How can I convert, and advice

[CathoOrtho1994]

Hello, all. I hope this is in the right section.

I’m 16 and an Orthodox Christian. I was baptized Presbyterian as a baby, but we never went to Church. but, my grandmother, a faithful Catholic, took me to mass and even taught me the rosery in Polish when I was 7. by the time I was 13, I was going to mass regularily (against my mother’s wishes). I wanted to convert, but my mother wouldn’t have it. then, my parents divorced. my mother let me go to an Orthodox Church. I was so happy that she was OK with me going, that I’m afraid I rushed into it, and was confermed. I was very happy there, and I forgot about the Roman Catholic Church (or tried to, at least). well, my aunt recently gave me my great grandfather’s rosery. I prayed it several nights ago, and have been praying it three times a day since then. I miss the Church so much.

I’m afraid I snuck out of my dad’s house when I was staying with him, and went to the eucharistic adoration at the parish I secretly attend behind my Orthodox priest’s back.

my mother has had a very amazing change of heart (I’ve been praying to Pope John Paul II to help me, and it looks like he has). she lets me have icons, hang votive lamps, burn incense and chant my prayers daily. she is not the same woman she was when my parent’s were married.

my Orthodox priest is leaving soon, and I’m going to stop serving in the altar (he has 4 sons, I’d just be in the way). I’m going to spend every other Sunday (and Saturday night, and morning if I’m at my dad’s home) at the Catholic Church. the others I’ll go to the Orthodox Church.

my questions are:

what is the process for an Orthodox Christian to join the Catholic Church?

do you think I should still recieve the sacraments in the Orthodox Church? it just feels wrong.

thanks!

 

[Linda_Marie]

Contact the parish priest where you have been attending Adoration. Make an appointment so you will have time to discuss all your questions. He will be able to advise you.

May God bless you.

 

[Pug]

If I understand you correctly, you are confirmed in the Orthodox Church and currently a practicing Christian there?

If so, there is very little required for you to officially join the Catholic Church. Is there a Catholic parish near you of your rite? If you don’t understand that question, then you should proceed by making an appointment to meet with the local parish priest at the Catholic parish that is near you where you’ve found they have Adoration. Call the parish office to make the appointment. You have all of your sacraments, so you simply need to be official, and that is done with a thing where you are “received” one day.

I’m not a spiritual adviser, so I can’t really say what to do about continuing to receive sacraments where you are. I would continue to observe any regulations in that regard in your current community.

 

[CathoOrtho1994]

If I understand you correctly, you are confirmed in the Orthodox Church and currently a practicing Christian there?

If so, there is very little required for you to officially join the Catholic Church. Is there a Catholic parish near you of your rite? If you don’t understand that question, then you should proceed by making an appointment to meet with the local parish priest at the Catholic parish that is near you where you’ve found they have Adoration. Call the parish office to make the appointment. You have all of your sacraments, so you simply need to be official, and that is done with a thing where you are “received” one day.

I’m not a spiritual adviser, so I can’t really say what to do about continuing to receive sacraments where you are. I would continue to observe any regulations in that regard in your current community.

sadly, there is no Eastern rite Catholic parish in my area. I will speak to the priest. last time I spoke with him, he was quite eager to have me begin RCIA. I wasn’t quite ready to move so fast, but I’ll go back and speak with him.

 

[Linda_Marie]

Joining RCIA doesn’t commit you to anything. It is a stage of inquiry during which you learn about what the Church teaches.

Believe me, the Church doesn’t move fast. They will allow you all the time you need.

As an Orthodox, you won’t have as much to learn as others who come from Protestant or from non-religious backgrounds.

It will still be profitable for you since you aren’t really clear as to why the Orthodox Church doesn’t seem right to you.

 

[Pug]

sadly, there is no Eastern rite Catholic parish in my area. I will speak to the priest. last time I spoke with him, he was quite eager to have me begin RCIA. I wasn’t quite ready to move so fast, but I’ll go back and speak with him.

Did he say why he wanted you in RCIA? What did he mean by that? You are already fully initiated, unless I misunderstand something about your situation. Did he just mean “put you in the hands of the various people who tell you where to stand and what to say on the day of your reception”? Or did he feel you needed a little extra knowledge about the differences between the Orthodox and Catholic?

If you don’t mind my nosey asking. I ask because it would be *quite *a surprise to me if they asked a practicing Orthodox to go through a full RCIA program in my neck of the woods.

 

[CathoOrtho1994]

Did he say why he wanted you in RCIA? What did he mean by that? You are already fully initiated, unless I misunderstand something about your situation. Did he just mean “put you in the hands of the various people who tell you where to stand and what to say on the day of your reception”? Or did he feel you needed a little extra knowledge about the differences between the Orthodox and Catholic?

If you don’t mind my nosey asking. I ask because it would be *quite *a surprise to me if they asked a practicing Orthodox to go through a full RCIA program in my neck of the woods.

he told me there was a class for those wishing to learn more. he also told me that he wanted to speak with me more.

may I ask your advice, as you seem to be quite knowledgable about this?

how does one leave one Church for another? I’m so active in Orthodoxy that people might fear the worst if I just dropped out.

 

[Pug]

he told me there was a class for those wishing to learn more. he also told me that he wanted to speak with me more.

may I ask your advice, as you seem to be quite knowledgable about this?

how does one leave one Church for another? I’m so active in Orthodoxy that people might fear the worst if I just dropped out.

