I Want to Convert but no one will call me back

[Sailka]

Thank you all for the advice and prayers. I have still not heard back from them but I will take your advice and call tomorrow to make an appointment.

                                                                                           There is One way to Convert to the awesome  Catholic Church, normally.    Sign up for the nearest RCIA Program,  which is the way Converts are taught, to become Catholics.   RCIA usually begins  in School   year.       Please focus  on Where nearest RCIA is, and when begins.  That is only phone calling needed.   Priests are Incredibly busy,  almost daily.
                                                                                           RCIA  begins   with School year, and One Becomes Catholic, an emotional, powerful experience,   at  Easter   Sunday.                  Are  large number of converts, and most say  it is one of best things they ever did, to  get Fully with the Lord, in His Church.      God Bless.          Live in Jesus             Tony

 

[Sailka]

1. 
   

   
   
   Well I feel for you, Converting to the Catholic Faith is a pretty big deal. I for one am not a convert I was born and raised Catholic from Birth! Becoming a Catholic, while a weighty decision, is easy in practice, although it will take time. It’s easy to take your first step into joining the oldest Christian institution in the world. Take heart! Converts to Catholicism are among the strongest in their faith in all of Christianity.
   
   1.Read the Bible often, and pray often.
   
   2.Find a local Catholic church. It’s not too hard - just look under the yellow pages of the phone book under “Churches.” Alternatively, the website Mass Times allows you to search for churches based on parameters such city, zip code, phone number, or country. Look into the traditions and teachings of the Church, and see how Catholics defend them. It is important to know why you are converting.
   

   1. Attend a Mass or two, preferably with a Catholic friend who can explain when to do things and what they mean. Don’t let a particular mass or church influence your decision. Most churches have had a fair amount of variation in services. There are often “teen masses” or “guitar masses” as well as languages corresponding to the local minority community. Additionally, your enjoyment of the sermon may depend on the priest who is celebrating that particular mass. Remember, however, that you are not allowed to receive the Eucharist–see “Warnings.”
   2. Once you find a church you like, contact the Parish Office and inform them of your desire to convert. There are group classes, called RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults), for all people wishing to convert within a period, giving you a social framework for assimilating the experience. You will be asked to talk to a priest or deacon, or perhaps to a layperson who is experienced in the conversion process. He will ask you why you wish to become Catholic and in general, talk to you to be sure you are sincere in your desire and are aware of the conditions of being Catholic.

   5.If you continue on in the process, you’ll start taking Catholic education classes, also known as RCIA or Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults. You will learn the history of the Church, the beliefs and values of the Catholic Church, and the proper order of celebration of Mass. During this stage, many classes have you attending Mass for only part of the time, leaving before communion, as you may not receive Eucharist until you have entered the Church.
   
   6.If you’re lucky enough to become Catholic around Easter, you’ll get to be baptized (if you haven’t been baptized before), receive your first communion, and be confirmed at the Easter Vigil, the special Mass held the evening before Easter Sunday (your first reconciliation will be held sometime before).
   
   7.If you have been baptized before into a church recognized by Catholics as a Christian one (Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses are examples of those not considered Christians by the Church), your baptism is valid and you do not have to be baptized again. If you have not been baptized, or been baptized into a non-Christian Church you will be baptized in a Catholic Church.
   

   1. The United States Catholic Catechism for Adults (available on Amazon, with a red cover) is an excellent introduction to the doctrine and prayer of the church. It also is a fairly easy read. Catholicism for Dummies is also useful. Even if you are just asking questions, but not sure that you want to become Catholic, you can approach a priest, deacon or parish staff member to answer your questions. They will probably be more than glad to set up a time to talk with you.

   There are many excellent web sites that can help you plug into the daily prayer tradition of the church. Check out www.universalis.com, www.sacredspace.ie, or www.pray-as-you-go.org.
   
   Many missals have the order of Mass with responses and times to sit, stand, or kneel in the front or back.

