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Prodigal Daughter
Member
| Joined: | Wed Nov 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania USA |
| Posts: | 196 |
| First Name: | Deborah/PD | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Baptized Catholic, received First Communion, left during Confirmation year. ... |
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Posted: Wed Mar 21st, 2007 02:14 pm |
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The other day while discussing our experience in evangelical/charismaticism, our priest looked us in the eyes and said "Now it wasn't that bad." Then he said "If I wasn't a cradle Catholic, I could be a Protestant minister." After we finished cringing, we politely said our farewells and went on our way.
We often hear guests on the Journey Home program discussing their Protestant background with much gratitude and fondness. So we ask ourselves, are we just disgruntled people? Maybe so, but it doesn't change the fact that we were lost in error and heresy that damaged us spiritually and emotionally.
When we tell our story some Catholics say "Well you were in a fringe group." In some ways maybe that's true, but most of the people we have associated with throughout our lives were in this same "fringe" form of Christianity. Turn on any Christian TV station and what do you hear? Most of the stuff that is taught as TRUTH is a twisted interpretation of the Bible. People take those teachings in, apply them to their lives and at times come away very damaged.
I especially think of the way the faith/prosperity teaching destroyed any ability for my dh and his late wife to discuss her terminal diagnosis. Up until the day she died, they never talked about her wishes, she never wrote letters to the kids, didn't work through the stages of grief, could not even discuss the possibility of her death with anyone because that would be a "lack of faith." Then after marrying me how we fought and argued about our "different interpretations of the Bible" to a point where we couldn't even pray together because of the tension that built up. Another area that was incomplete at best, was the whole concept of suffering. I just thought "if I praise God enough, and ignore life's struggles, I will have peace." Well the more I did that, the more depressed I became. Yet once I learned the concept of redemptive suffering and incorporated that into my thinking it changed my life, improved my marriage and gave me peace. And that was 5 years before coming back to the Sacraments!
I could go on for a couple of pages how coming back to the Fullness of TRUTH in the Catholic Church has changed our marriage, improved our emotional health, deepened our spiritual life, and changed the way my dh practices medicine, but I won't.
I guess I'm just wondering if anyone else has had a similar negative experience that drove them to the Church. I think it's important for our Cradle Catholic brothers and sisters to understand that living in heresy and partial truth is not "ok" and can sometimes be very harmful to those who are trapped in it.
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"Man should tremble, the world should vibrate, all Heaven should be deeply moved when the Son of God appears on the altar in the hands of the priest."
St. Francis of Assisi
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Ali
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| Joined: | Sat Jan 6th, 2007 |
| Location: | Ohio USA |
| Posts: | 660 |
| First Name: | Ali | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | JW, finally fully Catholic |
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Posted: Wed Mar 21st, 2007 02:47 pm |
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How about embarrassed? LOL It's all so clear to me now that this is the TRUTH God wants us to know. So I find it rather embarrassing that I was taken in and believed so whole heartedly what I was taught from birth about God from the JW's.
IRT your question, I'm more of a glass half full kind of gal. So I tend to look back at time spent with the JW's and serving with them as preparation for where I'm headed right now. I have a different perspective and appriciation for the faith than cradle Catholics, or even converts from other religions.
Yes, it's true it would have all been so much easier if we were all Catholic from the get go. But we would lose a sense of who we are. Our experiences are important to the church and others who we inadvertantly help along the way.
I look forward to reading other's replies.
Ali
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JillD
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Visalia, California USA |
| Posts: | 678 |
| First Name: | Jill | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | heathen, EvFree, Messianic, LC-MS, Catholic 2007 |
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Posted: Wed Mar 21st, 2007 03:03 pm |
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Just a couple quick thoughts....
I remember at one time when I was in the midst of trying to figure out whether or not the latest denom we were in was telling us the truth, slamming my Bible shut in frustration and saying, "I can't figure this out. Lord, if you want me to know the Truth, you're going to have to make it really obvious." I'd had it! One group said one thing and had their Bible verses to support their position, another group said the exact opposite and they had their verses, too. It was ridiculous! It took me years from that point to be where I am now, 17 days from joining a Church which simply says, "Trust the Magisterium's interpretation. The Holy Spirit has kept us for nearly 2000 years. You can trust us." And I do.
