Depression and conversion from JW

[excaliber]

Hi: Don’t know why except it is a lot of work for the RCIA team. We have an inquiry group, and then the Catechumens and Candidates. We get them involved with Church activities as part of their process into the Church. So after they are received into the Church they already feel like members. They have our phone numbers and e-mail address so they can contact us any time they have a burning question.
We have a summer get together with them also, and invite those who entered the year before.
There are eight of us that do this.
We look for comments about RCIA here on CA and it helps us do a better job.
Take care and God Bless You.

Sounds great, I would LOVE to get into year round RCIA!!!

I completely agree with Having rcia…an official class to make sure everyone is well taught.

However I can’t understand the Idea that the preaching work starts in september…that means there is actualy an of season.

There should never be a wrong time of year to get interested in the Catholic Church.

Is there anything in scipture or tradition, that supports the idea that if a christian is baptised around ester…that there is some special grace given to them?
Is baptism on that particular month better then any other month?

But as I said, I like Rcia…the class is a good Idea. The reason I feel this way is because of my JW background. Yes there dates where baptisms were scheduled.
But every Baptised JW is obligated to do what they can in the preaching work. I duno its just a different attitude. It seems like Catholics are just in noooo rush…and jw’s lives revolve around the preaching work…that’s ALL we did. We had no soup kitchens or anyother ministry.
The Catholic church is better…just a culter shock for me.

By the way…yes Jw’s are zealous for the preaching work…but not BETTER then the Catholic Church.
Jw’s have to report there activity in the preaching work every month.
So yes they preach…but the watchtower organization is right behind them cracking that whip…LOL

 

[Prague]

Hi again: There are more parishes starting year round RCIA. I attended a semanar last August in CA, and we were all encouraged to find the time and resources to have year round instuction. About 1/2 of the group already did so,
I was a sponsor for three years and RCIA was at that time also a September start.
I was asked to join the RCIA team and fortunately at that same time a few more in the parish also joined in, and so for the past three years we have had a year round RCIA.
As I mentioned before, there is quite a bit of work and study for us involved in teaching as we all want to get it right and be on the same page. Get it right.
We also strive to have an environment area during the class experince. (EX: Bible on table, candles, flowers, pictures, stautes) Anything we can put together to get the point across that we are teaching for the day.
As instructors we really enjoying watching the bonding and sense of community we see happening with everyone in the classes.
It is permitted to have the Rite of Initiation at other times, but it is encourged to have them at the same time to show solidarity with each other and all the other parishes with those entering the Church. It is really a very special time.
Yes, we Catholics have not been as strong in preaching work, but we are making a major effort to catch up!
Remember, entering the Catholic Church is quite a bit like a person coming from another county to the USA. In both instances, you learn a new language, new customs, and traditions, and rules and regulations to live by.
We want to make sure that this is what you want, and fully understand the love and beauty of the Catholic faith.
God’s Blessings
Prague

 

[CatsAndDogs]

I don’t have litergy of the hours…but I have other books. I don’t think there is a shortage of books…I think there is a lack of understanding between jW and Catholic. These two religions are EXTREMELY not compatible in any way shape or form. Most Catholics do not understand that…I was not lutheran…or Orthodox…or Anglican…there are no simularities. Jw’s don’t…fast…neel…have rosery…have holy water…have holy orders…don’t even know what litergy is…don’t know a thing about Mary…or the Trinity…or even The Divinity of Christ…or have priests…ok lets just say NOTHING is the same. The mental attitude of a Catholic and Jw are so different that It would take years to adapt. My point is that I canot just walk out of a kingdomhall and into a Catholic church and begin being Catholic alone…because its not september or rcia yet. Any more then you can walk out of a Catholic church get into an airplane and just start using all the instruments on that plane and fly it to hawaii. Its realy THAT different.

RCIA is particularly foreign to any JW. I will be honest…I don’t like it…how am I going to get into a class room with a bunch of anglicans and Orthodox and learn at the same pace as them.
I won’t even get into having to begin classes at a particular time of month.

I have called churches and they literally tell you that they will call you back in like 4 months…WHAT ARE THEY THINKING?

I guess you can see that I STILL don’t understand Catholics LOL. I have no doubt that the Catholic Church was started by God…but I donot understand the people.

