Where to start the conversion process?

[CSandy]

Hi, I’ve been considering Catholicism for about two years and dh and I have attended weekly mass pretty regularly for about six months. I’d like to begin the conversion process, but have a couple of complications.

1. Both dh and I were previously married. Neither marriage was in a Catholic Church. We’ve been married for 21 years. Both our previous spouses were raised Catholic but neither is a practicing Catholic now. Someone told me ours are the “easier” type of annulment. Is this the case?
2. Could I convert before dh chooses to do so? In other words, what happens if he doesn’t want to start the annulment process? I don’t want to push him but at the same time I’d like to move forward with my own conversion.
3. We live on the boundary of two dioceses. The parish where we live is very small and hasn’t mentioned RCIA. Just across the river, in the other diocese, there are two larger parishes and both have well-advertised RCIA classes. Dh prefers attending mass at the larger parish, but lately we’ve been going to the smaller one more often. Could we attend RCIA at the larger parish? Should we talk to the priest at the smaller parish and ask about RCIA.

My dh is hesitant to commit to the time required for RCIA classes. He’s very busy and I understand that. I don’t want to push him to convert before he’s ready but I don’t want to wait another year to convert.

Any suggestions on where to begin?

 

[rwoehmke]

There is no problem with your crossing the river and joining an RCIA Class there. You will need to speak to the priest in charge and start movements on those decrees of nullity. It is encouraging that someone felt they wouldn’t be too difficult. Your DH does not have to start RCIA to have these applications filed, nor is it always necessary to contact past spouses if they will not cooperate. Best thing is to make an appointment with one of those priests in a large parish across the river and lay your situation before him. People on these forums can only guess at how and what will happen with the nullity proceedings for which there is usually a charge to defray expenses, but which often can be negotiated if there is a financial problem.

Don’t put it off because if those parishes are like mine the RCIA program will start very soon. Some parishes go year round and are open anytime. Some like mine, which I guess is more usual, start once a year. Usually if people are just a little late they can do make-up, but it is really nice to start with everybody else. You will meet all kinds of wonderful people.

 

[Rawb]

1. Both dh and I were previously married. Neither marriage was in a Catholic Church. We’ve been married for 21 years. Both our previous spouses were raised Catholic but neither is a practicing Catholic now. Someone told me ours are the “easier” type of annulment. Is this the case?

There’s a lot going on in here, and missing info we would need to hazard a guess, but it sounds as if it would be a rather simple case. If your former spouses (or yourself) were raised and recieved the Catholic Sacraments then they are Catholic, and are bound by Catholic marriage laws (which include the necessity of being married in a Catholic Church). If this didn’t happen, the marriage is invalid automatically.

1. Could I convert before dh chooses to do so? In other words, what happens if he doesn’t want to start the annulment process? I don’t want to push him but at the same time I’d like to move forward with my own conversion.

Yes you can start before your husband, but he will be brought into the annullment processes. Technically you could convert without having your marriage blessed or previous marriage annulled, but until they were you and your current husband would have to live as brother and sister.

1. We live on the boundary of two dioceses. The parish where we live is very small and hasn’t mentioned RCIA. Just across the river, in the other diocese, there are two larger parishes and both have well-advertised RCIA classes. Dh prefers attending mass at the larger parish, but lately we’ve been going to the smaller one more often. Could we attend RCIA at the larger parish? Should we talk to the priest at the smaller parish and ask about RCIA.

You can go to RCIA in whichvever parish you desire.

 

[jmcrae]

Hi, I’ve been considering Catholicism for about two years and dh and I have attended weekly mass pretty regularly for about six months. I’d like to begin the conversion process, but have a couple of complications.

1. Both dh and I were previously married. Neither marriage was in a Catholic Church. We’ve been married for 21 years. Both our previous spouses were raised Catholic but neither is a practicing Catholic now. Someone told me ours are the “easier” type of annulment. Is this the case?

The priest who handles the case would be able to tell you with more certainty. Obviously, since the whole point of the thing is to get a ruling from the Tribunal, nothing is actually “certain” until they give their ruling. But your priest would be able to give you an idea of how long the proceeding is likely to take, and what the chances for success are.

1. Could I convert before dh chooses to do so? In other words, what happens if he doesn’t want to start the annulment process? I don’t want to push him but at the same time I’d like to move forward with my own conversion.

Both Declarations of Nullity would have to be received, and you would have to then be validly married (a ten-minute ceremony often referred to as a “marriage blessing”) and then you could proceed with your conversion process, and so could he. Without all of these things being done, neither of you can approach the Sacraments.

1. We live on the boundary of two dioceses. The parish where we live is very small and hasn’t mentioned RCIA. Just across the river, in the other diocese, there are two larger parishes and both have well-advertised RCIA classes. Dh prefers attending mass at the larger parish, but lately we’ve been going to the smaller one more often. Could we attend RCIA at the larger parish? Should we talk to the priest at the smaller parish and ask about RCIA.

Ask at the smaller parish about RCIA. You might be able to get a dispensation to do RCIA outside of your own Diocese, but I don’t know how common that is.

Any suggestions on where to begin?

Contact your favourite priest and ask his advice.

 

[rwoehmke]

Ask at the smaller parish about RCIA. You might be able to get a dispensation to do RCIA outside of your own Diocese, but I don’t know how common that is. Contact your favourite priest and ask his advice.

