Those of you who are converts

[GeorgiaPeach]

How sure were you when you started RCIA about whether you were doing the right thing? I still feel very uncertain about what path I should take, but I don’t know if I will become more certain until I am in the process (I hope that makes sense).

The need to take Communion was what lead me to RCIA. I knew I was doing the right thing at the time but it took me 10 years to understand why.

 

[conrad979]

Thank you all for having taken the time to answer my post. I just wanted to say that I’m in RCIA, and there is no longer any doubt in my mind that it is the right thing for me to be doing.
Thanks again.

 

[mercygate]

Thank you all for having taken the time to answer my post. I just wanted to say that I’m in RCIA, and there is no longer any doubt in my mind that it is the right thing for me to be doing.
Thanks again.

May the Lord bless your journey and make your pathway smooth.

 

[CarolinNC]

I began with my 16 year old daughter, who was engaged to a Catholic and was looking into converting. I went along to make sure they weren’t pressuring her into converting. Sometime during the third or fourth week I began to truly listen and ask questions. We attended Mass with the boyfriend one Sunday and I was hooked. I loved the Mass and felt totally connected to God there. I hadn’t felt that way for a long time. (We were dissatisfied, non-practicing, and questioning Mormons at this time.) I loved the experience and we both converted, my oldest daughter as well, and two years later my husband and sons converted so now all but my oldest son are Catholic and we love it and are very active in our parish.

 

[dzheremi]

I had actually been asked to leave my previous church, so when I started to attend mass around January of 2005 (can’t remember exactly), I didn’t expect much. In fact, the whole thing seemed strange and confusing at first. That feeling continued for quite a while, even though I was treated very kindly by the priest literally from day one. I might not be Catholic had he not been so interested in my welfare.

For me, RCIA was a real discernment process. I took very seriously the idea that I was there to examine the Church. I realized then that I would never be able to know everything beforehand, and had to at some point just leave it up to God whether or not I would continue. To be perfectly honest, there was a time when I did want to quit. Really badly, actually. Why didn’t I? I have no idea. Only God knows.

I was confirmed in 2006, and now almost three years later I feel like I have only just barely scratched the surface of what it means to be Catholic, and all the responsibilties and blessings that are given to me by that affiliation. Again, as I realized at some point in RCIA, I know there are limits to what I can know. For someone who really wanted to quit, I think it is a testament to the power of the Holy Spirit that I these days I often feel like I want to do it again! I could ask much more effective questions, and come away that much stronger in my faith…

That’s one thing I love about being Catholic…for me, it is a sometimes very terrifying, always very illuminating, and ultimately comforting exercise in spiritual cleansing and renewal.

 

[mercygate]

I began with my 16 year old daughter, who was engaged to a Catholic and was looking into converting. I went along to make sure they weren’t pressuring her into converting. Sometime during the third or fourth week I began to truly listen and ask questions. We attended Mass with the boyfriend one Sunday and I was hooked. I loved the Mass and felt totally connected to God there. I hadn’t felt that way for a long time. (We were dissatisfied, non-practicing, and questioning Mormons at this time.) I loved the experience and we both converted, my oldest daughter as well, and two years later my husband and sons converted so now all but my oldest son are Catholic and we love it and are very active in our parish.

This is a breathtaking story! Amazing.

 

[nebula]

Hi Adele,

I know what you mean. I’ve gone to RCIA for only a couple weeks so far and I really am not sure. I think Catholicism makes a lot of sense if I agree to accept the New Testament as canon and I’m not 100% sure how I approach everything. But, that’s why there is RCIA< you can be an inquirer for as long as you like. Just keep going, reading, thinking about things. That’s the nice thing about Catholicism, there isn’t going to be a ton of pressure for you to join up RIGHT NOW.

 

[happilycatholic]

RCIA is the only church related thing I’ve ever done completely alone since childhood. I was actually “afraid” of church. When I was young, my mom and dad put me on a church bus and sent me to church alone and I was terrified because I was a painfully shy child. I have story after story of scarring moments of embarassment and fright from just going to church. I think they did it thinking it was the best and safest place to socialize me. Yes, in the beginning they were not “churched”. They are devout Protestants now and my dad is looking to being a deacon at their current church. They regret the past I’m sure.

So when I started RCIA I thought I’d be scared to death.

From the moment I walked into St. Stephens Parish in my hometown I was HOME. I never for one single second felt the slightest bit uncomfortable. I felt the presence of Christ with me throughout my journey.

As far as beliefs, I have always been catholic. The things I believe have always felt strange when trying to reconcile them with the Protestant faith, but when I found catholicism I knew I wasn’t so far in left field afterall.

So my decision was made for me and I was carried through it in Loving Arms. I keep a copy of “Footprints in the Sand” in my house because it is Christ’s promise to us and He didn’t let me down.

I hope you have a beautiful faith journey. Take the advice of much prayer and maybe a little fasting and you’ll know when you walk in the door because He will have prepared you through fasting and prayer.

God Bless and Keep You. Peace Be With You.

HC

 

[bpcatholic]

Before I started going to the Catholic I was not sure if I should go since I thought Catholicism wasn’t very biblical. I prayed to God that if it was His will for me to go then give me a sign. Sure enough a few days later my friend (non-Catholic at the time) called asking me if I wanted to go to the Catholic Church. By the time I was going through the scrutinies I knew defintely it was His will. But for some reason God really wanted me to know that it really was His will. During the week before the first scrutiny I was in school and I was really thirsty. When I went to RCIA they told me that the first scrutiny was about Christ quenching our thirst. The week before the second scrutiny, my mother told me there was a bobcat loose. I was afraid to ride my bicycle in the dark and the scrutiny was about Christ being our light. The third week my goldfish died and the scrutiny was about Christ conquering death. Also, I remember when I was in 5th grade I wanted to be Catholic and I always listened to the Beatles’ “Let it Be.” The night I was received into the Church my sponsor drove me home. When she turned on the car the radio was playing that song! So now I have no doubts whether God wants me to be Catholic. Would you agree???

 

[mercygate]

Before I started going to the Catholic I was not sure if I should go since I thought Catholicism wasn’t very biblical. I prayed to God that if it was His will for me to go then give me a sign. Sure enough a few days later my friend (non-Catholic at the time) called asking me if I wanted to go to the Catholic Church. By the time I was going through the scrutinies I knew defintely it was His will. But for some reason God really wanted me to know that it really was His will. During the week before the first scrutiny I was in school and I was really thirsty. When I went to RCIA they told me that the first scrutiny was about Christ quenching our thirst. The week before the second scrutiny, my mother told me there was a bobcat loose. I was afraid to ride my bicycle in the dark and the scrutiny was about Christ being our light. The third week my goldfish died and the scrutiny was about Christ conquering death. Also, I remember when I was in 5th grade I wanted to be Catholic and I always listened to the Beatles’ “Let it Be.” The night I was received into the Church my sponsor drove me home. When she turned on the car the radio was playing that song! So now I have no doubts whether God wants me to be Catholic. Would you agree???

Oh, yeah. Definitely agree. But if someone were to read this story, they might never SEE what you saw or HEAR what you heard. (hmm . . . doesn’t Our Lord mention that somehwere ???) The Holy Spirit was preparing you to receive what you received. I have a story like that, too: the request for an answer and the message being delvered in big, bold type: blam!