 |
| Author | Post |
|---|
New Hamburger
Member
| Joined: | Tue Jan 15th, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 4 |
| First Name: | Mary Beth | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Presbyterian, Baptist, Mennonite Brethren, Anglican |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Wed Jan 16th, 2008 02:26 am |
|
Hi,
I've just joined up & am not entirely sure how this whole thing works. No matter - we'll just see what happens...
My husband became Catholic 6 years ago, and I as the mother of 3 young children, I have had neither the time, nor the brain space to think through the possibility of joining him. I was raised in a Presbyterian family, married in a Baptist church, and have attended Mennonite Brethren and Anglican churches since we married (13 years ago). We are committed to raising our family in a Christian home, and attending church as a family is essential. We left our Anglican church almost 2 years ago, and have been attending Catholic churches together, mostly as a default option. Since my husband is Catholic, any other church we attend could never be 'home' for him. I simply do not know where else to look, or what else to look for, knowing that we would not be truly united in our faith. We recently moved to a small town, and enrolled our children in the Catholic school. It may seem a little weird that I agreed to do so, but I like that it's ok for our kids to talk about Jesus & pray at school.
I decided, last fall, that I really should try to better understand the Catholic church, since my kids now know more about it than I do. I've been attending RCIA, along with a new friend whose background is Mennonite, and who is married to a Catholic. To make a long story short, RCIA is not going well. For reasons I cannot understand, we have not been following any kind of curriculum, and we haven't really learned very much in the 4 months we've been together. I'm pretty discouraged right now. I am no closer to understanding more, let alone converting, than I was before. I'm still open to learning, but would like to stop going & try again next fall, perhaps somewhere else.
I've talked with my friends about doing a small group/book study in the meantime, just to keep the momentum going, but don't know where to find appropriate material.
Can anyone recommend any informative, helpful, not heavy/deeply theological, (i.e. difficult reading) books that could help? My husband (a well-educated man) has read a lot of Scott Hahn, and found him to be quite helpful, but I'm afraid he's waaay beyond me (I've been surrounded by too much Barney & Bob the Builder the last few years, & my brain has become like jello!).
Thanks for listening to my ramblings. Any insight anyone can offer would be appreciated...
MB
|
|
|
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 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Wed Jan 16th, 2008 02:44 am |
|
I find that some of Scott Hahn's books are a little deep but try his Rome sweet rome, Also Thomas Howard's Evangelical is not enough or On the Canterbury trail. Another great resource is the journey home with Marcus Grodi- it airs live on EWTN Monday nights if you have cabe or a dish- I catch it on the internet since I have high speed but we don't have cable TV. Here is a link to the audio archives:
http://www.ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/seriessearchprog.asp?seriesID=-6892289&T1=the+journey+home
I am a cradle Anglican who joined the Catholic Church this past Easter. Welcome to the forum you will get lots of help here.
____________________
Adopt from your local Humane Society- Please spay or neuter your pets
|
|
|
Dave Armstrong
Network Apologist
| Joined: | Fri Nov 2nd, 2007 |
| Location: | Melvindale, Michigan USA |
| Posts: | 1226 |
| First Name: | Dave | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Nominal Methodist / evangelical non-denom / "Bapticostal" / Catholic |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Wed Jan 16th, 2008 02:46 am |
|
Hi Mary Beth,
A warm welcome to our forum, and I hope you find some needed answers here. You will be helped, I'm sure, by many people who will understand your plight and can offer both empathy and some friendly advice.
As for recommended reading, the following three are all great introductions (in order, from simplest to a bit more difficult reading):
Catholic and Christian, Alan Schreck
The Spirit of Catholicism, Karl Adam [online edition]
Evangelical is Not Enough, Thomas Howard
If you'd like recommendations for more specific subject matter, just say the word and I and others here can recommend more for you. We're here to help!
____________________
I'm happy to offer whatever theological & personal assistance I can. My blog, Biblical Evidence for Catholicism, contains 1900+ papers & web pages (absolutely free) & 16 apologetic books (for sale):
http://www.biblicalcatholic.com/
|
|
|
CajunRick
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 4977 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
| Status: |
Online
|
|
Posted: Wed Jan 16th, 2008 03:53 am |
|
New Hamburger wrote: I've talked with my friends about doing a small group/book study in the meantime, just to keep the momentum going, but don't know where to find appropriate material.
