Wanting to convert; help needed

[George_C]

Thanks.

They said they’d call when they get the class scheduled. So there’s little else I can do.

I just hope they don’t give me grief about my hair.

 

[po18guy]

Thanks.

They said they’d call when they get the class scheduled. So there’s little else I can do.

I just hope they don’t give me grief about my hair.

You must have one of two styles: some hair on your head, or no hair at all. This is an inflexible teaching.

 

[GailMac]

Hey GeorgeC! How’s the conversion thing going?

I never did answer your question about what an EM is - they are simply Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist. They are generally laypersons who are trained to help out at Mass when the regular ministers of the Eucharist, the Priests and Deacons can’t handle to many Communicants. In some places they are used rather regularly.

I suggest you go to Mass even though you can’t receive Communion yet. Make an Act of Spiritual Communion and enjoy the beauty of the Liturgy. I’m sure you will receive the grace you need to sustain you during your time in RCIA. Let us all know how things are going.

Peace,

Gail

 

[water]

I went through the Wikipedia article

Just a quick note if this hasn’t been mentioned, but Wikipedia articles are not reliable…(correct me if I am wrong…but that is what I heard).

You can read at the homepage of this site: www.catholic.com

 

[George_C]

Hey GeorgeC! How’s the conversion thing going?

No one’s contacted me about exactly when the RCIA course begins. I was told “some time in August.”

I never did answer your question about what an EM is - they are simply Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist. They are generally laypersons who are trained to help out at Mass when the regular ministers of the Eucharist, the Priests and Deacons can’t handle to many Communicants. In some places they are used rather regularly.

Ah… Thank you for the information.

I suggest you go to Mass even though you can’t receive Communion yet. Make an Act of Spiritual Communion and enjoy the beauty of the Liturgy. I’m sure you will receive the grace you need to sustain you during your time in RCIA. Let us all know how things are going.

Peace,

Gail

Thanks for the encouragement. I’ll wait though. I’m not at all comfortable with just showing up. I’d prefer to be introduced by others.

 

[George_C]

Just a quick note if this hasn’t been mentioned, but Wikipedia articles are not reliable…(correct me if I am wrong…but that is what I heard).

It depends. Check the histories. The “peer reviewed” ones, if you will, are generally very reliable.

However, I don’t think Wikipedia should be used as a sole source.

 

[George_C]

You must have one of two styles: some hair on your head, or no hair at all. This is an inflexible teaching.

What I was getting at was that mine’s actually fairly long.

 

[GailMac]

Hey there George C -

While it is true that RCIA usually runs concentric to the school year, i.e. Sept. - June, I got lucky and they met with me once a month for the summer in the beginning. When Sept. came along, we met every Monday night for an hour and a half. We had weekly assignments, etc. and were encouraged to attend Mass on Sundays. I was going everyday by then anyway so it didn’t really matter.

Your hair isn’t a problem. Don’t make it one. I’d expect the same reaction to your hair choices proportionally in the parish as you’d expect in the Mall or elsewhere. Most folks these days don’t have a problem with the hair thing, but some still cling to the notion of all every man needs is a good haircut. Hopefully, you won’t run into a personality in the RCIA class who feels angst around long hair. But the Church isn’t a cult of personalities, but an institution with principles.

There is nothing wrong with you getting a head start on the readings you’ll use during RCIA, a Bible and a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. You’ll probably feel more comfortable knowing what they are talking about. You could go to the library locally and have a broad selection of reading materials to pick from and grow comfortable with. I think if you start you’ll find the road getting a little easier. Give yourself some time, you’ll be learning basically in nine months what every catholic is supposed to know after eight years of Catholic religion class! That’s an awful lot to digest, so you might want to begin chewing early. Meantime, let your spirit soar - God plans on raising you up on eagles wings! Rejoice in the Lord - He has chosen you!

Peace,

Gail

 

[George_C]

Hey there George C -

While it is true that RCIA usually runs concentric to the school year, i.e. Sept. - June, I got lucky and they met with me once a month for the summer in the beginning. When Sept. came along, we met every Monday night for an hour and a half. We had weekly assignments, etc. and were encouraged to attend Mass on Sundays. I was going everyday by then anyway so it didn’t really matter.

Your hair isn’t a problem. Don’t make it one. I’d expect the same reaction to your hair choices proportionally in the parish as you’d expect in the Mall or elsewhere. Most folks these days don’t have a problem with the hair thing, but some still cling to the notion of all every man needs is a good haircut. Hopefully, you won’t run into a personality in the RCIA class who feels angst around long hair. But the Church isn’t a cult of personalities, but an institution with principles.

There is nothing wrong with you getting a head start on the readings you’ll use during RCIA, a Bible and a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. You’ll probably feel more comfortable knowing what they are talking about. You could go to the library locally and have a broad selection of reading materials to pick from and grow comfortable with. I think if you start you’ll find the road getting a little easier. Give yourself some time, you’ll be learning basically in nine months what every catholic is supposed to know after eight years of Catholic religion class! That’s an awful lot to digest, so you might want to begin chewing early. Meantime, let your spirit soar - God plans on raising you up on eagles wings! Rejoice in the Lord - He has chosen you!