But yea I got books…I just need help using them.

Hmmm,… OK.

If you can’t find any “real physically present” Catholic people to learn from, get a copy of the “Compendium of The Catechism of the Catholic Church” (Amazon’s reference) and, if you can, the actual Catechism, as well as the “Handbook for Today’s Catholic”.

There’s also “Life in Christ”, which is another good “detailed overview” of being Catholic.

THEN, read the “Handbook”, and as questions arise bring them here (to CAF) after finding the references to your question in the compendium and/or the actual Catechism.

I realize that there are HUGE differences between the worldview of the JW’s and Catholics, but if you’re interested in finding out about what it means to be Catholic, you needn’t try to “reconcile” Catholic “thinking” with JW “thinking”, just come to understand Catholic thinking as Catholics do it as learned by you by your asking questions of Catholics.

Believe ME, we will be MORE than happy to answer questions with delight!

You should see this as a wonderful adventure. A whole new world is opening up for you. And no one is asking you to CONVERT or any such thing! We’re only TOO happy to answer your sincerely questioning questions.

This will “prime” you for learning, and otherwise interacting, with others in RCIA or at Church. It will be WONDERFUL!

As a new Catholic myself, baptised post-49years-of-age (simultaneously with my wife) this Easter vigil, who had no religion whatsoever and USED to be of the scientistic-deist variety “faith”, I empathize with your struggle, but once you decide that God is who you want to know intimately, the Church is THE ONLY place to best find Him in, and find Him by, at which point the “struggle” becomes a joyful discovery voyage!

Best to you, praying for you, and DON’T HESITATE to ask me personally or the forum denizens in general for help with any question you have! We LIVE for questioning folks like yourself!

Love!

 

[excaliber]

Hmmm,… OK.

If you can’t find any “real physically present” Catholic people to learn from, get a copy of the “Compendium of The Catechism of the Catholic Church” (Amazon’s reference) and, if you can, the actual Catechism, as well as the “Handbook for Today’s Catholic”.

There’s also “Life in Christ”, which is another good “detailed overview” of being Catholic.

THEN, read the “Handbook”, and as questions arise bring them here (to CAF) after finding the references to your question in the compendium and/or the actual Catechism.

I realize that there are HUGE differences between the worldview of the JW’s and Catholics, but if you’re interested in finding out about what it means to be Catholic, you needn’t try to “reconcile” Catholic “thinking” with JW “thinking”, just come to understand Catholic thinking as Catholics do it as learned by you by your asking questions of Catholics.

Believe ME, we will be MORE than happy to answer questions with delight!

You should see this as a wonderful adventure. A whole new world is opening up for you. And no one is asking you to CONVERT or any such thing! We’re only TOO happy to answer your sincerely questioning questions.

This will “prime” you for learning, and otherwise interacting, with others in RCIA or at Church. It will be WONDERFUL!

As a new Catholic myself, baptised post-49years-of-age (simultaneously with my wife) this Easter vigil, who had no religion whatsoever and USED to be of the scientistic-deist variety “faith”, I empathize with your struggle, but once you decide that God is who you want to know intimately, the Church is THE ONLY place to best find Him in, and find Him by, at which point the “struggle” becomes a joyful discovery voyage!

Best to you, praying for you, and DON’T HESITATE to ask me personally or the forum denizens in general for help with any question you have! We LIVE for questioning folks like yourself!

Love!

Thank you…here is a question.
Lets say one has The Catechism,a Catholic answer bible,Catholosism for dummies, and a smaller easy to understand hand book version of the Catechism…along with plenty of other Catholic books to keep one buisy. Along with Catholic websites such as this.

Lets also say one is registerd in a parish…but knows not one individual there…and has not spoken to the priest. Dose not know how to understand the miselet, has no catholic background at all…has no idea what a devoted catholic dose on a daily basis.

If one has a goal to have a good study routine,good church atendance,and good prayer life…and wants to be active and make friends in the parish. How dose one do this…what literally is the steps one must take…starting with step one and so forth.

Keep in mind that I am single with no children and I work third shift. And I am not old. So I would need advice to fit my particular situation.

Now a jw in the same situation…I could tell him exactly what to do…
But now Imm back to square one…and I know nothing.

