In RCIA - Having some difficulties with changes

[sweetpea8319]

You know, I can understand your feeling of isolation and people not becoming acquainted with you, or not acknowledging you much. All I can say is that I was a member of the same church since birth, and it wasn’t until I started becoming involved in the choir in high school that I actually started to feel a part of that parish! Before that, my family would be like the others who wouldn’t really make an effort to connect. It wasn’t until I decided to become involved in different ways that I found friendship or at least friendly faces who recognized me and would smile my way and make small talk.

That was really important to me too, so at this point while you are still learning about this parish and trying to find where you fit in, I would suggest too, that you try to become involved in a few ways. Maybe help out volunteering if they have a St.VIncent de Paul ministry, or if they have a dinner try a role there. Maybe start volunteering for the youth ministry or others. Try to find something you like, and by doing so, you’ll get to know people and find the friendly side of this parish!

Good luck!

Blessings,

 

[Boy_Wonder]

TT

It’s so good you’re in RCIA. Make an effort to speak with your pastor about these concerns as soon as possible. You are not alone. God loves you and is leading you on this journey. Granted our church can seem cold and unfriendly to Protestants who have a greater element of fellowship and socializing in their faith traditions. Seek community elsewhere. Look around your diocese. there will be opportunities to share the faith in a warmer atmosphere.

Here are two greta books geared at converts from Protestantism:

Rome Sweet Home by Scott and Kimberly Hahn

Crossing the Tiber by Stephen K Ray

 

[aidanbradypop]

Hi,

I’m a newbie. A little background so you’ll understand my questions a bit more…

Many spiritual paths in my life. Raised young in Southern Baptist, then to many churches with friends and my mom (post divorce). I went to RC Mass for several years. Almost took the plunge but just couldn’t go through with it knowing I was going to “be” with my boyfriend (I was young), no religion for a while, then after my divorce back to Southern Baptist for a while then nothing, then into New Age / Paganism and Wicca. Note that I was always (since childhood) into Tarot and such (I’m in my early 50’s). I did decide a couple years ago that Wicca just wasn’t for me and went back to what we called “fluff bunny”, still New Age but really into angels (think Doreen Virtue).

A friend and employee died many months ago and at her service (I was afraid the church would fall down if I went it and it didn’t - it was Baptist) the Pastor quoted from John and elaborated that the Bible didn’t say that Jesus was “A” way to God, it was the ONLY way (New Agers think all ways lead to God or the Creator). For some reason this really hit me.

I decided to attempt to go back to church but didn’t care for the evanglistic services of protestant and decided to go to Mass as it was something I enjoyed before and accepted angels. I have been going for many months and have started RCIA (actually our Church calls them Adult Faith).

The past several weeks I’ve been having very strong desires to pull out my Angel cards (I really miss them - I packed all them away and threw out much of that type of stuff), listen to my Angel cd’s. Also, I’ve been questioning if I can really commit to go to Mass every week for the rest of my life - this is scary for me.

I’ve been praying about this but not getting stronger. Do you think this may be a test for me or that Satan is trying to pry his way in or is it that perhaps that the Spirit is trying to tell me that the Catholic faith is not for me?

I don’t know anyone at Church (other than my instructor - who isn’t really very open to conversation) and my few co-students. My Church seems very cold - all the time I’ve been going I think 3 people have said hello.

Sorry for such a long post. I’m just at a loss and don’t know where to go from here.

Thank you!

Thank you for coming to us with this question. Iron sharpens Iron! I was Southern Baptist before I converted. Well I should say that I was forced to attend a Southern Baptist Church lol. It never really fulfilled me, but I attended nonetheless. I started going to a RCC when I was around the age of 11 or 12. I had to sneak because “Catholics were going to hell.” I was very faithful to the Church and risked being punished for going. Later on early in college, I really got into the whole gnostic movement. It was kind of a free-for-all type of faith. I was not told I had to attend a “Church” because I was the “church.” I even started the process of becoming a priest in the Gnostic Catholic Church lol.

Long story short, I was chasing after my own will and desires rather than seeking God’s will for me life. I did not want to sacrifice my time for God even though He sacrificed His Son for me. I was being very selfish and that blinded me to the truth God was trying to show me. I later came back to the Church along with my wife and children.

Think of it like this, would you feel comfortable sitting down with Christ and doing a tarot card reading on Him? Would you feel comfortable sitting down with Christ and defending the New Age movement?

I pray that your journey towards God will fill you with hope and joy so that you may bask in His light and love.

 

[Chantal25]

I haven’t read any reply and sorry if i repeat with any. I am a former new age myself. The only difference, is that i was raised Catholic so by going to the confession and with two priests performing a special prayer for me, all the gift from the new age vanished on that day. I had to see the priest again for a more extensive prayer.

I recommend to you to pray the Rosary, read Mother Mary’s messages (Approved by the church). There are so many new age people that pretend to receive message from Jesus and Mary, please stay away from those.

Mary will protect you. Continue to do your course (RCIA), and once you receive the sacrament that will allow you to go to the confession, you will be all set. Talk to a priest, he most likely will be able to make a special prayer for you.

Resist temptation and throw all books or cards that are New age now. It is a mortal sin and please don’t do this. Nothing from those cards are from God. New age is deceiving.

Saint Faustina had a vision of people dancing in a beautiful field and signing, none of them realized that this path leaded them to a precipice straight to hell. She saw another path with thorn and narrow, people will struggle but that path leaded them to heaven. New Age is all about dancing in this field that lead you to the lost of your SOUL.

I pray for you!

p.s I recommend that you start also the Divine Mercy Rosary. Here is a nice youtube

youtube.com/watch?v=Y48L-yEOPlY