Now I only wish that Catholics would do two things:
1 - Learn their Bibles better. For example, at RCIA last night, the topic was the 4th commandment. Not one Bible story was used to illustrate the idea of honoring your father and mother, not one Proverb, nor was the Catechism referred to even once. Which is better: the instructor's personal stories, or the ones God has been using to teach His people for thousands of years?
2 - Learn to give generously. My parish is small-ish. 800 families, supposedly. A $300,000 budget. That works out to about $7.00 per family per week. Our parish is not rich, by any means, but I find it hard to believe it's THAT poor. God is good, though. For the year there was a 0.8% leeway, fortunately in the black.
Are these things ever preached in your priest's homily?? I haven't heard it yet...
Jill
P.S. In fun, has anyone ever noticed how close "denom" is to "demon" and "Luther" to "Lucifer," not to mention that the 95 Theses were posted on what is our modern-day Hallowe'en? 
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"I praise you, for I am wondrously made. Wonderful are our works! You know me right well; my frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately wrought in the depths of the earth." Psalm 139
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mrsbmoo
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Virginia USA |
| Posts: | 274 |
| First Name: | Becky | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | former Methodist. RCA, Presbyterian, Holiness, Wesleyan... Catholic as of June ... |
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Posted: Wed Mar 21st, 2007 03:03 pm |
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I guess I am more in the same boat with Ali. I feel like God used each step of my journey to teach me and lead me so none was misery and waste, even my nearly three years in a "cultlike fringe group". I guess the key for me was no matter how much I grew in each step I always felt there was more so I kept seeking. It would be easy for me to be bitter about hurts caused by my past church experiences and to be honest I still have regular nightmares about the one group and cringe when I see someone from that group at the store. I almost let my daughter get blood poisoning due to their twisted truth. Yet, I always think of the signature line of someone in my homeschool group, "Bitterness is like drinking poison and waiting for your enemy to die". It is so easy for me to let these hurts become bitterness and I want to fight that.
____________________
Becky
Wife of Michael(called Moo) and stay at home mom to 5 daughters between 10 months and 17
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3John4
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| Joined: | Tue Feb 13th, 2007 |
| Location: | USA |
| Posts: | 80 |
| First Name: | Dede | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Catholic, Protestant, Catholic |
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Posted: Wed Mar 21st, 2007 07:54 pm |
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I was raised Catholic, but being a head-strong wild child, I never internalized much of what I was taught. Or maybe I didn't receive very good instruction, hard to remember now. But I know I did attend CCD and mass every Sunday until I was 18 and on my own.
After I was married four years, I felt the need to return to church. However, I really didn't understand the differences between Protestantism and Catholicism, and when my husband said he really wasn't "comfortable" in my home parish, we joined a Presbyterian church. I subsequently spent 19 years in the Protestant church before returning to my roots.
In retrospect, I grieve for several reasons. First of all, I grieve over all the days I could have received our Lord in the Eucharist. Though I know it in no way makes up for what I missed, I attend mass every morning now. It will take me six years of daily mass to equal the years of Sundays and Holy Days I spent separated from the Church.
Equally as sad is that I was fooled into believing the distortions I heard in the Protestant church about Catholicism, and I passed these on to my husband (who I did not realize when I married him already had anti-Catholic sentiments), and my children. When I decided to return to the Church, no one had the slightest interest in understanding my decision. It remains a strain on my marriage, and has really shaken the faith of one of my teenage children.
In one way the Protestant church really did spoil me. I truly miss the fellowship so readily available within each congregation. I was always very involved and at the center of things. Now, I find it incredibly difficult to get connected. I've been told the two ways to become connected at my parish is through Knights of Columbus (obviously not an option) and becoming a Eucharistic minister. I know many others will disagree with me, but I have a strong distaste for what I see as the feminization of the Church, and therefore don't see myself ever serving in this way. Anyway, I think it is that fellowship the Protestant church offered so abundantly that kept me from questioning the doctrine sooner.
By the way, Jill, I totally agree with your points about Scripture and catechism knowlege, and generosity in the Church.
Blessings,
Dede
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susiedear
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| Joined: | Thu Oct 12th, 2006 |
| Location: | Twin Cities, Minnesota USA |
| Posts: | 186 |
| First Name: | Elizabeth | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Pentecostal / Evangelical / Catholic! |
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Posted: Wed Mar 21st, 2007 09:36 pm |
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Dear Deborah, what an interesting question you raise. I was brought up in the Assemblies of God and left it about 16 years ago, floundered in the Evangelical Free and Presbyterian churches, and now I am days away from being received into the Holy Catholic Church. I mostly feel relieved that my old Protestant life is over.
