What's It Like Being the Only Catholic in Your Family

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andyklein said:
I will officially be Catholic in about five or six months, but I will be the only one in my family. (I actually do have a few Catholic aunts and uncles and cousins, but I hardly ever see them.) My family is not really religious. My parents are “Christian,” but only nominally. When I was growing up religion was not something we talked about and seemed to make things awkward if it ever came up. I am sure some people here have similar backgrounds. If you do, how did you and your family handle your becoming Catholic?

I actually have not told anyone in my family that I am going to be Catholic soon. They don’t even know that I have been exploring religion for quite some time. How could I tell them in the least awkward and most subtle way possible?
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Congratulations!!

You go ahead and take the lead. And then, hold that lead as an example. This is not so insurmountable.

Here’s my situation: I’m the only one in my family that stayed Catholic when my parents, sister and brother left the Catholic Church.

You come home and then-hang in there my friend. 👍
 
Isabella2 said:
People have recommended choir or other ministries to me. I had a disastrous experience attempting to do the readings. No practice; some info on the phone by a man who was upset that he was still being used as a contact led to my speaking on no mic (until someone came up mid-reading and connected it) then my not realizing I was to move on and read more, so I sat down and no one said I wasn’t finished, then the worst when i realized I was unfinished, I exclaimed Oh ****!! …audibly. It was awful, but I know, just one experience.
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Omdog! LOL :rotfl: I could not get over this one! I was in a laughing fit rolling over! haha. Don’t feel bad, those things can happen. You should try reading again, I’m sure you will be just fine. When I went up for my confirmation I messed up and started laughing which got the priest laughing with me. It’s okay to make mistakes, even if the entire time you were struggling. I feel for you that you were so embarrassed. I would have been, too. But I would have laughed it off, because there’s nothing else you can do, really. These experiences humble us. Go ahead, have another go at it. :flowers: I always cross myself when I step on stage for a dance recital. (I get stage fright.)
 
I don’t know, but I’ll find out this Easter! 😛

Seriously, my husband and I come from messed up religious backgrounds. He converted to Catholicism before we met. I’m converting this year.

I have no contact with my mom’s family. I talk to dad’s side rarely.

My husband is the same way with his family. Too much drama and a lifestyle we aren’t into.

:eek: was the reaction my husband had when I told him I was doing RCIA this year. Mainly because he’s not practicing and religion doesn’t matter that much to him right now.

I have the opposite problem. My problem is that once I tell my dad - everyone will know - and - I’m not sure I want him sharing the news with everyone, since it’s my news! (He’s the person in our family who shares everything w/everyone, so if you want to tell someone your news yourself, then you have to keep it away from him!) My mom died when I was young and I haven’t had any contact with her family for years, so that’s just a non-issue.

I’ve always been a black sheep in my family, so why should I stop now?

Anyway, my 2 cents.
 
It’s very lonely.

It’s hard especially around Christmas and Easter because I end up going by myself everywhere. It’s hard being the only one in the pew when everyone else is with their family.

A lot of times, they try and guilt me out of going to mass because it takes time from what they want to do because they have to wait on me to get done with Church.

It’s hard not having people to share my beliefs with.
 
very lonely. Some people are saying they’re the only Catholic in their family but then go on to say their spouse is Catholic. Well, you’re not the only Catholic if your spouse is Catholic too. And I’m honestly not saying that in a mean, snide way (I’m happy for you if your spouse is Catholic too!), but just pointing out that it’s very different.

It’s can be very lonely, sad, and painful at times being the only Catholic in your family. It’s a sacrifice.
 
My mother laughed and said I was being ridiculous. When I tried to talk about it, she literally plugged her ears and sang to block out my voice. My father has no opinions independently of my mother, so he did and said nothing.
 
It’s sad. I’m the only Catholic or Christian in my family. No one in my family cares about religion at all. They didn’t care that I became Catholic and they still don’t care. The indifference is very hard, so I would say that you should be thankful if they care about religion at all. I had a Catholic friend but he left the Church. I just made one Catholic friend recently though.
 
You are bearing a cross, especially if they are against the idea or do not understand.
 
hello Andy. i am also a convert to catholicism. my family, and extended family are all southern baptists. catholics are idol worshippers in the southern baptist church and are not considered christian. (sorry getting of subject here).

my parents made us kids go to sunday school and church every Sunday, and church every Wednesday. my parents were very supportive however of my interests in other faiths. as with you, most of my immeduate family does not practice any religion. i just recently asked my Mom if she believed in God and she forcefully said yes. what made you ask that…i do not recommend this.

anyway when i decided to join the church i just told them i joined the Catholic faith. i started using the sign of the cross at our blessings and when i prayed. it actually has opened the door for witnessing and teaching of the church.

ask them to join you for mass one Sunday. you may be surprised how the Holy Spirit can work through you.

God Bless.
 
I am in the same exact situation. I simply told them it was my choice and not theres. I chose not to discuss it with them anymore to avoid arguements. I am happy with what i’ve chosen and what I am. Therefore, I don’t feel I need there approval. If they were so concerned with Religion then I would have been brought up in a religious setting. Since they didn’t, I’m free to make my own choice.👍
 
CCupp said:
I am in the same exact situation. I simply told them it was my choice and not theres. I chose not to discuss it with them anymore to avoid arguements. I am happy with what i’ve chosen and what I am. Therefore, I don’t feel I need there approval. If they were so concerned with Religion then I would have been brought up in a religious setting. Since they didn’t, I’m free to make my own choice.👍
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This is what I need to tell my family! Except I was sent to a Church of England school to avoid those ‘holier-than-thou’ ‘hypocritical’ Catholics - so the news I am being Confirmed as one did not go down well :rolleyes:

But I am old enough to make my own choices, like you say, CCup.
 
