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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: Fri Apr 20th, 2007 10:29 am |
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Br. Carlo,
This may be better in a private message and I don't want to take away from this post, but I am very interested in the Franciscans. Actually, reading about them was the first thing that started to draw me back to the Church. We have a group of 3rd order Franciscans locally, but I did not get the impression that they had a similar charism to the Friars of the Renewal and the Friars of the Eternal Word. I so wish the Friars of the Renewal would have a residence out here in Allentown. They have started doing Catholic Underground once a month locally.
So please share or start a new post. I think it would be a blessing to many on the forum.
Deborah
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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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GoFisher
Member
| Joined: | Mon Dec 18th, 2006 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 115 |
| First Name: | Kathy | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Mth Cng Prs UM sang@RC Ep UM (MDiv) Word-Faith Charismatic-RC |
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Posted: Fri Apr 20th, 2007 02:42 pm |
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Thank you all for reminding me how I began the seeking and finding process! (UMC voting on their interpretation of The Word and many of the 8 million there not living according to The Word).
It appears now that the further one gets away from The Original Church, papal authority and Church Teaching, the further away from The Truth and grace of The Lord one gets.
I am glad I was taught Catholic theology by orthodox Catholics including charismatics and a fellow former non-Catholic. I bet The Lord had something to do with arranging that too.
Whenever I get absolution, I feel a release of oppression and like I just had a spritual bath. You don't get that in a non-Catholic church.
Still, I need to be patient with those Catholics and non-Catholics who have not built up their faith by believing, learning and acting on The Word of God yet.
Blessings to you and through you all!
____________________
Love, hear + obey God: go fish! (me)
+ The Word became flesh... (St. John 1:14)
Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ. (St. Jerome)
+ Follow Me... fishers of men. (St. Matthew quotes The Lord Jesus)
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Talithacumi
Member
| Joined: | Sat Sep 30th, 2006 |
| Location: | Eastern Ohio, USA |
| Posts: | 248 |
| First Name: | Cheri | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Cradle Catholic - Latin Rite |
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Posted: Mon Apr 23rd, 2007 12:19 am |
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psalm23.6a wrote: I am confident I would not have the hostile response some of you speak of - indeed I have even illuded to my thoughts on the subject to some. My church and friends are very open-minded from a theology standpoint.
I suspect there reaction would be confusion primarily but they would largely respect my answer. The deeper hurt would occur if I completely abandon them and the church which I am so much involved in. As I said in my initial question, it is a very historic and small church in which every active member has to help out.
My concern,as I first expressed, is on the other side i.e. my welcome from a priest and new Catholic friends if I maintain any type of tie to my protestant church.
Jeff,
Hi. I'm a little "late to the party", as the saying goes, but I wanted to wish you well and add my welcome to the forum. 
Like Rick, I am a Cradle Catholic, so I can't speak too much to the question of the difficulties of being involved in the Catholic Church while maintaining ties with your old Protestant church.
But... about the last sentence in your quote above... I can't speak for everyone in the Catholic Church, nor for the attitudes in all parishes (there are always weeds among the wheat no matter where you are; c'est la vie, no?) but in my experience as a life-long Catholic, I think most of us don't really think anything of someone coming to the Catholic Church while still being a member of another. I've known several people who've come to Mass in my parish who have even been members of other churches but yet come to ours, and sometimes they are even involved in our parish activities while still being involved in their own church activities. They are generally accepted and welcomed and treated like anyone else in the parish. In fact, I can truthfully say that among all the Catholics I've known in my life, I have never once heard anyone put down or reject someone who took part in or even became a member of the Catholic Church while still retaining ties with their old church - and certainly not for the reason of their involvement with their old church.
Frankly, I find it ironic that in many "non-denominational" (a misnomer if I ever heard one) churches, they claim to be "open to anyone from any church". I dated a Protestant for many years whose church claimed to be one of these that was "open" to anyone. What I later found out was that what they meant by that was that anyone was welcome to join. And, sure, they didn't mind if you visited - as long as you seemed interested in becoming a potential member! Once they realized I was open to the idea of attending there on a visiting basis because of my boyfriend, but was not interested in joining (by way of leaving the Catholic Church), they really wanted nothing more to do with me.
Anyway... I don't think you'll find the same attitude in the Catholic Church. I think we are far too "universal"-oriented for that, really. In my experience, most Catholics have an attitude sort of like, "Well, they're here. We hope they'll stay, but if not, that's between them and God and we have to take them where they're at. God works in His own good timing, so we will simply accept them and be glad they're here. And if they have other ties, that's OK, too, as long as they don't conflict with the basic precepts of our Faith. Maybe they can even influence others to come Home. "
So be assured. If you should join the Catholic Church and you still wish to retain ties with your old church, you will not likely find anyone on the Catholic side judging you too harshly for it - at least, as I said, coming from my own observations over many years...
