Dedicating or baptizing our infant?

[southernwifey]

First off, I’m new so hello everyone. I’m here because of this question, but I’m not sure exactly how to word it. My husband & I were both raised Catholic. His family is Catholic, and I was raised in a Catholic family but when my dad died my mom went back to her previous belief in wicca & goddesses (I’ll admit I don’t know much about her beliefs…). Our problem is that I have had very bad experiences with the Catholic religion, and I disagree with a few of their viewpoints and beliefs. My husband doesn’t agree as well. We both believe in God, living a life with morals and good deeds, and helping others, but we also believe in science & evolution. There are some aspects of wicca that I am not sure if I believe or not, but my husband is completely against it. We are having a baby in a few weeks, and the issue of religion keeps coming up, especially with the discussion of baptism vs dedication.

We are both baptized & confirmed, but I only went through confirmation because my mom wanted me to so our family wouldn’t look down on us. I was never sure if that’s what I believed or not. I feel like I would have gotten so much more out of it if I had gone through this process by own choice, and so if my child chooses to be Catholic, I feel like she would benefit more from going through the process on her own free will than she would because we wanted her to. We do want to raise her believing in God and living by the morals we were raised on, but we aren’t sure how we’re going to do this. I haven’t been to any church since I was confirmed 5 years ago, & my husband hasn’t been to any church in about 4 years. Our families expect us to raise her Catholic, & we do plan on sending her to Catholic school if we can afford to when she’s older, but we are too unsure of our own faith to make this decision. If we decide not to raise her Catholic, we would probably find a non-denominational church and have her dedicated. Unfortunately, my husband works all of Saturdays (6 am to 10 pm) & Sunday mornings until 1, so I’m not sure how we will be able to go to church with our baby, unless I take her on my own while my husband works.

Does anyone have any advice on this situation? With us not having gone to any Catholic or non-denominational church is 4/5+ years & we got married by a justice of the peace, I’m not sure if we could just have her baptized and if we can, I’m not 100% sure this is what we want for her & our family. We are completely lost as to what our beliefs actually are, but we want to raise her believing in God, even if she decides later on life that she doesn’t believe. Should we baptize her just in case we decide we want to raise her Catholic, or dedicate her, or do nothing? Any advice would be appreciated. We’ve been discussing this for months now & the decision isn’t becoming any clearer. Sorry this was such a long post

 

[Rocky]

First off, I’m new so hello everyone. I’m here because of this question, but I’m not sure exactly how to word it. My husband & I were both raised Catholic. His family is Catholic, and I was raised in a Catholic family but when my dad died my mom went back to her previous belief in wicca & goddesses (I’ll admit I don’t know much about her beliefs…). Our problem is that I have had very bad experiences with the Catholic religion, and I disagree with a few of their viewpoints and beliefs. My husband doesn’t agree as well. We both believe in God, living a life with morals and good deeds, and helping others, but we also believe in science & evolution. There are some aspects of wicca that I am not sure if I believe or not, but my husband is completely against it. We are having a baby in a few weeks, and the issue of religion keeps coming up, especially with the discussion of baptism vs dedication.

We are both baptized & confirmed, but I only went through confirmation because my mom wanted me to so our family wouldn’t look down on us. I was never sure if that’s what I believed or not. I feel like I would have gotten so much more out of it if I had gone through this process by own choice, and so if my child chooses to be Catholic, I feel like she would benefit more from going through the process on her own free will than she would because we wanted her to. We do want to raise her believing in God and living by the morals we were raised on, but we aren’t sure how we’re going to do this. I haven’t been to any church since I was confirmed 5 years ago, & my husband hasn’t been to any church in about 4 years. Our families expect us to raise her Catholic, & we do plan on sending her to Catholic school if we can afford to when she’s older, but we are too unsure of our own faith to make this decision. If we decide not to raise her Catholic, we would probably find a non-denominational church and have her dedicated. Unfortunately, my husband works all of Saturdays (6 am to 10 pm) & Sunday mornings until 1, so I’m not sure how we will be able to go to church with our baby, unless I take her on my own while my husband works.