The only thing I regret is that my husband and children are not joining the Catholic Church with me, and sometimes we hear some pretty strange stuff coming from the pulpit of the Presbyterian church we attend as a family on Sunday morning. Stuff like, "Baptism is just a tradition, it doesn't really do anything." Or, when Communion is celebrated, "This is a symbol of my body, which was broken for you ..." Makes me grieve. How I pray that my husband will allow his eyes to be opened so that he will start searching as well.
Elizabeth
Last edited on Wed Mar 21st, 2007 09:36 pm by susiedear
____________________
But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the return you get is sanctification and its end, eternal life. St. Augustine
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BodRod
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| Joined: | Mon Oct 2nd, 2006 |
| Location: | Apple Valley, California USA |
| Posts: | 772 |
| First Name: | Cliff | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Raised an SDA, then Generic Christian, finally at home with ... |
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Posted: Wed Mar 21st, 2007 10:21 pm |
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| I was raised in, and followed as an adult for many years, a church which, when I started studying the church more closely, had been started by a small group of men and a "prophetess" that has been proven repeatedly, by her own writings, to be a liar, a thief and a false prophet. However, I did learn some good ideas and habits regarding health. When I started learning the truth, I felt ashamed and embarressed that I had followed and taught such a mess but then I came to the conclusion that I had lived up to what I thought was right at the time and now I know better so I will accept the good I had received then and also live up to my newly found truths.
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Gratias agamus Domino Deo nostro.
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cdunh
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| Joined: | Mon Nov 20th, 2006 |
| Location: | Arkansas USA |
| Posts: | 30 |
| First Name: | Cal | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | methodist to Catholic |
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Posted: Wed Mar 21st, 2007 10:55 pm |
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| Away from home for the first time, in the military, and needing friendship, I was "recruited" by a small sect. It offered friendship when I needed it. It offered "roles" which were developmental for me. It provided some direction for "upward mobility". It also required conformity to a narrow "scrupulous" practice of religion. I learned a lot. Valuing the "positives", I now regret having missed years of participating in a healthier more integrated religious communion. My children have thanked my wife and myself for guiding us to Catholic identity. Explaining this development to friends and extended family, I emphasize issues of Truth, Authority, and Integrity. Yet, it often comes to mind that I must (and do) forgive those well meaning persons whose seduction deprived me and my family of the "wholeness" which Catholic worship and identity gives. Being Catholic for about 30 years now, I thank God for leading my family to the Faith. I pray for continued growth.
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beachmoss
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| Joined: | Mon Nov 13th, 2006 |
| Location: | Simpsonville, South Carolina USA |
| Posts: | 270 |
| First Name: | Beth | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Catholic (raised Baptist) |
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Posted: Wed Mar 21st, 2007 11:31 pm |
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3John4 wrote: In one way the Protestant church really did spoil me. I truly miss the fellowship so readily available within each congregation. I was always very involved and at the center of things. Now, I find it incredibly difficult to get connected. I've been told the two ways to become connected at my parish is through Knights of Columbus (obviously not an option) and becoming a Eucharistic minister. I know many others will disagree with me, but I have a strong distaste for what I see as the feminization of the Church, and therefore don't see myself ever serving in this way. Anyway, I think it is that fellowship the Protestant church offered so abundantly that kept me from questioning the doctrine sooner.
Dede,
I agree with you that there does seem to be more fellowship in Protestant churches. But they do need each other as many seemed to have escorted Jesus right out the door!
Ok, so you obviously can't be a Knight, but have you heard of Columbiettes? I would love to tell every Catholic female about this wonderful group! It is a ladies group patterned after and an offshoot of the KofC. You do not have to be married to a Knight to join (I was happy about that!)--just be a practicing Catholic woman who wishes to do good works in her community. Threre are chapters around the US. I'm sure there must be one in an area the size of Chicago. The chapters can be regional and encompass several parishes (like ours), or they can be formed within a parish. I'm sorry to say that I don't have a web site for you, but you can do a search.
And I agree with you about female EM's. I'm just not too crazy about that. But I personally don't mind them as much as female altar servers!
