Question about re-verting to the Church

[JED8643]

I was born and raised Catholic, baptized and confirmed in the church. Left the church later in life and ended up converting to a protestant (Baptist) church. Spent years in the Baptist church and was married during that time by my pastor.
After studying church history I came to realize the Catholic Church is the church Christ founded and after much study and prayer I am ready to revert back to my Catholic roots.
When I return to the Church, will my marriage be considered valid? (my wife is validly baptized)
Would I need to attend RCIA?
Do I just need to go to confession before receiving the Eucharist?

Thank you.

 

[FightingFat]

What great news! Hooray! Welcome home!

Your marriage is valid; you may want it blessed

I would say RCIA is a great resource and can only help, in my Parish you wouldn’t have to, but speak to your priest.

You will need to go to confession before receiving the Holy Eucharist- we should all be in a state of grace when we receive Christ.

Pax tecum brother!

 

[ReConverted]

Welcome home, dear brother!!! :extrahappy: :dancing: :tiphat: :clapping:

 

[1ke]

After studying church history I came to realize the Catholic Church is the church Christ founded and after much study and prayer I am ready to revert back to my Catholic roots.

Awesome!

When I return to the Church, will my marriage be considered valid? (my wife is validly baptized)

You married outside Catholic form, therefore your marriage is canonically invalid. However, it is a simple process of convalidation to correct this situation. This is presuming that your wife had no prior marriage(s). That would be a different situation, requiring the tribunal.

So, just talk to your priest about having your marriage convalidated.

Would I need to attend RCIA?

No. RCIA is for converts, you are a Catholic.

Do I just need to go to confession before receiving the Eucharist?

Yes, but you also need to take care of your invalid marriage before returning to the Eucharist.

First step, make an appointment to talk to your priest, tell him the facts of how long you’ve been away from the church and that you married outside the church, and ask for his guidance in returning to the Sacraments.

 

[Orionthehunter]

No. RCIA is for converts, you are a Catholic.

Many pastors invite and encourage those returning to the Faith to participate in the RCIA classes and process as a means to become re-acquainted with the Faith. Of course, you won’t participate in the Scruples and other Rites because you’ve gone thru them directly or indirectly during your Confirmation process.

As someone who was on my Parish’s RCIA team for five years, “reverts” bring unique gifts and experiences to the RCIA class that can be a blessing to both the team and the candidates/catechumens. Even if your study will make much of the information “not new”, this cradle Catholic learned something new or with greater clarity every year I participated in the classes and I think you will find it well worth your time and commitment.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I was born and raised Catholic, baptized and confirmed in the church. Left the church later in life and ended up converting to a protestant (Baptist) church. Spent years in the Baptist church and was married during that time by my pastor.
After studying church history I came to realize the Catholic Church is the church Christ founded and after much study and prayer I am ready to revert back to my Catholic roots.
When I return to the Church, will my marriage be considered valid? (my wife is validly baptized)
Would I need to attend RCIA?
Do I just need to go to confession before receiving the Eucharist?

Thank you.

Your Marriage will most likely need to be convalidated. A simple process, speak with the pastor of the parish. I assume from what you posted that this is the first marriage for both of you. you would not need to attend RCIA. There may be a returning Catholics program of some sort and I would recomend attending it. Cofession and then a return to the Sacraments would be in order, your pastor will guide you. I highly suggest that you start this Sunday attending Sunday Mass, if you have not already done so. You can’t receive Holy Communion as yet, but you can attend Mass.

 

[puzzleannie]

welcome home
ask the pastor about your marriage status, there are too many variables, and you will not get a reliable answer about your personal situation here.

 

[water]

I wanted to say “Welcome home!!!” :extrahappy: :harp:

God bless!

 

[otjm]

You married outside Catholic form, therefore your marriage is canonically invalid. However, it is a simple process of convalidation to correct this situation.

That may or may not be entirely correct, as it may depend on whether the OP just stopped going to Mass, or formally left. If he formally left, then he is no longer bound by Canonical law. It is a question for the pastor or a Canon lawyer.

This is presuming that your wife had no prior marriage(s). That would be a different situation, requiring the tribunal.

True; this is often overlooked.

No. RCIA is for converts, you are a Catholic

RCIA is formally for non-Catholics, but some priests will have reverts go through the classes (it would not be appropriate to go through the various ceremonies as they are meant for non-Catholics). There are also classes for reverts; the one in our Parish is called Catholics Returning Home. However, it is much shorter than RCIA, and is meant to get a jump-start for reverts, but not designed to answer all questions.

 

[Pious_Mat]

All this may sound complicated, but it actually is quite simple:

First, you’ll have to renew your marriage vows before a priest. This will actually be another wedding, but you and your wife don’t have to go about it as such if you don’t wish.

Next, make a good confession.

After that, recieve Holy Communion, and presto, you’re one of the gang again.

 

[sprout]

Welcome Home and praise God!:extrahappy:

I’m also a revert, I had left for nearly 30 years (here’s my story). I didn’t go through any RCIA when I returned since I didn’t know about RCIA and was already baptised and confirmed.

I did have some issues I needed to resolve, some doubts or questions. I went to Catholic Answers and read about Mary, calling priest father, etc.

I also decided to take a course on the Catechism. As an adult I wanted to be sure that if I were to call myself a Catholic I knew what that meant. So I found a class offered through my diocese.

If your wife wants to join you in becoming Catholic then she will need to attend RCIA and it may be a good thing to do together. Even if she is reluctant to enter the Church at least she’ll want to learn about what Catholics believe since her husband is a Catholic and will probably raise your children Catholic.