 

[Pier]

Thank you…here is a question.
Lets say one has The Catechism,a Catholic answer bible,Catholosism for dummies, and a smaller easy to understand hand book version of the Catechism…along with plenty of other Catholic books to keep one buisy. Along with Catholic websites such as this.

Lets also say one is registerd in a parish…but knows not one individual there…and has not spoken to the priest. Dose not know how to understand the miselet, has no catholic background at all…has no idea what a devoted catholic dose on a daily basis.

If one has a goal to have a good study routine,good church atendance,and good prayer life…and wants to be active and make friends in the parish. How dose one do this…what literally is the steps one must take…starting with step one and so forth.

Keep in mind that I am single with no children and I work third shift. And I am not old. So I would need advice to fit my particular situation.

Now a jw in the same situation…I could tell him exactly what to do…
But now Imm back to square one…and I know nothing.

Call and make an appointment to talk with a priest - or stop in when the office is open to make an appointment…

And please don’t forget to let us know how it goes!

 

[excaliber]

Call and make an appointment to talk with a priest - or stop in when the office is open to make an appointment…

And please don’t forget to let us know how it goes!

Ok so I wake up and the FIRST thing I do is call the Church Im registerd at. Ofcourse the priest was not in, so I gave them my cell phone so he could call me back. (the last time I never got a call)

This is going to sound silly…but Im going to tell you. I am having realistic religious dreams again.
Why is this a concern? Because the last time they came true!

In this dream I was back at the Oneness pentecostal church that I visited…almost a year ago. I was there to meet people, and have fun with there singing and dancing around in church, and it was going great. But in my dream I thought about there theology…Jesus being all three devine persons. It botherd me so I sadly left. They tried to stop me…but I drove away thinking about how I wish I could get into the Catholic Church.

is that crazy or what!!! I never remember my dreams but I remember every detail of that one.

These dreams normaly come true…I had the same ones about the Catholic church…and here I am. I never know HOW I end up at these churches…but I normaly do.

Yea it sounds stupid…but mabey I should take a precaution…just in case this priest dose not call me AGAIN. If they have Mass tommorow Im going to go…and Im practicaly going to hand cuff myself to a priest.

I dunno…what do you think? mabey the dream ment nothing.

 

[JCismywingman]

Hey,

Really wanna appluad you for your courage and determination.

Most churches will have daily mass, so you should probably check with the one you’re registered with and go for that.

Not sure how it works over there, but priests here (australia) do respond to their emails rather frequently (those who do use emails). So that could be an option if there’s one for your parish priest.

All the best

 

[excaliber]

Hey,

Really wanna appluad you for your courage and determination.

Most churches will have daily mass, so you should probably check with the one you’re registered with and go for that.

Not sure how it works over there, but priests here (australia) do respond to their emails rather frequently (those who do use emails). So that could be an option if there’s one for your parish priest.

All the best

They don’t have mass EVERY DAY.
I picked it because its strategic…as far as me being able
to sneak in. And yes with a jw background you have to sneak…lOl

Yea If I can get an active e_mail
that would be great.

 

[fhansen]

Just get it done. You’re already Catholic because you know there never was another Church of Christ. Now you need to formalize it and not let mundane and irrelevant obstacles get in your way. None of this has anything to do with our preferences-I might be Buddhist if it did. It all has to do with truth. It’ll all work itself out-one step at a time. We’ll keep praying for you.

 

[excaliber]

Just get it done. You’re already Catholic because you know there never was another Church of Christ. Now you need to formalize it and not let mundane and irrelevant obstacles get in your way. None of this has anything to do with our preferences-I might be Buddhist if it did. It all has to do with truth. It’ll all work itself out-one step at a time. We’ll keep praying for you.

Please believe that this game of cat and mouse will be over…THIS WEEK. I got two churches picked out…Im going two one tommorow and another the next day…If I go through both without talking to a priest and or RCIA director…I will then call the bishop and I will tatle on both those churches.

Now that’s getting it done.

 

[excaliber]

Just get it done. You’re already Catholic because you know there never was another Church of Christ. Now you need to formalize it and not let mundane and irrelevant obstacles get in your way. None of this has anything to do with our preferences-I might be Buddhist if it did. It all has to do with truth. It’ll all work itself out-one step at a time. We’ll keep praying for you.