JMJ
- Cheri
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“We do not want a Church that will move with the world; we want a Church that will move the world.”
- G.K. Chesterton
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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: Mon Apr 23rd, 2007 08:49 am |
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Once they realized I was open to the idea of attending there on a visiting basis because of my boyfriend, but was not interested in joining (by way of leaving the Catholic Church), they really wanted nothing more to do with me.
And that Cheri is what is commonly called "friendship evangelism." We were encouraged to befriend "unbelievers" (Catholics included) and use the friendship to get them to "make a decision for Christ." Once they said the sinners prayer and had a life changing experience, it was likely that they wouldn't want to go anywhere else but "our church."
It never felt right to me, but I would justify it by saying "I am not using or manipulating this person, I am helping them to get saved from eternal damnation."
____________________
"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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GoFisher
Member
| Joined: | Mon Dec 18th, 2006 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 115 |
| First Name: | Kathy | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Mth Cng Prs UM sang@RC Ep UM (MDiv) Word-Faith Charismatic-RC |
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Posted: Tue Apr 24th, 2007 03:27 pm |
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POST-CONFIRMATION MINISTRY DILEMNA:
Here is some good news first: I did apply for several of the jobs listed on this site. We shall see what happens with that later. If anyone cares about my conversion dilemna, it would be folks on this site, so I'm sharing my ministry job hunting report here. Well, today, I'm down again. I have been rejected for many Catholic jobs.
Last week, one claimed that I would not enjoy working with them since they claim I was too evangelistic, and I liked singing too much, but it was a CHOIR director job at a college where in the interview, they asked me how I would get college students to join the choir! I said, the same way Catholics got me to direct and sing in the choir, go invite them to sing with us.
Yesterday, I was rejected for a part-time youth ministry job because they said I was OVER-qualified and that I should be teaching and applying for Minister of Religious Education jobs. Well, in that applicant pool, some told me I am not acceptable because my Master of Divinity (three-year theology graduate degree) is not from a Catholic university. However, there were other Catholics in my seminary, and I attended Mass on campus during seminary.
I think The Catholic Church wants me to donate my house to "them" and work in ministry for free. Well, maybe I could still serve at one of my previous churches? However, in order to receive post-confirmation absolution for the apparent heresy of attending non-Catholic services, the priest would have to get permission from the bishop.
I don't think Pope John Paul II had the lax attitude toward evangelism that liberal American Catholics do. Last week, a Catholic woman in my choir said she thought God would have mercy on the pagan [my word] who murdered the Va. Tech. students. From what I learned about The Lord's track record in The Holy Scriptures, I don't think so. If he does NOT go to Heaven, it will be the fault of him, his parents, and every Christian who ever met him without sharing with him what Our Lord called The Only Way to The Father, and The Way and The Truth and The Life on how to get to Heaven by believing and acting on The Good News that Yeshua (Jesus) is Our Salvation.
Thanks for the scripto-therapy!
You do know what Go Fish means right? Go Make Disciples of The Lord!
____________________
Love, hear + obey God: go fish! (me)
+ The Word became flesh... (St. John 1:14)
Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ. (St. Jerome)
+ Follow Me... fishers of men. (St. Matthew quotes The Lord Jesus)
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Steven Barrett
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Posted: Fri Apr 27th, 2007 12:45 pm |
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The Catholic Church doesn't want anyone to sign away their homes and pack up to go out and become ministers. I know of some more hard-core evangelicals who'd be delighted at such a demonstration of an "Acts spirituality" but don't worry. We don't believe in going that far.
Pray alot. Attend Mass regularly, Confess. Practice your faith. And, pay what you can reasonably afford to pay. The Church knows you have to make your milk money last.
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For anyone suffering from a mental illness or has a loved one with a mental illness, my book "Lead kindly Light: A Devotional For The Mentally Ill" might be of some help: http://www.lulu.com/ (Use search box at the top of page.)
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CajunRick
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 4981 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Fri Apr 27th, 2007 01:54 pm |
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GoFisher wrote: I have been rejected for many Catholic jobs.
For what it's worth, so have I.
