Overwhelmed and not sure what to do

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TwinMommy said:
I was noticing on the church(or is it parish?)sites that confession is during a 30 minute time period. If there are many people there, do they expand that amount of time?
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Yes its Parish but I just say “church” unless I’m introducing myself in a Catholic Bible study or introducing myself to a priest from a different parish then mine and will say what parish I’m from.

I actually made an appointment for that particular confession. I knew that I would be longer than the usual confession because it had been so long.
 
crazzeto said:
You can call them church or parish today, but parish would be more accurate as church should refer to thee Church, i.e. full congregation of all believers. That goes way beyond the bounds of any individual parish or cathedral =)

The more important question, do they extend the the time. They should if they are able (they may not be due to celebration of Holy Mass). At the very least you can (or should) be able to make an appointment.

I will say though, no priest may offer you absolution yet. I hope your not disappointing, then thing is you aren’t in full communion with the Church. This doesn’t mean you can’t necessarily go to confession and talk out your sins, just tell the priest you are not catholic but would like to confess anyway. The seal of the confessional should still apply, the only difference is no words of absolution may be spoken. The reasoning may seem hard to understand now, but the sacraments can only be administered with those churches that we have some form of communion.

But don’t despair, continue to pray and talk to God and be lead. Trust in Him, he will bring you all the way into His wounded heart and will not fail you.
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Speaking of cathedrals, which I was looking for a parish to go to this Sunday for Mass, I was seeing pictures of what I did not have in my mind that one looked like. I guess I was excepting the inside of every parish to look like cathedrals do LOL

I did have a feeling that I would not be able to have absolution. Does it disappoint, not really because I see the reason and purpose of all things that happen within become a member of the Church. If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it.

Prayer…I never knew how far I was feeling from God in prayer. I look so forward to praying now. I have a horrible memory and I was figuring I would never learn prayers. Praying the Rosary on the app has made me start to learn them. I have ones I have been saying every day beyond the Rosary and I am learning those. I haven’t had to set out to remember them, God is making it so they are sticking in brain because they are the prayers that should be said.
 
peace2u2 said:
Yes its Parish but I just say “church” unless I’m introducing myself in a Catholic Bible study or introducing myself to a priest from a different parish then mine and will say what parish I’m from.

I actually made an appointment for that particular confession. I knew that I would be longer than the usual confession because it had been so long.
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I hope I am able to find some sort of Bible study. I know I am going to be looking at the Word in all new ways.

That is great to know an appointment can be made when needed.
 
TwinMommy said:
Speaking of cathedrals, which I was looking for a parish to go to this Sunday for Mass, I was seeing pictures of what I did not have in my mind that one looked like. I guess I was excepting the inside of every parish to look like cathedrals do LOL

I did have a feeling that I would not be able to have absolution. Does it disappoint, not really because I see the reason and purpose of all things that happen within become a member of the Church. If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it.

Prayer…I never knew how far I was feeling from God in prayer. I look so forward to praying now. I have a horrible memory and I was figuring I would never learn prayers. Praying the Rosary on the app has made me start to learn them. I have ones I have been saying every day beyond the Rosary and I am learning those. I haven’t had to set out to remember them, God is making it so they are sticking in brain because they are the prayers that should be said.
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Parishes (and even Cathedrals) are all over the place in what they look like. Cathedrals less so, but there are some exceptions. Sadly a lot of parishes are indistinguishable from protestant churches. The one I go to now could easily be baptist, but the one I went to as a child was unmistakeably Western Rite Catholic (pre-vatican II).

Attached is a PDF document that will offer basic instruction on praying the rosary, I hope it helps. Remember, you technically don’t need the physical rosary at all to say the prayer. You can just start with the creed, our Father, 3 hail Mary’s so on and so forth.
 
I wouldn’t be in a big rush for confession right now. It’s more important, in my opinion, to pray for guidance each step of the way. My first appointment with our just-too-fabulous-for-words priest was a little over a year ago and he told me what to expect, gave me a catechism (not the full catechism but the condensed narrative-style), gave me the papers I needed for my marriage nullification issue, blessed me and sent me on my merry way. After that it was only a matter of biding my time until RCIA began in September which seemed at that time to be a freaking eternity LOL. Oh, and the nullification issue was one of the easy ones (first husband had been married before me therefore had a prior bond, so the review only took five weeks). Every Sunday before RCIA it was agonizing to stay in my pew while most of the others went forward to receive communion, but looking back now it was good for me and will be soooooo worth the wait. As a note, during RCIA we are dismissed after the homily and go to the parish life center for Breaking Open the Word, a discussion period. Just three more loooooooong weeks and that will be over 🙂

I say all of that to say this - take your time, study, go to Mass as often as you can, go to Adoration if it’s available, and when it’s time for RCIA, you’ll be ready and will have a wonderful experience. Next thing you know, it will be Easter Vigil time and you’ll be HOME!

