Returning to RCIA

[JohnnyReb]

Hello all.

I am at a crossroads. I was confirmed Catholic in 2008. For the first year/year and a half after my confirmation, my faith was devout and I attended Mass weekly and often daily. But as time went on, I began to question many things the church taught. In the non Catholic religions section, I am discussing these issues now. If you bother to read what I say, I sound like an ardent Protestant defender. I guess the strength of my defense is because I have had to convince myself not to return to the Catholic church. I am not sure that I am ready now.

What is stopping me? I converted alone. I have family, a mom, a sister and her kids, who look at me as the spiritual leader of my family. I decided to go Anglican some time ago so that they could come to church with me, hear the Word of God, and particpate in the sacraments. They have no desire to become Catholic. They don’t understand the Catholic church one iota. I have even heard the Catholic church ridculed in my family. I have Catholic relatives, but they live in Alabama. I wish I could go to Mass with them or talk to my aunt and get her advise.

What ways do you recommend that I learn about the faith but also allow it to grow in my heart. I thought about seeing about returning to RCIA, because maybe my doubts were rooted in inadaqute catechsis. But RCIA presents a group of people coming into the church together, and I would feel like an intruder.

I am not sure if going to reconcilation would be appropriate either, because its not a counseling session with the Priest.

Thoughts, suggestions, advice?

 

[RedDawgMCM]

Johnny RCIA has the initial discovery stage it wouldn’t hurt to go in for that see how it feels. And maybe not confession but set up a meeting with your priest to just chat and see if talking to him helps answer your questions. Feel free to pm me and I will talk to you about anything.

I am praying for you.

 

[achmafooma]

I help out with the RCIA program in my Parish (I am a covert myself who was Confirmed a bit over two years ago now).

RCIA is primarily for people coming into the church, but it is (or at least should be) open to everybody! This includes non-Catholics who are just curious about the faith, Catholics who want to learn more about the faith (due to bad Catechesis or just to refresh their memories), lapsed Catholics, and anybody else. I can’t speak for your Parish, but in ours we certainly try to make everybody feel welcome no matter where they are in their faith journey, and we encourage honest discussion (even though it can be difficult sometimes).

I would encourage you to go, ask lots of questions, and work through your struggles and troubles with the Church. You’re supposed to seek truth and use your brain! We’re not supposed to be automatons! RCIA (if the leaders do a good job of it) can be a wonderful place for strengthening and clarifying one’s faith.

Also don’t let your family discourage your faith journey because they don’t understand it at this time. I know it can be difficult when you don’t have their support, and it’s wonderful that you want to have them join you in your worship, but ultimately you have to do what God wants you to do (as best as you can discern it) whether they support you or not. Hopefully your truth-seeking will help lead them to truth in the long run; better that than letting their ridicule or lack of understanding pull you away from the truth!

God bless you in your faith journey. I will pray for you!

 

[joandarc2008]

Johnny I would be happy to talk if you want to PM as well. I would go to reconciliation as it is required once a year and I think you mentioned you have been going to the Anglican Church - so you probably want to do this. Also if you have missed mass you probably should this would be a good time to put your foot back in the Sacramental door so to speak.

Also by all means you should jump into some adult formation classes and start reading some books this may help as well. The USCCB has put out a Catechism of the Catholic Church for Adults = it is a red book and written for adults coming into the faith - it is excellent.

 

[JohnnyReb]

I appreciate everyones concern and willingness to offer help. All the issues surrounding this I am willing to discuss publically.

I do own a copy of the Catechism but its like reading the phone book. I do have the red one, and its much more readible. Maybe its time to dust it off.

I have pondered going to reconcilation, but in some ways I don’t know if I am ready. I tried that once and went to Mass for three weeks then left for good after that. I would feel real cheap doing it again. I have some praying and soul searching to do before I am ready to do that again, because I want to mean it if I do.

 

[guanophore]

I appreciate everyones concern and willingness to offer help. All the issues surrounding this I am willing to discuss publically.

Since you say this, I am going to ask you a personal question. If it gets too personal, then we can do it by PM.

was confirmed Catholic in 2008.

Why did you do this?

For the first year/year and a half after my confirmation, my faith was devout and I attended Mass weekly and often daily. But as time went on, I began to question many things the church taught. In the non Catholic religions section, I am discussing these issues now. If you bother to read what I say, I sound like an ardent Protestant defender. I guess the strength of my defense is because I have had to convince myself not to return to the Catholic church. I am not sure that I am ready now.

I think that these kinds of doubts are inevitable for many of us. It is part of working out our salvation. There is nothing wrong with using the forum to speak from the position of an ardent Protestant defender. These are the issues that live in your heart that you must work out.

