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enjoythejourney
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| Posted: Oct 17 2007 at 6:26pm | IP Logged
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About a month ago we moved to a new town...it isn't far from "home" but it is definately a drive for us back to the area we were before. There is a RCC in town: Our Lady of the Rosary (which I think is neat, my only introduction into the faith was teaching myself the rosary because I just wanted to learn it).
Anyhow, they have RCIA starting on Tuesday nights.
Truthfully, I have no idea if I will join the RCC or not. (for many reasons, mostly family related). But I am so interested in learning more, beyond what I can pick up at mass.
Do you think it would be prudent of me to go ahead and go to RCIA, even if I do not decide to join? My husband is really "hands off" right now where religion is concerned. He'll go with me to church but chooses not to often. We've been burned so badly in the Baptist church that he really has no heart for anything religious right now...he totally gives me his blessing to do whatever I feel is necessary and called to do. Which, I am thankful for.
The children have been out of the church habit for far too long and I want to get back into the rhythm of going again. So I think we'll start attending mass as often as possible.
Just another question from me, your resident "waffler" on faith. I wish I could express how DRAWN I am to the Church and how I feel like it is the thing I need to do, yet can't seem to do it. It is really hard to describe.
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Lindsey
(here to learn more about the RCC)
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Marcy-Marie (4)
Reece (3)
http://justenjoythejourney.blogspot.com
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MaryM
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| Posted: Oct 17 2007 at 6:45pm | IP Logged
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enjoythejourney wrote:
| There is a RCC in town: Our Lady of the Rosary (which I think is neat, my only introduction into the faith was teaching myself the rosary because I just wanted to learn it). |
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Lindsey, I think that is really a beautiful "conicidence" - something that to me reaffirms that there is a message there. Those kinds of connections always give me goosebumps.
Quote:
Truthfully, I have no idea if I will join the RCC or not. (for many reasons, mostly family related). But I am so interested in learning more, beyond what I can pick up at mass.
Do you think it would be prudent of me to go ahead and go to RCIA, even if I do not decide to join? |
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You are not committed to coming into the Catholic Church by joining RCIA. It is an opportunity to learn more about the faith and in our parish it is very much "advertised" to people who are wanting to find out more about the Catholic faith and are in a discernment time - you don't have to be at the point of converting. It sounds very much like you are being called to search and find out more.
My prayers are with you as you continue to discern.
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Mary M. in Denver
Our Domestic Church
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SusanJ
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If this parish does the full-blown initiation process, it is really set up as a year of discernment. There are several rites prior to the reception at Easter. I hope an RCIA teacher here can add more--I'm just speaking from walking through it all with a friend last year. I think you can go to classes and sort of discern each rite as it comes up. There isn't usually a "contract" to sign up front or anything.
God Bless,
Susan
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onemoretracy
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| Posted: Oct 17 2007 at 9:28pm | IP Logged
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enjoythejourney wrote:
| I wish I could express how DRAWN I am to the Church and how I feel like it is the thing I need to do, yet can't seem to do it. It is really hard to describe. |
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Lindsay, I have felt this same feeling. For me it so strong it was almost physical. I had left the Church as a teenager and was very involved in a non-denominational (Baptist really though) church, but through a series of circumstances the possibility of returning kept reoccuring. We have family issues as well and also had a tight group of church friends and now 4 years later I can say it wasn't as big of a deal as I was worried it would be. The sense of spiritual relief and peace I abide in now is like nothing I anticipated.
As the other ladies have mentioned RCIA should be a place for learning and discernment. There is no commitment going into it.
May the peace of God be with you during this time of change and discernment and my prayers will be with you as well.
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Tracy
DH Lee
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DominaCaeli
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onemoretracy wrote:
| We have family issues as well and also had a tight group of church friends and now 4 years later I can say it wasn't as big of a deal as I was worried it would be. The sense of spiritual relief and peace I abide in now is like nothing I anticipated. |
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This was exactly my experience too, Tracy, about 4 years ago. The family and friend issues are difficult, but the peace I received from Christ in the Eucharist made it all surprisingly easy to bear.