Please believe that this game of cat and mouse will be over…THIS WEEK. I got two churches picked out…Im going two one tommorow and another the next day…If I go through both without talking to a priest and or RCIA director…I will then call the bishop and I will tatle on both those churches.

Now that’s getting it done.

 

[excaliber]

Churches and Chapels that have Eucharistic Adoration:

therealpresence.org/chap_fr.htm

Masstimes.org

masstimes.org/dotnet/default.aspx

Hope this helps!

~~ the phoenix

I just went to the adoration website…and adoration is only at sertain times during sertain days…
is adoration and praying in front of
the Eucharist to different things?

I also went to the Chapel in a hospitol…not 100 percent sure it was a Catholic one…and I did not see a lit candel to show that the Eucharist was there???

 

[fhansen]

Please believe that this game of cat and mouse will be over…THIS WEEK. I got two churches picked out…Im going two one tommorow and another the next day…If I go through both without talking to a priest and or RCIA director…I will then call the bishop and I will tatle on both those churches.

Now that’s getting it done.

Sorry, didn’t mean to be pushy. I’m just hoping it goes well. I have every confidence it will.

 

[excaliber]

Sorry, didn’t mean to be pushy. I’m just hoping it goes well. I have every confidence it will.

Its not your fault…Its just been about 9 months or so…since I first met Roll tide on CCF. im just ready to get the ball rolling…you know.

 

[CatsAndDogs]

Thank you…here is a question.
Lets say one has The Catechism,a Catholic answer bible,Catholosism for dummies, and a smaller easy to understand hand book version of the Catechism…along with plenty of other Catholic books to keep one buisy. Along with Catholic websites such as this.

Lets also say one is registerd in a parish…but knows not one individual there…and has not spoken to the priest. Dose not know how to understand the miselet, has no catholic background at all…has no idea what a devoted catholic dose on a daily basis.

If one has a goal to have a good study routine,good church atendance,and good prayer life…and wants to be active and make friends in the parish. How dose one do this…what literally is the steps one must take…starting with step one and so forth.

1. Go to Mass (daily if possible and weekly always) and just do as others do (though cross your arms so that you don’t take the eucharist when others do) as often as possible.
2. Try to speak to the Priest and tell him you want to understand what it means to be a Catholic.
3. Regardless of whether you talk to a Priest of not, read the simplest “What Catholics Believe” book you have, and do what you can to understand what you’ve just read. When you don’t understand something, bring it here for explanation.
4. Between the above items, be a friend during Church and elsewhen and ask questions of your fellow parishioners.
5. Since we’re really not that mysterious as to what we either do or believe, your lack of exposure to it is irrelevant. We don’t do anything mysterious in “real life” as Catholics, other than to try to live what we believe.
6. First work on the basic beliefs, and don’t get overwhelmed by all the “advanced theological” stuff. Keep to the simple “guidebooks” until you find yourself using the “more advanced” books more often than the simple ones.

Keep in mind that I am single with no children and I work third shift. And I am not old. So I would need advice to fit my particular situation.

Now a jw in the same situation…I could tell him exactly what to do…
But now Imm back to square one…and I know nothing.

It might be interesting to know what you would do as a JW in the same situation. That might give us a “routine” that you could modify to get better acquainted with being a Catholic.

Keep asking questions! Hear from 'ya soon.

 

[ElizabethPH]

Upon leaving the church after Mass while shaking the priests hand introduce yourself and say I am the guy that wants to become Catholic who do I talk too? See what happens.

 

[excaliber]

I just talked to another jw that was on journey home. he said he would help me out. ofcourse no phone call from the priest…but I should be ok.

 

[JCismywingman]

i’m sorry, i guess i took it for granted that every place is as fortunate as where i am to have at least 1 daily mass (if not a lunch time and evening one as well).

hope you’ve either gotten to meet the priest personally now or spoken to some one. if you call, maybe the parish secretary will pick up and you can first tell him/her about you desperately seeking a priest but him not ever calling you back?

 

[Techno2000]

Conversion from one religion to another is the hardest thing I have ever attempted. Conversion to a religion that is such the opposite of JW seems ALMOST impossible.

Conversion to a religion that’s the opposite of everything you were raised to believe…while going through a MAJOR depression IS IMPOSSIBLE.

