Looking to convert and have questions

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seeking4us said:
@pol18guy - Are non-Catholics allowed to go to Adoration? I’d read about it, and one of the local Parishes here does it on Thursday nights (tonight) from 7pm-8pm. I’d considered going, hoping that perhaps it would be a time when the Holy Spirit might guide me.
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Our Lord invites all to His presence. Adoration should be as full as mass is, but sadly it is not. By all means, go!
 
BassetMom said:
I’m beginning RCI and very excited about it. I appreciate the information on the Adoration and The Rosery. Can some one answer this: a non catholic friend told me the church will do a background check on me before I’m allowed to be a member, is this true? :eek:
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Uff Da! I assure you, if that was so, I could not claim to be Catholic! The Catholic Church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum of Saints!
 
BassetMom said:
I’m beginning RCI and very excited about it. I appreciate the information on the Adoration and The Rosery. Can some one answer this: a non catholic friend told me the church will do a background check on me before I’m allowed to be a member, is this true? :eek:
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It is not true.

However, if in the future you wish to get involved with a ministry that includes working with people, you might go through some kind of a check. This is what they do in the UK for example. But it depends on where you live.
 
Are there rules about having to attend the Parish closest to your physical home? There are 3 parishes here, and the closest one doesn’t have Adoration at all. It’s not a big town, so the other parishes are within 5-10 min of home also.
 
seeking4us said:
Rom422 - I don’t mind the questions at all. One thing that is drawing me to the Catholic church, over others that I’ve attended, is that in order to accept the Gospels as true, and the Bible as true, you must accept that it is ALL true. Not just a few parts of it. Catholicism seems to embrace that truth, instead of molding it to what it wants to be. My heart hasn’t ever felt RIGHT with saying things like “This represents the body and the blood of Christ” when the Bible tells me that the words and surrounding text specifically says that it IS the Body and Blood. SOMETHING is telling me that this is where my heart truly belongs. I would like to think it’s the Holy Spirit telling me that I’m coming home. I’ve known in the relative sense about the Catholic church all my life, as an abstract. Nothing of it’s particular beliefs, etc. My family wasn’t anti-Catholic, so I never heard anything good or bad (until my husband’s mis-guided angry outburst at my interest in it). As for my interest in the Rosary I find it to be very meditative, and feel like it would allow me time to really contemplate and find peace. I’ve read a lot on it, but haven’t said it yet, since I wasn’t sure if that would be allowed, though I think I’ll start if there isn’t any type of prohibition on it for non-Catholics.
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Hello Seeking4us,

Yes, Catholics believe that the consecrated bread and wine are truly the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, just as He said in Holy Scriptures. And that is the big difference between us and other christians. Do you know that in every Catholic Church there is a tabernacle (at the middle of the altar) where a consecrated bread is always kept? In every Catholic church our Lord is really present. So, what makes the Catholic churches very different from protestant churches is not that our churches have religious images, and their churches don’t have any. What makes the Catholic churches different is that our churches are never empty. Our Lord is always there. If you need to talk to our Lord eye to eye, go make a visit to the Blessed Sacrament anytime, and He is there ready to listen to you.

If there is anything that I like best in the Catholic Church, it is the Blessed Eucharist. Praise the Lord for giving Himself to us in this sacrament. God, the creator of the universe, my Lord who suffered to end eternal suffering, is always there.

It will do you well to start praying the rosary. It is our pious belief that your devotion to the Blessed Mother is a sign of your predestination to eternal glory.

God bless!
 