ETA: as for music, I struggle with the music at Mass, mainly because I am totally unfamiliar with most of it, and long for some good ol’ Southern gospel Bill Gaither style. I love to sing (it’s doubtful those around me enjoy hearing me) but most of the time I find myself just looking at the hymn and keeping silent. ~sigh~
 
TwinMommy said:
pablope;10456965:
I am so thankful that everyone is sharing so much and taking the time to help me out. I am praying for blessings for all of you. You are all blessing me.
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👍 Actually, you are a blessing for us too…and I lit a candle for you at the adoration chapel today…😉

And seeing that you are now praying the Rosary…I think I can speak for my fellow Catholics…you have a divine advocate now in our Holy Mother…you are in good hands…👍
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crazzeto said:
Parishes (and even Cathedrals) are all over the place in what they look like. Cathedrals less so, but there are some exceptions. Sadly a lot of parishes are indistinguishable from protestant churches. The one I go to now could easily be baptist, but the one I went to as a child was unmistakeably Western Rite Catholic (pre-vatican II).

Attached is a PDF document that will offer basic instruction on praying the rosary, I hope it helps. Remember, you technically don’t need the physical rosary at all to say the prayer. You can just start with the creed, our Father, 3 hail Mary’s so on and so forth.
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Thank you for the PDF. I would never of thought praying the Rosary could be such a moving experience, that it could draw me so close to the Lord.
 
Hoo(name removed by moderator)mie said:
I wouldn’t be in a big rush for confession right now. It’s more important, in my opinion, to pray for guidance each step of the way. My first appointment with our just-too-fabulous-for-words priest was a little over a year ago and he told me what to expect, gave me a catechism (not the full catechism but the condensed narrative-style), gave me the papers I needed for my marriage nullification issue, blessed me and sent me on my merry way. After that it was only a matter of biding my time until RCIA began in September which seemed at that time to be a freaking eternity LOL. Oh, and the nullification issue was one of the easy ones (first husband had been married before me therefore had a prior bond, so the review only took five weeks). Every Sunday before RCIA it was agonizing to stay in my pew while most of the others went forward to receive communion, but looking back now it was good for me and will be soooooo worth the wait. As a note, during RCIA we are dismissed after the homily and go to the parish life center for Breaking Open the Word, a discussion period. Just three more loooooooong weeks and that will be over 🙂

I say all of that to say this - take your time, study, go to Mass as often as you can, go to Adoration if it’s available, and when it’s time for RCIA, you’ll be ready and will have a wonderful experience. Next thing you know, it will be Easter Vigil time and you’ll be HOME!

ETA: as for music, I struggle with the music at Mass, mainly because I am totally unfamiliar with most of it, and long for some good ol’ Southern gospel Bill Gaither style. I love to sing (it’s doubtful those around me enjoy hearing me) but most of the time I find myself just looking at the hymn and keeping silent. ~sigh~
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I hope theses three weeks fly by for you!! I can totally see why this process happens. I think there is too much important stuff to learn, to much to absorb from watching others and so on. I am use to communion every week, so that will be hard. Most protestant tend to do it monthly but where I have been for a long time does it weekly.

I can not wait to read your post after Easter Vigil.

I love finding new music. I love to sing but am not good at it. I know God loves my voice, so that is all I care about.

How many people are in the RICA classes with you? Just curious lol
 
pablope said:
TwinMommy;10457930:
👍 Actually, you are a blessing for us too…and I lit a candle for you at the adoration chapel today…😉

And seeing that you are now praying the Rosary…I think I can speak for my fellow Catholics…you have a divine advocate now in our Holy Mother…you are in good hands…👍
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Thank you so much. That means so much.

Yes I do indeed 🙂
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TwinMommy said:
I hope theses three weeks fly by for you!! I can totally see why this process happens. I think there is too much important stuff to learn, to much to absorb from watching others and so on. I am use to communion every week, so that will be hard. Most protestant tend to do it monthly but where I have been for a long time does it weekly.

I can not wait to read your post after Easter Vigil.

I love finding new music. I love to sing but am not good at it. I know God loves my voice, so that is all I care about.

How many people are in the RICA classes with you? Just curious lol
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I can hardly wait to see my post after Easter Vigil, too LOL :extrahappy:

At one time we had upwards of 20 persons, including three fairly young children, but not everyone will be received this year for various reasons. Some have dropped out but will be continuing their study and others simply disappeared. There are, I think, four Elect (unbaptized) and four Candidates (baptized) who will be received this year. Our RCIA director told me last week that this has been the most intense group he has had in the eight or nine years he’s been doing this. It’s a wonderful group and I am honored to be coming into the Church with them. And my sponsor is my beloved sister-in-law. Could it possibly get any better than that?
 