I feel like I used everything I had trying to be a good Jehovahs witness…pioneered…went to bethel…etc…etc
Now that Im on empty…I find out that I need to convert to another church…and I pray until Im blue in the face…for things god would want…just a lil strength to read some of my bible( depression for me is the lack of any strenght to do ANYTHING) or I pray for little things like that. And its bad because I will wake up feeling worse then before…like if I could get up…Id jump of my house…LoL.

Praying is not helping…when you pray for help…you expect it…when nothing at all slightly good happens…you feel that its impossible for God to care…and yet answer no to a prayer for a little strength to read a bible…or go to mass…or a little faith or somethin.

its like the devil has me in a checkmate…I ofcourse am not married have no kids…just the absence of everything.

How on earth am I supposed to convert under these conditions?
This aint even fair…its the devil hitting me…the me hitting the floor. then he just keeps kicken so I can never get back up.

catholicforum.com/churches/cathteach/divinemercy1.htm
our.homewithgod.com/divinemercy/
angelfire.com/ca3/rafaelmarie/ThePieta/athepieta.html
catholicbooksonline.org/item.asp?PID=294

 

[excaliber]

catholicforum.com/churches/cathteach/divinemercy1.htm
our.homewithgod.com/divinemercy/
angelfire.com/ca3/rafaelmarie/ThePieta/athepieta.html
catholicbooksonline.org/item.asp?PID=294

Still never talked to the priest…sorta getting tired of chasing them around…I went to church and saw him there…but I was tired and disappointed and frankly didn’t want to talk to him anymore.

What are these websites to buy books and stuff. I will look through it later. I made up my mind…untill rcia or Im able to have comunion…there literaly is no reason for me to step foot in a Catholic church.

Without comunion…you are siting in a big building…just doin a bunch of routines. standing up…kneeling…crossing yourself…etc…etc…etc… There is no loving to insight to fine works…like it says in the bible…not unless you count the sign of peace…or waving at people LOL. Basicly no MEANINGFUL human interaction.
Not to mention NO involvement what so ever…if your not baptised,there is nothing for you to do.

I personaly think they should just get rid of that stupid coffee and donuts meeting…mabey you guys like it, but listen to my side of the story…its bad enugh to be in church not knowing anyone in what is supposed to be your congregation. BUT I can use the real presence as an excuse and say hey we aren’t supposed to speak to each other because of that. However now Im supposed to wonder around BY MYSELF and try to aproach complete strangers, at some donut gathering???
Im sorry but that’s not my idea of a congregation…I can do that at a bar…or at a club if I want to aproach complete strangers on my own…it should be easier in a congregation.

So what’s the point of going to church…I can just go online here.

I think that’s what Catholics need to know about Jehovahs Witnesses.

A Jehovahs Witness convert is coming from one of the most close
knit religious structures there is, and he is converting to one of the most lose knit major Christian religious structures on earth.

The difference is that extreme.

This is also what Catholics need to know about Jehovahs Witnesses,unless a JW has a Catholic realitive, or miracle takes place and your mate converts with you…there is virtualy no way out of your former religion.

A JW that actualy practices there faith, should have VERY FEW conections outside there church.
Catholics canot understand this…but I will state it anyway…

A jw that practices there faith (especialy one that gose to serve at bethel as a single brother…such as my self) IS DEPENDENT on the jw church, and there congregation is the ONLY known suport structure. The Jw church threatens
and can take all that away if a member gets involved with the Catholic church. Ok do you follow me so far?..The Catholic church has absolutely nothing to help a cult member who has lost the protection of there church.

So your stuck!!! you canot risk losing everyone you know…and your whole family by being disfellowshiped. Because if that happens all the kneeling and standing up and crossing yourself in the world won’t help you then.
You would need the help of a congregation…I honestly don’t see where that exists in The Catholic church. You end up with a situation that DON’T WORK.

I truly think I should go to the Greek Orthodox church for a while.
Mabey they have more of an actual congregation because its smaller. The only other alternative
is to just become more active in the Jw Church, and use the support system there.

But all things considered, it is two risky to lose everyone I know, simply for the routine of standing up and kneeling. I have no choice but to wait for Rcia, before risking being caught at a mass.