Ok, You win!

[Nun_ofthe_Above]

Kendy,

I will send you a private message, as I don’t wish to hijack the thread.
Peace and love.

 

[Lorarose]

The whole point of NFP is that you don’t have to have 8 kids if you don’t want to.

 

[MaggieOH]

Lorarose:

Kendy,

Your post shows that our Church needs work.
If the Church needs to wake up and heed the call to help the poor, it will be because of people like you.

One reason we have wonderful websites like this one is because former protestants took what they learned from their protestant backgrounds and brought those gifts with them into the Church.

The main reason I reverted back to my faith is due to very intelligent and brave protestant scholars who convinced me of the truth of catholicism when they chronicled their own conversion.

There may be no such place as a “perfect church” while we’re here on earth…all we can do is our best to bring our gifts to the one we’re in.

Kendy, I am seconding this opinion. I ended up in no man’s land for a while, which meant that I did not go to any church. However, I belong to a very vibrant parish community.

 

[Eileen_T]

As a revert, when I made my journey back to Christianity as an adult, I really, really hoped to find that the Catholic Church wasn’t really the One, True Church that I had been taught as a child.

I researched and studied what I found and …came home. I realised that I had to accept all the teachings of the Church, not just those that suited me. In submitting myself to the Church’s teachings I believe that God has blessed my life in so many ways that I didn’t expect.

Your problem with finding a parish that takes seriously the commission to serve the poor in Christ may have a solution you haven’t considered… So many Protestents who have converted have revitalised their parishes with their talents. John Michael Talbot with his contemporary music for example johnmichaeltalbot.com/

Originally Posted by Kendy
Can I still go to prostestant church if I don’t receive communion? And go to mass later that day?

Remember the Scriptural quote about having put your hand on the plough and not looking back?

Spiritual dryness is, I read recently, God’s way of having us pursue Him.

 

[StCsDavid]

Kendy:

Ok, You win. Having spent some time on this site, and having done some other reading and thinking. I have decided that the RCC is right about some pretty crucial theological questions.

But I have to admit I am not happy about it. I am not experiencing some of the happy going back home feelings that you reverts have been talking about.

It’s more like fine; I’ll go home

Kendy

You know what the kid in Luke 15:11-24 wasn’t too thrilled about going home, but realized he really had no choice. Turned out to be quite a party for him in the end. Welcome home.

 

[MaggieOH]

Kendy,

I have a suggestion for you to think about. It is obvious to me that your branch of the Vineyard Church is a very faith filled group. However, they are misguided in a few areas and this has you perplexed. You have experienced the best in a Christian community, that is they have understood the message of the Gospel and they have been living that message.

As far as the Mass is concerned, I wonder how long since you last went to a Catholic Mass?

Anyway, my suggestion is this: what if you decide for the time being to attend both communities as a transition from one to the other. I am not sure that you are totally committed to leaving the present congregation. On the other hand, I do think that your experience at the Vineyard Church could be translated into a new experience for your old Catholic parish.

I am an Australian living in Sydney, and I belong to a very vibrant Catholic community. One of the many innovations is that of the Family Group Movement. That movement was started by a Sydney priest by the name of Fr. Peter McGrath. The movement has gone world wide and it is in England. These groups mean that family members who are not Catholic can come together with other Catholic and non-Catholics in a caring and sharing way. Members of my parish community helped to settle the first of the Vietnamese refugees in Australia. One woman opened up her rather large home to these refugees and also to others who have needed somewhere to stay. This woman is a mother of 8 children and that is why they have a large house. To this day she continues to take in people who come to Sydney to attend certain church functions not associated with the Catholic Church. There are many groups in this community, including LifeTeen and those who minister by being drivers to bring the elderly to Mass on a Sunday. We have a carer’s group, as well as those who welcome people to the community, and then there is the grief support. We also have a Scripture group, with a focus on the Little Rock program, as well as having introduced CaFE.

