Wishing for support durring R.C.I.A

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I am converting from lds to catholic. I hadn’t realized how much I wanted someone to be happy for my decision until I woke up this morning. I had a dream where I told an old aquantance that I was converting and they were actually happy for me!! Unfortunately the only possitive responses have been in my dreams. My family all disaprove, many of my lds aquaintances have stoped calling, and I have lost many friends. My husband is coverting as well so he at least supports my decision even if he seems to think I am going about it all wrong. sigh It is very difficult to have so little support durring this process. On the bright side R.C.I.A. classes are finally starting!!! YIPEEEEEEE!!! in fact I get to go to my first class tonight. I am more than a little nervous and I have alot of questions. I wish I could be in a diffrenct R.C.I.A. than my husband so I didn’t upset him so much with my questions, but I do need answers to my questions if I am going to move forward. I know alot of people in the world need your prayers more than I do but if you wouldn’t mind adding a line for a poor confused questioner I would appreciate it. Thanks in advance.
 
Jodi,
Yea for you… starting RCIA !!! When I converted from the Evangelical church everyone thought I was off my rocker. My friends were somewhat critical but they’ve finally accepted me as their “token Catholic friend.” I hope the same is true with you !!!

Ask a million questions at RCIA… I did. I sometimes felt like some of my classmates were thinking, “Would you give it a rest please… we want to get out of here on time…!!!” But I didn’t care. RCIA was such a blessing for me… I hope your class is every bit as good.

So consider ME one of your supporters! I am VERY VERY happy for you !!! :yup:

Blessings to you!
CM
 
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Jodi:
I am converting from lds to catholic. I hadn’t realized how much I wanted someone to be happy for my decision until I woke up this morning. I had a dream where I told an old aquantance that I was converting and they were actually happy for me!! Unfortunately the only possitive responses have been in my dreams. My family all disaprove, many of my lds aquaintances have stoped calling, and I have lost many friends. My husband is coverting as well so he at least supports my decision even if he seems to think I am going about it all wrong. sigh It is very difficult to have so little support durring this process. On the bright side R.C.I.A. classes are finally starting!!! YIPEEEEEEE!!! in fact I get to go to my first class tonight. I am more than a little nervous and I have alot of questions. I wish I could be in a diffrenct R.C.I.A. than my husband so I didn’t upset him so much with my questions, but I do need answers to my questions if I am going to move forward. I know alot of people in the world need your prayers more than I do but if you wouldn’t mind adding a line for a poor confused questioner I would appreciate it. Thanks in advance.
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Jodi,
That is so awesome! You have no idea how happy that makes me! I will definitely add you to my daily prayer list! Feel free to ask all the questions you want. And if you can’t get answers at RCIA, then you come here and ask us.

May GOD Bless you abundantly Jodi! Come on home!
 
Count me in as one of your supporters, too! I’m so happy for you as you begin RCIA. I’m praying for wonderful leaders for your group who love the Lord and love our Catholic faith and will teach you the fullness of Truth!

I hope you will share your journey with us – your joys and frustrations! That’s what family is for!

May our Lord Jesus guide you ever closer to Him!

Didi
 
Welcome Jodi!

I’m also starting RCIA (ok, really a re-start = long story), and you’ll find lots of support here and in your class (hope so at least) My family, those that know are mostly unsupportive - only my sister is ok with it all. Only one of my friends knows and she’s ok with it as she’s “half Catholic herself”. So your not alone.

Enjoy your RCIA experience ! 🙂
 
Born and raised Catholic…12 years of Catholic School…rosary carrying everywhere and I went to my first RCIA class this evening. Long story…short version…after a prolonged absense…I am “home” and I realize there is so much I don’t know and need to bone up on. I am soooooooooo excited for class ! Oh, and my son is coming with me too!!
~ Kathy ~
 
I will pray for all you RCIA people.

May God grant you the ability to recognize the truth and the desire to make it yours.

AMEN
 
I am praying for you also. I am in my second semester of Catechist classes with the eventual goal of teaching RCIA or Adult Catechism of some sort, so feel free to message me if you want another ear for quesitons, I would love to help!

God bless…
 
I am so happy for you. I have been a RCIA teacher and leader for over 25 years. I agree with the previous posts…ask questions and demand satisfactory answers! This is your faith and it is the True Faith! Make them prove it. If they can’t, don’t worry there are those who can!
Mike
 
we’re here to support you and pray for you!!!

and, of course, give our warmest **congratulations!!! :blessyou: :blessyou: **
 
please forgive my ignorance, but what’s RCIA? what does it stand for?
 
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axolotl:
Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults
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the RCIA is an acronym that stands not only for the rites themselves, but for the process of discernment, study, questioning, learning, prayer, and conversion that an individual goes through, our journeys upon, as he or she first inquires into the beliefs and practices of the Catholic church, and then begins formal preparationt to enter the Church, through the sacraments of initiation.

This process our journey has several distinct phases or periods, and the transitions from one period to another are marked by certain minor rites, such as the Rite of Acceptance into the Order of Catechumens, for those entering the catechumenate (longest period of study and preparation), the Rite of Election, for those catechumens entering the final period of immediate preparation in Lent, severl rites of Lent including the scrutinies and minor exorcisms, culminating in the sacraments of initiation celebrated at the Easter Vigil, when the Elect are baptized, confirmed and receive Holy Communion for the first time. A period of Mystagogy, or deeper study of the mysteries, follows Easter.

what I have said applies, of course, to the unbaptized seeking initiation into the Catholic Church. Those who are validly baptized have already undergone initial conversion and their preparation centers on deepening their initial faith and learning about the specifics of Catholic teaching and practice. They also are initated into the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil, through a profession of faith and Confirmation which completes their baptism, and reception of holy communion. They are called Candidates during the process, and the rites for them differ in that they acknowledge their status as baptized Christians.