Beth
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CajunRick
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 5080 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Wed Mar 21st, 2007 11:40 pm |
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3John4 wrote: I've been told the two ways to become connected at my parish is through Knights of Columbus (obviously not an option) and becoming a Eucharistic minister.
Many (most? maybe all?) KC councils have Ladies' Auxilliaries, and many (most? maybe all?) do not require that a woman be married to a Knight to be a member, so maybe the KC's are an option after all.
Also, there are lots of other ministry opportunities. You can be a reader, commentator, usher, religion teacher, youth leader, or get involved in RCIA, scripture study, bereavement ministry, social justice ministries such as St. Vincent de Paul, or any other ministies active in your parish. You can even volunteer to clean the church, plant a garden, or wash the dishes after parish functions.
The key is to get involved in something. You'll meet people who will introduce you to other people, and you'll know people when you attend functions. Then you'll know people who will invite you to other things, and your network of friends will grow within the Church.
Mass is not a place for fellowship; it is a place for worship. Fellowship takes place elsewhere.
____________________
Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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beachmoss
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| Joined: | Mon Nov 13th, 2006 |
| Location: | Simpsonville, South Carolina USA |
| Posts: | 270 |
| First Name: | Beth | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Catholic (raised Baptist) |
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Posted: Thu Mar 22nd, 2007 12:02 am |
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Rick,
It is my understanding that the Ladies' Auxiliary is for wives of Knights only--at least in a couple of parishes we've been in.
Our current Ladies' Auxiliary, from what I understand, is party city. They are all about a good time, usually involving quite a bit of alcohol. The Grand Knight's wife was not happy with the situation so she inquired about starting a Columbiettes chapter. In only nine months we've had 30 ladies take their first degree and 25 their major degree. (Can you tell I'm very happy for our group!)
I agree with you that fellowship takes place out of the church. I think that in mass we are to follow Mary's (Martha's sister) example and sit with Jesus. I think many Protestants get hung up being Martha and forget that Jesus is there. (Well, I guess in some churches He is absent!)
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Annie
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| Joined: | Wed Feb 14th, 2007 |
| Location: | Columbus, Ohio USA |
| Posts: | 734 |
| First Name: | Annie | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | nothing, Quaker, Mennonite, Presbyterian, Methodist, Anglican, Catholic |
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Posted: Thu Mar 22nd, 2007 08:38 am |
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I am happy that I was a Protestant all those years, they were years of preparation that apparently I would not have otherwise been able to get, judging by what all my lifelong Catholic friends have told me. Add to that the lack of intellectual opportunity for women like me in the traditional church. My journey has been a more or less logical progression of openings to the fullness of the apostolic faith. Though, granted, I am not the sort of person who expects everybody to believe what I do even though I think our Church has the true faith as passed down from the apostles. I can't judge anybody else's journey because I don't know their minds and hearts the way God does (nor would I want to, yuck ).
It does upset me in some parishes that I attend the apparent lack of reverence and appreciation for what we have. I use the word "apparent" advisedly because again I don't know what is going on inside people. I can only observe behavior. Cutting people off in the parking lot 10 minutes after receiving the body and blood of our Lord may be one indication that things ain't stickin'.
trying to stick,
____________________
Annie
Ora et labora
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wwjd
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| Joined: | Thu Jan 11th, 2007 |
| Location: | USA |
| Posts: | 30 |
| First Name: | wwjd | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Southern Baptist, Catholic as of 4/7/07! |
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Posted: Thu Mar 22nd, 2007 09:20 am |
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3John4 wrote:
In one way the Protestant church really did spoil me. I truly miss the fellowship so readily available within each congregation. I was always very involved and at the center of things. Now, I find it incredibly difficult to get connected.
Our parish has a Women's Guild. Their primary function is the care and keeping of the church and alter but they also have socials at least once a month. This month they are also preparing for the Bunny Breakfast for the young children at our parish. Yesterday we met together to stuff eggs for the egg hunt. They often have luncheons but for those who work during the day, there are also evening meetings and get-togethers. They will also be hosting a very nice reception for those of us entering the Church at the Easter Vigil. I realize not all parishes have a Women's Guild but you might make inquiries into starting such a group if your parish doesn't have one. My understanding is that someone at my parish did just that and now the group has grown to 148 members!
