Wife Converting

[trevbo]

My wife was baptized as a Christian and has led a very healthy spititual life, she has also attended mass with me for nearly every week over the last ten years. She would like to now become “officially” Catholic.

I feel as though she has learned what the faith is about as our child has been baptised in our church and recently received her First Communion. My wife has been there through every step- attending retreats and sitting through all the classes with our daughter.

I’d like to know if there is a private option available for her to become Catholic. She would rather not go in front of the congregation since that is not really her nature.

Thanks in advance for any support.

 

[puzzleannie]

Welcome home to your wife
her best bet is to simply sit down with the priest and talk about her faith journey and let him guide her. EAch individual situation is unique. Were she being referred to me, for instance, since the parent-sponsor classes also cover the introductory material for adults preparing for Confirmation, she would simply begin immediate preparation for Confirmation, first confession, and first communion, and be invited to join with other adults in various stages of the RCIA process for our weekly sessions with scripture in the Sunday readings as well. Those would not be mandatory but we would hope an observant Christian at her level of spiritual maturity would join us to offer her contributions in that faith sharing. I would also interview both of you to make sure there are no obstacles, marriage issues, and if other adults or children in the family need sacramental preparation as well.

yes the actual sacraments are ordinarily conferred in the context of Mass. For a baptized Christian that does not necessarily mean during the Easter Vigil, it can happen whenever they are ready.

 

[Incomplete]

My mother-in-law was received into the Church the day after Thanksgiving last year. She’s 85 and disabled, so was not able to attend the RCIA classes. He met with her privately, and when she was ready, set a date. She was received in the presence of family just before the daily Mass that day.

Another woman I know was in RCIA, but was going to move out of country with her husband. He also worked with her and received her into the Church during a daily Mass before they left.

Easter Vigil is the normal time to receive people into the Church, but not the only time. Talk to your priest.

 

[nicolep]

As the previous poster said, your best bet would be to sit down with the pastor and have a conversation.

When I went through RCIA (not saying your wife would have to do that at all), there was another person in the class that had a terrible fear of being in front of a lot of people. He was brought into the Church in a “private” ceremony.