Looking to Convert, but

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whatsmyname said:
You may find that nobody at your church sees any particular urgency in helping you join the church because they know you won’t be able to begin the process until September.
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I appreciate all your comments, but I find this statement to be astoundingly depressing.

:confused:
 
LSZ1318 said:
I appreciate all your comments, but I find this statement to be astoundingly depressing.

:confused:
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It shouldn’t be. There is a lot to learn. You can use these months to study Catholicism, go to mass, get involved in bible studies or charitable work at your parish, meet new people, etc.
 
LSZ1318 said:
Thanks everyone for the replies so far. Yes, I failed to mention that I have spoken with the director of the local RCIA program. Very nice guy and we had a good chat. I’m hoping to sit down with him soon but his schedule is also very busy. One interesting thing at both parishes was that they are trying to adopt a ‘mini’ RCIA program for folks like me who are already a practicing Christian, familiar with the gospels, etc; and have done a fair amount of research into the Catholic Faith.

I like to joke with my cradle Catholic friend that I know more about the Catholic Faith than he does, lol. He agrees and, interestingly enough, our conversations have led him to a more rigorous study of doctrine.

I’m sure many of you can relate, but it’s very hard to attend Mass and not be able to take part in the Holy Eucharist; knowing that it’s the true body and blood of Christ. I have to say it nearly brings me to tears and only through immediate prayer am I able to keep my composure.
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God bless you abundantly and don’t ever believe that this “waiting” period is for naught. While you can pray and study on your own, remember the Holy Spirit has called you in this direction and He is never without purpose. He works silently in the depths of your heart; perhaps you won’t realize until later the tremendous benefit and the perfect timing of all He has ordained to take effect.
 
Hang in there!!! I went through (or partially through) three RCIA sessions in three parishes. Satan did interfere and tried to keep me from becoming a Catholic; but the result is great - knowing and receiving Jesus in the Eucharist; receiving the Sacraments; and knowing deep inside that I’m walking with God!!!
 
Currently in the RCIA myself. The general tone I’ve experienced is “relaxed.” I think church authorities and parishioners really want people to join on their own time in their own way, no pressure…prompted by the Holy Spirit, no coercion. In fact, it seems that Catholics in general are so confident in the Holy Spirit’s ability to guide each soul, that there isn’t a lot of urgency to evangelization, probably things are relaxed to a fault. “When it’s the right time for that soul, it will happen without too much involvement on our part.” Again, very relaxed and perhaps uber confident in the Holy Spirit lol.

Don’t take it personally, just be aggressive. It’s a big church. Not much in the way of hand holding and bureaucratic supervision. I was raised Mormon and am used to having a church “calling” assigned to me as an obligation, and regular attendance charts of various types. Not so in Catholicism. The downside is that some Catholics slip between the waves…upside, is that there is way less conformity in Catholicism and people tend to be very authentic at the level of participation they choose.
 
whatsmyname said:
You may find that nobody at your church sees any particular urgency in helping you join the church because they know you won’t be able to begin the process until September.
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I also found that statement depressing.

I was raised Catholic and I understand there is a line of thinking that there is merit in being denied and having to “fight” for something. We were often read stories of girls who had to go to great means to be accepted into a religious order, or defy parental commands etc to do so.

Still the idea that someone comes seeking the faith, and is repeatedly told “yeah, get back to me on that sometime in the future” is a sad one.

But things are what they are. Is there likewise merit for the people who offer no assistance seeing that they are instrumental in toughening up a soul for Christ?

I am truly not attempting to be snarky. This is an aspect and tradition of Catholicism that never made sense to me,even when I was a Catholic. There are several posts in this thread that seem to support the idea and I thought this might be a good place to pose this question.
 
schaeffer said:
Still the idea that someone comes seeking the faith, and is repeatedly told “yeah, get back to me on that sometime in the future” is a sad one.
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I agree that it appears to show a lack of zeal for evangelization. Quite honestly, I have seen a number of negative things resulting from RCIA programs. It should be imperative that spiritual renewal be available to teachers and catechists. It isn’t just about educating; it’s about being eager to share the faith we so love.
 
