Returning to the church ...how

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Nicxon

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I’ve been out of the church since my dad died in 15. Since then I’ve been angry and frustrated. I think I’m ready to start to come back but don’t know what to do. It’s been 10+ years since confession. Any advice would be helpful.
 
i was going to say the same thing; go to a sunday mass or two or three

and have a dialogue with a priest

Mother Church is easy to come home to
 
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also; was OP baptized?
obtaining these cornerstone sacraments is not terribly unaccomplishable
 
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It’s quite easy. Locate a Catholic Church. Then walk in and sit down before Mass. Welcome back! 😀
 
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Thanks for the replies but that is the “easy” answer. Anyone can walk in and sit down. I think I’m looking for more from someone that has experienced something similar. I don’t know if I can just sit down and pickup where I left off.

I still have frustrations and questions and concerns. It’s a small town and a person that just starts to go will be looked at and talked about.

Maybe I’m not ready because I can’t just walk in and forget the past.
 
If you have been baptized then it really is as easy as going to confession. That makes you right with a God and His Church. If you have questions and concerns find a good priest who has time to help you. But priests can be busy. This is a good website for exploring your questions.
 
Dear Nicxon,

Actually, it is almost that easy.

I was separated from the Church for almost 40 years. The last time I was at church was just after the Vatican II reforms. I won’t go into why I decided to come back but suffice to say, I walked into the parish office in the middle of the day, in the middle of the week and asked to see a priest.

Father took me to his office where I told him my story. After 40 years it was a bit long even in the condensed version. After listening to me patiently, he suggested I go home, do a good examination of conscience, and come back the next day . He said he would hear my confession and that would be all I would need.

April 1 will be nine years and I have not had a regret although it has not always been easy.

Pray, trust in God, see a priest. it really is that easy. Jesus wants you back in the fold. There is more rejoicing in Heaven of one returned sheep than over the 99 righteous who never strayed.

Patrick
AMDG
 
Nicxon said:
Thanks for the replies but that is the “easy” answer. Anyone can walk in and sit down. I think I’m looking for more from someone that has experienced something similar. I don’t know if I can just sit down and pickup where I left off.

I still have frustrations and questions and concerns. It’s a small town and a person that just starts to go will be looked at and talked about.

Maybe I’m not ready because I can’t just walk in and forget the past.
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Yep, your right it’s not that easy. I am like the other poster here, my family left after V2. After trying to revert (I was told that is what it is callled) at five different parishes and being literally turned away from the sixth parish (the deacon said we had to go to our local parish) I decided I no longer wanted to be Catholic. I tried ‘talking’ to a priest, you have to make appointments, if you can, if there is a priest (there was no priest at our ‘local’ parish). If you make an appointment the priest actually has to show up. Yeah. It’s not easy, priest shortage and all. That and no one really knows what to do with you, if somehow you’ve fallen through sacramental cracks.

As it is, I didn’t end up reverting back to Roman Catholicism but I was received into Eastern Catholicism after my husband converted.
 
Nicxon said:
Thanks for the replies but that is the “easy” answer. Anyone can walk in and sit down. I think I’m looking for more from someone that has experienced something similar. I don’t know if I can just sit down and pickup where I left off.
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Maybe walking in and sitting down needs to be your starting point. It doesn’t need to be hard right now. For now, just come back. Just go to Mass, sit there, and listen. Maybe grab a missal - the responses will have changed since you were there.

Just be there for now. If you aren’t sure if you can handle Mass and the people who will be there, just pick a time when the church is open, and go in and sit down in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament.

Then deal with the frustrations and questions and concerns and the past.

When the prodigal son comes back, his father doesn’t come out and recite everything that has happened to him in the past. He runs out and welcomes him home with open arms. The Church is the same way. Just choose when and how you want to come home. She’ll greet you with open arms.
 
For a start, start attending the mass. Slip in and be one of the congregation. Go for Confession when the time comes. Look into the possibility of getting involved in the church later on, at some point in time, for example, you can join any church movements if they are available in your parish.

God bless you.
 
Hello.

Run to confession. And, WELCOME BACK!!! Might be a good idea to make an appointment with the priest for confession, but if that’s too much trouble, just go to confession as soon as possible and start going to Mass every Sunday. The priest will help you once you’re in the confessional. Just list number and kind of mortal sins you can remember and get to confession and you’re back. Yippee!!! (Mortal sin: grave matter, knowledge (you know it’s wrong), will (go ahead & do it anyway)) Don’t wait. Just go. God is waiting for you with open arms.

Also, keep us posted with your progress.
 
I’d also start reading. There are countless books on Catholicism out there.The Catechism, of course, is a compendium of all Catholic thought. You might also watch some of the Journey Home program on Youtube. Besides those who converted from other faiths and no faith, there are many programs with Catholic reverts.
 
Well like the others, I’d recommend making a confession. The priest can help you there and if schedule it privately, others shouldn’t know about it and therefore not be able to talk about it.

As for your fears with being talked about at Mass, the first one can be an emotional experience. The beauty of Mass after so long can be a blessed experience. I’d strongly urge you to experience it again. And if you’re worried about being talked about, the first time I went to Mass after a while, the only comment I got was a compliment on my singing voice. No comments of “who are you?” While I do live in a suburban parish which may be larger than yours, I would imagine a similar attitude toward newcomers to be at other churches. And if the possible questions have you worried, perhaps you’d feel comfortable in the back. Less people would notice you.
And one last thing. Whenever I read a post on here from someone like you who’s wanting to come back, it brings me joy. You’ve made a first step by knowing you want to come back and may you be blessed on that journey.
 
Your priest is your spiritual adviser. All you need to do is make an appointment and lay everything out. He will take it from there. Don’t be nervous or apprehensive. He will walk you through whatever process you need, and will advise you on a regular basis if necessary or if you need someone to discuss things with often. It’s what they are trained to do. As you return to Church, you will make friends, and they too, will sit and listen, and advise you and pray for you.

I will pray for you.
 
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