Wanting to become Catholic but I have been a pagan for years

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DanielPoseyVA

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So, the short of my dilemma is that I have been a new age/pagan for several years now and I don’t even know where to begin in terms of going to mass, talking to my local priest, or even begining the conversion process.

That being said, with my little bit of investigating I discovered the RCIA program. However, I work a full time, 2nd shift job as a corrections officer which would make the current RCIA schedule at my local church impossible. I am at a loss for what I should do, or where I should begin.

Also, some background info. I have never been baptised nor have i spent any significant time at any church other than a few visits years ago to the same Catholic Church.
 
Welcome! I would suggest starting at your local parish and seeing if they can accommodate an alternate RCIA schedule for you; or if not, they may be able to suggest a nearby parish with a schedule that better fits your needs.
 
I would definitely talk to a local priest and explain your situation. Beyond that, if I may ask, what is attracting you to the Church? And how much do you feel you already know about Catholicism (and God, for that matter)?
 
I guess, what is attracting me to the Church is my first honest reading of the bible. I honestly never gave the Church a shot when I was younger due to my upbringing and those I associated with. I recently had a desire to learn more about Catholicism and Christianity as a whole, and it has been really eye opening to the life I have been living vs the life I want.

Truthfully, I don’t know a lot about either topic but I am willing to learn.
 
The Holy Spirit is moving you to the Truth. So no matter the obstacles along the way, persevere. For the full deposit of faith is an everlasting treasure.
 
I’d talk to the Priest. You certainly can be baptized as an adult, this would be your basic entry into Christianity. RCIA is the full on Catholic experience, Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation. If you can’t fit RCIA in your life right now, I’d at least be baptized. The Priest might be able to arrange one on one Baptism classes with you and your sponsor. That aside, the Catholic Church recognizes the Baptisms of many other churches, churches like the Lutherans, Presbyterians, Methodists, and many others are acceptable. You should be able to find a list. My point being, at least join the Christian Church at large if RCIA is an issue right now, even if you can’t set up a Baptism with your Catholic Church. Also, you may want to look around, some might do RCIA on the weekend.
 
If you have apologetics questions, www.catholic.com has a gigantic database of top notch apologetics on almost everything under the sun for free.
 
DanielPoseyVA said:
it has been really eye opening to the life I have been living vs the life I want.
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Amen to that!

You’ll definitely want to absorb the big picture first (God, his creation, and our place in that creation) before diving into details. I think Peter Kreeft is an excellent source for that (peterkreeft.com). He has lots of online written works and audio. Also CS Lewis and GK Chesterton (esp. The Everlasting Man). Bishop Barron (Word on Fire) has a lot of youtube videos.

Keep in mind what Pope Benedict XIV (as Cardinal Ratzinger) wrote: “I have often affirmed my conviction that the true apology of Christian faith, the most convincing demonstration of its truth against every denial, are the saints, and the beauty that the faith has generated.”

You can know God through His Truth (as reflected in scripture and Church teachings), but also through His Goodness (as reflected in the saints) and through His Beauty (as reflected both in nature and in the beautiful art, architecture, literature and especially music that has been created in His Name).
 
DanielPoseyVA said:
So, the short of my dilemma is that I have been a new age/pagan for several years now and I don’t even know where to begin in terms of going to mass, talking to my local priest, or even begining the conversion process.

That being said, with my little bit of investigating I discovered the RCIA program. However, I work a full time, 2nd shift job as a corrections officer which would make the current RCIA schedule at my local church impossible. I am at a loss for what I should do, or where I should begin.

Also, some background info. I have never been baptised nor have i spent any significant time at any church other than a few visits years ago to the same Catholic Church
Click to expand...
The first thing I would do is attend Mass as regularly as possible. Preferably Sundays, or Saturday evenings. Then I would make a point to go to the church & talk to a priest. Explain the situation & maybe someone will find a way to sponsor you.

I guarantee you it won’t be easy. There are forces out there trying to prevent you from being baptized into the true faith & you’ll probably come across some easier roads to “alternative traditions.” Remember the way is hard & the road narrow, but you are on the right path.

Do what you gotta do, even if it’s something you don’t want to.

Peace.
 
In addition to the recommendation above concerning Peter Kreeft (which I also second) plus the other recommendations by others, I would also like to recommend Journey Into Truth: Instructions in the Catholic Faith by Father John Flader.
A video about that is EWTN Bookmark - 2018-10-21 - Journey Into Truth

I’ve found his Question Time Books to also be good.
Question Time 1: 150 Questions and Answers on the Catholic Faith
Question Time 2 seems to be missing from my Amazon search.
Questiontime 3: 150 Questions and Answers on the Catholic Faith
Question Time 4: 150 Questions and Answers on the Catholic Faith
A Tour of the Catechism. Volume 1: The Creed

Father has other books on the rosary, why go to confession, a few cds on the virtue of chastity, natural law, convinced by the truth and God & Science.

(Obviously a fan. I personally found his stuff easier than some things by Bishop Barron. There is a video to go with the book Journey Into the Truth: Instructions in the Catholic Faith. I have not read or seen either of these - just keep forgetting to buy them. I do have the first 3 of the Question Time series though and found them good).
 
Thanks everyone, I will definitely reach out to my local church and go from there. It’s heartwarming that everyone responded so quickly and without judgement. People like y’all are who show the people like me the kindness of God.
 
First question: Have you been baptized? If you were baptized in any Christian denomination at any point, the conversion process will be different than if you have not been baptized, because it impossible to be baptized a second time.
 
He said “no” in the last paragraph of his original post.

As to a different conversion process, most parishes do not have the luxury of running two simultaneous programs, one for those who have been baptized and are converting from a Protestant denomination, and those who essentially have not been catechized and may or may not be baptized. It can be (and often is) argued that there should be two programs; the reality is that ain’t gonna happen. But there is a bit more than just sitting through a class each week; the group usually forms some group identity and they learn from each other’s questions; additionally, there are several liturgical stages they go through.

The OP could possibly go through and individual class, or if they are on a rotating schedule, a good sponsor could re-present the class information to them (we had that this last year). Where there is a will, there is a way.
 
See if they can put the RCIA class on video for you. The important thing is that you get the catechesis, not that you physically attend the classes.
 
Praying for you so that God helps you and protects you on your way back home.
 
Contact your parish as soon as possible. Congratulations on wanting to join the Church of Christ - the Universal Church…the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church!
 
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