How to become a Catholic again?

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The title says it all, be i’ll provide some background info. I was born in Colombia and raised there for half of my childhood. Over there my family were, and still are devout Catholics, and so was i. At the age of 8 my mom decided to bring me to the U.S, and here little by little i started detaching from my beliefs. At around 16 i decided that i was an atheist, however i decided to move away from that also, and right now i am 19 and consider my self an agnostic. But once again i am moving away from that also. Recently i have found my self to be really upset and in need of faith, and i look back at the past and would like back to my traditions, to whom i was raised to be, respectful, responsible, and most importantly humble. But i somehow seemed to have forgotten about all that until recently that i that i have become a more conscious person. So i was wondering what steps i should take to becoming Catholic once again, i am guessing confessing, and asking for forgiveness would be on the list. I would also like to learn to pray the rosary. Oh and a side note, i don’t have a car so i am not always capable of getting to church on Sundays, unless of course i go to the american one(local), but i learned all my prayers in spanish =/ , although i am fluent in english i don’t know the prayers in this language, and would feel out of place.

Any suggestions on what or where to go would be appreciated ?

Thank you.

[edit] Sorry if i posted in tho wrong sub-forum, i was confused and wasn’t sure in which this topic would belong in.
 
juan92 said:
The title says it all, be i’ll provide some background info. I was born in Colombia and raised there for half of my childhood. Over there my family were, and still are devout Catholics, and so was i. At the age of 8 my mom decided to bring me to the U.S, and here little by little i started detaching from my beliefs. At around 16 i decided that i was an atheist, however i decided to move away from that also, and right now i am 19 and consider my self an agnostic. But once again i am moving away from that also. Recently i have found my self to be really upset and in need of faith, and i look back at the past and would like back to my traditions, to whom i was raised to be, respectful, responsible, and most importantly humble. But i somehow seemed to have forgotten about all that until recently that i that i have become a more conscious person. So i was wondering what steps i should take to becoming Catholic once again, i am guessing confessing, and asking for forgiveness would be on the list. I would also like to learn to pray the rosary. Oh and a side note, i don’t have a car so i am not always capable of getting to church on Sundays, unless of course i go to the american one(local), but i learned all my prayers in spanish =/ , although i am fluent in english i don’t know the prayers in this language, and would feel out of place.

Any suggestions on what or where to go would be appreciated ?

Thank you.

[edit] Sorry if i posted in tho wrong sub-forum, i was confused and wasn’t sure in which this topic would belong in.
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Actually, if one is baptised in the Catholic Church, that person is a Catholic for life in the eyes of the Church and God. There are those who leave the Church who have become known as fallen way Catholics but they are still Catholics in the end. So in your case, you were a fallen way Catholic. If you wish to learn more about your Catholic faith more deeply, you can go to RCIA classes in your local parish.

And on that note, CONGRATS!

Welcome home!
 
Welcome home, if you live in an area with a decent sized hispanic population many parishes will have at least one Mass in spanish.
 
Welcome home! The best thing would be for you to call your nearest parish and make an appointment to speak with a priest. He will hear your confession and help you take the next step in your faith journey.
 
As others said, WELCOME HOME. The Holy Spirit is the voice calling you back to His Church. Go with it! It will be the best decision you will ever make. If you ask Him to transform your heart, He will do it-- because this request is aligned with His holy will for your life. The bible says the angels in heaven will rejoice that a lost sheep is back in the flock… can you imagine rejoicing in heaven, all because of you? The Good Shepherd has been searching for you. You will make Him so happy by saying “yes” to Him!

There are plenty of how-to rosary guides online, such as

rosary-center.org/howto.htm

Say one tonight! Make His Mother so happy!

As for mass, many parishes in heavier Hispanic communities have Spanish-language services, have you searched for one online? Or perhaps contact your diocese for assistance.