On another note I love your name! My reall name is actually camellia!
 
CCupp said:
On another note I love your name! My reall name is actually camellia!
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That is a beautiful and unusual first name 🙂

I like the colour silver, and camellia flowers, which is a reason for my name 🙂
 
Yes I agree it is def. unusual! I hated my name growing up! But I’ve gotten use to it!
 
In all honesty,i hate being the only Catholic in my family, though to be technical my family are all Catholics, they just don’t practice. My mother and sister are very much into the whole spiritual but not religious trend (though my sister says she wants her kids to be Catholic, which I take as she wants them baptized, but thats it) My brother basically just doesn’t care about religion. He believes in God, but I don’t think he really understands how important it is. He has high functioning autism,so he doesn’t know some things (like he thinks he only has to go to confession if he breaks the commandments, and takes them literally, so he doesn’t really examine his conscience".

Anyway it is quite lonely. I dislike being the only member of my family who still goes to church. It also makes home life quite difficult because other than praying before meals, they think its wierd that I pray. I even try to go to daily mass and they think its strange.

I think a lot of it though is that my mom was a Lutheran, and since she’s not from where we live originally, she wasn’t really accepted by the Catholics in our church (sadly even when she did try to get more into catholicism, no one really accepted her except for our priest at the time but a lot of people didn’t like him, and when he left my mom kind of left the church), and she doesn’t have too many friends around, so I think a lot of her dislike from the church comes from members who never really lived out the faith in being charitable.

Anyway I myself am trying hard to keep teh faith, but i too feel alone, especially at home
 
I do not like it. all of my family has left or have a strange application in their faith. The weird thing is that I get a much greater since of virtue from the ones who do not go to mass than the ones who do.
 
I am also a new convert (2012). None of my family is Catholic. Some of them are secular -protestant-something (non practicing) or just plain pagan never having been raised in any faith or baptized.

It is lonely because, loving them, I would like to share my faith with them. But they get uncomfortable and embarrassed when I bless myself before meals or try mention my joy and happiness. They are not interested in my sharing my faith with them. None my family came to Easter Vigil when I was received into the Church. However, I knew when I converted that it would be so. So there was no surprise there. Other than that, they are not aggressively against my conversion either. They just don’t want to have anything to do with it. They have no idea that I attend Mass everyday now, probably thinking that I have been brainwashed! On holidays I work around their schedule going to mass extra early or late.
BUT… I am actively praying for their conversion! 😃 😃 😛

However I have found a whole new family in the Catholic Church and that is a joyful thing. I don’t regret having entered the RCC. It is the best thing I have ever done. 👍
 
i went through RCIA in 1994, went to confession and later was baptised, confirmed and recieved the Holy Eucharist all at Easter of that year.

when i reflect on that process and on that Easter, my heart, soul, mind and body are truly filled with great joy.

i was reared in a southern baptist family. my siblings and i went to Sunday school and church every Sunday and church every Wednesday.

i never knew you could become Catholic, i was always taught you had to be born “that way.” i certainly wish at least one friend had told me otherwise and introduced me to the parish priest.

it will be ok. sit with them and allow the Holy Spirit to guide you and fill you with the correct words to profess your faith. it can be and soon will be a great witnessing tool in your life.

God Bless You. and Welcome Home!!
 
WildCatholic said:
In all honesty,i hate being the only Catholic in my family, though to be technical my family are all Catholics, they just don’t practice. My mother and sister are very much into the whole spiritual but not religious trend (though my sister says she wants her kids to be Catholic, which I take as she wants them baptized, but thats it) My brother basically just doesn’t care about religion. He believes in God, but I don’t think he really understands how important it is. He has high functioning autism,so he doesn’t know some things (like he thinks he only has to go to confession if he breaks the commandments, and takes them literally, so he doesn’t really examine his conscience".

Anyway it is quite lonely. I dislike being the only member of my family who still goes to church. It also makes home life quite difficult because other than praying before meals, they think its wierd that I pray. I even try to go to daily mass and they think its strange.

I think a lot of it though is that my mom was a Lutheran, and since she’s not from where we live originally, she wasn’t really accepted by the Catholics in our church (sadly even when she did try to get more into catholicism, no one really accepted her except for our priest at the time but a lot of people didn’t like him, and when he left my mom kind of left the church), and she doesn’t have too many friends around, so I think a lot of her dislike from the church comes from members who never really lived out the faith in being charitable.

Anyway I myself am trying hard to keep teh faith, but i too feel alone, especially at home
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I saw in another thread that you live in the Lincoln diocese in a rural community. I moved north of Lincoln about 6 months ago, about 6 miles south of Wahoo and go to St Wenceslaus. People here have been very friendly, it’s a great place. The Lincoln diocese is a large area but if you live on the north side and get to St Wenceslaus sometime let me know and we’ll save you a seat. 👍
 
I’m in RCIA right now and on my side of the family, I’ll be the only Catholic other than my uncle (who just went to the Anglican church after he married my aunt). My mother was quite against my decision at first, but at least she is softening. My husband’s family is almost entirely Roman Catholic.
 
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