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New Creation
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| Joined: | Thu Nov 22nd, 2007 |
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| Posts: | 41 |
| First Name: | Paula | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | wicca 9 yrs, Anglican 5 yrs, RCIA now! |
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Posted: Tue Dec 11th, 2007 02:31 am |
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I began RCIA last week and was really excited about it. I mean REALLY excited. Because we live in a remote area and there are few candidates this year, RCIA is being done very loosely and informally. For example, my sponsor and I are meeting together alone. She is older than I am; her mid 60's but age is not a factor with me as I have friends of all ages. She has never done this before as well so I know I need to be gracious with her. She and I don't seem to be clicking though. I mean, she seems to be a nice enough person but I sense no fire there. She doesn't seems to have any enthusiasm for what I consider to be an incredibly important thing in my life. Maybe there is and I can't see it. I don't know. She asked me today if I know about the Trinity. Man. I've been going to an Anglican church for 5 years, yeah, I guess I may have heard about the Trinity.
Part of the problem is that I live in such a remote area that she is the only person who is currently available to do this unless I go further away, which I would consider to experience a deep personal spiritual journey with others. This is what I am longing for... to have deep and passionate discussions about our Savioiur and His Church... to learn at as many levels as possible.
Now I have considered that God wants me with this lady for a specific reason and if that's the case...if she's the one He wants me with, then she's the one. However, I would like to see if there is another possibility. Is this an ok thing to do? Is it ever done? Am I a jerk for wanting to change sponsors?
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always a seeker
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Michelle1982
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| Joined: | Tue Nov 6th, 2007 |
| Location: | California USA |
| Posts: | 23 |
| First Name: | Michelle | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | protestant services at military chapels, Bible, Baptist, Berean, Calvary Chapel, ... |
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Posted: Tue Dec 11th, 2007 03:19 am |
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Paula,
I understand what you are going through. I don't quite have the silly questions from my sponsor per say. I am pretty fornuate. He is a good friend of mine, even though he is gone quite a lot.
But, I have gotten them somewhat from other people in my RCIA class as well as the leaders at time. The trinity thing..... I can totally understand your frusteration. You are not a jerk for wanting to change sponsors.
Especially, since it sounds like there was no friendship involved before she became your sponsor. However, I would take it to the Lord first and ask Him what you should do. Maybe, you are right when you said that God put her in your life for a reason. Maybe, you are both supposed to teach other something. I don't know. That's between you and God. If you think that the Lord wants you to change sponsors, then pray that God will bring someone else. Of course, if you feel that God wants you to keep your sponsor, then ask God to help you communicate your feelings to her.
Tell her what you need from her. Expain your background and the fact that you know the Bible quite well.
Anyway, I will pray for you. The Lord will show you the way as long as you keep on seeking Him.
Michelle
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"..............From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more." Luke 12:48
"You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart." J
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Michelle1982
Member
| Joined: | Tue Nov 6th, 2007 |
| Location: | California USA |
| Posts: | 23 |
| First Name: | Michelle | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | protestant services at military chapels, Bible, Baptist, Berean, Calvary Chapel, ... |
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Posted: Tue Dec 11th, 2007 03:29 am |
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You know Paula,
One more thing. You said she had no fire. I was just thinking about that. Maybe, that is something you could help her on. Help her in her walk with God as well. Something a lot of us protestants have (I am also in RCIA) is we are on fire for the Lord and excited about Him. Maybe, the more you share with her what God is doing in your life and ask her how her walk with Christ is going, she will see your love for Christ and it will start rubbing off on her. A lot of Catholics take for granted having the fullness of the faith. I don't know if what I am saying is helpful at all.
Hopefully, a little of it helps you!!
Michelle
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"..............From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more." Luke 12:48
"You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart." J
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Ali
Member
| Joined: | Sat Jan 6th, 2007 |
| Location: | Ohio USA |
| Posts: | 622 |
| First Name: | Ali | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | JW, finally fully Catholic |
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Posted: Tue Dec 11th, 2007 08:41 am |
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I connect better to people first if we have something else in common. I'd try to be a little chatty about day to day stuff, then trick her by working in some of your RCIA stuff.  As if it's you who's doing the teaching.