Does anyone have any advice on this situation? With us not having gone to any Catholic or non-denominational church is 4/5+ years & we got married by a justice of the peace, I’m not sure if we could just have her baptized and if we can, I’m not 100% sure this is what we want for her & our family. We are completely lost as to what our beliefs actually are, but we want to raise her believing in God, even if she decides later on life that she doesn’t believe. Should we baptize her just in case we decide we want to raise her Catholic, or dedicate her, or do nothing? Any advice would be appreciated. We’ve been discussing this for months now & the decision isn’t becoming any clearer. Sorry this was such a long post

It’s hard to worship with others, even family, when work interferes, and we all need to pay the rent/mortgage and put food on the table. Your husband’s hours seem to rule out church services. I do not know how large a city or how many Catholic parishes are around you, but we have several parishes in our diocese that offer Mass at 6:00 p.m. on Sundays.

As to what to do about your baby, pray, pray, pray. Don’t do anything because you are trying to please other people. What you do should be done to please God.

I would also suggest that you talk to a priest if you and your husband feel you are being called to explore your Catholic faith. Catholic Answers can help in some ways, but face-to-face with a priest is best.

God bless you and your family–

 

[CopticChristian]

First off, I’m new so hello everyone. I’m here because of this question, but I’m not sure exactly how to word it. My husband & I were both raised Catholic. His family is Catholic, and I was raised in a Catholic family but when my dad died my mom went back to her previous belief in wicca & goddesses (I’ll admit I don’t know much about her beliefs…). Our problem is that I have had very bad experiences with the Catholic religion, and I disagree with a few of their viewpoints and beliefs. My husband doesn’t agree as well. We both believe in God, living a life with morals and good deeds, and helping others, but we also believe in science & evolution. There are some aspects of wicca that I am not sure if I believe or not, but my husband is completely against it. We are having a baby in a few weeks, and the issue of religion keeps coming up, especially with the discussion of baptism vs dedication.

We are both baptized & confirmed, but I only went through confirmation because my mom wanted me to so our family wouldn’t look down on us. I was never sure if that’s what I believed or not. I feel like I would have gotten so much more out of it if I had gone through this process by own choice, and so if my child chooses to be Catholic, I feel like she would benefit more from going through the process on her own free will than she would because we wanted her to. We do want to raise her believing in God and living by the morals we were raised on, but we aren’t sure how we’re going to do this. I haven’t been to any church since I was confirmed 5 years ago, & my husband hasn’t been to any church in about 4 years. Our families expect us to raise her Catholic, & we do plan on sending her to Catholic school if we can afford to when she’s older, but we are too unsure of our own faith to make this decision. If we decide not to raise her Catholic, we would probably find a non-denominational church and have her dedicated. Unfortunately, my husband works all of Saturdays (6 am to 10 pm) & Sunday mornings until 1, so I’m not sure how we will be able to go to church with our baby, unless I take her on my own while my husband works.

Does anyone have any advice on this situation? With us not having gone to any Catholic or non-denominational church is 4/5+ years & we got married by a justice of the peace, I’m not sure if we could just have her baptized and if we can, I’m not 100% sure this is what we want for her & our family. We are completely lost as to what our beliefs actually are, but we want to raise her believing in God, even if she decides later on life that she doesn’t believe. Should we baptize her just in case we decide we want to raise her Catholic, or dedicate her, or do nothing? Any advice would be appreciated. We’ve been discussing this for months now & the decision isn’t becoming any clearer. Sorry this was such a long post

Baptism for your child should be done in consultation with a priest.

Catechesis should be done by you and your husband if for no other reason to know what it is Catholicism is. You can ask the priest if you can take RCIA classes and decide at the end what to do. The worst that will happen is you will know what you don’t know. Know this.