For practical purposes, both groups, catechumens and candidates, and possibly adult Catholics preparing for Confirmation, take the same classes, but their experiences and the rites will differ according to their needs and circumstances.

All of you in RCIA, we are praying for you, and please ask lots and lots of questions, we feel we aren’t getting through if nobody asks questions. Please challenge your catechist if you feel you aren’t getting complete answers, but be prepared to do your homework with the text, catechism and Bible.
 
I am starting RCIA as well. I was a born and raised evangelical (E Free Church of America for those who are familiar with it) and my family for the most part doesn’t understand either! It’s hard, isn’t it, when people so close to you are offended/threatend/disappointed in your decision? You know what though, I think if you just continue to show that you love them and value their opinions the hostility will stop. For the most part my family has gotten to a point of acceptance. I’ve been exploring the Catholic faith for just over 2 years- I began searching about a month after I graduated from an evangelical liberal arts university (ha! most of my friends from college would have never guessed this was in the works for me, our 10 year reunion will be a stitch!) and now I’m finally to a point in my life where I will be living in the same place long enough to attend RCIA from Sept to Easter.

I’m excited! It’s been a long wait but I think the time is right. You are so lucky your husband has decided to convert as well. Since I’m single I haven’t had to worry about this- it would have been nice though to have someone who understood what I’m going through to support me during the difficult arguments and blow ups with my family.

So best wishes to you! I am still waiting for my local parish to get their act together and put out the schedule for RCIA this year. Trying to be patient!!
 
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Jodi:
…I know alot of people in the world need your prayers more than I do but if you wouldn’t mind adding a line for a poor confused questioner I would appreciate it. Thanks in advance.
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You are the most important person we can pray for right now, because you asked us to. You will find all the support you will need right here. Lot’s of us are very excited and happy for you :bounce: :clapping: !
God bless
 
Thank you so much. It is nice to know I am not alone out here. It was also reassuring that so many R.C.I.A.ers like me have had negative reactions from family. I can only hope and pray that in time they will see the joy and happiness that this will bring into my life and understand, or at least accept. Me and my husband were the only ones at the first meeting, but they have others who may be signing up after this weekends acts retreat. I am really greatful for my husbands support and love. I will keep the rest of you in my prayers if you will do the same for me.

Loving the supportive online community and looking forward to being more fully integrated into the catholic community that my community provides. 🙂
 
I think I can identify really well with wanting support… my family is all SDA!

I just got back from the first ever RCIA meeting I’ve been to and the first time in a Catholic church in probably 15 years…

I grew up thinking of the Catholic church as the Antichrist power. My family still thinks so.

Jeremiah
 
Congratulations, I did took the loop (infant Catholic baptism, Mormon baptism through full-blown temple rites, just Confirmed a Catholic last Easter.

Look me up if you ever need an ear to bounce things off of, it’s not always easy translating between the two theologies.

Here are some of my favorite webistes from my RCIA journey last year:
Comparing LDS to Catholicism.
The Utah Catholic mission they have some great books that will make Catholicism easier to understand from an LDS viewpoint, plus they have people that are very conversant that I found more helpful than any Catholic source locally.
phatmass.com/, a little hip and edgy but they have some great images to download and most contributors can still write a sentence in something approaching English.
My favorite EWTN star: Father Corapi and don’t forget EWTN. Do watch the Journey Home, it’s full of very supportive conversion stories from all faiths.
Sounds stupid, but it’s great, Virtual Rosary, perfect for us newbies. Probably greatest help as I was taking the leap of faith. The head can only lead so far, after all!

I have other favorite sites for books, etc., too.

The shunning is a left-handed blessing, many people have to join the Witness Protection Program to get the LDS to leave one alone when one “falls away.” I remember calling all over the world from Salt Lake to try to locate people who were clearly trying to set up a new life.

Finally, remember, you’re not swimming up stream, you’re swimming home!
 
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Jodi:
I am converting from lds to catholic. I hadn’t realized how much I wanted someone to be happy for my decision until I woke up this morning. I had a dream where I told an old aquantance that I was converting and they were actually happy for me!! Unfortunately the only possitive responses have been in my dreams. My family all disaprove, many of my lds aquaintances have stoped calling, and I have lost many friends. My husband is coverting as well so he at least supports my decision even if he seems to think I am going about it all wrong. sigh It is very difficult to have so little support durring this process. On the bright side R.C.I.A. classes are finally starting!!! YIPEEEEEEE!!! in fact I get to go to my first class tonight. I am more than a little nervous and I have alot of questions. I wish I could be in a diffrenct R.C.I.A. than my husband so I didn’t upset him so much with my questions, but I do need answers to my questions if I am going to move forward. I know alot of people in the world need your prayers more than I do but if you wouldn’t mind adding a line for a poor confused questioner I would appreciate it. Thanks in advance.
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God bless on your journey.

There are no stupid questions, except the ones that don’t get asked.

you might get a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (most good bookstores will have it - like Barnes & Noble); it can be a bit heavy going, but it is what the Church teaches and believes.

You are making a very tough and brave step; shunning is so hard. To be abandoned by those you counted as closest friends is psychologically so isolating. I feel for you. Stay the course, be open minded, don’t hesitate to ask questions.

And pray.
 
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