Can anyone recommend any informative, helpful, not heavy/deeply theological, (i.e. difficult reading) books that could help?
Welcome, Mary Beth. I assume "Mary Beth" stands for Mary Elizabeth, which means you are named for our Blessed Mother and her cousin, the mother of John the Baptist. What a blessing your parents chose for you!
I'm sorry your experience with RCIA has not met your expectations, and commend you for your desire to seek additional knowledge. Let me give you three recommendations.
First, the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. This small book is summary of the Church's teachings as presented in the Catechism.
Second, the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults. This book presents the teachings of the Church in a textbook format. It is extremely well written and is accompanied by a study guide, and it includes questions for further study.
And finally, Catholicism for Dummies. I've heard high praise for this book, written by well-respected Catholic authors.
All three books present the teachings of the Church in different ways, and you should be able to find at least the first two at any Catholic bookstore. The third should be available at any commercial bookstore along with the rest of the "Dummies" series. Don't let the title fool you; I'm told it's a very good presentation of the Catholic faith in very down-to-earth language. And all three are available at online resellers.
Welcome to the forum, Mary Beth. We're glad to have you with us.
____________________
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
|
|
|
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 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Wed Jan 16th, 2008 05:42 am |
|
Hi Mary Beth,
Welcome, I am glad that you found this web site. I think you will find this forum a good place to ask questions and learn about the Catholic faith.
I am sorry to hear about your RCIA program not being what you need. That must be frustrating. This seems as though it happens more than it should from what people write on the forum.
I am currently in RCIA, and your question made me start to look closer at my classes. I really enjoy the classes but I have to say, now on a closer look, that I may not be learning as much as I thought I would have. I have been on my journey for a while, so I came into RCIA with a good understanding. Maybe I did not come into it looking for information as much as completing necessary step in becoming Catholic. What I end up doing if I have a question is posting it on this forum, and then I get answers that I need.
This is a little off your topic (sorry moderators) but why doesn’t the Catholic Church develop a standard program for RCIA to be taught from? It seems that if there was a syllabus and standard reading material there would be less diversity in RCIA instruction. Maybe this way there would not be as many discrepancies in programs, and happier folks. Just my thoughts.
In Kim’s post she was talking about The Journey Home program on EWTN. Yesterday's (1/14/08) program had an ex-Brethren minister discussing his journey to the Catholic faith. You might find it very interesting. You can listen to audio versions by going to the EWTN show archives on their web site. http://www.ewtn.com
As for easy reading I would recommend Patrick Madrid's books "Surprised by the Truth (There are I think 3 in total)." These books are filled with true short stories about different people’s conversion to the RCC. Very informative really. What is nice is that they aren't that long so you can read one story and then move on to another when you have time. My problem was I just wanted to keep reading, because the stories are so intriguing. A nice thing is nothing is to over the top so that your jello brain may still stay intact. 
Again Welcome,
Terri
____________________
Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
St. Francis of Assisi
|
|
|
CajunRick
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 4977 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
| Status: |
Online
|
|
Posted: Wed Jan 16th, 2008 11:46 am |
|
Flowerchild wrote: This is a little off your topic (sorry moderators) but why doesn’t the Catholic Church develop a standard program for RCIA to be taught from? It seems that if there was a syllabus and standard reading material there would be less diversity in RCIA instruction. Maybe this way there would not be as many discrepancies in programs, and happier folks. Just my thoughts.
Would you want the RCIA program tailored to an uneducated Indian woman, or a Muslim Imam, or an atheist, or a former Protestant minister with a doctorate in scripture study?
The purpose of RCIA is to awaken faith, not to provide instruction in Catholic Church teachings and practices, although that is certainly an important element. In the early Church, catechumens were primarily either pagans or Jews (there were no other Christians) who spent an average of three years learning the teachings of Christ. Only after their initiation were they admitted to the "mysteries" (sacraments) and that occurred for the first time during the Mystagogia, which begins only after their baptism at the Easter vigil. Instruction in the teachings of the Church continued for another year. The instruction most receive during RCIA today is a combination of both, squeezed into approximately 9 months.
