How to be “Catholic” if you aren’t

[dustdev14]

Hey y’all! Sorry for the confusing title, but I think it’ll make sense if you give me a sec to explain. So I’m a 15 and I was saved 7 months ago. I convinced my family to go with me to a small independent church just 3 minutes away from our house. Here’s the problem. As attached as I am to the people of my church, I agree more with catholic ideas and theology; But there’s no Catholic Church nearby. The closest is a 30 minute drive which may not seem like a lot, but when it comes to wanting to attend more than Sunday morning mass every week, it really exceeds my family’s WILLINGNESS to attend a different church. As rude as it may seem, my parents aren’t really educated on Christianity. Not as in they don’t understand the Bible, as in they don’t understand Christianity as the melting pot of ideas and theology that it is. They don’t understand the differences in churches, they just don’t get it. Upon me mentioning the topic of us going to a catholic service, my mother looked at me with confusion and remarked “A church is a church Kaden.” I tried to explain the different beliefs, but it was clear that my explaination fell on deaf ears. So, in the meantime, how can I mature in the faith in a more catholic way without being able to attend catholic mass?

TL;DR How can someone, particularly those new to the faith, learn a more catholic based view without attending Catholic mass?

Thanks, Kaden

 

[halogirl]

Similar to my own experience - I became a Christian aged 16 in a non Christian family, and only recently did I become catholic. I’d say given your situation, attend mass when you are able and as soon as you learn to drive start going to mass each week and start RCIA. Could you car pool with people in the mean time ?( as long as parents agree). I don’t think there is anything wrong with you attending the other church as that’s how became familiar with Catholicism - it’s good to meet with other Christians rather than none at all I am here as a living witness that attending Protestant church can help massively when you are starting from scratch

 

[ziapueblo]

TL;DR How can someone, particularly those new to the faith, learn a more catholic based view without attending Catholic mass?

Go to the Institute of Catholic Culture. It’s a free Catholic resource with over 800 hours of archived videos on everything Catholic. They also have free webinars on various topics as well as a weekly Sunday Gospel reflection. You can also check out their YouTube channel.

ZP

 

[angell1]

hi Kaden,

I recommend this website www.chnetwork.org. it’s dedicated to conversion stories of people becoming catholic and their reasons for why they ddid so.

you can also look up the online version of the catechism of the catholic church, pretty muchall of catholic teaching is summed up in it

 

[awesomecatholic]

I’m in the same situation as you are. I was raised Anglican,but want to become Catholic but can’t because of my parents and I’m 16. I recommend watching mass online, it really helps. That’s where I learned the Creed and other Catholic prayers. Lizzie Reezay has a really awesome youtube channel that will help answer your questions and of course,there is the Catechism. Good for you for looking into Catholicism! There are also several RCIA lectures online and several talks by Steve Ray. If you want to talk about anything, feel free to message me. You are in my prayers.