point where I suddenly can measure how far away I’ve gone from Protestant teachings and theology (so much that I wonder why my community still hasn’t said anything). The only thing I’m still not sure of is what I feel about the Church’s position on female ministry, but I’m willing to submit to her authority whatever I think, as I acknowledge in her the fullness of truth.
Two months ago, I finally opened up about it to a trusted priest friend who (after commenting “I knew you would come home someday”) told me he would be more than happy to help me walk the road to full communion. We’re both aware that it might still be a few years, due to various factors I can’t control.
Thankfully my husband, also a Reformed pastor, said he would support me no matter what, but there’s still a scary side to that decision. Renouncing ministry isn’t going to be easy, to say the least, and there are times when I doubt I’ll ever be brave enough to do it. I’m also afraid I’ll lose some important friendships and cut ties with wonderful people from my own community in the process, and just thinking about it breaks my heart ; and I don’t like the idea of hurting or disappointing my parishioners, even though I know it will be unavoidable. And there’s the question of what I’ll do with my own life afterwards ; my priest friend asked if I’d be willing to consider becoming a pastoral associate, but I’m not sure yet if this is what I’m called to.
Please pray for me as I try to walk this path.
I’m a Reformed woman pastor who has slowly been led to the Catholic church.
Looking back, I think I started considering Catholicism already as a theology student, from the day I realized that the “Sola Scriptura” principle was hard to defend when Scripture simply wouldn’t exist without Tradition. Little by little, I began coming closer to the Catholic teachings. The Early Church Fathers did nothing to held me back.
As I entered ministry I got first-hand experience of how much damage the absence of magisterium is doing in my own tradition, and I’ve been finding increasingly difficult to work with some colleagues who are completely relativist, or do not believe in Christ’s resurrection. Part of me is also ill at ease with the fact that as a woman, my ministry is a sign of disunion when it should be a sign of unity.
As time goes on, I’ve been going more and more frequently to evening Mass (although I do not receive), weekly Adoration has become part of my usual schedule, my relationship with Mary has deepened, the Rosary has changed my life, the desire for Christ in the Eucharist is growing in my heart.
I’ve now reached the point where I suddenly can measure how far away I’ve gone from Protestant teachings and theology (so much that I wonder why my community still hasn’t said anything). The only thing I’m still not sure of is what I feel about the Church’s position on female ministry, but I’m willing to submit to her authority whatever I think, as I acknowledge in her the fullness of truth.
Two months ago, I finally opened up about it to a trusted priest friend who (after commenting “I knew you would come home someday”) told me he would be more than happy to help me walk the road to full communion. We’re both aware that it might still be a few years, due to various factors I can’t control.
Thankfully my husband, also a Reformed pastor, said he would support me no matter what, but there’s still a scary side to that decision. Renouncing ministry isn’t going to be easy, to say the least, and there are times when I doubt I’ll ever be brave enough to do it. I’m also afraid I’ll lose some important friendships and cut ties with wonderful people from my own community in the process, and just thinking about it breaks my heart ; and I don’t like the idea of hurting or disappointing my parishioners, even though I know it will be unavoidable. And there’s the question of what I’ll do with my own life afterwards ; my priest friend asked if I’d be willing to consider becoming a pastoral associate, but I’m not sure yet if this is what I’m called to.
Please pray for me as I try to walk this path.