The Catholic Church is the Church founded by Christ and all other professions of Faith departed from the deposit of Faith found there. If you go to RCIA you will learn what we teach. If you go to almost any Protestant belief system you will learn less about what they teach and more of what others assumedly wrongly believe. If you do RCIA first and then choose to go to Protestant churches, when what they raise as things Catholics teach and do you will be informed as to what they want you to know and how accurate it is.

Any Protestant Bible study you engage in will be to teach you Protestant theology using the Bible.

You and your children will benefit.

 

[PJM]

=southernwifey;8294545]First off, I’m new so hello everyone. I’m here because of this question, but I’m not sure exactly how to word it. My husband & I were both raised Catholic. His family is Catholic, and I was raised in a Catholic family but when my dad died my mom went back to her previous belief in wicca & goddesses (I’ll admit I don’t know much about her beliefs…). Our problem is that I have had very bad experiences with the Catholic religion, and I disagree with a few of their viewpoints and beliefs. My husband doesn’t agree as well. We both believe in God, living a life with morals and good deeds, and helping others, but we also believe in science & evolution. There are some aspects of wicca that I am not sure if I believe or not, but my husband is completely against it. We are having a baby in a few weeks, and the issue of religion keeps coming up, especially with the discussion of baptism vs dedication.

We are both baptized & confirmed, but I only went through confirmation because my mom wanted me to so our family wouldn’t look down on us. I was never sure if that’s what I believed or not. I feel like I would have gotten so much more out of it if I had gone through this process by own choice, and so if my child chooses to be Catholic, I feel like she would benefit more from going through the process on her own free will than she would because we wanted her to.

First allow me to WELCOME YOU TO THE FORUM!

The Forum resticts necessarly the size of each post, so I’ll have to be brief.

To help you clarify your thoughts, I’d like to propose a number of questions for you and hubby to discuss among yourselves. Then I’ll try to provide an answer to your questions.

Q’s to ask: How many God’s are there? [1]

In the entire Bible How many God’s, Faiths [sets of beliefs] and churches does GOD accept/ tolerate? [ONLY 1]

Do you accept that there are heaven and hell? [There are and Must be for Divine Justice]

Do you accept Jesus as God the the ONLY way to heaven? [He is]

What is your view of the authority of the bible? [It is ALL Divinly Inspired]

Now as for your post. Confirmation creates a personal “Covenant relationship” with the Confirmed and God, and is done after the AGE OF REASON and therefore is greviously binding on all who are Confirmed. As a “Catholic” you have committed to know the Catholic Faith, practice it FULLY [and YEs a GREAt many do not and MAY be heading "south not north?], and TO RAISE your Children in the Faith.

God is both patient and Just. He KNOWS your personal situation and will IF YOU ALLOW Him to lead you all to His truth. God will offer you the necessary graces BUT you MUST freely seek and accept them and do what is RIGHT.

As a FYI the Catholic Church accepts proven sciene and proven [not unproven speculation and I want, I wish points of view] on evolution SO LONG AS GOD IS GIVEN credit for controlling it. [It can’t just accidently happen].

Would you allow your new born to decide to be a Mass-murder? No, of couese not. Parenting comes with “Tough Love” decisions *

YOU as PARENTS MUST teach Good from Bad. Good eating habits, work habits, study habits and RELIGIOUS habits. When they become ADULTS and LEAVE HOME then, then, they can decide for themselves. If you as parents do NOT do these things it is a safe assumption they will not be taught; will not be learned, and you will have failed in areas of Primortal responsibility.

I hope this leads to to a correct decission? PEASE continue to ask questions.

God Bless you,
Pat*

 

[Goldrock]

Should we baptize her just in case we decide we want to raise her Catholic, or dedicate her, or do nothing?

I will pray that you baptize the child and that you and your husband come to embrace the Catholic faith. Baptism opens the gates of heaven to a child. If they are unbaptized, it has been traditionally taught that the child will descend to limbo if, God forbid, s/he whould pass away young. The current Holy Father says that we may have hope that unbaptized children are admitted to heaven. I would rather have certainty than hope.

