I need your advice

[thestairway67]

I am an eighteen year old now, so I have been granted freedom in my religious choices. I was baptized Catholic, but before the age of three, my parents started taking me to a Lutheran church. I didn’t go there long and my parents took me to The Unity Church, which is not very well-known, but I was there until I was ten. My dad was raised Episcopalian and converted to Catholicism in college. My mom was raised Lutheran and converted to Catholicism in college. They wanted to return me to a more traditional Christian environment. So we went to an Episcopalian church, which I was an acolyte (altar boy) of. I was confirmed when I was fourteen and stopped going. I rejected doctrine and fiddled with Buddhism, but then my cousin died in a car accident, so I become Agnostic until about six months ago. I “realized my mortality” if you will, and couldn’t bear to believe in nothing, so I fiddled with Hinduism, which was somewhat helpful, but felt wrong for an Irish boy growing up in America. There aren’t enough Hindus here to do that properly. So I looked at the Catholic Church, the Church I was born into. I felt like I had opened a door into my soul. I have never felt as right as I do now, but I have a problem…

I am only baptized. I have never done First Confession. I have never had Catholic Eucharist (I have had Episcopal like a thousand times, but I think that counts for nothing in the Catholic Church) and I have only been confirmed Episcopalian. How should I go about joining the Church?

 

[KarenElissa]

I am an eighteen year old now, so I have been granted freedom in my religious choices. I was baptized Catholic, but before the age of three, my parents started taking me to a Lutheran church. I didn’t go there long and my parents took me to The Unity Church, which is not very well-known, but I was there until I was ten. My dad was raised Episcopalian and converted to Catholicism in college. My mom was raised Lutheran and converted to Catholicism in college. They wanted to return me to a more traditional Christian environment. So we went to an Episcopalian church, which I was an acolyte (altar boy) of. I was confirmed when I was fourteen and stopped going. I rejected doctrine and fiddled with Buddhism, but then my cousin died in a car accident, so I become Agnostic until about six months ago. I “realized my mortality” if you will, and couldn’t bear to believe in nothing, so I fiddled with Hinduism, which was somewhat helpful, but felt wrong for an Irish boy growing up in America. There aren’t enough Hindus here to do that properly. So I looked at the Catholic Church, the Church I was born into. I felt like I had opened a door into my soul. I have never felt as right as I do now, but I have a problem…

I am only baptized. I have never done First Confession. I have never had Catholic Eucharist (I have had Episcopal like a thousand times, but I think that counts for nothing in the Catholic Church) and I have only been confirmed Episcopalian. How should I go about joining the Church?

Go to your nearest Catholic church and ask to talk to the priest! He will help you sort everything out. Most likely you will go through some period of instruction, often RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults). After some instruction, so you know exactly what you are getting yourself into, you will receive Confirmation and First Communion. :extrahappy:

Welcome home!!!

 

[kettle]

I agree… go talk to the priest. You’ll likely attend RCIA to prepare for Communion and Confirmation. (That’s what my husband and I are doing right now.) Welcome home!

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I am an eighteen year old now, so I have been granted freedom in my religious choices. I was baptized Catholic, but before the age of three, my parents started taking me to a Lutheran church. I didn’t go there long and my parents took me to The Unity Church, which is not very well-known, but I was there until I was ten. My dad was raised Episcopalian and converted to Catholicism in college. My mom was raised Lutheran and converted to Catholicism in college. They wanted to return me to a more traditional Christian environment. So we went to an Episcopalian church, which I was an acolyte (altar boy) of. I was confirmed when I was fourteen and stopped going. I rejected doctrine and fiddled with Buddhism, but then my cousin died in a car accident, so I become Agnostic until about six months ago. I “realized my mortality” if you will, and couldn’t bear to believe in nothing, so I fiddled with Hinduism, which was somewhat helpful, but felt wrong for an Irish boy growing up in America. There aren’t enough Hindus here to do that properly. So I looked at the Catholic Church, the Church I was born into. I felt like I had opened a door into my soul. I have never felt as right as I do now, but I have a problem…

I am only baptized. I have never done First Confession. I have never had Catholic Eucharist (I have had Episcopal like a thousand times, but I think that counts for nothing in the Catholic Church) and I have only been confirmed Episcopalian. How should I go about joining the Church?

Ask your parents where you were Baptized at and call or write the parish and ask for a copy of your Sacramental records. Take them with you and speak with the pastor of the local Catholic Church. He will guide you most likely into the RCIA process , you have only received one valid Sacrament, Baptism. which you Sacramental records should show.

 

[KevinV]

Welcome. I was in a similar situation to yours last year about this time. I had been baptized Catholic and was then removed from the Church at an early age to be raised in other churches. I’m older and didn’t dabble in Hinduism but our stories are similar. I’ve since been in RCIA this past year and just this past week participated in Reconciliation for the first time. Within 2 months I will also recieive First Communion and Confirmation. It is the best choice I’ve ever made, and I wish you the best as you begin your journey of coming home.

 

[drafdog]

Welcome home. You have been baptized and have attained the age of reason so you are elegible to receive eucharist. Just show up. We’re glad to have you back.
If you feel the need for more education in the faith, contact the nearest parish and ask about RCIA. I doubt that you will need to be confirmed in the Catholic church as the Episcopal confirmation is most likely valid.

Matthew

 

[KarenElissa]

Welcome home. You have been baptized and have attained the age of reason so you are elegible to receive eucharist. Just show up. We’re glad to have you back.
If you feel the need for more education in the faith, contact the nearest parish and ask about RCIA. I doubt that you will need to be confirmed in the Catholic church as the Episcopal confirmation is most likely valid.

Matthew

:nope: The Episcopal confirmation is not valid. Confirmation is a right of the bishop, who can allow the local priest to do it, but the Episcopal church doesn’t have valid holy orders and therefore, no valid confirmation.