Peace,

Gail

Thank you for the encouragement.

I have a general grasp of the Gospels. The Catechism… a different story.

Here’s what’s really got me worried: having to get up in front of a large group of people and having to answer questions and justify why I want to join the Catholic Church. I’m not at all comfortable being in the spotlight with a lot of people looking on.

 

[po18guy]

What I was getting at was that mine’s actually fairly long.

I figured as much. That would put you into the “hair on your head” group. Perfect!

 

[GailMac]

Dear George C -

I have no idea where you got the notion that you will have to stand up in front of a group of people and justify why you want to join the Church, but that won’t ever happen! Geeze Loueeze! What will occur during RCIA is you will sit in a room with some folks and go over stuff. They aren’t going to ask you for your personal confession of faith! Sounds like someone gave you some mis-information about the process. You make it sound like you’re facing the Inquisition! Oh my! The only cure I know that could possibly set your mind at rest is to go ahead and make an appointment to talk to a priest at the local parish. I think you will be very pleasantly surprised.

I chuckle when I remember the angst I felt in calling a Rectory for the very first time! And I also remember the relief I felt after my very first meeting with a Priest! None of the things I had floating around in the grey matter between my ears happened and I was received very graciously. Please take the steps necessary. I think the sooner you do, the quicker you’ll be relieved. Keep in mind the folks on the other end, I mean those who will bring you into the Church are trained to help the convert/revert and are there for you! That is their ministry to the Church and you will be helping them fulfill their vocation as catechists. It is the work of God. They can’t do it without you!

Peace,

Gail

 

[kage_ar]

What I was getting at was that mine’s actually fairly long.

Welcome!!!

My teenaged son’s hair is now well past his shouler blades in back. He used to have a goatee that was dyed green, or blue, one time pink. You will find Catholics of all sizes, shapes and styles. The important thing is to start attending Mass and to reach out, get to know the folks at your Parish.

This week, he was volunteering at Vacation Bible School, our son - as per usual - was cast to play Jesus in the drama

About your fear of getting up in front of a bunch of people…

You may have read about the Scrutinies? These are prayers. Those who desire to enter the Church, in the weeks leading up to the vigil, will come forward during Mass and be prayed over. It is a group thing, and there is no Q and A

During the Vigil, you will make a profession of Faith, that is spoken to the Priest, while your sponsor stands right there, with a supportive hand on your shoulder.

Really, it is not at all bad

 

[nicolep]

Thanks for the encouragement. I’ll wait though. I’m not at all comfortable with just showing up. I’d prefer to be introduced by others.

Just to throw this out there to you…

I started going to daily Mass (and Sunday’s of course) during RCIA. At my parish, we weren’t “introduced” to the Mass until several months after RCIA started. The beginning part of the classes were more of an introduction to the faith. I don’t know how they will handle it at the parish you’ll be attending though. If I waited until they introduced me to Mass or the parish, I wouldn’t have attended until Easter Vigil when I was received into the Church. They didn’t really give instructions on the rubrics, etc. I felt like I needed to throw myself into Mass. I’m glad I did. Of course, every one will need to handle things differently depending on their situation. One thing that helped me was sitting with an RCIA team member after we were introduced at the first meeting.

May God continue to bless you on your journey. It’s truly an amazing experience.

 

[nannygirl]

What I was getting at was that mine’s actually fairly long.

Dear George,

I am a former Baptist, so I think I know where you’re coming from. Don’t worry about the hair thing. I have found that most Catholics aren’t obsessed about these kinds of things. I am in a very conservative church and we have several long haired men who obviously feel very comfortable there.

I would encourage you to just go to Mass on a regular basis, find a spot in the back and observe. You will learn a lot. Unlike in the Baptist church, you probably won’t be approached by a lot of people and feel overwhelmed.

 

[George_C]

I have no idea where you got the notion that you will have to stand up in front of a group of people and justify why you want to join the Church, but that won’t ever happen! Geeze Loueeze! What will occur during RCIA is you will sit in a room with some folks and go over stuff. They aren’t going to ask you for your personal confession of faith!

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

Sounds like someone gave you some mis-information about the process. You make it sound like you’re facing the Inquisition! Oh my! The only cure I know that could possibly set your mind at rest is to go ahead and make an appointment to talk to a priest at the local parish. I think you will be very pleasantly surprised.

I think I read it on some website. It’s the Internet. I should’ve known. :doh2:

I would just love to know when the RCIA classes start and I’ll let that be the inertia to introductions.

I chuckle when I remember the angst I felt in calling a Rectory for the very first time!

There wasn’t a problem with me calling up the church and inquiring. Piece of cake.

nd I also remember the relief I felt after my very first meeting with a Priest!

I’ll probably act like a complete goober.