Well, again thanks to everyone for the great comments and insight. I do think this gets down to the priest and parish staff simply being overwhelmed in the day to day service to the Lord. That’s completely understandable and I do pray for them in their good work.

I mentioned earlier that I truly believe that the Holy Spirit is not only calling me to the Catholic Faith, but also to get involved in some way, shape, or form to assist in efforts like this. I’m not sure what form that will take - perhaps it would be suggesting to the priest and staff that we start a weekly coffee club and/or email support group for folks that want to come into the Church but need to wait a bit for the next RCIA cycle. Perhaps, using my digital talents, it might be an interactive PDF or app with daily devotionals geared towards comforting folks and preparing them during the wait. Maybe it’s just setting up a sponsor program - similar to what already exists when RCIA gets going.

The fear is that people could become disillusioned and simply walk away thinking ‘wow, these people don’t care about me or my salvation’. I don’t mind sharing that I’ve had those feelings creep up from time to time, and the despair that follows is very powerful indeed. It’s Satan whispering in the ear, plain and simple. In fact, one of the most powerful attractions early on for me was the UNIVERSAL nature of the Catholic Church. The fact, repeated wonderfully by the likes of Dr. Scott Hahn and Father Robert Barron, that the Catholic Church becomes a true ‘spiritual family’ and a common, Holy bond is shared. That’s amazing and beautiful. Full of that notion, if a person shows up at the local parish and is faced with ‘kind indifference’, that’s a potential problem. Hope I’m making sense there…!

Ultimately my desire to join the Catholic Faith is unwavering. I’m going to do whatever I need to do in order to make that happen. The Holy Spirit is deep within me on this journey because I’ve let the Holy Spirit in… That may not be case for everyone, and probably isn’t. In many ways I see some sort of support group as functioning to help interesting people fully embrace the Holy Spirit on that journey.

In fact, now that I think about it, Catholic Answers (and all of you in this thread!) have become that support group for me.

Blessings.
 
LSZ1318 said:
Ultimately my desire to join the Catholic Faith is unwavering. I’m going to do whatever I need to do in order to make that happen. The Holy Spirit is deep within me on this journey because I’ve let the Holy Spirit in… That may not be case for everyone, and probably isn’t. In many ways I see some sort of support group as functioning to help interesting people fully embrace the Holy Spirit on that journey…
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Thanks for your faithfulness!! God is faithful and He will bring it to pass - and help us to know and receive Him!!
 
LSZ1318 said:
One interesting thing at both parishes was that they are trying to adopt a ‘mini’ RCIA program for folks like me who are already a practicing Christian, familiar with the gospels, etc; and have done a fair amount of research into the Catholic Faith.

I like to joke with my cradle Catholic friend that I know more about the Catholic Faith than he does, lol.
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If I were you, I would have asked what the content of this ‘mini’ RICA program is and how it differs from the ‘full’ RICA program.

Even if you know much already, the process of becoming holy, which is the aim of the catholic faith, is a lifelong process. I had read a lot of catholic literature when I entered the class that should prepare me for being given entrance into the Church. Still there were much more to learn even after the Introduction course too.

Did you know that a catholic baptism is different from a protestant baptism? If your answer is no, I can tell that neither did I. In the protestant baptism (Lutheran) one only uses water. In the catholic baptism the baby (or grown up) is given a cross with holy oil at her/his forehead and chest in addition to the baptism with water. If you are like me you would like to understand things and why we have these differences.

These differences in the practice of baptism does not mean anything for the conversion.

The reason the protestant baptism is valid for the Catholic Church is that both Catholics and Protestants baptism people into the triune God.

The reason I mention such differences is that protestant Christianity and catholic belief can differ much in understanding. It would therefore be wise to be sure that you get the opportunity to learn these differences. Therefore It could be wise to find out what the ‘mini’ RICA will omit and tell what you hope to learn more of.