Each year we make up hampers for those who are poor, and over 1,000 hampers are donated in readiness for the Hamper Mass. These hampers are then taken and distributed to families in need in a poor area of Sydney.

A Catholic priest started the GROW movement, which is similar to AA but with an emphasis on mental health and yes this is yet another focal point of something that is offered within the grounds of the parish.

Participation is the key. There is no point grumbling and doing nothing. This is the secret of the work of the Spirit in my parish.

Perhaps you are being called back to help in the renewal of your old parish.

 

[Kendy]

Eileen T:

Spiritual dryness is, I read recently, God’s way of having us pursue Him.

Oh, but if only I was experiencing spiritual dryness! I don’t think I am. I am generally happy with my spiritual life. I want to learn more, and I certainly care about the truth. But I wasn’t even feeling lost. I just had some questions.

And now, look at me! I can’t even receive communion at my church, and I was so blissful in my consumption of welch’s grape juice and crackers.

This is almost as bad as the time God wanted to give up the really cute med student I was dating

I am not amused, but I still love Him.

Kendy

 

[JaneFrances]

Kendy:

Oh, but if only I was experiencing spiritual dryness! I don’t think I am. I am generally happy with my spiritual life. I want to learn more, and I certainly care about the truth. But I wasn’t even feeling lost. I just had some questions.

And now, look at me! I can’t even receive communion at my church, and I was so blissful in my consumption of welch’s grape juice and crackers.

This is almost as bad as the time God wanted to give up the really cute med student I was dating

I am not amused, but I still love Him.

Kendy

LOL. . .I know you’re not amused, but I think your insight into God’s sense of humor is great!

I also think that you are truly blessed to be so clearly aware of this present cross you are being called to bear for Him! I don’t know anyone who carries it perfectly with joyful skipping, but I can assure you that it will be well worth the sacrifice.

God Bless!

 

[asteroid]

Kendy:

But I have to admit I am not happy about it. I am not experiencing some of the happy going back home feelings that you reverts have been talking about.

I’m a convert, not a revert, and by the time of my confirmation I was very happy about things.

But for a long time the last thing I wanted to do was convert to Catholicism. The idea was abhorrent. Even when I decided it was the right course of action and that the CC was right about things I was definitely not happy. I would much rather have stayed where I was but now I’m glad I didn’t.

 

[Al_Masetti]

Kendy:

Second, I love my church. I have never been around a group of people who are more committed to serving God and loving each other. The Hyde park Vineyard really exemplifies faith without works is dead. Anyone who doesn’t take their faith seriously would just uncomfortable being there. When I lost my job, the church came together and paid my rent. I would have never even thought of asking my catholic parish for that kind of help. Everything in my church is done with the utmost commitment to God. Our church secretary treats her job like a mission. She, like the majority of the people there, just exude with God’s love. How many homeless people attend your church? Hyde Park Vineyard takes, the poor you will have with you seriously. We not only invite them but are ministering to them. We have gotten them jobs, we are currently helping one woman get back to school. We have members all over the world working in orphanages, building schools for street children in Thailand, people risking their lives in Islamic countries to bring the gospel to muslims.

Kendy

Dear Kendy,

The Catholic Church does all of these things but does almost no publicity and also asks nothing in return, not gratitude and not even acknowledgement.

For example, did you know that at least one of the Prime Ministers of Pakistan was educated in Catholic schools?

In downtown Newark, NJ, the parish church of St. John’s Church has one of the largest [maybe THE largest] soup kitchens in the city of Newark. Almost no one knows about it. And ALL of the financial support comes from private donations, none from the Archdiocese. Nobody knows about it; the Holy Spirit works through all those individuals.

At Port Newark, the HUGE container port just east of Newark Airport, there is the Stella Maris Chapel from which two priests visit all the ships that stop at Port Newark and also serves the people who work at the Port. Nobody knows about it, but there are a large number of people who provide support through their parishes. [The parishioners have “adopted” the Stella Maris ministry. Anytime anything is needed, the parishioners respond instantly.]