BassetMom said:
I’m beginning RCI and very excited about it. I appreciate the information on the Adoration and The Rosery. Can some one answer this: a non catholic friend told me the church will do a background check on me before I’m allowed to be a member, is this true? :eek:
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Hi BassetMom,

I am not a priest, but from my own knowledge the only kind of background check they ever do is they ask you questions. They don’t do anything behind your back like checking your police record or credit score.
 
seeking4us said:
Are there rules about having to attend the Parish closest to your physical home? There are 3 parishes here, and the closest one doesn’t have Adoration at all. It’s not a big town, so the other parishes are within 5-10 min of home also.
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Normally, we are to attend our home parish, but there are objective reasons for attending others. As a Catholic, I must wonder a bit about the spirituality of a parish that does not offer worship of Christ outside of the mass. At this point, I would say to simply go wherever the Lord is appearing.
 
seeking4us said:
Are there rules about having to attend the Parish closest to your physical home? There are 3 parishes here, and the closest one doesn’t have Adoration at all. It’s not a big town, so the other parishes are within 5-10 min of home also.
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Usually you join the parish that has jurisdiction in the area where your home is located. There was a time when I asked permission from the parish priest to join a different parish, just because the other parish church has more parking spaces. I was allowed.

You are always allowed to visit or attend Sunday Mass in another parish. No permission is required. I actually have done this a few times, visiting different churches to see what they look like.

If your parish currently has no Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, you can always request the parish priest to schedule one. In my parish Adoration is not scheduled every Thursday, but only on certain days close to an important event, such as Easter. But even if the Blessed Sacrament is not exposed in a monstrance, you can always make a visit to the Blessed Sacrament any time the church is open. Our Lord is there in the blessed Sacrament. There is a red light on the right side of the altar, which indicates that a Sacred Host is in the tabernacle.
 
BassetMom said:
I’m beginning RCI and very excited about it. I appreciate the information on the Adoration and The Rosery. Can some one answer this: a non catholic friend told me the church will do a background check on me before I’m allowed to be a member, is this true? :eek:
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Ah, the Rosary! Praying the Gospel of Christ. Contemplating the mysteries as we pray. For those who may object to the Rosary as repetitive prayer, our Lord only taught us a single prayer (Luke 11:1-10). Are we supposed to pray it only once? Are we not then also engaging in repetitive prayer? Yes!

Rather, Jesus condemned vain repetition, as the Pharisees did in public, so as to be noticed by others. As Bishop Fulton Sheen asked a man who had that very objection: “Do you love your wife? Yes? Well, do you tell her that you love her? Yes? Only once?”
 
po18guy - Thank you for the clarification on the Rosary! Definitely don’t want to do anything that is considered vain repetition. I’m glad for the clarification as it was one concern I had regarding the Rosary.
 
Hi OP!

It’s always great when we get a person that is being called to the Church 👍 I’m very excited for you, you’re in for such a beautiful journey. I don’t have anything to add as far as advice just that you pray to God to guide you and hold you tight throughout. I will be going to a prayer group in a few so I’ll definitely put in a good word to the Lord on your behalf

Welcome Home!!
 
seeking4us said:
po18guy - Thank you for the clarification on the Rosary! Definitely don’t want to do anything that is considered vain repetition. I’m glad for the clarification as it was one concern I had regarding the Rosary.
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There is nothing in scripture that contradicts the Catholic Church, and vice versa. However, the scripture must be properly interpreted - and there’s the rub. See Nehemiah 8:8-9, Acts 8:26-35, 2 Peter 1:20 and 2 Peter 3:16. Jesus left us the Church as the final authority in all faith-related matters (Matthew 18:15-18). Note how Jesus wrapped up his teaching in verse 18: He gave all power to the Church. Saint Paul wrote that the Church is the “pillar and foundation of truth” (1 Timothy 3:15).

In a nutshell, this explains the vast divisions among Christians. Protestantism rejects Church authority, and places it in the bible. But, according to the very words of our Lord, only the Church has the authority to determine what the bible actually means!
 
seeking4us said:
po18guy - Thank you for the clarification on the Rosary! Definitely don’t want to do anything that is considered vain repetition. I’m glad for the clarification as it was one concern I had regarding the Rosary.
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It is pretty difficult for us to actually engage in vain repetition as the Pharisees did. They were very strict and heartless, placing themselves above all others, as the party of holiness. They sought, and received, praise from man, without worrying about praise from God. They thanked God for making them “superior” to the “sinners” (Luke 18:10-14). There is no vanity in repetition, when you offer all glory to God.
 
