POssibly a conversion situation at my work

[hasikelee]

I posted about a girl at work who is now taking classes similar to RCIA classes (just not for RCIA purposes-informative only). She was a lapsed Catholic who is perhaps rekindling the faith, I hope.

Last week I was helping a coworker in his department when he started a conversation about Catholicism. Apparently, he is cohabitating with a girl who was raised Catholic. He has attended two masses in his lifetime. Anyways, he had a flood of questions, but it appears that even though he is interested sincerely, he has no intention of changing his lifestyle. Also, he seems to be very attracted to the faith, but his girlfriend is very vehement against it.

Now, I have some questions that I wanted to bring here in the hopes that some people on this board might be seasoned in charitable and proper ways to help others learn more about the faith. I have defended my faith and explained it, but never really tried to guide someone towards it. With the girl mentioned above, that situation kind of worked itself.

This second situation seems really mixed up as I worry he is very attracted to me. I do not want to proceed with something that could possibly cause him pain or confuse him. But I do not want to ignore his questions or refuse to help him. For example, he wanted to go to mass with me at my parish. He had attended a parish that is very, um… well those with more traditional views would have died on the spot…needless to say it just about made him run from the Church.

What seems to keep bringing him back despite his complicated issues in life, is the Virgin Mary. In fact, he started the conversation because my scapular fell out when we were moving a desk. He is…well this sounds strange, but listening to him go on, he seems to be in love with Her. (Not of sexual kind).

Anyways, what is the most prudent way to proceed?

 

[stbruno]

Send him an email with a link perhaps to this website in a discussion about the Virgin Mary. Or give him a link to the Catholic radio websites…if you do not have a Catholic radio station locally…relevantradio.org is a good start. Also gently offer him to loan him a Catholic magazine. But with all things, begin each one by a prayer to the Holy Spirit to give you the right nudge that is effective. Invite him to volunteer with you at a local soup kitchen or somewhere where he may get hooked with an infectious zeal to help another. Or take him to church like he desires. The Nativity Story movies is coming out in the next couple of weeks…maybe he would like to go with you. Let the spirit lead you…and the Lord will do the rest. However, Changing his lifestyle may be a gradual process…but like St.Augustine…our souls are restless until they rest in God.

Good luck. My prayers are with you!

 

[hasikelee]

Send him an email with a link perhaps to this website in a discussion about the Virgin Mary. Or give him a link to the Catholic radio websites…if you do not have a Catholic radio station locally…relevantradio.org is a good start. Also gently offer him to loan him a Catholic magazine. But with all things, begin each one by a prayer to the Holy Spirit to give you the right nudge that is effective. Invite him to volunteer with you at a local soup kitchen or somewhere where he may get hooked with an infectious zeal to help another. Or take him to church like he desires. The Nativity Story movies is coming out in the next couple of weeks…maybe he would like to go with you. Let the spirit lead you…and the Lord will do the rest. However, Changing his lifestyle may be a gradual process…but like St.Augustine…our souls are restless until they rest in God.

Good luck. My prayers are with you!

Thank you for the good suggestions! Still, I am worried about making a prudent decision in this, as I am in a committed relationship. I do not want to send the wrong messages.

 

[water]

Are you and your boyfriend going to the Church together? You can simply provide him the address and direction to the Church, and say that you and your boyfriend will meet him at the Church.

I wouldn’t think it is a good idea to go the church with him if you are in a serious relationship.

 

[puzzleannie]

OP is very confusing. Are we talking about answering questions of an RCIA candidate we happen to know through work? Or are we talking about how to shut down a man who already has a wife or girlfriend and is using questions about the faith as a pretext to hit on a woman at work. The first could lead to a profitable conversation as long as it is not on company time. the second is sexual harrassment and should be reported to management.

 

[hasikelee]

Water: good idea!

Puzzleannie: The guy appears to be sincere about learning the faith. There are some problems with this:

1. I suspect he is attracted to me.
2. His girlfriend is the epitome of an anti-Catholic.
3. No one else at work is Catholic; his only family member is his mom who is anti-Catholic.

His parents are divorced and his mom is unable to do anything for him. He is younger than me and works partime for min. wage. He is living with his girlfriend as a way to have a bed at night, food and transportation as the girl has all expenses paid by her parents.

So far I have been comfortable talking about my faith with him because he shows equal zeal with my boyfriend as well. I just don’t want to, for example, take him to see a movie. I think that would be inappropriate.

 

[water]

you can give the book “Pillar of Fire, Pillar of Truth”. It contains verses in the Bible that support our belief. Also, if you ever plan to meet him at your church, you should discuss with your boyfriend about his situation and see if your boyfriend feels comfortable about that.