Lindsey, you can absolutely attend RCIA without being sure you want to convert. Most parishes, in fact, call it a discernment program. It can be a great opportunity to learn more about the Faith, get to know others on the journey, and ask questions. I would, though, talk to the DRE or priest (whoever is running it) so that they know you are still undecided, just so there is no confusion later on.
You have my prayers!
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Blessings,
Celeste
Joyous Lessons
Mommy to six: three boys (8, 4, newborn) and four girls (7, 5, 2, and 1)
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CandaceC
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| Posted: Oct 18 2007 at 12:22pm | IP Logged
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Hi Lindsey! I just started posting on this board very recently, but I "know" you from your blog. I didn't know you posted over here. :)
Anyway, did you see my recent questions on Catholicism? I'm not sure if you are coming from exactly the same standpoint as I am, and I wasn't necessarily asking my questions for the sake of conversion, but I thought that thread might be helpful to you as well. :)
Hugs to you...I know the difficulty, even just our own walk in the last year that has taken us out of the church we thought was "home" and "family" has rocked my world. It is a hard place to be in, and I will pray for you!
Candace
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Candace - wife to David since 2000...mommy to Hannah (Feb. 2002), Emily (April 2003) and Caleb (March 2005)
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CrunchyMom
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After I converted, my sister joined RCIA simply so she could get the information to prove me wrong! Well, she ended up converting herself! We were raised Southern Baptist.
Not saying the end result will always be conversion, but, they definitely don't pressure you. They let my skeptical sister in, afterall.
RCIA programs can vary greatly, though, and I would definitely supplement the experience with study of your own. I would suggest the Catechism and other apologetics works for reading.
I also have a friend who has been on the verge of converting for at least 6-7 years now! He has had opposition from his wife, but you statement, "I wish I could express how DRAWN I am to the Church and how I feel like it is the thing I need to do, yet can't seem to do it. It is really hard to describe" reminds me of him. He is FINALLY joining the Church on All Saints Day at a private mass with the local vice chancellor of the diocese (who determined him knowledgeable enough to forego RCIA, though, he should be after 7 years of study and waffling, lol). Prayers that it doesn't take so long for you to join us in the fullness of faith  . It took several months of serious prayer and discernment for me to finally decide, though, I could see God working on my conversion before I even began learning about Catholicism. So, I also believe, if you are bathing it in prayer, it will come in the right time for you and your family if it is to be.
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florasita
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| Posted: Oct 19 2007 at 11:42am | IP Logged
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Yes go ! I am a convert but will say noone becomes Catholic you come to know you are catholic inside it is who you are . Attend the classes learn that is what they are for . You can disagree , wonder etc. even if I am a catholic I am teaching RCIC now and the children many are older .I told them they are not there to be catholic because thier parents told them they are . It is thier choice to attend the class etc. if the time comes for any of the sacrements and they feel truely in thier hearts they are not ready ( not based on fear that is ) they are not ready then . They need to come to know through conversion they are catholic . We could see it happening after our first class its so wonderful 
so yes go go go .
get this Momma Mary through the rosary etc. is often the way many are led to the church . she is so gentle and kind yet firm and strong she helps many of us who need healing and are to afraid to approach Our Lord
Hope you have a wonderful experience
Much Love , Roxie
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monica
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lindsey, I "know" you too from your blog. and while we arent RC, we too were "drawn" to Eastern Orthodoxy. I say i fell in love with the Orthodox church. not like i love, serve and worship Christ, but i was wooed by the liturgy, the icons, the prayers and hymns. I will be praying for you as you take these steps. God will illuminate your path as you walk. and SOMEDAY we will meet up in beautiful NC, right?
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4Real Forums : Domestic Church
Topic: RCIA?
