Help, Trying to convert

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flamez3

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Hello, Im 17 and live in Australia. I went to see a priest at the catholic church i go to about converting from Anglican to catholic, he said that it will at least take 2 years (this was when i was 16) for me to become a confirmed catholic, i was wondering if that was right or if i should see another priest?
 
Everybody’s situation is a little bit different. It took me pretty close to 2 years to become Catholic. This was because the RCIA class for the year had already started and I was not permitted to join it midway. I had to wait until the next September (this was Dec) to start the next one and then 7 months from there to Baptism. It meant a great deal to me so I was more than willing to do whatever it took.

Usually, RCIA classes run about 7 months or so culminating at the Easter Vigil.

Ask again, maybe at another parish. They vary as to how the RCIA program is implemented.
 
flamez3 said:
Hello, Im 17 and live in Australia. I went to see a priest at the catholic church i go to about converting from Anglican to catholic, he said that it will at least take 2 years (this was when i was 16) for me to become a confirmed catholic, i was wondering if that was right or if i should see another priest?
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Boy, it is a long time.
when you are born, it takes 1 week to become Catholic.
Anyhow, I would go for the 2 years. Why?
If they gave 2 years, it seems that they have a good program in mind. I would rather take the 2 years, be followed, solve my question, have somebody to talk to, study well the doctrine than “just for the sake of it” be Catholic in any way and not know what you are doing.
Here it appears so many questions out of ignorance, that it would be a shame for you not to profit from a well done program.
My opinion.
You will be 19 when you become a Catholic. When you will be 70, what are these 2 years?
Mi opinion, of course.
 
Hi, flemez, thanks for joining us!

RCIA just began in my parish. It will end at Easter, 2012. We have a longer program than some other parishes. One parish I know has a two-year RCIA. So two years sounds quite normal to me. Not only will you be instructed in the Catholic faith, but you will be immersed in Catholic culture during this time. Hopefully, you will begin to think and act like a Catholic by the time you join the Church. One must learn to “think with the mind of the Church.” That takes time. Your age of 17 could have something to do with it. Have your parents consented to your becoming Catholic?
 
ibo said:
Boy, it is a long time.
when you are born, it takes 1 week to become Catholic.
Anyhow, I would go for the 2 years. Why?
I would rather take the 2 years, be followed, solve my question, have somebody to talk to, study well the doctrine than “just for the sake of it” be Catholic in any way and not know what you are doing.
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Im not sure if I’m understanding you correctly, but if i am. I know what I’m doing; I’m going to become a Catholic Priest when I’m older, and the longer i have to wait to become a catholic, the longer it is to get into seminary :confused:
 
Jim_Dandy said:
Hi, flemez, thanks for joining us!

RCIA just began in my parish. It will end at Easter, 2012. We have a longer program than some other parishes. One parish I know has a two-year RCIA. So two years sounds quite normal to me. Not only will you be instructed in the Catholic faith, but you will be immersed in Catholic culture during this time. Hopefully, you will begin to think and act like a Catholic by the time you join the Church. One must learn to “think with the mind of the Church.” That takes time. Your age of 17 could have something to do with it. Have your parents consented to your becoming Catholic?
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My parents aren’t that religious, i was born into Anglican, but my parents have been very supportive of my decision and they take me to church every Sunday. The main reasons i want to convert fast is to be eligible for seminary and get forgiveness of my mortal sins, 2 years is along time to wait until i can confess.
 
I also have been going through the process of converting from Anglicanism. I would first like to say that the time does vary, and like ibo said, is the length doesn’t matter as much. All that matters is if you make it or not, and since this is something that will last the rest of your life it might be better to take your time and make sure this is what you want. Even though I completed a year of RCIA and was told I could come in, since my dad wants me to take my time (he’s not taking it to well that I’m converting) and make sure its something I was positive about. I’m waiting a bit longer just for him so he can learn to accept it and we can have a strong family bond.

Though Anglicanism can be pretty close to the Catholic faith (widely depends on if your high or low church ect.), there still are differences, and those are the things the priest will need to make sure you know! Perhaps he had said two years because its the longest it could take, but since you are baptized and can be let in anytime of the year; perhaps it might take less time?

Though two years may seem daunting, and you may want it as soon as possible (Lord knows I do!). God knows and sees our prayers. He is with us in our conversion journeys, and just as Christ carried his cross, we too are called to carry our own. So if it takes you two years enjoy every moment of it and I recommend praying and letting the Lord know that you are willing to spend as much time as needed in RCIA for Him.

I enjoy this quote from Pope Gregory the Great whenever I think about my conversion:

“There are in truth three states of the converted: the beginning, the middle, and the perfection. In the beginning they experience the charms of sweetness; in the middle the contests of temptation; and in the end the fullness of perfection.”
 