 

[Dorothy]

Incidentally, the Catholic Church believes in science also, but they don’t jump on the bandwagon of every new theory that comes out. We do not have to take the Genesis story of creation literally. It is the way the writer of inspired scripture depicted that God created all things, the fall of man, and the promise of a Saviour.

True science is not against religion.

One of the reasons for the family unit is that parents are responsible for instilling faith in their child. It doesn’t work when a child is brought up with no faith in particular, in the hopes that they will make up their own mind. Parents are the prime educators of their children, and have that responsibility.

 

[puzzleannie]

First off, I’m new so hello everyone. I’m here because of this question, but I’m not sure exactly how to word it. My husband & I were both raised Catholic.

. . .
? Any advice would be appreciated. We’ve been discussing this for months now & the decision isn’t becoming any clearer. Sorry this was such a long post

the first place to go to get answers is the pastor of the Catholic parish nearest you. He (or the person he delegates to take care of baptism of children) will most likely tell you that baptism for your child will not be refused if you, as baptized Catholics, ask for it, but it may be delayed. The reason for the delay is for you to be able to give a reasonable assurance that the child will be raised Catholic, including the other sacraments at the proper age, education in the faith, will be brought to Mass and that there will be a Catholic presence in the home. That is something only you and your husband can answer. You don’t sound as if you are ready, yet, to make that commitment. Recall that in the baptism rite you will make a profession of faith for your child. You cannot do that in good conscience if you do not believe it–basically, the words of the apostle’s creed. You will be ask what you ask of God’s church for your child: faith. and why do you ask it: so he can have eternal life.

If you cannot make a profession of faith and these promises to raise the child Catholic, you are doing violence to your own conscience, and may even be commiting a sacrilege if you are actually opposed to the Catholic Faith. Again, only you know where you are, spiritually, with all of this.

However my feeling is that you would not even ask if you were not close to coming home to Holy Mother Church. It may take a while, first to study the Faith so you have an adult, not a child’s understanding, to complete initiation sacraments for both of you, and to have your marriage convalidated. And the reason it will take a while is so both of you can learn what is involved in each of these steps, and take the time you need to make such life-changing decisions. Does not matter how long the journey takes, what you need is that first step, and it sounds as if wanting the best for your child is that first step. Welcome Home.

 

[SonCatcher]

First off, I’m new so hello everyone.

Hello and Welcome

I’m here because of this question, but I’m not sure exactly how to word it. My husband & I were both raised Catholic. His family is Catholic, and I was raised in a Catholic family but when my dad died my mom went back to her previous belief in wicca & goddesses (I’ll admit I don’t know much about her beliefs…). Our problem is that I have had very bad experiences with the Catholic religion, and I disagree with a few of their viewpoints and beliefs. My husband doesn’t agree as well.

Perhaps we can address those issues here in the forums (one or two per thread, please).

We both believe in God, living a life with morals and good deeds, and helping others, but we also believe in science & evolution.

Many Catholics agree with evolution, the Big Bang, etc. There is nothing in scientific theory that is contrary to the Church.

Non-denominational churches OTOH often are against evolution, etc. (at least they tend to be in my area)

We are having a baby in a few weeks.

Congratulations!

We are both baptized & confirmed, but I only went through confirmation because my mom wanted me to so our family wouldn’t look down on us. I was never sure if that’s what I believed or not. I feel like I would have gotten so much more out of it if I had gone through this process by own choice

If you would like to try again, consider going to RCIA. Even though it is normally for non-Catholics who want to join, Catholics should be able to go for a refresher.

Unfortunately, my husband works all of Saturdays (6 am to 10 pm) & Sunday mornings until 1, so I’m not sure how we will be able to go to church with our baby, unless I take her on my own while my husband works.

Many Catholic parishes also offer Mass on Sunday evening. Check around. Even if not, it doesn’t hurt to explain your situation to the priest.

Does anyone have any advice on this situation?

Contact a local priest, explain your situation and listen to his advice. Among other things, he will likely suggest you convalidate your marriage (have it “blessed”).

