Two church family

[JoyToTheWhirled]

I’m struggling as to know exactly where to put this, but as it’s my spirituality I’m talking about, I guess here seems sensible.

I am wrestling with a call to Catholicism and have been since I was a child. I spent some time as a Baptist and an Evangelical, and now find myself in an Evangelical Anglican church. To be completely honest, I really find it awfully difficult, and almost not like a church at all, more like a pep rally in a community hall. I mean no disrespect to them in saying that - they are good, godly people who take their faith seriously, I just don’t feel they have the whole picture. The trouble is, my husband and children are very happy there and wouldn’t countenance any idea of leaving, which is fine, it’s their home, I understand.

But I am rapidly coming to the point where I just can’t do it any more and really want to go to the local Catholic church. I’m scared of making the leap, of course, it’s been a desire of my heart for so long. But also I’m not sure how well it’s going to work being a two church family. Has anyone else experienced this? Did it resolve itself well? Also, please pray for courage for me to make the right decision.

 

[Isca]

Hi there, praying for you. Evangelical services are often friendly, lively and informal, so it’s not surprising that many people enjoy the worship experience they offer. However, I can guarantee that if you respond to that little nudge you are feeling, you won’t regret it.

I’m a convert who felt the “pull” of the Catholic Church all my life. Eventually I took the plunge, in my mid-50s. My husband’s not Catholic, but he is a Christian. He’s been very supportive and is always interested to talk and learn about Catholicism. I realise that you have children, and that always makes things a little more complicated. However, you need to take this one step at a time and just see where God leads you.

Taking the first step isn’t that hard and commits you to nothing. Just call or email your local Catholic church and make an appointment to see the priest there. He’ll be able to advise you further, answer your questions and tell you all about the RCIA programme, which is the normal route by which adults become full members of the Catholic Church. In the meantime, there’s absolutely no reason why you shouldn’t attend Mass now and then and just take it all in.

I really hope that you find your way home. Good luck and God bless you.

 

[Della]

I’m struggling as to know exactly where to put this, but as it’s my spirituality I’m talking about, I guess here seems sensible.

I am wrestling with a call to Catholicism and have been since I was a child. I spent some time as a Baptist and an Evangelical, and now find myself in an Evangelical Anglican church. To be completely honest, I really find it awfully difficult, and almost not like a church at all, more like a pep rally in a community hall. I mean no disrespect to them in saying that - they are good, godly people who take their faith seriously, I just don’t feel they have the whole picture. The trouble is, my husband and children are very happy there and wouldn’t countenance any idea of leaving, which is fine, it’s their home, I understand.

But I am rapidly coming to the point where I just can’t do it any more and really want to go to the local Catholic church. I’m scared of making the leap, of course, it’s been a desire of my heart for so long. But also I’m not sure how well it’s going to work being a two church family. Has anyone else experienced this? Did it resolve itself well? Also, please pray for courage for me to make the right decision.

Welcome to the journey to the Church. A very simple idea for attending church is to go with your family Sundays (I’m assuming they attend Sundays) and you go Sat. evening or Sunday evening (if a Sunday evening Mass is offered). It’s probably too late to go through this year’s RCIA classes, but you can still contact the person in charge to ask if you can, or if not, when the next session for candidates begins (assuming you’ve been baptized, if not you’d be a catechumen).

You can also receive instruction from the parish’s priest, if he is willing (they can be very busy). As you enter into the process of becoming Catholic (being reconciled to the Church, as it’s called) the witness of your life and happiness may help your family desire to have what you have. So, do look into becoming Catholic, and at the same time be there for your family by attending their church on Sundays. I hope that helps you. I will remember you and your family in my prayers today. God bless you all.

 

[PaulfromIowa]

I will pray for you!

If you have been an Anglican, you have some idea of what Catholicism is like. They were once very similar, but have diverged in recent decades. Catholicism is about the original Apostolic faith and the original seven Sacraments. Evangelicalism is more about feelings and emotions. Those things do have their place, but do not replace the Apostolic faith.

You can convert even if your husband and children remain protestant. You can guide them by example and prayer. Going to a Catholic church is nothing to be scared of. Try a daily Mass. Watch the Mass on EWTN.

 

[Bob_Crowley]

… But I am rapidly coming to the point where I just can’t do it any more and really want to go to the local Catholic church. I’m scared of making the leap, of course, it’s been a desire of my heart for so long. But also I’m not sure how well it’s going to work being a two church family. Has anyone else experienced this? Did it resolve itself well? Also, please pray for courage for me to make the right decision.

My situation was probably not as difficult as yours, as there was only my wife to consider and no children. She’s been Baptist all her life as far as I know, and we were both Protestant when we married. Also we married in mid life, and not in our starry eyed younger years.

Secondly I didn’t originally come from a Christian background, but was an atheist for some time. So I’d already crossed that rubicon, from atheist to (protestant) Christian. Third my old Protestant pastor had already said he thought I’d become Catholic down the track, so it didn’t take me by surprise in one sense, although it was still five to seven years between his prediction / prophecy and the actual event.

Third, when it’s all said and done, I’ve always had a bit of a bent towards thinking for myself. I may toe the party line for a while, but eventually they can all get stuffed as far as I’m concerned.

However there’s going to come a point when you have to bite the bullet, and there’s no way around it.

I suggest you just start going to RCIA via your local parish. You can tell your husband, children and so on that you just want to know what the Catholics really think, rather than what you’ve been TOLD they think, by third parties.

And go from there.

But you’ll have to bite the bullet sooner or later. That’s a choice facing anyone making any major life decision, no matter what it is, whether other people like it or not.

 

[JoyToTheWhirled]

Thanks all. I think biting the bullet is very much where I need to be at. Just wish I wasn’t so afraid.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Thanks all. I think biting the bullet is very much where I need to be at. Just wish I wasn’t so afraid.

Remember one thing, your marriage and family come before religion, I’m not talking about faith in God, but the practice of religion.

As long as God is head of your family, you will grow closer Christ and to each other, even if you’re not in the Catholic Church.

I have seen marriages break up over religion, where one wants to be a devote Catholic and the other is either lukewarm or wanting to remain in the church they originally were part of when they got married.

So, talk about it with your husband, but don’t push. Be open to his faith too.

A little thing I advised married couples to do in the past is, on a piece of paper, draw a triangle.

At the top of the triangle, write the name “God.”

At the bottom on the left side, write, your name. On the right bottom side, write your husbands name.

Now from both your name and your husbands, draw arrows pointing up the side toward God.

Now, as you move your name and your husband’s in the direction of the arrows toward God, you’ll notice that the distance between you two will grow closer.

On the other hand, if only one of you moves closer toward God, your distance will grow further apart.

I hope I explained this clear enough.

God has to be at the top of your relationship.

Religion is not faith.

Faith is God’s gift, His revelation of Himself, however that may happen.

Religion is our response to faith.

As a married couple, you are as one flesh and can not grow in faith alone.

You need to walk side-by-side as God has designed.

I pray that your husband and children will join in your interest in the Catholic Church, but do not make this an issue which will divide you.

Remember, the call of God is an invitation, not an order. His invitation is to you and your family, and not necessarily just to you.

Jim