I was not raised Catholic . My mother attended whatever church was closest and we moved frequently.  My spend a lot of time with my Aunt who often took me to the penecoastal church.
My parents divorced when I was twelve and I was sent to a Catholic boarding school.  This was my first experience with the church. While I only remained at St. Mary's for two years, I continued to attend the Catholic Church.
I was not baptised in the Church until I was nineteen.  I married a young man who while baptised Catholic as a baby, had not been raised in the Church and was not a practicing Catholic.  It was important to me that we be married in the Church.  We had two children which I raised as Catholic.  My husband rarely attended Church.  After sixteen years we were divorced.  He has since remarried a number of times and at this point is not sure he is Christian, believing you find God in the trees and nature.

While living in Houston, I attempted to have an annulment, the priest needed $200 to help defray expenses.  As a single parent there was no money to spare, so it never happened.  I was concerned because my separation from the Church seemed to be affecting my daughters view of the Church.  One priest told us there may not be much hope for me, but we must be concerned for the girls.

After a few years, I remarried a non-catholic.  He agreed prior to the marriage to marry in the church if we were able to do so in the future and to allow me to raise any children as Catholic.  I gave birth to a son.  He was baptized as  a Catholic.  However, my husband's family was very uncomfortable with the service.  After much indecision, I raised my son as a Methodist to allow him to worship with other members of his family.

Now my son is nineteen.  He has a faith and a relationship with God that is truly deep and meaningful. He is searching for something that is missing in his life.
He and I few friends who are not currently attending Church have started a Bible Study.  A friend of my son's has been reading and praying with him.  This young man has been a agnostic, and now wants to learn more about Christ.

As for me, I long for the church and somehow want to return, but since I never had a real understanding of all Catholic beliefs, some seem strange to me and when on  occasion my son questions me, I don't know how to reply.  For instance, where did purgatory come from?  Why?

Pray for us please, I know we are being lead in a new direction, I just need God's guidance as to what I need to do.

May God Bless You