Sorry this was such a long post

no problem

 

[southernwifey]

Thank you everyone for your advice. I’m trying to respond in 1 reply instead of 3.

@puzzleannie - That is kind of what I was getting at! I feel hypocritical if I would just have her baptized when I don’t necessarily know if this is what I believe, but do you have to have the baby baptized right away or can you wait a few months or a year? Since we were married by a justice of the peace, the church doesn’t recognize it so can we even have her baptized if our marriage isn’t blessed? Our original plan was to have our marriage blessed, but we got pregnant only a few weeks after our wedding & got involved with pregnancy & finishing school & never looked into it.

& @Dorothy & SonCatcher, the science part wasn’t necessarily about the Catholic church but a Baptist church we have talked to recently. We were discussing their viewpoints, and they told us that since the Bible says Earth is only x years old, that scientific proof was created to turn people away from God. I’m not sure if the Catholic faith is the same way. So I’m not sure what faith I fall under? I believe that even if evolution does exist, God still created it.

And I’m sorry if this sounds stupid, but can you just go to a church & talk to a priest or do you have to be a member of the church already? The priest who was at my church when I stopped going died a year ago so I don’t know anyone from that church anymore, and the pastor at my husband’s church was very rude to us when we came to him a few months ago and told my husband he wasn’t willing to work with us since we had moved in together before getting married (& married in the church) & because my husband can’t attend the mass times due to work (& weekends are the most important days at his job) unless my husband would be able to start going on Sundays.

We have looked into the times in our area, and the non-denominational churches do not offer evening services on Sundays, only 1 Catholic church in a different parish about 10 minutes from us. It is possible that next year my husband might be able to rearrange his work schedule to have Sundays off, but we don’t know for sure yet if he would be able to.

It has been so long since I’ve done anything with any church or prayed that I don’t even know where to start with all this or who to talk to. I’m not religious with praying every day, but I do believe in God, and I have had many events in the last year that seem to be telling me I need to find my faith again so I want to find what it is I believe in, whether its Catholicism or something else. No matter what it is I believe, I pretty much have to start all over because I can barely remember how to say an Our Father or Hail Mary. I questioned whether I believed in God for three years, and even though I went through that, I’m glad I was raised in a religion as opposed to no religion because it gave me somewhere to start with figuring out my beliefs.

 

[Jim_Dandy]

I just want to comment that the “dedication of a baby” is a practice that has recently begun in some (but not all) Protestant organizations. It was not taught by the Apostles. Baptism replaced circumcision as the rite of initiation into the People of God, the New Isreal, the Catholic Church.

 

[SonCatcher]

Thank you everyone for your advice. I’m trying to respond in 1 reply instead of 3.

@puzzleannie - That is kind of what I was getting at! I feel hypocritical if I would just have her baptized when I don’t necessarily know if this is what I believe, but do you have to have the baby baptized right away or can you wait a few months or a year? Since we were married by a justice of the peace, the church doesn’t recognize it so can we even have her baptized if our marriage isn’t blessed? Our original plan was to have our marriage blessed, but we got pregnant only a few weeks after our wedding & got involved with pregnancy & finishing school & never looked into it.

Blessing your marriage (convalidation) and baptism are separate things. One does not depend upon the other.

& @Dorothy & SonCatcher, the science part wasn’t necessarily about the Catholic church but a Baptist church we have talked to recently. We were discussing their viewpoints, and they told us that since the Bible says Earth is only x years old, that scientific proof was created to turn people away from God. I’m not sure if the Catholic faith is the same way. So I’m not sure what faith I fall under? I believe that even if evolution does exist, God still created it.

Baptists being against evolution, etc. sounds like my experience, too.

I actually know Catholic priests who speak well of the scientific explanations, however.

And I’m sorry if this sounds stupid, but can you just go to a church & talk to a priest or do you have to be a member of the church already? The priest who was at my church when I stopped going died a year ago so I don’t know anyone from that church anymore, and the pastor at my husband’s church was very rude to us when we came to him a few months ago and told my husband he wasn’t willing to work with us since my husband can’t attend the mass times due to work (& weekends are the most important days at his job) unless my husband would be able to start going on Sundays.