There are ministries and there are apostolates (they are different).

There are all kinds of ministries, for example “Scrupulous Anonymous” is supported as part of their overall outreach by the Redemptorists (in Ligouri, Missouri) who have missionaries all over the world. All their support comes from volunteers… I attended a retreat conducted by one of their priests when I was in Thailand… That priest, Father Ray Brannon, died recently… but he and many others did and do amazing work. There is another ministry that I just happen to know about up in northern Alaska. There is another one that has a chapel near where I live that serves the people of Africa, the SMA Fathers.

In addition, there are all kinds of apostolates out there… serving unwed mothers who want to avoid abortion… support for unemployed people *… our parish has a large number of groups… one time when we got a new pastor, we tallied the groups … there were more than 50 … back then… No idea how many there might be now… There was a nun who was our “version” of Mother Theresa and whenever she found a need, people would “pop up” to fill that need. Some unknown person died at the hospital with no relatives; she buried the guy. Years later a relative turned up after hunting for the deceased person for all that time and the relative was shocked that his deceased had received a real and dignified Christian burial. One of my pastor friends runs a cemetary in addition to his normal parish duties; he asked me to help with laying out a new area to the cemetary; he showed the the nearly 200-year old records of burials and when we walked through the property he showed me where he had provided free burial plots for people who had died with no money. No one knew about it; no publicity; he just did it.

There was this big meeting once and someone complained about how a bunch of people were running things and we all became “upset” because the complainer never volunteered to do anything except complain… we kept advising the complainer to “just show up and help out”… that’s all it would take for that person to become involved…there were at least 50 places to help out… “just show up”… he promised to do something specific, but he never did.*

 

[Libero]

Second, I love my church. I have never been around a group of people who are more committed to serving God and loving each other. The Hyde park Vineyard really exemplifies faith without works is dead. Anyone who doesn’t take their faith seriously would just uncomfortable being there. When I lost my job, the church came together and paid my rent. I would have never even thought of asking my catholic parish for that kind of help. Everything in my church is done with the utmost commitment to God. Our church secretary treats her job like a mission. She, like the majority of the people there, just exude with God’s love. How many homeless people attend your church? Hyde Park Vineyard takes, the poor you will have with you seriously. We not only invite them but are ministering to them. We have gotten them jobs, we are currently helping one woman get back to school. We have members all over the world working in orphanages, building schools for street children in Thailand, people risking their lives in Islamic countries to bring the gospel to muslims.

So, I have to leave that to go back to what I remember as just a bunch of lukewarm, 1 hr on Sunday only Christians.

Kendy, don’t be put off by the fact that some Catholic churches don’t help the poor, we do have some people (lots in france) devoted to helping the poor, like Abbe Pierre and Bishop Gaillot, I am sure that not all of the churches in your denomination are quite so enthusiastic about helping those less well of. Also lets not forget about CAFOD.

I use to worry about how my church services don’t seem very enthusiastic about God, and didn’t really feel like “worship” at all, however the only person who needs to be enthusiastic about God is you. Good luck

 

[gardenswithkids]

Kendy. I’m happy for the Catholic Church. I know it will be a struggle and a sacrifice for you to return, but we need people like you. Thank you for being open to the change. You will be blessed and God will bless others through you.

Kendy:

Oh, I am obviously not sure. Don’t even get me started with purgatory and indulgences. And NFP. If I were catholic, I couldn’t be those cafeteria ones who do whatever they want. So, I have been spending the past two trying to comfort myself about having eight kids! It’s not a pretty picture

Can’t help you much there as I only have seven. I remember reading you post about how God changed your desire to sin. It can work that way regarding children too. When I returned and became convicted that contraception was wrong, I calculated the “worst case senario” in my head, factoring my age, years until menopause, etc. He completely changed my heart since then.

I’ll keep you in my prayers. God bless you.

