How should I handle converting?

[Lorelael]

I was in a similar situation. I was brought up Southern Baptist, but I attended Catholic school. I wanted to convert, but family basically told me that it was my decision to make when I was an adult. Fast forward 10 years (it took a little while for me to get back in touch with my spiritual side) I knew something was lacking in my life and I started going back to church. I didn’t feel in touch with the Baptist teachings, so I converted to Lutheran. Even attending the church there, it was very sporadic and I didn’t have the drive to want to go every week. Needless to say, I quit going. Fast forward another 10 years…events in my life made me want to get closer to God. I visited a few churches and then decided to go to my local Catholic parish. I was almost in tears the entire mass because I knew I was in the right place. So currently My husband, daughter(16), and self are enrolled in the RCIA program. I know this is where I am meant to be.
I do need a few prayers though. I’m so frustrated with not being able to come into the church this past Easter due to my husband having to have an annulment from his first marriage. The church/diocese lost the paperwork and it is taking waaaaaay toooo long. I long to be able to participate and partake of the Holy Eucharist, and it is very hurtful that I can’t. I keep praying for perseverance to keep my emotions in check. Hopefully soon everything will be completed.
Best of luck to you and God Bless.

 

[HungerNThirst4R]

Dear EmilyK856 ,

First off it is great that you are so spiritual at 15 and are already finding the Catholic Faith! If I were you id try to tag along with your friend to more Catholic functions and Masses. Maybe you could get your friend to pray the rosary with you or other devotions.

As you are still a minor it is important to follow your parents’ rules. Keep attending church and stay in the praise band (you can use those skills when you do join a Catholic parish). You can praise God in your own way at your family’s church. Catholics must form their conscience and follow it, so I think it is good that your conscience may be leading you to refrain from communion at your church. Im not sure if your parents would have a problem with that but if you aren’t complaining or protesting in other ways I think you’ll be okay.

Keep reading the Bible, the CCC, the writings of the saints and the early Church Fathers. By the time you are 18 you will be more than ready to enter RCIA. Most important is to keep praying and asking God for His help.

Remember this quote “Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.” - St. Francis of Assisi

You can be testimony to your family of the truth of the Church by being an example of love, patience and understanding.

God Bless you.

 

[Andreas_Hofer]

Being only 15, you will not be able to join the RCIA classes. They are for adults.

For what it’s worth, the “Adults” in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, refers to those possessing the use of reason (legally presumed to occur at age 7). The American text of the RCIA (numbered different from the Latin), introduces its series of rites adapted for children thus:

1. This form of the rite of Christian initiation is intended for children not baptized as infants, who have attained the use of reason and are of catechetical age. They seek Christian initiation either at the direction of their parents or guardians or, with parental permission, on their own initiative. Such children are capable of receiving and nurturing a personal faith and of recognizing an obligation in conscience. But they cannot yet be treated as adults because, at this stage of their lives, , they are dependent on their parents or guardians and are still strongly influenced by their companions and their social surroundings.

The long and short is that, rather than being excluded from RCIA, ordinarily children above the age of 7 must enter the Church through RCIA, albeit in a form adaptable to their developmental level (which will vary quite a bit from a 7- to a 17-year-old). But, and here’s where you’re right in excluding this particular 15-year-old, because of parental rights and the importance of minors receiving adult support in carrying out the obligations imposed by the faith, this can only be done with the parents’ permission.