No such thing as “stupid” here. You should probably make an appointment with the priest as his schedule may be very busy but he should meet with anyone.

So sorry about the rude priest. They’re human, too. Hopefully, you will find a kinder priest to work with.

We have looked into the times in our area, and the non-denominational churches do not offer evening services on Sundays, only 1 Catholic church in a different parish about 10 minutes from us. It is possible that next year my husband might be able to rearrange his work schedule to have Sundays off, but we don’t know for sure yet if he would be able to.

Wonderful! You can attend at any Catholic parish, even one that isn’t closest to you.

It has been so long since I’ve done anything with any church or prayed that I don’t even know where to start with all this or who to talk to. I’m not religious with praying every day, but I do believe in God, and I have had many events in the last year that seem to be telling me I need to find my faith again so I want to find what it is I believe in, whether its Catholicism or something else. No matter what it is I believe, I pretty much have to start all over because I can barely remember how to say an Our Father or Hail Mary. I questioned whether I believed in God for three years, and even though I went through that, I’m glad I was raised in a religion as opposed to no religion because it gave me somewhere to start with figuring out my beliefs.

It’s okay, we all have to re-learn things from time to time.

 

[CopticChristian]

Thank you everyone for your advice. I’m trying to respond in 1 reply instead of 3.

@puzzleannie - That is kind of what I was getting at! I feel hypocritical if I would just have her baptized when I don’t necessarily know if this is what I believe, but do you have to have the baby baptized right away or can you wait a few months or a year? Since we were married by a justice of the peace, the church doesn’t recognize it so can we even have her baptized if our marriage isn’t blessed? Our original plan was to have our marriage blessed, but we got pregnant only a few weeks after our wedding & got involved with pregnancy & finishing school & never looked into it.

& @Dorothy & SonCatcher, the science part wasn’t necessarily about the Catholic church but a Baptist church we have talked to recently. We were discussing their viewpoints, and they told us that since the Bible says Earth is only x years old, that scientific proof was created to turn people away from God. I’m not sure if the Catholic faith is the same way. So I’m not sure what faith I fall under? I believe that even if evolution does exist, God still created it.

And I’m sorry if this sounds stupid, but can you just go to a church & talk to a priest or do you have to be a member of the church already? The priest who was at my church when I stopped going died a year ago so I don’t know anyone from that church anymore, and the pastor at my husband’s church was very rude to us when we came to him a few months ago and told my husband he wasn’t willing to work with us since we had moved in together before getting married (& married in the church) & because my husband can’t attend the mass times due to work (& weekends are the most important days at his job) unless my husband would be able to start going on Sundays.

We have looked into the times in our area, and the non-denominational churches do not offer evening services on Sundays, only 1 Catholic church in a different parish about 10 minutes from us. It is possible that next year my husband might be able to rearrange his work schedule to have Sundays off, but we don’t know for sure yet if he would be able to.

It has been so long since I’ve done anything with any church or prayed that I don’t even know where to start with all this or who to talk to. I’m not religious with praying every day, but I do believe in God, and I have had many events in the last year that seem to be telling me I need to find my faith again so I want to find what it is I believe in, whether its Catholicism or something else. No matter what it is I believe, I pretty much have to start all over because I can barely remember how to say an Our Father or Hail Mary. I questioned whether I believed in God for three years, and even though I went through that, I’m glad I was raised in a religion as opposed to no religion because it gave me somewhere to start with figuring out my beliefs.

The other choice is to call the diocese office, where the Bishop is and ask if they can refer you to someone for answers.

 

[puzzleannie]

quote=southernwifey;8295037]And I’m sorry if this sounds stupid, but can you just go to a church & talk to a priest or do you have to be a member of the church already?

you are already a member of the parish in whose boundaries you reside (probably the closest). The best route is to call and make an appointment with a priest, rather than to try and explain all this on the phone to a secretary. Tell her you are a Catholic family who is thinking about coming back to the Church and you must talk to the priest. Then you can look at each situation in proper order–marriage, baptism, confession, confirmation etc. there is an answer to each of the questions you have asked, and most of the time the answer is a lot more simple than you anticipated.