Ah, that makes more sense to me. That is just what I would expect, an offer of some education if it would be helpful, and a request to talk more. He will need to know exactly where you were chrismated (confirmed) so that he can note your proper ritual Church ‘sui iuris’ in a record book that each parish keeps, and he will want to find out what sort of guidance you’ll need.

I’m not really that knowledgeable, since people in your situation are rather unusual. But I have the advantage of knowing that it is unusual, which not all do.

I would tell your friends about your plans. You are right that they would worry about you, I think, if you disappeared. All friends are like that. I’ve known some people to have their friends be quite unhappy about their choice to change, though, when they hear about it. It really seems to vary, how they react. Oh, if you are a crucial volunteer in some capacity, be sure to give them warning so they can cover the need.

God will bless you, though, however it goes! I’m glad you received that rosary, since it is a memorable prayer from your childhood.

 

[joanofarc2008]

You may not want to lie to your Orthodox priest. You may wish to tell him the truth. After all we may be one Church one day. Also you need to keep in mind there are different Orthodox Churches depending on what type of Orthodox Church this is will depend on whether or not you need to go through RCIA there are some differences. Best of luck and God bless.

 

[Monica4316]

I converted from Orthodoxy to Catholicism… I didn’t need RCIA cause I was baptized and confirmed, I just did my profession of faith, received Confession and Communion

I recommend being honest with your Orthodox priest… and also speak to the Catholic priest and ask him for advice

just so you know, - both churches believe they are the “one true Church” soo… you’ll have people trying to convince you of either way, perhaps… make sure you pray and do your research… there are some good resources at Catholic Answers: catholic.com/library/faith_tracts.asp do research about both sides but ultimately, entrust this to God with prayer.

It might help to go to Adoration as much as you are able to. You don’t have to be Catholic to go. My dad is Eastern Orthodox but loves to come to the Catholic church just to visit.

As for receiving the Sacraments or not… if you feel dishonest doing this, it might be best not to, for now, but talk this over with a priest…maybe the Catholic priest… but make sure you visit the Blessed Sacrament often cause that REALLY helped me over time, - it gives strength and also peace and discernment.

I recommend just… researching and praying (prayer first though) Also… keep praying the Rosary…it’s a very powerful prayer, especially against the enemy.

Another thing to keep in mind about the Catholic Church… because it has been going through some difficulties in the past 50 or so years, (we have a good Pope though ) - some parishes are more traditional/faithful/orthodox than others. Some are really liberal and water down the faith and I’d stay away from those, personally I attend an FSSP parish - they do the Latin Mass and are in communion with Rome (there are some schismatic groups to be aware of, but the FSSP is a great order) - and I love it, - VERY traditional, conservative theologically, reverent… another option is an Eastern Catholic parish, though those are not available everywhere in North America.

Also, since you are Orthodox, it might be that you’ll be automatically ‘placed’ into an Eastern rite Catholic church - even if you attend a Roman one. If you don’t live near any Eastern churches this doesn’t really affect you cause you can still attend the Roman Catholic parish and as Catholics, we can receive Communion in ANY Catholic church, regardless of rite. However, you might need to follow the Eastern fasts… just check with a priest about this. (or better yet, email an Eastern Catholic priest or find a way to ask a bishop, because not all Roman Catholic priests are that familiar with Eastern canon law). However, yes you can attend a Roman Catholic parish since you don’t live near an Eastern Catholic one.

God bless

 

[Holly3278]

I’m not sure since you used to be an Orthodox Christian but I’d say that you should speak to a Catholic priest. They may want you to go through RCIA first.

 

[puzzleannie]

H

my questions are:

what is the process for an Orthodox Christian to join the Catholic Church?

do you think I should still recieve the sacraments in the Orthodox Church? it just feels wrong.

thanks!

the only one who can answer is the Catholic pastor, and he will probably have to get advice from the bishop’s office. If you are already Orthodox, ordinarily you would be received into the Eastern Rite Church closest to that tradition. However it is complicated because for children usually their rite is that of their father, and yours is Catholic. Ask your father to take you to his pastor and discuss it. You may if your mother has legal custody until you are of age have to wait to make this move, but use the time of waiting to grow in knowledge. RCIA is usually not necessary unless the Orthodox Christian has not been raised in knowledge and practice of the faith as you have. Just the instruction needed to understand Catholic worship and profession of faith, your pastor will investigate to find out if your confirmation (chrismation) is valid.

 

[mary_bobo]

I’m not sure since you used to be an Orthodox Christian but I’d say that you should speak to a Catholic priest. They may want you to go through RCIA first.

I have known two people who returned to the Church after many years away and the pastor suggested that they attend RCIA classes to refresh their memories, so to speak. Since our OP did not attend Catholic schools (I presume) it might be very beneficial to hi/her to know the differences, whatever they might be, in what he believes now and what the Catholic Church teaches. JMO.

 

[novelista]

You should also talk to your parents about your conversion plans. It’s not good to sneak out on your parents. They might be worried about where you are.

 

[wild_thing]

Joining RCIA doesn’t commit you to anything. It is a stage of inquiry during which you learn about what the Church teaches.

Believe me, the Church doesn’t move fast. They will allow you all the time you need.

As an Orthodox, you won’t have as much to learn as others who come from Protestant or from non-religious backgrounds.

It will still be profitable for you since you aren’t really clear as to why the Orthodox Church doesn’t seem right to you.

I agree with Linda on this. Go to the pastor again, seek advice and guidance, and enroll in RCIA. Good luck!