In Marc this year “The Drama of Salvation” by Jimmy Akin will be released. It cover topics like:

• What we need to do to be saved
• Whether salvation is a one-time event or a process
• Whether penance is part of God’s plan
• What indulgences are
• How faith and works relate
• What the Church teaches about justification
• How far apart Protestants and Catholics are on this question
• Whether you have to be a Catholic (or a Christian) to be saved

I just mention this in case you are interested! Another book that perhaps will be useful, might be this one: “Catholic Etiquette: What You Need to Know about Catholic Rites and Wrongs” by Ka Isca and Kay L. Isca. (I was glad I had read it while I had to go to my first catholic funeral). Perhaps this book will interest you too: “Now What?: A Guide for New (and Not-So-New) Catholics” by Patrick Madrid.

My best wishes for your preparation for becoming a member of the Catholic Church, for the Big Day and for your travel with God and his people on your way to Heaven after your conversion! 👍

God bless!
 
I second the recommendations that you go through the RCIA process, even though you have already studied the Catholic faith extensively.

I was in your exact shoes several years back–it was late winter or early spring, when I first began contacting Catholic parishes to ask about becoming Catholic. I knew that it was too late in the season to join RCIA classes, but I was hoping that since I had already studied the Catholic faith for a year and knew a lot, that they would find a way to let me do a “shortcut” and join the Church sooner. None of the parishes gave me the option of bypassing the RCIA process, so I signed up for RCIA that fall. Even though it made the waiting period longer, I was glad that I went through RCIA. I made new friends with other Christians on the same journey; learned more about the faith (even though I thought I already knew it well :)); and got to spend those months in deeper preparation and prayer before coming into the Church. Also, it made Easter Vigil all the more special for having to wait.

So yes, waiting for the next RCIA cycle is hard, but worth it.

On another note, if you are having a hard time getting a chance to talk to the priest, can you call the parish secretary and ask to schedule a short appointment with Father? Priests are constantly bombarded by people after Mass, wanting to talk to them about everything, so it’s not necessarily fair to expect your priest to remember to make an appointment with you–it is better to be proactive and take the initiative to make the appointment with him, if possible.
 
Been over a week since my last email to the RCIA coordinator asking for available dates so that he can meet my wife and I… No response.

I’ll try calling tomorrow, but honestly thinking at this point of just reaching out to another local parish.
 
LSZ1318 said:
Been over a week since my last email to the RCIA coordinator asking for available dates so that he can meet my wife and I… No response.

I’ll try calling tomorrow, but honestly thinking at this point of just reaching out to another local parish.
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How sad their lack of response is.

God bless you for not giving up, and deciding to reach out to another parish.
 
LSZ1318 said:
Been over a week since my last email to the RCIA coordinator asking for available dates so that he can meet my wife and I… No response.

I’ll try calling tomorrow, but honestly thinking at this point of just reaching out to another local parish.
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I hate this is your experience and pray you find a good home in another Parish.
 
Your desire to pitch in and your zeal are fantastic. Those are gifts to be used for sure. Like you, I have been disappointed by a lack of enthusiasm from Catholics per my own conversion. I feel that I have found the Truth, and most Catholics I meet don’t seem to understand why I’m so excited. I have also seen a quite widespread lack of enthusiasm for church teaching and even adherence to church teaching. Sad but true from my experience. I discussed my discouragement over this with my sponsor and she thinks that being Catholic is too often a cultural identity first, religious identity second. Us converts are blessed uniquely, in that we often had to fight and search hard to find and convert to Catholicism; once we do, we treasure it in ways that often those who possess it from birth do not. My sponsor encouraged me to see my excitement for the faith as a gift and to maybe get involved in catechesis programs. You can do the same. In every age, the church needs new blood. As converts we can help cradle Catholics better appreciate what a gift the Church is.
 
LSZ1318 said:
Been over a week since my last email to the RCIA coordinator asking for available dates so that he can meet my wife and I… No response.