 

[mlchance]

Kendy:

It’s more like fine; I’ll go home

One of the unusual quirks of the English language is that being disillusioned is supposedly a bad thing. But think about the word “disillusion.” It literally means “to be without illusions.” Shouldn’t that be a good thing?

Welcome back to the illusion-free Church.

– Mark L. Chance.

 

[Redbandito]

Kendy:

Ok, You win. Having spent some time on this site, and having done some other reading and thinking. I have decided that the RCC is right about some pretty crucial theological questions.

But I have to admit I am not happy about it. I am not experiencing some of the happy going back home feelings that you reverts have been talking about.

It’s more like fine; I’ll go home

Kendy

KENDY! WOW! This is unbelievable. I have been talking about you to my family. I have prayed for you. And now I see the fruits. God is awesome! Anyway, I just wanted to let you know I have the utmost respect for you. While this may not be easy, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to us to guide us. Keep up the good work you are doing. Please continue to ask questions. And welcome home. God’s blessings!

Josh

 

[Lapsed]

Are you joining me on this journey Kendy? I’ve been away from the Church for 20 years and am meeting with the priest tomorrow.

I can understand being a little angry about the course that’s brought you to this point. I was raised in the Church, confirmed at 13. I left at 14, wandered into what’s known as the Western Mystery Tradition (along the lines of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn), then paganism, practised Wicca and moved from there into the Mormon church, left that and wandered back into paganism, this time Asatru. Finally God has called me home.

I keep asking Him why, if this is where I belong, did He let me wander so far? Why did I find fulfillmet - for a time - on these other roads? I was actually perfectly content as an Asatruar when I started looking at the Church again. And like you, I came here, and my experiences here have been a huge factor in my decision to go home.

In my profile I’ve listed “wrestling with God” as one of my hobbies. I realised yesterday that I haven’t been wrestling with God, I’ve been wrestling with myself. God has actually been in my corner all along waiting for me to tag Him in.

It can be difficult to believe in a loving and compassionate God when He seems to suddenly throw things at us that require us to either acknowledge His Truth and follow where He leads or stick our heads back in the sand and ignore His promptings. Neither road is easy.

Kendy:

And now, look at me! I can’t even receive communion at my church, and I was so blissful in my consumption of welch’s grape juice and crackers.

And now you can have to opportunity to partake of the Body and Blood of Christ instead. That’s a definite trade up.

If you dislike the Mass, do some serious research about it and really learn what is taking place in the Mass. Jesus becomes bodily present upon the altar! When you truly realize and accept that, you’ll develop a whole new perspective on the Mass.

Being Catholic is not an easy road, but it is God’s road.

 

[Kendy]

Libero:

Kendy, don’t be put off by the fact that some Catholic churches don’t help the poor, we do have some people (lots in france) devoted to helping the poor, like Abbe Pierre and Bishop Gaillot, I am sure that not all of the churches in your denomination are quite so enthusiastic about helping those less well of. Also lets not forget about CAFOD.

I use to worry about how my church services don’t seem very enthusiastic about God, and didn’t really feel like “worship” at all, however the only person who needs to be enthusiastic about God is you. Good luck

I know that the church does a lot of fine things. I was just telling you why I love my church.

Kendy

 

[Ahimsa]

Kendy,

Why can’t you receive communion at your church?

 

[Kendy]

Thanks Josh,

You’ve been great.

Kendy

Redbandito:

KENDY! WOW! This is unbelievable. I have been talking about you to my family. I have prayed for you. And now I see the fruits. God is awesome! Anyway, I just wanted to let you know I have the utmost respect for you. While this may not be easy, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to us to guide us. Keep up the good work you are doing. Please continue to ask questions. And welcome home. God’s blessings!

Josh

 

[Kendy]

Ahimsa:

Kendy,

Why can’t you receive communion at your church?

Because the vineyard believes that communion is just symbolic.

 

[Ahimsa]

Kendy:

Because the vineyard believes that communion is just symbolic.

Does Vineyard demand that you can’t take their communion unless you believe it is just symbolic?