Possible revert-not anymore

  • Thread starter Thread starter sj2017
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
Hello! I just recently joined the Church 2 Easters ago. I grew up protestant, though after some bad burns my parents have fallen away from “organized religion”. After much prayer, I felt God was leading me to the Catholic church (an outstanding fact for me because I was very anti catholic). Because my parents’ attitude had rubbed off on me, I was very much of the attitude “if they act like they don’t have the time of day for me, I’m out”. So I understand your need of feeling welcomed. I also know Mass can seem impersonal with people going in and leaving without saying hello. I get that. Those were some of my “fears” of joining.
I feel blessed that God gave me a welcoming priest for the first phone call. I have never looked back and LOVE the Church.
I know you’re saying you haven’t felt that. What I guess I AM saying is, while that is hard to feel, try to go back for the reason of Jesus, the Eucharist. Don’t not go back because of the sinners that make up God’s church.
Maybe like one poster said, go to Mass and introduce yourself to the priest and ask for a meeting. As hard as it is to put yourself out there, join a group. I joined some committees because I wanted to meet people. God met me in that way and gave me so many friends.
It IS hard not to feel welcomed, and I do think a lot of parishes could brush up on that. But I hope you keep seeking God’s will and try. My bible study just wrapped up and basically said be the change you want to see. Make them realize (kindly) a warmer welcome would be more loving.
Good luck, and I will be praying for you!

(Please excuse me if I didn’t do something correct on the forum, I am new and think i followed the rules!)
 
Perhaps look for a reliable source online, say the USCCB, and find out what is required to come back to the church as a “revert”. And then verify this at a parish somewhere in confession
 
I started attending our only diocesan TLM parish recently. Don’t know a soul. But Christ is present, and He’s the one I go to meet.
To the OP: Just go. Jesus and Mary will welcome you, and that’s all that matters.
☺️
 
Last edited:
It is a big problem that not everyone feels welcome. I mean I sometimes feel I’m Catholic despite the parishes I have been part of rather than because of them. I’ve sucked it up for years because its “not a social club” and focused on the Eucharist although now I’m thinking about Godparents apparently I should somehow have been networking and making friends 😦

While I agree the church isn’t a business the reality is that most of us have access to churches that do communicate properly and will offer a better welcome and I don’t think we can get away with being like this anymore.
 
Hi sj2017 ,everyone is different at expressing sadness at the thought of someone leaving off the faith,there’s a heartfelt feeling of really wanting to help you,me too and I’m not sure what to say.
I was thinking of all the priests I know here near where I live I know for a fact they would make it a priority to help you .If it were me ,I would set my heart on the goal and keep trying,look at a few more parishes.
God bless you,and praying for your intentions.
 
Hey there, I had a similar response when I decided to join the church a few years ago. I tried emailing a few parishes and got no response. It was strange and disconcerting, especially because I was experiencing pretty intense feelings.

However, I didn’t give up. I asked a Catholic friend for advice and she suggested I call her priest. He was a little shy and reserved, but ended up being an incredible blessing. He met with me privately for several months in preparation for reception into the church.

My point in telling you this is that this wonderful, loving, and generous priest took a little more effort to find.the emails usually have to get through an office manager who may not fully recognize what’s going on.

Please don’t give up. Pray and ask God for patience… and ask him to open the door. This last little obstacle is most definitely the enemy trying to distract you.

One other thing- it might help to just start going to Mass. you can’t receive until you go to confession, but sitting in the pews can give you a good sense of the churches. I have found most Catholics are pretty shy when it comes to welcoming strangers. It takes much more effort… but for me it has been worth all of that to be closer to my sweet Lord.

I’ll pray for you.
 
Hello.

Maybe it isn’t that important to you yet, I don’t know. Have you considered what the alternative is to not returning to Confession, not returning to Mass, not trying to live in a state of grace? Please do all you can to return - this is your salvation you’re talking about. Don’t let other people’s lack of faith, selfishness, and ignorance get in your way. You are in my prayers. Please pray for me.
 
Last edited:
SuscipeMeDomine said:
I think that a lot of you here have never had the experience of reverting to your faith. It’s easy to say, “oh, just go to confession and you’re all set,” but there’s more to it than that. Going to confession requires a change in attitude and commitment. Showing up at a strange church when you haven’t been to Mass in a decade or more is frightening. Your whole life is changing as you make the new commitment. And wanting some support or at least to feel like you’re welcome in the parish is not unreasonable. “Suck it up” is not the answer. A little understanding would help.
Click to expand...
I did exactly that in the year of Mercy. God was calling me to come back to the Church, I found out Mass times. I experienced an incident the day I found out Mass times, and started praying. I walked into Mass at 8 am next morning, it was Sunday.
It took me about 6 weeks or more to work out Confession was now Sacrament of Reconcilliation.

It might be scary, but God is calling you back. That’s really not that scary. Trust in God and His call, not in people of a Parish you don’t yet know. Just go, sit in Mass. worship God. Then find confession. The change in attitude is already there, or the call to come back home would not be heard.

The op posted in June/ July last year, same topic. The op needs to get up, find the nearest church and mass times and just go.

It’s not that complicated. It’s like breathing. Don’t make a big deal out of it.
People have no trouble walking into a shop or restaurant. And getting what they want.
Go to Mass and give God what He is pleased with. You worshipping and repenting

God is there to support you when you respond to His call. People take a bit longer to get to know you.
 
Last edited:
It’s not that complicated. We must, as Catholics, stop making these things into huge deal where every minute thing is ruminated over and used as an excuse to procrastinate.

Seriously, listen to God calling you home. It’s been almost a year, He is waiting for you to walk back into His house. So is your Guardian Angel.
 
I’m a little confused by the OP’s post. SJ2017, have you been confirmed in the Catholic church? If so, you just need to go to confession at the church of your choice, and register with the parish that you wish to attend. There won’t be a welcome committee necessarily, new parishoners might be mentioned in the bulletin though. My advice would be to check out the bulletin for the parish and see what activities look interesting enough to get involved in. How active you will be depends on YOU and how involved you want to become.

If you were not confirmed then you need to contact the parish’s RCIA coordinator and begin that process.
 
My experience was similar. And when I also started attending the TLM as well as the OF, I bought a Roman Missal and started doing what I had to do–participate fully in the Mass. It’s my job.
 
Last edited:
Exactly. “Community” is inherent in assisting at the Mass. Doesn’t matter if anyone greets you, shakes your hand, etc. Doesn’t even matter if it’s in a foreign country. It is the “Communion of the Saints.”
A Catholic can walk into any Catholic Mass in the world and be in communion with everyone else there. Immediately. No introductions necessary.
 
Last edited:
You know, i might have been as hesitant as you; maybe thinking are there were new rules to coming back as a “lapsed Catholic”? It would seem to make sense for you to want information. Find it from a kind pastor, and if possible, join that parish
 
Tis_Bearself said:
If you’re looking for people to make a fuss over you, then I would honestly have to question the depth of your commitment to the faith, because it seems like you’re more focused on getting attention for yourself and are picking a church based on whether they give good “customer service” rather than on the truth of the faith.
Click to expand...
This. So much this.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top