I’ll try calling tomorrow, but honestly thinking at this point of just reaching out to another local parish.
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Just read this. I’m so sorry…but, per my own experience as well, I can’t say that I’m surprised. At one parish I checked out, the RCIA teacher didn’t show up to the first meeting. Needless to say I looked elsewhere; it was my second failed attempt, after a previous parish didn’t work out. There is a level of disorganization and apathy in the Church that needs reform. It is so painful to be on fire for the faith as a convert, and sometimes feel that you have no one to share this with. The very Church that should be welcoming you with open arms and validating the challenging and crucial choice you have made, is too often completely indifferent. I am so sorry.
 
onegirlinchrist said:
Your desire to pitch in and your zeal are fantastic. Those are gifts to be used for sure. Like you, I have been disappointed by a lack of enthusiasm from Catholics per my own conversion. I feel that I have found the Truth, and most Catholics I meet don’t seem to understand why I’m so excited. I have also seen a quite widespread lack of enthusiasm for church teaching and even adherence to church teaching. Sad but true from my experience. I discussed my discouragement over this with my sponsor and she thinks that being Catholic is too often a cultural identity first, religious identity second. Us converts are blessed uniquely, in that we often had to fight and search hard to find and convert to Catholicism; once we do, we treasure it in ways that often those who possess it from birth do not. My sponsor encouraged me to see my excitement for the faith as a gift and to maybe get involved in catechesis programs. You can do the same. In every age, the church needs new blood. As converts we can help cradle Catholics better appreciate what a gift the Church is.
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While I understand what you are saying about some Catholics, I assure you that there are a lot of Catholics that are enthusiastic about their faith.

Most of them go to daily Mass, and like to attend a retreat at least once a year. Where parenting of small children is an issue, some parishes have groups that meet in the daytime and take turns babysitting for the toddlers in another room.

A lot of Catholics attend bible studies on a regular basis, and if their parish does not yet have one they go to another for the study.

Sadly some have not been properly catechized when younger, and still need to learn much about the faith.
At times, it can be a crisis (personal illness, death of a loved one, etc.) that brings them back interested in learning more.

We do need to pray much for renewal!
 
LSZ1318 said:
Thanks everyone for the replies so far. Yes, I failed to mention that I have spoken with the director of the local RCIA program. Very nice guy and we had a good chat. I’m hoping to sit down with him soon but his schedule is also very busy. One interesting thing at both parishes was that they are trying to adopt a ‘mini’ RCIA program for folks like me who are already a practicing Christian, familiar with the gospels, etc; and have done a fair amount of research into the Catholic Faith.

I like to joke with my cradle Catholic friend that I know more about the Catholic Faith than he does, lol. He agrees and, interestingly enough, our conversations have led him to a more rigorous study of doctrine.

I’m sure many of you can relate, but it’s very hard to attend Mass and not be able to take part in the Holy Eucharist; knowing that it’s the true body and blood of Christ. I have to say it nearly brings me to tears and only through immediate prayer am I able to keep my composure.
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I was at daily Mass the other day and during the consecration thought, wow. Christ, the Word Incarnate, God the Son, fully and substantially present in the accidents of bread and wine. WOW.

I know how you feel. God bless you on your journey to the fullness of Christian Truth! 👍
 
Jesus gave some parables (Matthew 13)
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
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As a convert, I found the treasure hidden in the field (Catholicism / Jesus in the Eucharist / truth) and sold all that I had (friends, others, Protestant denomination) and went and bought that field (i.e. converted).

I have no statistics - but in my RCIA experience (17 years ago), there were 12 of us - 11 of which had Catholic spouses or family - and the one super eager, outsider that wanted so much to become Catholic (me). I sense that RCIA programs just aren’t quite adapted to us (I had read, researched, gone to Mass, prayed, read the Catechism, prayed more).

Just my thoughts!!

Bruce
 
Well, again thanks for all the new comments. I wanted to report back here because we went to a different local Parish and the experience was completely different. A little background:

Only a short time after my last post I emailed the pastor and a couple of key staff members at this other parish and within a couple of hours, received a call from the paster. A great conversation followed, and he invited us to this morning’s Mass.

After the Mass we introduced ourselves and he took the time to chat some more and answered questions. He then introduced us to someone on staff who is organizing various upcoming Adult formation/conversion events and we signed up for one.

So, Praise God that this parish was a much different experience. Again, I hold no ill will or malice towards the other parish - just thankful that this one seems to accommodate Protestant converts a bit more.

Thanks everyone. I’ll drop in again and give another update.
 
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