When no one else is Catholic

[ArchAngeles]

I went through RCIA with a very low profile. I didn’t tell anyone about it as I was going through. I converted from the Methodist church. I still miss my Methodist friends but most of them understand my decision. Those that don’t understand probably never will.

It’s been just over a year since I was received into the Catholic Church. I’m in the right place now! But yes, it can be a difficult journey at times.

 

[Still_Hoping]

I am newly Catholic as of this past Easter Vigil, and I am struggling with telling my friends and family. I had the conversation with them in the past about becoming Catholic and it was not received well. So, I did the RCIA process in secret. In fact, I only told my husband about it 2 weeks before the vigil. I’ve opted not to say anything at all to the rest of family or my friends.

I thought I would feel great joy entering the Catholic Church, but I actually feel the opposite. I’ve been sort of sad the last few days. When I think of going back to my Lutheran church, I feel joyful. After all, my Methodist family, agnostic, Pentecostal, and Baptist friends have no issues with me being Lutheran. Yet, I heard that once you are aware of the Catholic church, if you turn your back on it, you’ll go to hell. So, I’m having a serious struggle here.

I feel like a made a bad decision. I need some advice on how to move forward. I don’t want to hide being Catholic, but I don’t want to be rejected by my friends and family either. Would it be wrong to go back to my Lutheran church? I think maybe I wasn’t ready. I just want to enjoy being a Christian again.

If it’s any consolation my whole family and community are cradle Catholics yet when you actually put the faith in practice you get treated much the same as you are now. Find a dynamic church that will make you feel welcomed (Lord knows I searched). I also have a group of evangelical friends that I pray with on Friday (long story); let’s just say that the HS led me there. I interact with muslims, different Christian sects, and atheists. They are all loving people. If one judges they must look at themselves first.

Stand strong and IMHO I don’t think it wrong of you to still want to belong to your Luthern church. Where Christ is so too are His people. If they judge you they are ignorant to the truth of the CC. Be an example for them. Let them see that the HS is working through you. Go to them but don’t forget why you chose to be a Catholic; if these are your convictions then stand by them. It will be rough at the beginning but it will get better!

 

[jvjimenez]

Like you, I joined (Easter 2015) and my husband did not. He still attends a Lutheran church. I delayed my entry for more than a year. My husband knew of my desire, but I could tell that he was a bit hurt by the thought that I might think his faith inferior to the Catholic. It took time and my reassurance that I respected his Lutheran faith. I also am isolated, the only Catholic among my family and friends. I share this to help you know you are not alone.

This first year as a Catholic has presented me with many different emotions. I have stayed connected to RCIA friends and my Protestant friends. At times, I attend church with my husband in addition to my mass. I enjoy EWTN shows that let me see the universal church. And I have enjoyed attending other parishes on occasion, again allowing me to experience the large family of the Catholic Church. And in my parish, I selectively tried out various programs to see where I might actually get involved. I am at home as a Catholic not because everything is perfect, but because the Catholic Church is the full expression of Christ’s love and desire for us. I cannot go back, nor do I want to. I can enjoy the fellowship of protestant friends and enjoy their praise band. But worship? The full expression of worship is in the Catholic Church.

I think you are going to struggle if you try to hide your faith from others. Additionally, 2 weeks for your husband to adjust to the change is quite short. You might be surprised to find that family and friends will accept your Catholic faith if you give them a chance. There is no need to battle with them. Perhaps you can find a pamphlet/book/website that explains the key points of misunderstanding about Catholicism and be ready to share it as needed.

I will be praying for you. Please relax, be patient, and reach out. With all of your concerns, you are not fully free to experience the beauty of being Catholic. But this will change as time passes, as your husband and you work out this change, and as you make new friends. Discouragement in our faith journey can come for many reasons. We all have to meet this discouragement by coming closer to Christ. He is always with us! Again, I am praying.

 

[TCEL]

I will pray for you. Loneliness is very difficult.

My husband was a Baptist and he was received into the Church in 2010. I’m a cradle Catholic. His family thinks he did it for me. So, it’s difficult in ways that people may not understand (like Holidays and such), especially since we’ve started having children. I experience loneliness because family and siblings were raised Catholic, but many don’t follow Church teaching, or are hostile.

This sounds obvious, but don’t only look for good friends, pray to God for them. I don’t know why it took me so long to realize that I needed to pray, not just look. Wouldn’t you know that around the time I did, lo and behold, friends started appearing. Godly friends are very important.