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Ali
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| Joined: | Sat Jan 6th, 2007 |
| Location: | Ohio USA |
| Posts: | 660 |
| First Name: | Ali | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | JW, finally fully Catholic |
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Posted: Thu Mar 22nd, 2007 10:17 am |
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3John4 wrote: I truly miss the fellowship so readily available within each congregation. I was always very involved and at the center of things. Now, I find it incredibly difficult to get connected. I've been told the two ways to become connected at my parish is through Knights of Columbus (obviously not an option) and becoming a Eucharistic minister. I know many others will disagree with me, but I have a strong distaste for what I see as the feminization of the Church, and therefore don't see myself ever serving in this way. Anyway, I think it is that fellowship the Protestant church offered so abundantly that kept me from questioning the doctrine sooner.
IA with this. This was one of the hardest things coming to church. It's not that I felt *un*welcome, but I didn't feel welcome, either. In our parrish, there are not very many people my age with young kids to connect with. I drove 40 minutes one way once or twice a week to join a super busy Catholic homeschooling group to get dd connected with wholesome Catholic girls, and me connected with other mom's.
Our parrish is joined to a neighboring one by priest and schedule, and the Catholic school. So it was until very recently (I'm talking the past couple months) that I really felt involved. With Dalton in a building school this year, I've volunteered for some fundraisers and helped out some. I now have people I can converse with on sight, but still probably only one real close friend.
I do teach a CCD class Sunday morning. That helped last year some, and RCIA did, too. But it just is not the same. Other than those things, our church doesn't have stuff to do. A summer picnic, and that's about it. I'm going to try to organize an Easter egg hunt for next Sunday, but if the weathers bad, that's out.
It has been pretty discouraging for me all the way around. I like to discuss and talk to like minded people about this mornings reading, or Father's comments. But I suppose it also hurts that I like alone time, lol. I'm a real paradox.
FTR, I agree with your opinion on women in the church Unpopular, yes, and I'm glad my dd didn't want to be alter server. My little guy can't wait, though.
Ali
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beachmoss
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| Joined: | Mon Nov 13th, 2006 |
| Location: | Simpsonville, South Carolina USA |
| Posts: | 270 |
| First Name: | Beth | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Catholic (raised Baptist) |
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Posted: Thu Mar 22nd, 2007 10:35 am |
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My old parish, which I dearly miss, had a very active women's guild. We had monthly meetings, and we did many fun things for the church like the kids' Easter egg hunt, a Shrove Tuesday pancake dinner, a spaghetti supper/family fun night in the fall, etc. They also sponsored the First Communion reception, and threw a birthday party for Father. They were a great group of ladies and I terribly miss them. I was the youngest in the group, but they warmly accepted me in the group.
I know I talked badly about our women's auxiliary earlier, but to their credit they have sponsored several children's activities like a Baby Jesus birthday party and an Easter egg hunt.
My current parish also has a women's Bible study. Unfortunately due to volunteering at my kids' schools I've not been in a while.
So I guess what I'm saying is there are opportunities there, but you must seek them out. I've never been invited to join a group (except the choir). I've always had to seek them out. Our current parish holds a ministry fair in the spring where all of their groups gather on the lawn to promote themselves. That's how I found out about the Bible study. Perhaps your parish will do something like that. Or you could inquire at the office about opportunities that are available.
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wwjd
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| Joined: | Thu Jan 11th, 2007 |
| Location: | USA |
| Posts: | 30 |
| First Name: | wwjd | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Southern Baptist, Catholic as of 4/7/07! |
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Posted: Thu Mar 22nd, 2007 11:28 am |
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beachmoss wrote:
So I guess what I'm saying is there are opportunities there, but you must seek them out. I've never been invited to join a group (except the choir). I've always had to seek them out. Our current parish holds a ministry fair in the spring where all of their groups gather on the lawn to promote themselves. That's how I found out about the Bible study. Perhaps your parish will do something like that. Or you could inquire at the office about opportunities that are available.
Our Parish had a ministry fair not too long ago. Many tables were set up with information about service opportunities and a representative from each ministry was there to answer questions. Prior to the Ministry Fair, we had received a form (Intentions for the Year?) which listed all the ministries/opportunities available at our Parish. With this form in hand, we could visit the ministry fair to learn more about each then indicate our interests and turn it in to the church office. Is this something unique to my Parish? I thought it was a great way to become "tuned in" to what goes on at our Church.