I am overjoyed for you. Be patient. This isn’t a quick-fix scheme, but the first step toward a life of fulfillment and preparation for the kingdom to come. God bless you!!
 
juan92 said:
but i learned all my prayers in spanish =/ , although i am fluent in english i don’t know the prayers in this language, and would feel out of place.
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Welcome home!! 😉

Like another poster had said, if you live in a larger city, there may be a Spanish mass for you to attend. There is one in the city that I live in.

But… I am an English speaker (and don’t speak Spanish at all), but due to the enormous Spanish population here, I have picked up on some Spanish songs at Mass and the like. Bascially, what I am trying to say is that you can say your private prayers in whatever language you choose (Spanish), but if you attend an English mass, you will learn that very quickly. I learned the Spanish songs quickly and if I can do it (:eek:) then anybody can!!!

Good luck and being here at CAF is a great place to start. There are a ton of threads about any different topic!!
 
Welcome, Juan! What you are feeling might just be the lack in your spirit of a loving relationship with God - that something, or some One who never changes and never fails. And, as much as it feels that you are choosing God, it is actually God Who is choosing you. Catholics Come Home is a website designed specifically for returning Catholics.

Another suggestion is to obtain a copy of Catholicism for Dummies. Since you have been away, it is good to know what Catholics actually believe and why they believe it. This book is a great resource that you will be able to learn from each time you open it. It is written in plain language and is easily read.

Christ’s peace be with you.
 
Welcome Home 🙂 It’s nice to see someone so young find their way to God.
May I suggest that learning the Rosary and the Mass in English would be a good idea. I say this because English is not my first language either. It was quite easy to learn prayers and the Mass in English. The Lord’s prayer was easy, the rosary came naturally, but the only prayer that was a little difficult to make stick was the Profession of Faith. The desire will help you learn.
Honest, it’s not bad at all, and if you attend Mass weekly you will pick it up quick. I love EWTN and I suggest watching their Mass everyday (even the repeats).
Watching their Mass though is quite different than what you may experience in a local church because EWTN does some of the Mass in Latin.
Really watch EWTN programming. Everyday at 3PM (eastern time) they say the Chaplet of Divine Mercy and then follow it with the Rosary.
If you watch that daily and find the text online and follow, you will learn in a week.
Your other questions simply lead to contacting your local parish/church and asking if you could join the RCIA program (kind of like a conversion but more of a process to being confirmed). The classes usually go on for a while and then confirmation happens on Easter. :clapping: I wish you luck, do not feel alone as I know many who have these questions and I was there myself. Stick to your faith and follow God’s call.

God Bless
 
Welcome home! I was a fallen away Catholic myself for many years and I can tell you that coming back was the most important decision I have ever made in my entire life. Start with contacting a priest and asking to meet with him privately to assist you with all your concerns. You will be amazed at how much help is there for you. Being raised in the Catholic faith, I never really appreciated it and as I grew up, I was really just “playing along”, then when I had the chance, I stopped going to Mass and receiving the sacraments. Eventually, I began to feel so empty and life seemed rather pointless until I turned back toward God, through the workings of the Holy Spirit who kept calling me. Making a good confession was such a relief, and being able to receive Jesus in the Holy Eucharist filled my heart with unspeakable joy. All the logistics will work out, you’ll see. Don’t worry about all the small details, they will fall into place as God’s mercy and grace fills your heart and soul. Welcome back as everyone else has said. And keep tuned in to CAF and EWTN and Catholic Answers on radio, too. We are all rooting for you as are the saints in heaven! 🙂
 
Juan92, you must not miss Mass simply because you have learned your prayers in Spanish and feel out of place at a Mass in English. The Mass is not something we must memorize.

You will find a Missal in the pew at most Catholic Churches; since you read English you will have no trouble following along with the Mass. If you have the opportunity to watch the Daily Mass on EWTN, please do so. The live Mass is broadcast at 8:00 a.m. and then it is re-broadcast at Noon, 7:00 P.M. and again at Midnight.

You will soon become accustomed to making the responses at Mass in English and you will have an advantage over we English speakers when it comes to responding in Latin.

Your private prayers you may say in Spanish as always.