Hoo(name removed by moderator)mie said:
I can hardly wait to see my post after Easter Vigil, too LOL :extrahappy:

At one time we had upwards of 20 persons, including three fairly young children, but not everyone will be received this year for various reasons. Some have dropped out but will be continuing their study and others simply disappeared. There are, I think, four Elect (unbaptized) and four Candidates (baptized) who will be received this year. Our RCIA director told me last week that this has been the most intense group he has had in the eight or nine years he’s been doing this. It’s a wonderful group and I am honored to be coming into the Church with them. And my sponsor is my beloved sister-in-law. Could it possibly get any better than that?
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Are you baptized? What does a sponsor do?

I don’t think it can get any better 🙂
 
Yes, I have already been baptized so I am a Candidate. Ones sponsor (godparent for the unbaptized) should be at least 16 years of age, someone who is a “practicing” Catholic and that you admire because of their unwavering faith, close walk with God, and whom you believe will walk beside you on your journey. There are several Rites along the way, most of which include your sponsor. That person will stand behind you with their hand on your right shoulder when you make your profession of faith at confirmation. At the Rite of Welcoming very early on in RCIA our respective sponsors/godparents stood in front of each of us and, while the Deacon read the Blessings of the Senses, made the sign of the cross on, in order, our forehead, our eyes, our ears, our shoulders, our hands, our hearts, and our feet. When she knelt down in front of me to bless my feet, I wept openly. It was such a beautiful act of humility.
 
TwinMommy said:
Thank you for the PDF. I would never of thought praying the Rosary could be such a moving experience, that it could draw me so close to the Lord.
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Glad to hear! I actually cried my first few times, being 100% honest.
 
TwinMommy said:
peace2u2;10457646:
I love that song! I can’t wait to sit down at some point and look up Catholic music on YouTube. I can not wait to hear what hymns are sung on Sunday. Music is such a powerful way to express our love and devotion.
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Don’t get too excited about the hymns. They are not like what you are probably used to though there are some that bring me to tears.

You may like John Michael Talbot.

Here are some links:

youtube.com/watch?v=AgYguIi7fMI

youtube.com/watch?v=0TEL_7TS5FE

Straight from the Bible.

youtube.com/watch?v=R6xIdDYiA9A&feature=related

And you are going to learn about Mary, our Blessed Mother.

youtube.com/watch?v=kUdYeYy3NQA

Have you already been baptized?
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TwinMommy said:
peace2u2;10457646:
I love that song! I can’t wait to sit down at some point and look up Catholic music on YouTube. I can not wait to hear what hymns are sung on Sunday. Music is such a powerful way to express our love and devotion.
Click to expand...
You will probably like John Michael Talbot.

Here are some links:

youtube.com/watch?v=AgYguIi7fMI

youtube.com/watch?v=0TEL_7TS5FE

Straight from the Bible.

youtube.com/watch?v=R6xIdDYiA9A&feature=related

And you are going to learn about Mary, our Blessed Mother.

youtube.com/watch?v=kUdYeYy3NQA

Have you already been baptized?
Click to expand...
 
Hoo(name removed by moderator)mie said:
Yes, I have already been baptized so I am a Candidate. Ones sponsor (godparent for the unbaptized) should be at least 16 years of age, someone who is a “practicing” Catholic and that you admire because of their unwavering faith, close walk with God, and whom you believe will walk beside you on your journey. There are several Rites along the way, most of which include your sponsor. That person will stand behind you with their hand on your right shoulder when you make your profession of faith at confirmation. At the Rite of Welcoming very early on in RCIA our respective sponsors/godparents stood in front of each of us and, while the Deacon read the Blessings of the Senses, made the sign of the cross on, in order, our forehead, our eyes, our ears, our shoulders, our hands, our hearts, and our feet. When she knelt down in front of me to bless my feet, I wept openly. It was such a beautiful act of humility.
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What if you do not know anyone who fits this? My MIL is Catholic but not really a practicing Catholic. I did tell her that when I move over by her that she has to start going to Mass with me. She said if she could somewhere to go that had Mass when she wasn’t working. Sounds wonderful to have someone who is there along the wonderful journey. That sounds so amazing. Being humbled is something protestant churches teach but in my experience it isn’t actually something that happens in such a powerful way.
 
crazzeto said:
Glad to hear! I actually cried my first few times, being 100% honest.
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Oh it is making me cry. I knew that many prayers that are said are ones that all Catholics use and I didn’t think they would be anything other something to be repeated and wouldn’t have meaning. That probably does not make sense LOL I am moved so deeply by the prayers. They draw me close to God, they make me feel that I am in the presence of the Lord and not just rambling. I never knew prayer could be like this.
 
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