Love being Catholic but unable to embrace it more

[Stac4Grace]

Hello to all. I have been a convert to the Catholic faith for almost nine years and I am not being able to embrace my religion as much as I want to. My whole side of the family is Baptist. I can’t talk about anything concerning Catholics with them and I feel like I’m doing something wrong when I do. My grandpa is a very strict Baptist and every time I am around him I am on edge because he usually makes comments or questions me about about my faith, which I feel I still don’t know what I should about it. I try to avoid any kind of situation like that because it only causes anger and frustration between us and I don’t like that. I want to be more involved at my Parish but we have five children and there is no one that can watch them. My mom is the only person there is to watch them dr. appts. and things like that. But if she found out I was going to do Catholic “stuff” she would have a fit. I just feel like I am being held back from doing the things I should be doing in my faith. Anyone else in a similar situation or know anything I could do? Thank you and God bless.

 

[Al_Masetti]

Spend as much time as you can in front of the tabernacle.

Holy Hour, if possible, with Jesus-in-the-Monstrance.

Say to Him: “I can’t do this… YOU do it.”

 

[stbruno]

Do you have a family ministries office in your diocese? Many times your local diocesan office has family centered programs that involve bringing your children along. At our Saturday morning masses, there are frequently whole families in church…which is not a obligatory mass. The children love it because it also means that they may do something special afterward, like stop in the park, bring home donuts for breakfast whatever it is. You can incorporate your whole family in some way shape and form and many times some of the parish’s offer child care during their meetings so that more parents can become involved. Check it out. familyministries.org/
Here’s the link from our diocese and you can see that it has something for stepfamilies, new moms, married couples, etc…
And when your children are of school age, get involved with their Christian education as a volunteer with their religious education classes or perhaps Catholic school. With all things, pray on it!

 

[john_ennis]

Apart from additional things you try to do, be aware that you are already doing more than you realize. Simply being faithful in difficult situations is a calling.

Be comforted by Jesus, and then let your trust be an example to your kids.

And offer up your suffering; it is not wasted. It has saving power, when united with Christ’s.

Peace.
John

 

[JMJ_Theresa]

You need lots of good orthodox Catholic friends. Lots and lots! It will change your life. Pray for God to send you some. Connect through a mom’s rosary group or even a homeschooling group (hey, every parent is doing some homeschooling!!). Go to daily Mass and make connections. Good luck

 

[LSK]

Stac4Grace:

Hello to all. I have been a convert to the Catholic faith for almost nine years and I am not being able to embrace my religion as much as I want to. My whole side of the family is Baptist. I can’t talk about anything concerning Catholics with them and I feel like I’m doing something wrong when I do. My grandpa is a very strict Baptist and every time I am around him I am on edge because he usually makes comments or questions me about about my faith, which I feel I still don’t know what I should about it. I try to avoid any kind of situation like that because it only causes anger and frustration between us and I don’t like that. I want to be more involved at my Parish but we have five children and there is no one that can watch them. My mom is the only person there is to watch them dr. appts. and things like that. But if she found out I was going to do Catholic “stuff” she would have a fit. I just feel like I am being held back from doing the things I should be doing in my faith. Anyone else in a similar situation or know anything I could do? Thank you and God bless.

Do you have a Moms Club at your Parish?

Maybe it’s time you START ONE??? YOU CAN DO IT!!!:dancing:

 

[Stac4Grace]

Thanks for all of your suggestions.
I wish I had lots of Catholic friends, my husband and I don’t even have non-Catholic friends because they don’t seem to care how they live or what they do (drinking, smoking etc.), so it’s better that we just stay away and pray for them. And we do not have a Moms Club at our parish, I have never heard of it before. God bless.

 

[mastda]

JMJ Theresa:

You need lots of good orthodox Catholic friends. Lots and lots! It will change your life. Pray for God to send you some. Connect through a mom’s rosary group or even a homeschooling group (hey, every parent is doing some homeschooling!!). Go to daily Mass and make connections. Good luck

This is very easier said than done. I know you mean well but it is difficult for a new Catholic - convert or revert. When we told our old evangelical friends that we made our final decision to join the Catholic Church, all of our friends slowly deserted us. We went from being social butterflys to spending most our our leisure time by ourselves with no friends. Don’t mistake this for a sob story as we are truly happy with our lives and our decision but it is difficult to make good orthodox Catholic friends. Sometimes we would even be happy to make good Catholic friends, never mind the orthodox, we could work on that later.

 

[JGheen]

Al Masetti:

Spend as much time as you can in front of the tabernacle.

Holy Hour, if possible, with Jesus-in-the-Monstrance.

Say to Him: “I can’t do this… YOU do it.”

That was my immediate thought too! Good Catholic communities are great support, try to find one if you can. But whether communities are available or not, God is always available to us.

If time permits (and sometimes even if it doesn’t), spend an hour each day with Him. It is hard but I did it for one semester in college and it transformed my life and gave me incredible grace during a rough year.