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3John4
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| Joined: | Tue Feb 13th, 2007 |
| Location: | USA |
| Posts: | 80 |
| First Name: | Dede | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Catholic, Protestant, Catholic |
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Posted: Thu Mar 22nd, 2007 12:39 pm |
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Thank you so much for all the good ideas presented here on how to get connected. I'm going to follow up with my parish to see where I can plug in.
I guess, partially, my lack of "connectedness" has been my own fault. I feel like I am in somewhat of a tricky situation because my husband and four kids are all Protestant. I attend mass alone on Saturday evening, but then go with them Sunday morning so that our kids don't feel there is strong discord between Mom and Dad. We homeschool, so I'm not free during the day, and if I leave at night to participate in groups, I know my husband will be displeased. He would not say anything, but we are very close, and I know he values our family time at night.
Actually, I have been praying about getting involved in RCIA because this is something that really interests me, but of course, it would take me away from the family on Sunday mornings. Also, I have recently heard that there is actually an adult education committee at my church, which I found astounding since there is no regular adult education of any sort offered at the parish. I'd like to find out how I can get on that committee
We do have a Council of Catholic Women which I've resisted joining because they appear to be a very cliquish group of blue-haired ladies, but after reading everyone's posts, I think I'll take another look at that group too.
Thanks!
Dede
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Ali
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| Joined: | Sat Jan 6th, 2007 |
| Location: | Ohio USA |
| Posts: | 660 |
| First Name: | Ali | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | JW, finally fully Catholic |
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Posted: Thu Mar 22nd, 2007 12:46 pm |
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3John4 wrote: We homeschool, so I'm not free during the day, and if I leave at night to participate in groups, I know my husband will be displeased. He would not say anything, but we are very close, and I know he values our family time at night.
Hi Dede, Try looking for other families in the parish that homeschool. I found a super Catholic homeschool group for us to participate in. There were all different types of mom's there, truly something for everyone. But we all had one thing in common They were a great help to me in gently nudging me in the right direction.
It sounds like our dh's are similar. I try really hard to never schedule anything outside the house during his off hours. He enjoys being with us, and needs some down time. So I understand how you feel in that regard as well.
Best of luck!
Ali
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mrsbmoo
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Virginia USA |
| Posts: | 274 |
| First Name: | Becky | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | former Methodist. RCA, Presbyterian, Holiness, Wesleyan... Catholic as of June ... |
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Posted: Thu Mar 22nd, 2007 02:14 pm |
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I homeschool too and yes, a homeschool group is a good way to meet other moms and get your kids out. I find that homeschooling frees us up during the day not ties me down. I can call a vacation day for any reason I choose but then my state's laws are not very constricting. Of course my oldest homeschooler is old enough to leave at home alone watching her younger sister, too.
I also help with children's liturgy and VBS. This year I am playing the town Rabbi and explaining passover and 1st century Jewish religious parctices to the kids. This should be especially funny considering I will be 8 months pregnant at the time!
I have found Catholic women to be more friendly and less judgemental than the evangelical ones I met before. I was looked down on in the evangelical church for being a stay at home mom, having more than 2 kids, my husband taking off with another woman(if I had been a biblical wife it wouldn't have happened and I was always suspected of being after their husbands since mine had left) and reading science fiction. People often make comments about my having 4 kids, 5 by the end of the summer when I am out in the community but no one has ever even hinted that I am crazy/wrong/clueless about what causes pregnancy, from within the church. I have been so much more welcomed in Catholic circles. What a relief!
____________________
Becky
Wife of Michael(called Moo) and stay at home mom to 5 daughters between 10 months and 17
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CajunRick
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 5080 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Thu Mar 22nd, 2007 02:45 pm |
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wwjd wrote: Our Parish had a ministry fair not too long ago.
Every parish should have a ministry fair at least once a year. We also need to change the question. Instead of asking a parishioner, "will you be involved," we should be asking "HOW will you be involved?"
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Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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Darlene
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| Joined: | Mon Oct 9th, 2006 |
| Location: | Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania USA |
| Posts: | 868 |
| First Name: | Darlene | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Christian, trusting His love and forgiveness |
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Posted: Thu Mar 22nd, 2007 02:58 pm |
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What a loaded topic this is! As for me, technically I cannot fit into the category of "looking back on my Protestant experience" from a Catholic convert's perspective, because I am still currently a Protestant. However, I am on the path, slowly moving toward the Tiber.
