How can I help my non-Catholic friend?

[Jegsy_Scarr]

Hey, everyone!

I was just wondering if anyone had any advice about how to help teach my friend about the Catholic faith, and hopefully one day bring her into the Church! I’ll just give you some background knowledge about her…

I met my friend about four years ago when I joined a choir. We were pretty much friends right from the start, as we have similar personalities and a lot of hobbies/interests in common. Since then, we’ve seen each other every week at rehearsals and concerts, and also a couple of times outside of choir going shopping, seeing movies, etc. We’re both 19 years old.

As lovely a person as she is, I really worry about her sometimes. She hasn’t been baptised: her parents are non-Catholic Christians, but no longer practising, and she herself isn’t active or interested in her faith. What really worries me about her is that she is interested in - for want of a better word - witchcraft. She likes collecting spells and doing fortune telling. She insists that it’s all for fun and she doesn’t believe in any of it, but as you can imagine, that isn’t very reassuring to me. Right now, it’s just a hobby to her, but I worry that it could get more serious.

Anyway, a few weeks ago, she invited me to go on holiday with her and her family this summer. We’ll be sharing an apartment and I’m hoping that I’ll be able to at least bring up the topic of Catholicism and perhaps get her interested in it. I’ve been praying about this and offering up Rosaries for her for some time now and I think God’s calling me to help her.

Now I’m just wondering where to start with her. We’ve very briefly spoken about religion. She knows I’m Catholic, and I try to drop it into conversation whenever possible. I figure that when I’m sharing an apartment with her on holiday, I’ll also have to say my daily Rosary (silently) in the same room as her (I can’t exactly excuse myself to the next room for 20 minutes to pray, since I’m sure that gives a bad impression as if it’s something to hide), so that’ll hopefully make her want to ask me questions and whatnot.

Does anyone else have any advice about how to start a conversation with her and get her interested in the faith? I know I’m never going to get her to convert to Catholicism overnight, but I have to start somewhere.

Thank you in advance, and God bless.

xxx

 

[Jon_S_1]

Hey, everyone!

I was just wondering if anyone had any advice about how to help teach my friend about the Catholic faith, and hopefully one day bring her into the Church! I’ll just give you some background knowledge about her…

I met my friend about four years ago when I joined a choir. We were pretty much friends right from the start, as we have similar personalities and a lot of hobbies/interests in common. Since then, we’ve seen each other every week at rehearsals and concerts, and also a couple of times outside of choir going shopping, seeing movies, etc. We’re both 19 years old.

As lovely a person as she is, I really worry about her sometimes. She hasn’t been baptised: her parents are non-Catholic Christians, but no longer practising, and she herself isn’t active or interested in her faith. What really worries me about her is that she is interested in - for want of a better word - witchcraft. She likes collecting spells and doing fortune telling. She insists that it’s all for fun and she doesn’t believe in any of it, but as you can imagine, that isn’t very reassuring to me. Right now, it’s just a hobby to her, but I worry that it could get more serious.

Anyway, a few weeks ago, she invited me to go on holiday with her and her family this summer. We’ll be sharing an apartment and I’m hoping that I’ll be able to at least bring up the topic of Catholicism and perhaps get her interested in it. I’ve been praying about this and offering up Rosaries for her for some time now and I think God’s calling me to help her.

Now I’m just wondering where to start with her. We’ve very briefly spoken about religion. She knows I’m Catholic, and I try to drop it into conversation whenever possible. I figure that when I’m sharing an apartment with her on holiday, I’ll also have to say my daily Rosary (silently) in the same room as her (I can’t exactly excuse myself to the next room for 20 minutes to pray, since I’m sure that gives a bad impression as if it’s something to hide), so that’ll hopefully make her want to ask me questions and whatnot.

Does anyone else have any advice about how to start a conversation with her and get her interested in the faith? I know I’m never going to get her to convert to Catholicism overnight, but I have to start somewhere.

Thank you in advance, and God bless.

xxx

Maybe you could sell her on attending mass at a Cathedral or something. Especially if there is a historic one near by it may be an easier sell. I am sure just visiting a cathedral would bring up lots if questions and a mass would bring up many more talking points.

 

[IBombAtomically]

Other than praying for her, which you’re already doing, the best way is to become as knowledgeable about the faith as you can, and live that faith to the best of your ability. That will speak much louder than any argument you can try to tell her. Love her the way Jesus loves her… and not just to prove a point; it must come from the heart. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you become a living witness, and if the conversation comes up, let the Truth speak for itself. Don’t sugarcoat the hard teachings that might seem unpalatable to an unbeliever, but also be loving and charitable in your answers.

Her involvement in witchcraft and the occult is no hobby. She is opening up the door to Satan and once it has been opened, it is not easily closed. Don’t ever EVER be tempted to engage in it with her, even just for “fun.” Don’t even let her do a tarot card reading for you – nothing.

 

[Weissystems]

Hi,
I have found that an ideal way to start is by saying Grace at meals together.
The rest will follow all according to God’s plan.
God bless both of you.

 

[LondonConvert]

Hi Jegsy Scarr!

Firstly, I think it’s a wonderful thing that you want to share your faith with your friend. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI told us “We cannot keep to ourselves the words of eternal life given to us in our encounter with Jesus Christ: they are meant for everyone, for every man and woman. It is our responsibility to pass on what, by God’s grace, we ourselves have received”. You are clearly trying to do that and I think that shows a great devotion to the Lord. As you say, your friend won’t convert overnight and other posters are absolutely right, I think you should pray for her and ask the Holy Spirit to show her some of that grace, to bring her some recognition of Jesus. You say that you’re going to be sharing a room on holiday and that you’ll need to pray the rosary silently - why not invite her to listen? The rosary is such a powerful prayer and if you make her conversion your intention, she may feel more personally involved and intruiged by it. Of course she may also tell you to shut up, but at least you’re trying.

As to the witchcraft thing, it’s a concern. Alot of young people seem to adopt witchcraft as a “religion” but in reality, they don’t believe it. It’s seen as a cool thing to be involved in and if people feel alone (as I’m sure we all feel at some time or another, regardless of our age), they reach out to any community that offers help. I agree with IBombAtomically’s warning but there is a way you can use this to your advantage. Ask her questions about what she believes and tell her the alternatives. She might have spells and funky looking cards but we have a great heavenly family. We have the majesty of the church, we have our communities but most importantly, we have the friendship and the blood, body, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ. You may not be able to hold her attention with bible passages or too much in-depth explanation but if she sees how happy you are with your faith, you may find she opens up more and more to the message.

And maybe try and introduce her to Our Lady. She is a loving, compassionate mother and when a child goes astray, sometimes it takes a mother to bring them back. Pray to Our Lady for your friend’s conversion of heart and I’m sure that in some way, your friend will hear the call to holiness. Even if she denies it, sooner or later, that little voice will be heard.