Ali
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Flowerchild
Member
| Joined: | Wed Oct 11th, 2006 |
| Location: | Washington USA |
| Posts: | 31 |
| First Name: | Terri | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Presbyterian to nothing to Lutheran to now Catholic |
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Posted: Wed Dec 12th, 2007 12:38 am |
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Hi N.C.,
I agree with Michelle, and I know everyone always says this, but pray. Pray for where you want to be, what you need to make your journey complete, and the right place for RCIA.
I struggled, for well over a year just trying to find the right Parish that I wanted to go through RCIA at. I live in a very small rural town, so I know how you feel. I was not overly excited to go to the Parish that is in my town. As you know when you live in a small town everyone knows what’s going on with everyone. This fact has both its benefits and its downfalls. For me, my journey to the Catholic faith is so special (and overwhelming at times) that I find myself putting up guards. I really don’t want people raining on my parade. This is to exciting to be spoiled.
So for a year, I contacted different Parishes in the City that is closest to my town and asked about their RCIA programs. I finally settled on one. It was the Parish that when I walked in I knew I was home. Still their RCIA program was not what I really wanted or was sure would even work. But I know that I need to make this journey and if being at that particular Parish is what I needed to do, so be it.
All along though, I kept praying that if God really wanted me to make this journey that he would clear the obstacles and guide me to the place I really needed to be. I would accept what he would show me. The Parishes RCIA program started this summer (July, the best boating month according to my husband). It was on Sunday and lasted for about 4 hours, plus a half hour drive each way. I could not believe that in the large City (of 21 Parishes) there was not one program that was on a week night! My family, (who still think that I have lost my mind), when I told them that RCIA is every Sunday for 5 hours, there was some conflict. There were other things too, one of those being that we had to leave Mass after the Homily. Over the next few months I knew that that this program was not the right fit, and feared that everything was going to fall apart. I would continue to be on the outside looking in.
So finally in September, I decided what could it hurt to go to my local Parish and find out about their RCIA program. My prayers were answered! The gal who had been running the Education department had just retired. They were unsure of who was going to do the classes, but I was told they would be having one starting at the end of the month. The next week I get a call, and they tell me the classes would be on a week night! To top this off, our leader is kind, soft spoken but totally on fire for the lord and the Catholic faith. My sponsor is someone who I did not know, and our faith backgrounds/life backgrounds are similar. She is a delightful person. The Parish is far more than I ever expected it to be. I am truly blessed!
So don’t give up! Pray that you find the spot that you are suppose to be at. God will lead you to the right place.
The other thing to keep in mind that there is only 12 weeks to Easter and Confirmation. Yeah!!!! 
God Bless,
Terri
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Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
St. Francis of Assisi
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kimdyuma
Member
| Joined: | Mon Oct 9th, 2006 |
| Location: | Arizona USA |
| Posts: | 710 |
| First Name: | Kim | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | cradle Anglican, Episcopal /Catholic-04/07/07 |
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Posted: Wed Dec 12th, 2007 07:36 pm |
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| I have to add to what others have said- remember that RCIA isn't the be all and end all of your journey into the Church. Some of us have had terrific experiences, some of have not. Once you have joined the parish and are going to church you will probably find fellow parishioners that are more on fire. Do remember that a quieter, less outwardly expressive faith is often the norm especially in older Catholics. "On fire for the Lord" is more of a protestant way of expressing one's faith. Your Sponsor may have a rich prayer life that she is unable to share with you right now. Sometimes ( at least in my neck of the woods) Catholics are gun shy in sharing their faith because they have been steam rollered by an Evangelical or Fundamentalist on faith issues. I could never hold my own with my Southern Baptist in laws which often led them to believe that I was "not really saved"
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Adopt from your local Humane Society- Please spay or neuter your pets
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