I want to do the right thing but I don't know where to begin

  • Thread starter Thread starter Albatross8
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
A

Albatross8

Guest
A little backstory on my journey: I was raised and baptized in a Pentecostal church. While I was at university I converted to the Catholic church. After university I served in the armed forces for 6 years and during this time I slowly drifted away from the church.

I met my fiance 3 years ago and she had a young child who’s father was not in the picture. I’ve pretty much raised him and I intend to adopt him as my own once we’ve married. Recently we’ve welcomed another child and I’ve purchased a home for us in a new area.

Since the birth of our baby I’ve really felt called to return to the church and to have my boys baptized in the church and to make sure that our marriage will be recognized by the church.

Our situation is complicated by the fact that I’ve not been practicing the faith in a number of years, my fiance is not catholic (shes a protestant christian) and shows no intention of becoming catholic, although she agrees to allow the children to be raised in the catholic church, we live together and raise our 2 children out of wedlock, and being in a new area I’m not familiar with our local parish.

I’ve made a lot of mistakes and I want to set things right but it seems like a steep hill to climb at this point. What steps do I need to take to get back in good standing with the church personally, get my boys baptized in the church, and finalize our marriage in a way that will be blessed by the church?
 
God bless you and your family. I’m sure God is pleased with your intentions to make your paths straight.
I’m pretty sure it’s not as complicated as you may think. You just need to go to confession – maybe make an appointment with the priest since it’s been a while – and explain it to him. Going to confession should allow you to return to the church in good standing. Then ask about arranging your marriage and having your children baptized. Most priests are wonderful and will be very helpful. in case you run across one who is not, go to another, but hopefully you shouldn’t need to. Priests are only human, and we go to church for Jesus, not for any other reason.
You may be asked to refrain from sexual relations until your marriage is finalized.
It’s great that your fiance is willing to raise your children in the Catholic faith. You might want to go through RCIA with her, so that she knows what the church teaches, but that would be something to discuss with the priest.
God bless you in your journey.
 
Albatross8 said:
What steps do I need to take to get back in good standing with the church personally, get my boys baptized in the church, and finalize our marriage in a way that will be blessed by the church?
Click to expand...
It’s not really that complicated. Your story is not unlike many young adults.

Look up your local parish online and call to make an appointment with the priest to talk through what you need to do— confession, premarital preparation, baptism preparation, etc. If you aren’t already attending mass again, start going to mass. Refrain from the Eucharist until you’ve talked to the priest, and gone to confession.

Don’t fret, the priest has helped others return to the church, marry, and baptize their kids before.
 
Thank you so much! I guess it was just daunting thinking of all the things that needed to be done. I’ll start back attending mass and discuss my situation with a priest and see where we go from there.
 
Take it one step at a time. Your situation is not at all uncommon, and it will be a joy to add your family to the parish family!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top