Flamez3~I pray for you zealously! Hearing your zeal inspires my own so, thank you for being so open and anxious, on fire and trusting. Patience is a virtue God wants for each of us and it is quite possible the wait you are facing is part of that lesson. When we have mortal sins on our souls we are not outside of God’s ever merciful love or redemption. Please speak with your priest about the reason for your anxiousness and he will put your heart at ease. You already sound Catholic and have not even converted yet so, listen to ibo and your heart, be patient, and pray unceasingly. I will hold you in my prayers for how ever long it takes for you to continue your journey. :highprayer:
 
flamez3 said:
Im not sure if I’m understanding you correctly, but if i am. I know what I’m doing; I’m going to become a Catholic Priest when I’m older, and the longer i have to wait to become a catholic, the longer it is to get into seminary :confused:
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Tell you, I am a former seminarian who was kicked out (thanks to God!) though I wanted to stay. I am happily married but still now i would prefer to be a priest. But God wanted me to be a family man, happily, I am doing His Will.

It is not because you want, that God wants you to be a Priest. Priesthood is a calling. I think (my opinion (MO), believe me !) that you are too young to make this decision. MO, dont try to cut corners . MO, go to University, take and degree, meet girls and go to parties, and if God wants you to be a priest, you will be a priest. If God does not want, you will never be, no matter how hard you want. MO, the Church nowadays needs priests who are engineers, doctor, phisicists, biologist, literate so that it may dialogue with the complex knowledge world where we are. You need not only Philisophy and Theology.

As for age, I knew of a guy who after becoming widower, entered the priesthood 65 years old.

You are young, that’s not your fault, sang the other guy. Carpe diem, enjoy life and live life at a time. There is a Russian proverb that says: “When Man makes plans, God smiles (laughes?)”

👍
 
ibo said:
Tell you, I am a former seminarian who was kicked out (thanks to God!) though I wanted to stay. I am happily married but still now i would prefer to be a priest. But God wanted me to be a family man, happily, I am doing His Will.

It is not because you want, that God wants you to be a Priest. Priesthood is a calling. I think (my opinion (MO), believe me !) that you are too young to make this decision. MO, dont try to cut corners . MO, go to University, take and degree, meet girls and go to parties, and if God wants you to be a priest, you will be a priest. If God does not want, you will never be, no matter how hard you want. MO, the Church nowadays needs priests who are engineers, doctor, phisicists, biologist, literate so that it may dialogue with the complex knowledge world where we are. You need not only Philisophy and Theology.

As for age, I knew of a guy who after becoming widower, entered the priesthood 65 years old.

You are young, that’s not your fault, sang the other guy. Carpe diem, enjoy life and live life at a time. There is a Russian proverb that says: “When Man makes plans, God smiles (laughes?)”

👍
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It may seem like I’m arrogant and ignorant when your talking to me here, but I am, most certainly not. I have always been a christian, just not of any denomination that i knew, I want to be a catholic, i will be. It is your opinion, yes. But here is mine; I want to become a priest, one second i didn’t know what i wanted to do with my life (having OCD and separation anxiety problems and general stress problems), the next minute, Poof: I wanted to become a priest, I don’t necessarily want to go to party’s or meet girls. I’m young, yes but i also know what to expect for my career, and just hope i can be a catholic priest.
 
Do not think two years is so long. It took me 18 years to become confirmed. That doesn’t mean I wasn’t a practicing Catholic until I was 18. Becoming a Catholic is a journey and an opportunity to learn. If it were over in a few easy steps, it would mean much less to you.

The preisthood will wait. How much more valuable would you be to God’s work if you had a college education to teach the poor in a foreign country how to avoid waterborne illness, for example? Would a business degree better suit you to administer a school or charity? Would you like to teach? There are all kinds of priests with all kinds of training. Improve yourself with the time God has given you so that if you still feel called to become a priest in four or five years you can serve him well. And while you are doing so, you can also continue your confirmation studies. 👍
 
i grew up in the american episcopal church which is what the Church of England became in America around the time of the American Revolution. i was confirmed at 16 in the episcopal church even though i wanted to be Catholic.
i went away to college and did not go to church for the next 20 years because no one encouraged me to continue the Christian way of life. i wasn’t a bad person, but i definitely could have used Jesus in my life those 20years.
in my 40’s, i returned to the episcopal church, but it wasn’t the church i remembered as a child. it was very liberal. i began studying the differences between the episcopal church, anglicanism and catholicism. i studied for close to 10 years. i left the episcopal church and joined an anglican church in america and then after 6 months decided to convert to the Catholic church. i have been Catholic for 3 years. i thought that i was close enough to being Catholic since i was raised in the episcopal church, but it is still very different because of the Pope and the Magisterium.
in Australia, there have been some Catholic priests who have been protesting the new liturgy of the Mass.
have you been confirmed in the Anglican church? were you baptized in the Anglican church? you might check with different churches and speak with their adult formation directors because i found that each parish was different. luckily, i was able to meet one on one with the RCIA director in my Catholic church for about 6 weeks on a one on one basis. then i was received into the Catholic church. i am still studying and learning.
it is an ongoing journey, but i am glad that i converted.
so i would check around.
 