 

[Rocky]

Thank you everyone for your advice. I’m trying to respond in 1 reply instead of 3.

@puzzleannie - That is kind of what I was getting at! I feel hypocritical if I would just have her baptized when I don’t necessarily know if this is what I believe, but do you have to have the baby baptized right away or can you wait a few months or a year? Since we were married by a justice of the peace, the church doesn’t recognize it so can we even have her baptized if our marriage isn’t blessed? Our original plan was to have our marriage blessed, but we got pregnant only a few weeks after our wedding & got involved with pregnancy & finishing school & never looked into it.

& @Dorothy & SonCatcher, the science part wasn’t necessarily about the Catholic church but a Baptist church we have talked to recently. We were discussing their viewpoints, and they told us that since the Bible says Earth is only x years old, that scientific proof was created to turn people away from God. I’m not sure if the Catholic faith is the same way. So I’m not sure what faith I fall under? I believe that even if evolution does exist, God still created it.

And I’m sorry if this sounds stupid, but can you just go to a church & talk to a priest or do you have to be a member of the church already? The priest who was at my church when I stopped going died a year ago so I don’t know anyone from that church anymore, and the pastor at my husband’s church was very rude to us when we came to him a few months ago and told my husband he wasn’t willing to work with us since we had moved in together before getting married (& married in the church) & because my husband can’t attend the mass times due to work (& weekends are the most important days at his job) unless my husband would be able to start going on Sundays.

We have looked into the times in our area, and the non-denominational churches do not offer evening services on Sundays, only 1 Catholic church in a different parish about 10 minutes from us. It is possible that next year my husband might be able to rearrange his work schedule to have Sundays off, but we don’t know for sure yet if he would be able to.

It has been so long since I’ve done anything with any church or prayed that I don’t even know where to start with all this or who to talk to. I’m not religious with praying every day, but I do believe in God, and I have had many events in the last year that seem to be telling me I need to find my faith again so I want to find what it is I believe in, whether its Catholicism or something else. No matter what it is I believe, I pretty much have to start all over because I can barely remember how to say an Our Father or Hail Mary. I questioned whether I believed in God for three years, and even though I went through that, I’m glad I was raised in a religion as opposed to no religion because it gave me somewhere to start with figuring out my beliefs.

I am sorry that the priest you went to was rude to you. I assure you not all priests are like that. Please give another priest a chance. Call the parish and make an appointment. You don’t have to be a parishioner. This will help the priest to give you the time you need.

Don’t give up on praying. Saying an Our Father and a Hail Mary at the beginning and end of each day will help, but you don’t have to say set prayers. You can just talk to God and ask Him to help you honor Him during the day along with anything else you want to say or ask Him.

Keeping you in prayer—

 

[puzzleannie]

to OP: if you want move all this along faster, ask one of the Catholics in your family for a rosary. If they have a sheet on how to say it, okay, but if not, just start holding it in your hand, and praying whatever prayers you remember, or just what is in your heart. This way, Mary is helping you pray. She wants her children to come home to her Son, she wants her priests to be more pastoral, she wants parish staff people to be more responsive and she wants to make sure you get answers to your question.

it is like riding a bike, you never really forget, it may surprise you what happens just when you try to pray holding a rosary.

 

[PJM]

Something I forgot to mention in my original post:

BAPTISM is absolutely necessary for your baby to get into heaven, so it is definately something you WANT to DO:thumbsup:

Also, it would be prudent for you and hunbby to enroll in your parish RCIA program to get reaquainted with our catholic Faith.

God Bless all of you!
Pat

 

[Dorothy]

Incidentally, the bible doesn’t say exactly how long creation took…a “day” can be millions of years.

Many fundamentalists think they must believe in a literal 7 days. That’s okay if they want to, but they shouldn’t condemn others for not thinking that way.