 

[exnihilo]

When I think of going back to my Lutheran church, I feel joyful. After all, my Methodist family, agnostic, Pentecostal, and Baptist friends have no issues with me being Lutheran. Yet, I heard that once you are aware of the Catholic church, if you turn your back on it, you’ll go to hell. So, I’m having a serious struggle here.

When a Protestant converts there is no getting around it being an act which repudiates Protestantism. Just as a Catholic becoming a Protestant repudiates Catholicism. Back when they were more committed to their particular interpretations the denominations in Protestantism weren’t so open minded towards other denominations.

When I first converted if the subject came up I’d explain converting by saying ‘this may sound strange but I converted to Catholicism’. The reason I would say it sounded strange was because it did. Even to me. Even after I first converted. Who converts to Catholicism? At least where I’m from and in my experience that is something so strange that it was almost like it couldn’t happen. It didn’t take long to where I don’t think it strange at all because I’ve met lots of converts. Going to daily Mass helped to accelerate more fully integrating.

When I first told my wife I was exploring Catholicism she was not happy at all. And it wasn’t that she was super devout. She thought it crazy herself. I slowly and patiently explored with her why I was thinking about being Catholic. She ended up joining with me and now her devotion puts me to shame. I know not every situation will be like that. But there always is hope.

 

[CJsmommy]

I feel for you. There are a lot of times I wish I had someone on this journey with me, but neither my husband, nor any close friends “get” why I’m drawn to the Catholic Church. So I wait, pray, and go to Mass.

 

[LaughingBoy1503]

I am newly Catholic as of this past Easter Vigil, and I am struggling with telling my friends and family. I had the conversation with them in the past about becoming Catholic and it was not received well. So, I did the RCIA process in secret. In fact, I only told my husband about it 2 weeks before the vigil. I’ve opted not to say anything at all to the rest of family or my friends.

I thought I would feel great joy entering the Catholic Church, but I actually feel the opposite. I’ve been sort of sad the last few days. When I think of going back to my Lutheran church, I feel joyful. After all, my Methodist family, agnostic, Pentecostal, and Baptist friends have no issues with me being Lutheran. Yet, I heard that once you are aware of the Catholic church, if you turn your back on it, you’ll go to hell. So, I’m having a serious struggle here.

I feel like a made a bad decision. I need some advice on how to move forward. I don’t want to hide being Catholic, but I don’t want to be rejected by my friends and family either. Would it be wrong to go back to my Lutheran church? I think maybe I wasn’t ready. I just want to enjoy being a Christian again.

When I became Catholic and was Baptized I spent the next 3 months heart broken over a woman. And I mean almost every single day I was singing The Blues. But it passed.

I could have made myself feel better by deciding I made a bad decision by getting Baptized and entering a covenant with our Lord and went back to drinking or God really forbid drugs so that I did not have to deal with The pain. But I stuck it out. I know your situation is different.

Did you enter The Church by recognizing it teaches The Truth? How will being a Lutheran again due? No offense to any Lutherans that may be reading this but to the Op, you know we consider their communion not valid. I think the only recourse you have now is to be open about your conversion and learn to not care if others do not accept it. Listen… I have NO practicing Catholic friends that live in this state that are my age. I am 31 and NONE of my friends are practicing Catholics except one who moved out of state. And even then I only really hang out with two of them sometimes. I have some aquaintances from the parish but they are all seniors and married folks where are I am a single 31 year old. It is so hard to even find Catholic groups with people my age. And finding a date… My biggest worldly desire is to have a wife and I can barely get maybe 2 or 3 dates a year with a practicing Catholic woman while all my friends who are not practicing Catholics are married or have had a significant other for many years. Who wants to tell me something about loneliness? Ill listen if you have ever been incarserated and in solitary confinement for weeks at a time. Yeah it is lonely for me too, but I did not become Catholic for the fellowship, I did it because it is Gods Church. If your friends and family have a problem with The Catholic Church, why should you always feel like you need to be walking on egg shells. I am a ex protestant and I know a lot of evangelicals think nothing of criticizing Catholic beliefs, and uncharitably sometimes, while they are use to The Catholic not knowing how to defend their faith. You probably know this as well because you are also a ex evangelical. Well… LEARN YOU APOLOGETICS. Learn to defend The Faith so that you will shut them up and get them thinking every time they have a critique.

I think you should talk to a priest. And if the first one you talk to is not helpful, talk to another. And if he is not, talk to another. Explain your problem and see what they tell you. I am sure a caring priest can give you some ideas. Maybe seek a spiritual director? Take care and God bless. Prayers said for you.