I have completed a four-year Master's program from a Catholic university, but I don't have an undergraduate degree, so it's not called a "degree". That means I'm not qualified for most positions in my own diocese, even when I know the people doing the hiring, and they freely admit I'm the most qualified. Other positions are part-time, or pay so little that I can't afford to even consider them. If you are willing to move, you have an advantage, because I can't. So persevere, and you will find a position. Don't forget to apply to apologetics ministries, including groups such as CHN.
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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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reneeville
Member
| Joined: | Sun Apr 15th, 2007 |
| Location: | Green Valley, Arizona USA |
| Posts: | 15 |
| First Name: | Renee | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Raised protestant (Methodist, Episcopalian), devoted Catholic. Crossed the Tiber Easter ... |
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Posted: Fri Apr 27th, 2007 03:01 pm |
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I understand your love and desire to help others who struggle; however, when I was in the conversion process, I deliberately removed myself from because I needed to hear what God was placing on my heart. I had spent eight months in contemplative and meditative prayer... had not realized in that time that I would become Catholic. Part of my struggle was those in my Christian community so removing myself allowed me the uninterrupted time I needed with God.
It's been just over two years that I "worshipped" with my former congregation and I still keep in contact with a number of them but have no desire to "assist" them in sustaining, what I believe makes them "separated brethren", from the fullness of Truth I believe is found in the Catholic Faith. That does not make me love them less... but all the more.
Easter peace on your journey~
Renee
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An Adult faith does not follow the waves of fashion and the latest novelties.
Pope Benedict XVI
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Prayerie Pal
Member
| Joined: | Sat Mar 24th, 2007 |
| Location: | Omaha, Nebraska USA |
| Posts: | 245 |
| First Name: | susie | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Presbyterian,Methodist, Charismatic Catholic, Pentecostal, Evangelical, and now Truly Catholic |
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Posted: Sat Apr 28th, 2007 06:22 am |
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But I found that in many conversions (you have but to look around this forum to see a multitude of examples), it is those you leave behind who break the ties.
Yepper, it's them that 'drop off' and have less to say when they say something. Usually they have the 'deer in the headlights' look about them when they find out we're back in the CC. Then they tend to 'keep it light and fluffy' as far as theological discussions go, if they 'go' at all. Like John Michael Talbot, I'm finding being a Catholic is helping me grow more 'liberally in my love' and not as judgmental becuase I for a time used to think more "Us vs. Them" when an Evangelical. The "Saved" and "not saved" think....pretty much stinks. I hated thinking like that and now that I'm Catholic, I find my 'old ways of thought' are needing a SCRUB, so I'm glad for the "Brainwashing!" 
PAX,
pp
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God gave us memory so we could have roses in winter.
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GoFisher
Member
| Joined: | Mon Dec 18th, 2006 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 115 |
| First Name: | Kathy | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Mth Cng Prs UM sang@RC Ep UM (MDiv) Word-Faith Charismatic-RC |
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Posted: Mon Apr 30th, 2007 06:20 pm |
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Wow. Thanks. These are all great notes.
That reminds me I need to follow up on my other job applications. I hope to be able to discern for what jobs I should apply. I always pray that the one who is supposed to be there will get the job, even if it's not me.
It is interesting that when I was feeling down this week, some of the Catholic folks in the ecumenical charismatic prayer group all wrote me, called me and one visited me to pray. Wow, that was great. I could feel The Holy Spirit doing some healing. It is still one part of a long-term process.
A Catholic gave a talk on evangelism reminding us that all Catholics and all Christians are responsible for sharing Our Lord with everyone with whom we come in contact -- our personal mission field. We should not let them wallow in their ignorance. That is why The Lord gave us The Great Commission and The Greatest Commandment. Sure, we don't all have to go more than 500 miles to meet folks who need prayer and need to know Jesus who revealed that He is "The Only Way to The Father". Well, being The Trinity, He IS all three persons isn't He? That's how He gets to be The One we worship.
HAVE ANOTHER BLESSED WEEK EVERYONE!
____________________
Love, hear + obey God: go fish! (me)
+ The Word became flesh... (St. John 1:14)
Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ. (St. Jerome)
+ Follow Me... fishers of men. (St. Matthew quotes The Lord Jesus)
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Ave_Girl
Moderator
| Joined: | Wed Nov 7th, 2007 |
| Location: | Ohio USA |
| Posts: | 113 |
| First Name: | Mary Clare | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Cradle Catholic |
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Posted: Thu Apr 24th, 2008 06:45 pm |
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Kathy,
You also might want to try http://www.catholicjobs.com in your search for employment.
Best of luck!
____________________
~Mary Clare Piecynski~
Coming Home Network Staff
740-450-1175 ext 105
maryp@chnetwork.org
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