7_Sorrows said:
i grew up in the american episcopal church which is what the Church of England became in America around the time of the American Revolution. i was confirmed at 16 in the episcopal church even though i wanted to be Catholic.
i went away to college and did not go to church for the next 20 years because no one encouraged me to continue the Christian way of life. i wasn’t a bad person, but i definitely could have used Jesus in my life those 20years.
in my 40’s, i returned to the episcopal church, but it wasn’t the church i remembered as a child. it was very liberal. i began studying the differences between the episcopal church, anglicanism and catholicism. i studied for close to 10 years. i left the episcopal church and joined an anglican church in america and then after 6 months decided to convert to the Catholic church. i have been Catholic for 3 years. i thought that i was close enough to being Catholic since i was raised in the episcopal church, but it is still very different because of the Pope and the Magisterium.
in Australia, there have been some Catholic priests who have been protesting the new liturgy of the Mass.
have you been confirmed in the Anglican church? were you baptized in the Anglican church? you might check with different churches and speak with their adult formation directors because i found that each parish was different. luckily, i was able to meet one on one with the RCIA director in my Catholic church for about 6 weeks on a one on one basis. then i was received into the Catholic church. i am still studying and learning.
it is an ongoing journey, but i am glad that i converted.
so i would check around.
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I’m not sure about confirmed, but i am baptized in the Anglican church.
 
flamez3 said:
It may seem like I’m arrogant and ignorant when your talking to me here, but I am, most certainly not. I have always been a christian, just not of any denomination that i knew, I want to be a catholic, i will be. It is your opinion, yes. But here is mine; I want to become a priest, one second i didn’t know what i wanted to do with my life (having OCD and separation anxiety problems and general stress problems), the next minute, Poof: I wanted to become a priest, I don’t necessarily want to go to party’s or meet girls. I’m young, yes but i also know what to expect for my career, and just hope i can be a catholic priest.
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You do not seem to me arrogant at all. Simply, for me, you are young and it seems to me that you need to mature.

I would say that you go ahead and do whatever you feel is better. And let God lead your way.

God bless you,
👍
 
You might try reading about the experience of some former Episcopalian/Anglican priests who became Catholic. Here’s the link to “Canterbury Tales” – the website of Taylor Marshall. Perhaps you might want to write to him.

cantuar.blogspot.com/

Jim Dandy
 
flamez3 said:
I’m not sure about confirmed, but i am baptized in the Anglican church.
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it used to be, that you could not receive holy communion in the american episcopal church until you were confirmed. i am not sure how it is in australia in the anglican church. there should be some kind of confirmation process.
 
Sincerity and certainty are BOTH very important in making a major change in one’s life.

At age 16, sincerity can be quite strong, but I think certainty takes awhile longer to measure.

A good priest would want, I think, to know why you want to become a Catholic. And at age 16, he would want to know if your parents fully support your decision. If they do not, there could be trouble for interfering with their right to raise you to adulthood. In America that is until age 18. Once an adult, you can make your own decisions.

And he would want to know what you know and believe about the Catholic Faith. He would want to know whether you are ready to be be a lifelong practicing Catholic. All this take time to assess. To compare, some very young couples can meet and get married within a week and live a wonderful life. But the odds to not favor a rapid decision being the most wise decision, especially at a young age.

I hope and pray that you do become a Catholic. Attend Mass. Read and discuss the Faith. Attend RCIA and allow time to help you internize it all. Then, knowing with more certainty that beoming a Catholic is something you really want and will practice your entire life, be confirmed into the Church.

Pray for an increase in Wisdom and Faith.
 
To the OP, I have to say that you got some spectacularly bad advice from that priest. Unfortunately, that’s not too uncommon. Our Church could really use some work on evangelical effectiveness!

It does not take two years to join the Church. In fact you can join the Church right away, the only question being when can you become a confirmed member and partake in the Holy Eucharist. A lot is left up to the discretion of the priest in these matters. Priests want to be sure your decision to join the Church is no passing fancy, however. They are obligated in this.

The usual step is to take classes in which you are taught the fundamental doctrines of the Church. These are called RICA classes, an acronym for the Rite of Initiation for Catholic Adults. If you are seven years old, you are an adult in the eyes of the Church. Under seven, you are an Infant. Adults are expected to be willing to take these classes.

The traditional time to accept and to confirm new members of the Church is Easter time. RICA classes typically start in the fall and work up towards springtime and an Easter confirmation.

The quality of these classes vary quite a bit and experiences vary from parish to parish. Generally they are a good thing, however. They usually go over the major points of the Catholic catechism and the major articles of faith, and they do so in an encouraging forum based on inquiry. By showing up regularly, listening, and fielding your questions, you demonstrate your level of seriousness and purpose. Realize that becoming Catholic is a two-way street. The Church strives to make sure her great gifts are bestowed rightly; her taking you aboard involves an act of faith in you on her part.

Yes, ‘cradle’ Catholics do not face this level of scrutiny. Again, under the age of seven you are an Infant in the eyes of the Church and a different approach applies. Logic does apply to the Catholic way here even though it does seem to buck up against principles of broadly valued egalitarianism.

It is what it is. Your priest may ask you to take RICA classes and become an initiate into the Church. That is well and good. It should not take you two years, however.
 
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