I need some help

[Cet2survivor2]

Hello I need some help.

I am 21 years old; I am at college in a small town. I remember going to many different churches growing up (of many different denominations). My parents took me and my siblings to a non-denominational church for about a year or two until they got divorced.

My mother married my stepfather (who was raised catholic). He took us to mass only once after they were married and other than occasionally “crossing himself” after saying the prayers at dinner he doesn’t talk about his Catholic upbringings.

For the past seven years we have attended two Baptist churches, (we moved to a different state) and I am no longer feeling satisfied with the current church.

I have been interested in learning more about the Catholic faith for the past two years, but I have always been hesitant. My mother (for lack of a better word) forces us to go to the Baptist church when I go home from college, and she doesn’t really care for Catholics. (My step father is a lapsed Catholic, and his family is catholic. My stepfather left my mother and lived with another woman for a few months. Needless to say my parents got separated, but they managed to get back together. While he was cheating on my mother, his family looked the other way, even letting the other woman come join them for Thanksgiving dinner).

I bought a book on Catholicism and began reading it. I also found a lot of great information on the web (including this web site). After reading more about the catholic faith, I felt compelled to go to mass, and I went to mass the following week. The first mass I attended was mass on Easter Sunday at parish right up the road from the college I attend. I really enjoyed the mass; it was definitely an eye opening experience. I went to mass several other times and enjoyed myself each time, the only problem was I wasn’t sure about what to do when I entered the church, or during the service. I do not know anyone who attends the church, and I am not really sure who to ask about the “procedures” during mass.

Since that time I have been reading a several books on Catholicism and about Mass (and the correct procedures to mass). I know for sure that I want to join the Catholic faith. My question is about how should I express my interest to join the faith?
I am a senior this year, and I graduate in the spring (in a few months). I do not know if I should go to the Father here at the local parish, or if I should wait until I graduate and move back home and the find a local parish?
If I go to the parish here can I take the RCIA and join before I graduate, or would it be better just to wait?

Thank you
God Bless you

 

[narrowpath]

Your questions is similar to mine. My mother is an athiest, and, though I am very interested in the catholic faith, and I believe that the Catholic Church is Christ’s Church, she has said I should wait until I am an adult till I am baptized.

I would say that you are obligated to ULTIMATELY go through RCIA and join the Church. my plan is to wait until I become an adult (not that far away) and then go through RCIA.

Praying for you…

 

[LilyM]

Whether you could do RCIA before you graduate depends on a few things, the most important being when the RCIA starts and how long it takes.

Most parishes, I think, only have one group a year, starting in September and ending at Easter the following year, so taking about six months.

So it seems most likely you’d have to wait until you’re finished and go through it in your home parish. But do talk to your priest where you’re studying - sometimes there’s more than one starting time, or you can get private instruction depending on your circumstances.

 

[flaco40]

I was raised Catholic. But I decided at one point to go to RCIA just to learn more about my faith. It was a great experience. There is no reason to wait outside of administrative issues, such as when a class might start etc. I would suggest you go for it. Talk to the Priest where you are at as soon as an opportunity presents itself. When you are young you think you have plenty of time but as you get older you realize that our time on this earth is limited and no one is promised tomorrow. Good luck

 

[stbruno]

catholicscomehome.org/not-Catholic.phtml

Check out this website in the mean time. Listen to relevantradio.com or avemariaradio.org streaming online. And first, last and through all things, pray to the Holy Spirit to help you during this time of discernment. You will be in my prayers too.

 

[Benedict108]

As many people have said, it depends on the length of the program. You probably would not be able to start now, but it should not stop you from approaching the local parish priest and seeking information/(name removed by moderator)ut. He may be able to provide you with some direction and/or put in contact with parish in your hometown. It never hurts to ask. Call the church up and set an appointment with him. What’s the worst that can happen? You never know, you may get private lessons. That was what happened with me many years ago:thumbsup: . I am not saying that is the norm, but you won’t know unless you ask

Pax tecum.

 

[Cathhsmom]

Hello I need some help.

My mother (for lack of a better word) forces us to go to the Baptist church when I go home from college, and she doesn’t really care for Catholics. (My step father is a lapsed Catholic, and his family is catholic. My stepfather left my mother and lived with another woman for a few months. Needless to say my parents got separated, but they managed to get back together. While he was cheating on my mother, his family looked the other way, even letting the other woman come join them for Thanksgiving dinner).

This may be a little off topic from the original question, but this caught my eye. I am a convert. I have a friend who is Protestant who married a Catholic. I still remember the ruckus with his mother, who is a convert, too, about their marriage. They had to get a priest to call her and let her know that it would be recognized by the church even though it was at a Protestant church. They went through all of the pre-marital counseling for both faiths. They had a priest helping with the wedding ceremony itself. His mom was not going to come to the wedding if it wasn’t recognized by the church. It would not be a valid wedding, and she wasn’t going to have anything to do with it if that was the case. Now, at the time, I was an uninformed Catholic and just stuck up for my friends hurt feelings. But, now, as a mom, I understand were his mother was coming from. She wanted to make sure that her son was married in the eyes of God.

So, what I am trying to get at, is don’t hold hard feelings against your step-grandparents. They might have been just trying to do the best that they could. It sounds like your parents aren’t validly married in the church. So, to them, it might have been confusing as to how to react. I don’t know them. So, I don’t know for sure. I just have had 3 different sets of step-relatives and know how disturbing the whole situation can be especially for those whose generation didn’t have to deal with divorce and step-families.