Why is it important for you to convince yourself not to be Catholic?

What is stopping me?

I converted alone.

Why?

I understand that your immediate family is not interested in Catholicism, but how did you come to be?

I have family, a mom, a sister and her kids, who look at me as the spiritual leader of my family. I decided to go Anglican some time ago so that they could come to church with me, hear the Word of God, and particpate in the sacraments. They have no desire to become Catholic. They don't understand the Catholic church one iota.

This kinda puzzles me. If they don’t understand Catholicism “one iota”, how can they be open to the sacramental life?

Thoughts, suggestions, advice?

I have found Catholic radio very helpful in my faith formation, esp .Fr. Corapi. Can you get it where you are?

 

[fhansen]

Hello all.

I am at a crossroads. I was confirmed Catholic in 2008. For the first year/year and a half after my confirmation, my faith was devout and I attended Mass weekly and often daily. But as time went on, I began to question many things the church taught. In the non Catholic religions section, I am discussing these issues now. If you bother to read what I say, I sound like an ardent Protestant defender. I guess the strength of my defense is because I have had to convince myself not to return to the Catholic church. I am not sure that I am ready now.

What is stopping me? I converted alone. I have family, a mom, a sister and her kids, who look at me as the spiritual leader of my family. I decided to go Anglican some time ago so that they could come to church with me, hear the Word of God, and particpate in the sacraments. They have no desire to become Catholic. They don’t understand the Catholic church one iota. I have even heard the Catholic church ridculed in my family. I have Catholic relatives, but they live in Alabama. I wish I could go to Mass with them or talk to my aunt and get her advise.

What ways do you recommend that I learn about the faith but also allow it to grow in my heart. I thought about seeing about returning to RCIA, because maybe my doubts were rooted in inadaqute catechsis. But RCIA presents a group of people coming into the church together, and I would feel like an intruder.

I am not sure if going to reconcilation would be appropriate either, because its not a counseling session with the Priest.

Thoughts, suggestions, advice?

If you’re a serious seeker, then you’ll end up Catholic no matter what. Study and pray. Study Catholic material-the Catechism, conciliar decrees and docs, apologetic material, Church history, Augustine, Aquinas, ECFs, theological works-and study non-Catholic material. And pray. The CC will win out!

 

[guanophore]

If you’re a serious seeker, then you’ll end up Catholic no matter what. Study and pray. Study Catholic material-the Catechism, conciliar decrees and docs, apologetic material, Church history, Augustine, Aquinas, ECFs, theological works-and study non-Catholic material. And pray. The CC will win out!

I think that he believes that a valid Eucharist is found in the Anglican communion, and therefore, has no hunger to return to the Catholic Church.

 

[JohnnyReb]

Since you say this, I am going to ask you a personal question. If it gets too personal, then we can do it by PM.

Why did you do this?

I answered this in the PM I sent you, if you are looking for something beyond that, I can provide that for you.

I think that these kinds of doubts are inevitable for many of us. It is part of working out our salvation. There is nothing wrong with using the forum to speak from the position of an ardent Protestant defender. These are the issues that live in your heart that you must work out.

Why is it important for you to convince yourself not to be Catholic?

Agreed. I have had my own doubts not just with Catholicism, but with Christianity in general at times, but now I am working through all of that. My pastor had great insight for me the other day.

I understand that your immediate family is not interested in Catholicism, but how did you come to be?

My seminary studies. Studying historical theology, being exposed to the church fathers and the history of the Christian faith. Even now, I do believe the Catholics have it far more right than say, the Baptists and Pentecostals, at least in terms of lining up their theology with the historical faith.

This kinda puzzles me. If they don’t understand Catholicism “one iota”, how can they be open to the sacramental life?

Not all of us are theology nerds like you and I are. My guess is that its some kind of anti-Catholicism, or at best, a lack of understanding or confusion about Catholicism. For example, when the priest had the branches at my confirmation, and he used them to fling Holy water on the people, my sister said it freaked her out because she didn’t understand what was going on. I find that many people who are not educated theologically have their own reasons that do not stem from the reasons you are I would not feel comfortable with this or that tradition.

I have found Catholic radio very helpful in my faith formation, esp .Fr. Corapi. Can you get it where you are?

Not sure. Is it available on the internet? I am way out on the east coast.

 

[joandarc2008]

Not sure. Is it available on the internet? I am way out on the east coast.

If you are in the Boston area (no need to answer) 1060AM.

 

[guanophore]

Not sure. Is it available on the internet? I am way out on the east coast.

Try googling Catholic radio, or EWTN. He is on almost every day.

washingtoncatholicradio.org/

catholicwifiradio.wordpress.com/