With that said, I am able to look back on my journey of faith thus far. That journey has been comprised of many twists and turns, with briar patches, pricker bushes, ditches, detours and many other such menaces. Yet, at the same time, I have spotted beautiful flowers along that path, as well as sunshine to light my way. I have often said that I am thankful for having been raised in an atheist/agnostic home. And I truly am! It caused me to have an open mind. There were no encounters with hypocrites, professing to have faith, or church abuses. I was unchurched and ignorant of the Bible and the Christian faith. Yet, all along, from a tiny child on up, I can always recall having a hunger for wanting to know God, (if He did indeed exist). You see, I thought there was a great probability that God did exist. And if so, what a wonderful thing if one could actually KNOW Him.
When I encountered the truth of His existence, and was filled with His Spirit, I had no doubt that He was the God who was alive and involved in the affairs of men (and women). And I am most grateful for the Evangelical Christian who approached me, and "put up" with all of my retorts, etc. God used him as an instrument in my life and I am ever appreciative.
However, that same Evangelical Christian, introduced me to a Christian sect, which would later become a full-blown cult. Am I angry or resentful? Do I regret the experience of being part of a twisted, unorthodox, Christian cult that ruined many peoples' lives? The answer is emphatically "no." As Joseph said to his brothers, "You meant this for evil, but God meant it for good." And as St. Paul has said, "For we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose." Can I hear an amen? Yes, God even worked for my good while I was in a cult. And He has been working for my good all along.
Sometimes, while we are enduring frustration or pain in the current moment, we find it hard to see this glorious truth. Indeed, we often resist it. Yet if we accept this truth, we can look back on all our experiences in life, including those that were "apparently" most devestating, and see how God's hand was with us.
I am very thankful for my Protestant brothers and sisters. I learned how to memorize large portions of sacred scripture in that sect/cult. I met many brothers and sisters in Christ, who have since left, and with whom I am still in very close touch. We have developed very close relationships with each other because of the battle scars we suffered together in that Christian sect/cult. And I also met and married my loving husband there. We have suffered through many difficulties and uplifted one another in our Christian faith along the way.
In each of the Protestant churches in which I have been a part of till now, I have learned precious truths, that have caused me to grow as a Christian. I learned much about holy living and the need for sanctification from the Pilgrim Holiness brethren. They often had revivals which taught me the importance of inner reflection, the need for self examination, and continually renewing my committment with God (repentence). From my Pentecostal/Charismatic brethren, I learned that I should not be ashamed of Jesus, but proclaim His mighty works and deeds in the congregation and to the world. I learned about expressing my love for Jesus and the importance of the gifts of the Spirit within the Church body. From my Reformed Baptist brethren (Calvinists), I learned to trust in God's providence, that He is in control of every facet of our lives. I learned that doctrine is a necessary, important, and an integral part of our faith. We must be united in mind and spirit in one Lord, one faith, one Baptism. I also learned the importance of applying scripture to my daily life, living the Christian life according to God's Word. Even in the non-denominational church which I am currently attending, I have learned that Christian fellowship is indeed a "need" within the Church body. Also, I have come to appreciate the importance of Christian education for children, and the outreach of Vacation Bible School.
All of these experiences having brought me to my present journey of faith toward Catholicism. Each have been a piece, forming the puzzle. Each have been part of the tapestry, which is yet unfinished.
Did I learn some things that were heresy? Yes. Was I mistreated by those who call themselves "Christians" along the way? Yes. Was I misled to believe things that are unscriptural, from Christians who believed in Sola Scriptura? Yes. But I will not allow these things to cause me to live with regret, anger, or resentment. Some day in glory, I will find out the "whys," but will I even care at that point?
Dear brothers and sisters, God has been there all along with each one of us, even when we didn't recognize His presence. And His will is not going to lead us where His grace does not permit us to go.
Love in Christ,
Darlene
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The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. II Corinthians 13:14
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Prodigal Daughter
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| Joined: | Wed Nov 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania USA |
| Posts: | 196 |
| First Name: | Deborah/PD | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Baptized Catholic, received First Communion, left during Confirmation year. ... |
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Posted: Thu Mar 22nd, 2007 02:59 pm |
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