Is it true that you can go to the church, whenever it is open, to just sit and pray? I didn’t get to go to Adoration, my husband didn’t get out of the office until late, and there was no one to watch my son, don’t think anyone would have wanted a 1 year old running around disturbing that time.
 
seeking4us said:
Is it true that you can go to the church, whenever it is open, to just sit and pray? I didn’t get to go to Adoration, my husband didn’t get out of the office until late, and there was no one to watch my son, don’t think anyone would have wanted a 1 year old running around disturbing that time.
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During the day, yes many parishes are open so that you may sit near the Tabernacle to pray. It is good to let the office know that you are there (and when you go), as they can then let custodial staff know, as well as check on you if it is time to lock up.
 
seeking4us said:
Is it true that you can go to the church, whenever it is open, to just sit and pray? I didn’t get to go to Adoration, my husband didn’t get out of the office until late, and there was no one to watch my son, don’t think anyone would have wanted a 1 year old running around disturbing that time.
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You can go to a catholic church anytime it is open, just to kneel or sit and pray or meditate. In some newer churches there is a “mother’s room” with a big glass window in front where those who have small chilildren can go. The mother’s room, also sometimes known as the “crying room,” is secluded, so the noise caused by children do not disturb other people in the main assembly. Because it has a large glass window in front and a speaker inside, you will still be able to follow the Mass when there is one going on. I love it! Dads are allowed in the mother’s room, so I’ve used it a lot when my children were little.
 
I haven’t yet been to a Catholic church, but I have heard that they don’t often have nurseries for young children, so I’m glad that at least some have a way to address when little ones don’t want to sit for that long. Is there a particular reason that Catholic churches in general don’t have a nursery? Especially with the encouragement to not interfere with God’s intention for children to be the product of marriage?
 
seeking4us said:
I haven’t yet been to a Catholic church, but I have heard that they don’t often have nurseries for young children, so I’m glad that at least some have a way to address when little ones don’t want to sit for that long. Is there a particular reason that Catholic churches in general don’t have a nursery? Especially with the encouragement to not interfere with God’s intention for children to be the product of marriage?
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Some larger parishes do indeed have childcare. My wife and I attended half a mass each on many days when our son was at ‘that age’. The great difference between the Catholic Church and many non-denominationals is that the Catholic Church is far less a consumer product. Compared to a mega-church, it is harder to attend, requires more sacrifice, and tests your love and devotion. But, it is not the Church that tests; rather it is God. The sound of children should be expected. If you have a particularly noisy or active child, oftentimes you must grin and bear it. It is prudential to use the “crying room” or just go out into the narthex or hallway when an eruption occurs. It is a balancing act and a learning curve is associated with it.

But, the ultimate truth of Catholicism makes it all worth the price.
 
seeking4us said:
I haven’t yet been to a Catholic church, but I have heard that they don’t often have nurseries for young children, so I’m glad that at least some have a way to address when little ones don’t want to sit for that long. Is there a particular reason that Catholic churches in general don’t have a nursery? Especially with the encouragement to not interfere with God’s intention for children to be the product of marriage?
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Many people believe (myself included) that children should be at mass. Nobody expects them to sit for an hour and it is common to have little ones make a bit of noise. People will generally not make an issue out of that precisely because they are a gift from God and thus welcome in church.

However, some churches will have so-called ‘cry rooms’ where children can be taken when they get too loud. Perhaps you could find a church that has that facility and go there.
 
I think it’s lovely that they want little ones involved in the Mass. I’ve always wondered why children should be in the nursery, God is for everyone, not just adults right? Glad to know that the Catholic church supports that.
 
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