Juan, speak to the Priest; go to Confession; then to Mass, receive the Holy Eucharist and be happy. :hug1: WELCOME HOME!

:harp:
 
The EWTN website has a bunch of prayers on it, and you can learn them in English.
ewtn.com/Devotionals/prayers/index.htm

Otherwise, you might have to go to your diocese’s website to find a parish that has a Mass in Spanish. But it might be a bit of a drive, and this is a good opportunity to improve/expand your English. 🙂
 
Welcome home brother. I too was raised Catholic and fell away. I came home about six years ago after twenty years away.

I remember how awkard I felt when I first came home to the Catholic Church. However, that will pass. As awkward as it felt soemtimes, it felt so right to come back.

This site is a good start. EWTN radio tv and online is a good resource. Also online, check out the coming home network. Best of all find a priest and go to confession. Ask about getting into an RCIA class. It will all fall into place quicker than you think. You are in my prayers. Again, welcome home.
 
juan92 said:
The title says it all, be i’ll provide some background info. I was born in Colombia and raised there for half of my childhood. Over there my family were, and still are devout Catholics, and so was i. At the age of 8 my mom decided to bring me to the U.S, and here little by little i started detaching from my beliefs. At around 16 i decided that i was an atheist, however i decided to move away from that also, and right now i am 19 and consider my self an agnostic. But once again i am moving away from that also. Recently i have found my self to be really upset and in need of faith, and i look back at the past and would like back to my traditions, to whom i was raised to be, respectful, responsible, and most importantly humble. But i somehow seemed to have forgotten about all that until recently that i that i have become a more conscious person. So i was wondering what steps i should take to becoming Catholic once again, i am guessing confessing, and asking for forgiveness would be on the list. I would also like to learn to pray the rosary. Oh and a side note, i don’t have a car so i am not always capable of getting to church on Sundays, unless of course i go to the american one(local), but i learned all my prayers in spanish =/ , although i am fluent in english i don’t know the prayers in this language, and would feel out of place.

Any suggestions on what or where to go would be appreciated ?

Thank you.

[edit] Sorry if i posted in tho wrong sub-forum, i was confused and wasn’t sure in which this topic would belong in.
Click to expand...
Bienvenidos Juan,

Yo se como te sientes, y entiendo la situación que estas en. Creeme que nunca es facil, quizas sepas hablar Español mejor que Inglés, no?

Haz leído la Biblia? No hay otro sitio mejor de buscar información sobre como ser Catolico que alli. Tambien buscate información sobre unos santos. Cualquiera, en verdad, todos son inspirantes. Unos de mis favoritos es San Jorge, (Saint George in English). No te preocupes tanto sobre como ó cuando, primero reza y Dios te habrera puertas. Para más información, quedate por aqui y varias preguntas se le daran respuestas.

-MontChevalier
 
Thank you all for the warmth welcome, i appreciate your time, and i will go to my local church, past the language barrier, and get started on things. Once again thank you all.
 
Welcome back! It’s not clear from your post if you ever received the Sacraments of Reconciliation(confession), Holy Communion or Confirmation. See what you can remember or find out and if you’ve not yet received one of these, tell your priest and ask what to do next.
 
welcome home
if you made your first communion as a child, simply go to confession at the nearest Catholic Church and return to Mass and communion. If you were never confirmed ask the priest about classes to prepare you for that sacrament. If you were confirmed as a child, but still in need of teaching about the faith, you can still participate in such a class for adults. Look up public transportation schedules in your area and find a Catholic parish near your home, work or school or on your bus line. If you are in college there may be a Catholic campus ministry, chapel or pastor on campus. You are doing great with English but if you find that work of the heart, like faith, worship, confession, Mass are easier in Spanish almost every diocese in American has parishes where Mass is celebrated in Spanish. Your diocesan website can help you there.

for the rosary and prayers, go to ewtn.com, select Espanol, and under faith/fe click on oraciones (sorry editor does not allow diacritical marks)
 
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