Just join one of the larger parishes across the river. Membership in most dioceses in the U.S. no longer depends on one’s residence. .

 

[jmcrae]

Just join one of the larger parishes across the river. Membership in most dioceses in the U.S. no longer depends on one’s residence. .

I am also getting the sense that they are a whole lot smaller than here in Canada. If I were to travel to another diocese outside of my own, it would take me several hours by car.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Hi, I’ve been considering Catholicism for about two years and dh and I have attended weekly mass pretty regularly for about six months. I’d like to begin the conversion process, but have a couple of complications.

1. Both dh and I were previously married. Neither marriage was in a Catholic Church. We’ve been married for 21 years. Both our previous spouses were raised Catholic but neither is a practicing Catholic now. Someone told me ours are the “easier” type of annulment. Is this the case?
2. Could I convert before dh chooses to do so? In other words, what happens if he doesn’t want to start the annulment process? I don’t want to push him but at the same time I’d like to move forward with my own conversion.
3. We live on the boundary of two dioceses. The parish where we live is very small and hasn’t mentioned RCIA. Just across the river, in the other diocese, there are two larger parishes and both have well-advertised RCIA classes. Dh prefers attending mass at the larger parish, but lately we’ve been going to the smaller one more often. Could we attend RCIA at the larger parish? Should we talk to the priest at the smaller parish and ask about RCIA.

My dh is hesitant to commit to the time required for RCIA classes. He’s very busy and I understand that. I don’t want to push him to convert before he’s ready but I don’t want to wait another year to convert.

Any suggestions on where to begin?

1. That depends on the specifics of each case.
2. Yes, but only after BOTH Marriage cases are resolved.
3. Yes

 

[rwoehmke]

I am also getting the sense that they are a whole lot smaller than here in Canada. If I were to travel to another diocese outside of my own, it would take me several hours by car.

My diocese is the whole Northwest corner of the state of Wisconsin; maybe a 3-4 hour drive from Southern boundary to Northern. I happen to live across the river from the Diocese of St. Paul/Minneapolis in Minnesota. People who live here attend Church and belong to parishes of their choice on both sides of the river. So OP should check all three out and go with preference.

 

[peary1]

Hi, I’ve been considering Catholicism for about two years and dh and I have attended weekly mass pretty regularly for about six months. I’d like to begin the conversion process, but have a couple of complications.

1. Both dh and I were previously married. Neither marriage was in a Catholic Church. We’ve been married for 21 years. Both our previous spouses were raised Catholic but neither is a practicing Catholic now. Someone told me ours are the “easier” type of annulment. Is this the case?
2. Could I convert before dh chooses to do so? In other words, what happens if he doesn’t want to start the annulment process? I don’t want to push him but at the same time I’d like to move forward with my own conversion.
3. We live on the boundary of two dioceses. The parish where we live is very small and hasn’t mentioned RCIA. Just across the river, in the other diocese, there are two larger parishes and both have well-advertised RCIA classes. Dh prefers attending mass at the larger parish, but lately we’ve been going to the smaller one more often. Could we attend RCIA at the larger parish? Should we talk to the priest at the smaller parish and ask about RCIA.

My dh is hesitant to commit to the time required for RCIA classes. He’s very busy and I understand that. I don’t want to push him to convert before he’s ready but I don’t want to wait another year to convert.

Any suggestions on where to begin?

**First, all you have to do is make a simple inquiry at the smaller parish that you attend as to whether or not they have an active RCIA program. If not, perhaps the priest can recommend one for you; or, you can request to attend the one at the larger parish.

Second, it would be nice if both of you could enroll together as well as get the annulment question settled prior to being accepted into the Church.

Good luck, and God bless.**

 

[cypresshill]

Hi Forums member
im costantino im from here in tanzania and im new in catholic forums,im catholic charismatic here in dar es salaam, as catholic i was baptized,i get confermation,etc
i joined here to get to know more about my faith and challenge of being catholic,here be catholic is a bit challenge.so here i m i need you people of lord to shere whatever chatholic should know with me.
cypress:thumbsup: hill

 

[pippin]

Welcome Cypresshill. I’m sure it is difficult to be Catholic in a Muslim country. Feel free to ask any questions you have on the faith. There are a lot of people here who can help.

 

[cypresshill]

Thank you
MEMBERS Yeah i thanks god who choose me to born in the mixup religion country because here crististianity is threatening because of all miracles that jesus perform to who whoever who is not followers and all followers so they fear that jesus He is going to take all their followers but:we dont go by powers we go by graces and grace is jesus him self who impower us to do more than human being imaginations.
for now i will be happy to ask.and you may recomand if there is a books online that i can read and i will be happy for that for now let me prepare to share a with brothers and sisters of the lord a good about our lord
You all be protected bye lord jesus and through intersession of our mother virgin mary we all get saved through his prayers
thank you
CYPRESSHILL

 

[SerraSemper]

You do not have to convert together. However, you will need a declaration of the invalidity of both prior marriages in order for you (or both of you if he converts) to receive the sacraments in the Church. The best way to do that is to talk to someone at the diocesan office in your local diocese (where you reside). They can guide you through the process, as not all parish priests know how to assist you in this.