                                                                                                                                                                                                            A)      The Solution, the Answer is  not reading books to become   Catholic or lot of phone calls.  It is signing up for the  RCIA Classes nearby to become Catholic.  That is the Phone call needed. RCIA usually begins with School year, and finishes with The Sacraments, And Very beautifully Becoming Full Catholic Easter Sunday, in a  Memorable beautiful Life event. Was same 1800 Years ago, with Catechumens in the Catacombs.                                                
                                                                                                                                                                                                            B)      And best  way to enjoy, learn Catholicism now is watching  Mother Angelica's awesome EWTN, available 140  Countries  and EWTNLive.com.                                                                 Catholic Church is the Most Beautiful  thing  in Life!  Is the Most Ideal Organization, Because it Is the  Lord's > Matt  16:18-19.     
                                                                                                                                                                                                             C)        All the negatives one hears about the  Church are phony stories. The RCC is THE Fastest   growing Church  in the USA, per the  National Conference of Christian Churches February  statistics on All Churches.   And the Rampant Media hype about Pedophelia   Ignores the                    (1)  The RCC  had/has the tiniest  pedophilia rate of any large organization in the world.....About 1%  during the last 60 years, vs 30%   currently among other faiths,                          (2)    The Problem was 40 Years  ago, after confusionj of Vatican II.                           (3)  'All the rules, regulations' are  to 'keep us out of trouble', like affairs, and to perfect us, thereby strengthening us.    Public Laws are the Same, but are arrestable.                                    
                                                                                                               D)  Try, enjoy, love EWTN, and   study the local Mass, which is the 2,000 year old"last  Supper Feast", and the "Sign of Peace"   was begun by the Apostles,  to unite with Christ  and congregation In Church.  EWTN  teaches so Much of this.       Live in Jesus.      Tony

 

[Sailka]

The Catholic Church is often identified with guilt and strict rules. After attending a few masses and befriending a few Catholics, you will find this to be an unfair characterization. There are many common misconceptions about the Church which may cause you to look away without giving them a closer look. Find a well-versed Catholic friend, and he or she will probably be able to give you an answer. Until you are a member of the Catholic Church, you are not allowed to receive the Eucharist.

IT IS A SACRILAGE TO TAKE PART IN THIS EVEN WHEN YOU ARE NOT CATHOLIC! You cannot abuse the Eucharist!

It is unlikely that any action will be taken against you, but the Church asks you to respect its traditions. The Eucharist is the actual body and blood of Christ, no longer bread and wine. Remember that Paul says that, “Therefore whosoever shall eat this bread, or drink the chalice of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and of the blood of the Lord. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh judgment to himself, not discerning the body of the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 11:27,29).
Going to confession is great too!

Above all, do not convert for someone else. Only convert if it is truly what you believe. also go to www.fisheaters.com– and www.EWTN.com–and www.Catholicscomehome.org

                                                                                                                                                                                          Why all the problems and warnings that are not appropriate for this person?    The Catholic Church is All Positive, ideal, idealistc.   Pls see   #  42

 

[Sailka]

I dropped in at the local parish about 2 months ago and spoke to a priest about converting. We talked for about 10 min. He said that he was leaving in a few days for a vacation. He gave me a book to read and asked that I get in touch with him during the 1st week of May. Well thats where I’m having problems…I have called several times and left messages, I have even stopped back by the parish and spoke to the associate pastor who said he would pass along the message. I told him that I have unyielding passion to do God’s work and I just wanted information on becoming Catholic. It has been over a week and still no phone call.
Simply said, I’m almost heart broken. I have spent alot of time working out my conversion, this is a big deal to me.
It seems for them, they are in no rush for me to join the Church at all.

What can I do. I hate to keep bothering them. It seems that if they wanted to call me back, they would.

God Bless you on your beautiful, easy journey. Its very simple: Call nearest Catholic Churches to ask when their RCIA Begins. Is how one becomes Catholic, and ideally.
Now start watching the fascinating, most beasutiful, most informative Catholic EWTN, now in 140 Countries. Also see #42.