None of the things I had floating around in the grey matter between my ears happened and I was received very graciously. Please take the steps necessary. I think the sooner you do, the quicker you’ll be relieved. Keep in mind the folks on the other end, I mean those who will bring you into the Church are trained to help the convert/revert and are there for you! That is their ministry to the Church and you will be helping them fulfill their vocation as catechists. It is the work of God. They can’t do it without you!

I’m more comfortable just let thing happen of their own accord.

 

[George_C]

Welcome!!!

My teenaged son’s hair is now well past his shouler blades in back. He used to have a goatee that was dyed green, or blue, one time pink. You will find Catholics of all sizes, shapes and styles. The important thing is to start attending Mass and to reach out, get to know the folks at your Parish.

This week, he was volunteering at Vacation Bible School, our son - as per usual - was cast to play Jesus in the drama

About your fear of getting up in front of a bunch of people…

You may have read about the Scrutinies? These are prayers. Those who desire to enter the Church, in the weeks leading up to the vigil, will come forward during Mass and be prayed over. It is a group thing, and there is no Q and A

During the Vigil, you will make a profession of Faith, that is spoken to the Priest, while your sponsor stands right there, with a supportive hand on your shoulder.

Really, it is not at all bad

Someone’s there to handhold me? PERFECT!

 

[George_C]

Just to throw this out there to you…

I started going to daily Mass (and Sunday’s of course) during RCIA. At my parish, we weren’t “introduced” to the Mass until several months after RCIA started. The beginning part of the classes were more of an introduction to the faith. I don’t know how they will handle it at the parish you’ll be attending though. If I waited until they introduced me to Mass or the parish, I wouldn’t have attended until Easter Vigil when I was received into the Church. They didn’t really give instructions on the rubrics, etc. I felt like I needed to throw myself into Mass. I’m glad I did. Of course, every one will need to handle things differently depending on their situation. One thing that helped me was sitting with an RCIA team member after we were introduced at the first meeting.

May God continue to bless you on your journey. It’s truly an amazing experience.

Thank you. I’m going to just ask first and see if there’s someone I could go with or something.

 

[George_C]

Dear George,

I am a former Baptist, so I think I know where you’re coming from. Don’t worry about the hair thing. I have found that most Catholics aren’t obsessed about these kinds of things. I am in a very conservative church and we have several long haired men who obviously feel very comfortable there.

I would encourage you to just go to Mass on a regular basis, find a spot in the back and observe. You will learn a lot. Unlike in the Baptist church, you probably won’t be approached by a lot of people and feel overwhelmed.

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for all the (name removed by moderator)ut. It’s meant the world to me. I humbly ask that you pray for me on this new phase in my life.

 

[Linda_Marie]

Don’t be discouraged if it takes some time. When I first enquired of the parish where we settled after leaving Iran, I was told that RCIA began in September and ran to Easter Vigil. It was December 1978 and I was informed that I could not join the class currently in progress but would have to wait until the next class started in the following September with Baptism having to be delayed more than a year. After speaking with others, I find this is not all that unusual. It was well worth the wait although it was irksome at the time.

In the meantime, I joined one of the prayer groups of the parish and took nearly every bible study course they offered. In this way, I got to know other parishioners, not just the converts and learned about the faith at the same time. I was abysmally ignorant of Catholicism and had a lot to unlearn as well. (I was one of those who God hit upside the head with a spiritual two-by-four and made a Catholic before I even knew what that meant.)

Don’t worry about the profession of faith either. It is a set formula so you do not have to make it up yourself. The presiding priest will ask questions like “Do you believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth?” and you answer, “I do.” You will learn all about it in RCIA. They won’t let you go in cold, not knowing what is going to happen, and your sponsor will be with you.

When it all finally happens, the joy will far outweigh the anxiety, believe me.

 

[ShemariahBeans]

I’m going to contact a local church about beginning the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults process. I went through the Wikipedia article and usually that site is very informative, but not in this case.

What can I expect? I was baptized a baptist about 30 years ago, but would really like to do it again.

Thanks and bear with me. This is soooo new to me.

My brother, what a joyful journey you are on!! It’s one I am familiar with - I grew up in the Baptist church. I am always thankful for the grounding in the Bible I received while in the Baptist church. I was part of a youth group in high school that would meet Friday evenings for Bible Study.

It’s what ultimately led me to convert to Catholicism.

One thing you will find new is the honor given to Tradition. Those who are “sola scriptura” find it offensive - but I am thankful for the Traditions and the Magisterium. Google “Justin Martyr” - there’s writings by him in the first century, a description of what happens during what we now know as Mass. It’s incredible! Justin Martyr could participate in Mass today and see the same order that he describes back then.

RCIA is an area of particular interest to me, and I have expressed to my parish a desire to “walk” with someone - in our parish we provide lay people as resources to do just this.

You have had your name added to many prayer lists by your post. There are many here who would go to lengths to help you on your journey. Trust your priest who will lead you through this, he will know what is necessary and needed. When you are confirmed, you will be sealed - ah, there’s some homework for you!!

Smiling so wide with joy for you that it hurts.