How am I suppose to feel towards my sponser?

[kaila]

I am suppose to start RCIA on September 28th, but I’m beginning to have mixed feelings. My sponser happens to be the elderly woman I take care of and she is the one who got me interested in the Catholic faith, but she is beginning to turn me off. She tells me how the Catholic church is the one true church and goes on to tell me as much as she can, which is fine, but she tells me how we are suppose to forgive and to not judge, etc. yet she is constantly criticizing everyone and everything and feels that she is ALWAYS right about everything. She is a walking contradiction, if you will. It irritates me that she can make me feel mixed up about a faith I have found and love. I know she is 60 years older than me and DOES have life experience and wisdom that she has gianed over the years, but I am NOT a stupid person. The tension is beginning to get to me and I just don’t know what to do?!

 

[His_little1]

Talk to the pastor about this. In our parish, the sponsor is supposed to be a new person for you to connect to and have there for you for guideance and support. That’s why a lot of times people will start out with a family member or friend, but get somebody different for the rest of the duration of RCIA. Without the emotional ties of familiarity, this sponsor then becomes another face you can connect to in Parish life. Many times, the sponsors and candidates become good friends.

Today’s (well Friday’s I guess) readings were about being thankful. You can be thankful that this lady has inspired you or given you the “seed” of faith. But, as with all growing things, be careful how you nurture it. We as Catholics are called to make informed decisions about everything. RCIA is a good first experience of that. This doesn’t mean pick and choose what to believe, but to seek the truth, pray about what you are being told and seek God’s guideance in the matter.

She sounds like an aunt of mine. (Good luck with that.) This brings up an old (German) family saying “Ah, she must be German. You can always tell a German, but you can’t tell them anything.”:banghead:

I wish you great success with RCIA and your new Journey of Faith!

 

[monicatholic]

kalia,
how wonderful you’re on the path to the Church!

I think the sponsorship role should be separate from you care-giving relationship with the lady. you can gently tell her you’ll choose another sponsor because you’d like to work through and toward the Church in a different way, so you have time to process things. tewll her her example and prayers are great blessings to you.

as for contradictions, please be warned, the Church is not a haven for saints, rather a hospital for sinners. only the Blessed Mother and Jesus Himself would never fail to be loving. Some saints, like our dearest Pader Pio were sometimes gruff and grumpy.

 

[notsmart]

Maybe God is calling you to be a witness of Jesus to this woman? She can learn from you too. I would just look at it as each of us, has our faillings and not to discount the good for the faillings.
I am glad you have a sponsor! I have no clue who will be mine when I go to RCIA next year.
Praying you have a great experience.

Monica

 

[kaila]

The problem with it all is that my work DID get mixed up with my personal life. I want to gently back away from her dealings with my personal/spiritual life, but I’m scared she will retaliate by firing me!:juggle:

 

[monicatholic]

Kalia,
that’s a tough one. but, i think prepare with prayer and tell her gently.

if she retaliates by firing you, Kalia, then trust God to provide you with another job **and **it’s very likely that she is NOT the christian example God wants you to have.

another poster mentioned talking to your priest-- because this has gottten so sticky, i agree that’s a good step to consider, too.

 

[AnotherChance]

You have gotten some good advice about how to deal with the delicacies of communicating with your employer. I would like to encourage you to remain steadfast on your journey. Your journey is about your soul and God, not about her. Now that you know the Truth about the Church Jesus established, you are responsible for what you know.

As a convert from the Protestant church, I had to deal with a lack of welcome from many of the Catholic parishoners and a feeling at times like I was an outsider trying to join an exclusive sorority (partly a problem with the small town parish where I was). I just kept reminding myself that I was doing what God wanted me to do, and what other people did was between them and God. I hope this helps.