Telling others and when?

  • Thread starter Thread starter JoyToTheWhirled
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
J

JoyToTheWhirled

Guest
I need some advice. I will be entering the Church this Easter Vigil and am beyond excited about it. Some friends from my old church, who are very dear to me, have invited me and my family to their eldest daughter’s baptism on Easter Sunday at the evening service of their Reformed Baptist Church.
We have only been in intermittent contact these past few years, and they know nothing of my conversion.
My husband is assuming that I will tell them when we visit, but I am not entirely sure it is appropriate at all. It is their daughter’s special day.
It will be considered highly significant that I have converted, and I think most everyone there will consider me an apostate, and I honestly think to tell them then would be rude at some else’s spiritual event.
But it has highlighted to me the issue of how to tell people. My atheist friends and family won’t give two hoots. My other Christian friends, largely C of E and Conservative Evangelical, are a bit confused. My more staunchly Reformed friends are a different kettle of fish. I really am quite nervous, and moreover not sure how to go about letting people know.
Is it even necessary? I am trying to balance the need to be honest and unashamed of my faith, and also the need not to be drawing attention to myself and making things all about me and just getting on with things.
Does anyone have any advice?
 
Yes ! By all means go. It’s really a beautiful thing for everyone - you’ll kick yourself next year, if you don’t !
 
Yes. I know you are very excited about your conversion and entrance into the Catholic Church but as Catholics we are called to be charitable. One great way to be charitable is to be there for our spiritual brothers and sisters. I suggest going and not mentioning it. Just be happy for your friend’s baptism. If they bring it up you can mention it to them that you became Catholic. But not saying anything is not being deceitful, it is simply going to the party and celebrating for the purpose of why you’re there.
 
Last edited:
Don’t be afraid to lose friends.
I think you made the right choice joining us.
You may have to avoid your old friends for a while, even permanently.
It is sad but life goes on.
 
You should always be yourself. You may lose some friends over your conversion, but you probably already know that.

I would not announce my conversion at someone else’s baptism. Why? Because, as you said, it is their day. It would sort of be like announcing your engagement at someone else’s wedding. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t let your friends know, though. You could tell them individually, during one-to-one conversations over the course of the day. Ask them not to mention it to anyone for now, and explain why you feel that way.

Don’t ever feel like you need to hide yourself because others may not accept you. You are just as wonderful as everyone else, and nothing about you needs to be hidden.
 
JoyToTheWhirled said:
I think most everyone there will consider me an apostate
Click to expand...
I would not be much interested in going to an Easter service at an anti-Catholic group. But I suppose that it is up to you whether to go. You should not feel compelled to deny your faith. The bigots are the ones with the problem, not you.
 
I understand what you’re saying, but I was a member there for some years when my children were small, and this particular family has always been very personally kind to us. I consider it an honour that they have invited us to such an important event, and they will have meant it that way.
As to their anti-Catholicism, well, I used to share it myself in that church, and God opened my eyes to the beauty of the truth. I think if I said that now I was a Catholic I didn’t look favourably on their kind invitation, it wouldn’t do that much to help them see the truth too. But I do take the point that it’s not ideal, especially the day after I become Catholic officially.
 
I agree with you - it IS their day for their daughter. Thus, it is not a day to announce, however delicately, that you were baptised and confirmed a Catholic the day before and have received the true Holy Eucharist.

I would imagine that the time together before and after the actual baptism ceremony would include discussions of where attendees are in their individual faith journeys. It could be quite hard to not reveal your conversion and feel you were honest with them.

My advice: best to not attend and inform your friends in different faiths in another way at another time.
 
You could invite them to your Easter Vigil Mass. That way they’ll be aware of your conversion even if they decline the invitation.
 
Welcome home and congratulations! I converted a year ago and am more excited every day. My experience is that my close friends and co-workers were aware of my ongoing conversion. For others, I tell them if it comes up in conversation, i.e. I’m asked where I go to church. If they ask additional questions, I answer. Enjoy the baptism!
 
Go and be happy for them and charitable to everyone else. And don’t tell them a thing, it is not something that they have a “right” to know. If you are uncomfortable, then just keep your own counsel.

And one other question. If your friends shun you or disparage or disrespect you for your own most personal and important choice of a life’s calling, how good of friends are they???
 
If you would like to witness the Baptism, you might consider attending. Likely, that will be the focus of the gathering and those there will have the good taste not to confront you about becoming Catholic. Some may even surprise you and be supportive.

One thing is for sure. You will be challenged by Protestsnts at some point. Better not to let any fear of that prevent you from enjoying something as special as seeing one reborn in Baptism. Who knows? You presence there might make additional converts once they see how happy you really are.
 
Go to the baptism and say nothing unless someone asks you. Really, it is your business and not something you need to make any kind of announcement about. I don’t mean to imply that you are hiding it, or keeping it a secret, but that unless someone says something to you, there is no need to talk about it. Your family and your close friends already know.

Welcome home!
 
Irishmom2 said:
Go to the baptism and say nothing unless someone asks you. Really, it is your business and not something you need to make any kind of announcement about. I don’t mean to imply that you are hiding it, or keeping it a secret, but that unless someone says something to you, there is no need to talk about it. Your family and your close friends already know.

Welcome home!
Click to expand...
I agree with Irishmom’s post.

I will answer any questions that anyone has about our Catholic faith when they ask me about our faith, but at the same time, I personally don’t really want to get into any long discussion or debates about it anymore. That’s just how I feel.

When I did in the past for example, it just led to someone feeling more openly hostile about our faith.

I personally feel that it is better to show our faith by example and to live it by example.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top