Vatican II called for a return to the practices of the early Church and in the 43 years since, a Catechism has been produced to serve as a reference, and local catechisms are being developed (such as the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults) to provide exactly the kind of single source you are looking for. However, whether it is implemented as a basis for RCIA instruction in an individual diocese will depend on the local bishop's interpretation of its effectiveness for the people of his diocese. The program needs to be structured differently where the population of candidates and catechumens are Mormons who do not accept the Trinity and the Divinity of Christ but have no problem with centralized authority than it does in an area where most candidates are former Baptists who believe in the Divinity of Christ and the Trinity but can't accept a central authority. The difference is quite significant between Salt Lake City, Utah, and Southern California and Nashville, Tennessee.
So while it is possible to develop a unified program in a particular diocese or parish, it is impossible for the universal Church. But a set of standard resources is in development, beginning with the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults (and local catechisms in other countries as well).
____________________
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
|
|
|
David W. Emery
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Brownsville, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 1714 |
| First Name: | David | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Catholic |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Wed Jan 16th, 2008 12:31 pm |
|
Flowerchild wrote:This is a little off your topic (sorry moderators) but why doesn’t the Catholic Church develop a standard program for RCIA to be taught from? It seems that if there was a syllabus and standard reading material there would be less diversity in RCIA instruction. Maybe this way there would not be as many discrepancies in programs, and happier folks.
Terri, I’m considering this item close enough to the original topic to be treated here because the point is that people do experience difficulties in RCIA, and what you bring up is conceivably one of the causes of this. What I have written below should be considered a supplement to Rick’s reply.
As a matter of fact, the Church does have a standard text, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which provides the fundamental material that needs to be covered in any RCIA class. This book is a best seller, available just about anywhere. A shorter version, the Compendium of the Catechism, is also available as a more specific practical guide to how catechesis should proceed. The Catechism can be read as a stand-alone summary of doctrine, but the Compendium definitely requires a mentor to help a person work through it and understand, showing the vital importance of person-to-person communication in the imparting of faith knowledge and the necessary accoutrement of practical knowledge and unity as a people that makes it actually possible for one to live the faith.
However, that Catechism text itself makes an important point about adaptation of catechesis to the local people’s needs, which may vary widely from place to place. For instance, catechetics in the Philippines does not need to consider to any great extent the concerns of Protestants, simply because Protestants are not a major demographic factor there. But in the United States, Protestants are still (barely, according to the latest census figures) a majority of the population; many converts to the Catholic faith come from their ranks, and Protestant beliefs and practices permeate society as a whole here, so it is necessary to deal with this influence. As a result, catechesis and RCIA are properly under the supervision and control of the bishops throughout the world. First, they are a primary concern of the bishops’ conferences in each country (and the USCCB, the national conference for the US, has produced its own work, the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults, in response to this), and second, each individual bishop may need to adapt the way things are done to the individual circumstances in his diocese. The conditions that prevail in, say, New Hampshire, are not the same as the conditions in Utah or Mississippi.
Unfortunately, there still may be individuals who do not fit the general demographics of the locale they live in. And again, not all catechesis is created equal. Some parishes may be thriving and have a lot of well-educated people willing to help; others may have a small population and a poor economic and educational base. There is no practical way to even out these differences.
Thirdly, there are unfortunately some Catholics involved in parish catechesis who should not be teaching others the faith, either because they themselves do not know it or adhere to it, or because they do not know how to teach. But for whatever reason, they are the ones in charge, and that is how things are run in that parish.
These remaining difficulties are the major reasons this forum exists: to provide a safety net for those whose RCIA is not what it could be. We work hard here to make sure that everything you get from us is in strict accordance with the official Catholic faith, as presented in the bible and the universal Catechism.
Furthermore, we strive mightily to present forum members with a deeper and fuller learning experience whenever they ask for it. Each moderator has studied different areas of the faith, so as to be able to provide a wide variety of information and guidance, whether theoretical or practical. And other members frequently contribute further help in rounding out the knowledge pool. But as Rick mentions briefly, there is also a concern for awakening and maintaining faith. We stress prayer, liturgy and participation in the life of the Church. We point out the importance of family unity, of heavenly citizenship and fraternal charity, of personal union with God.
Finally, this apostolate provides a vicarious sort of fellowship and personal comfort zone in which to live and move. We have striven to provide a “safe haven” from non-Catholic attacks and ostracization. We deal with questions on how to deal with spouse, family, friends and members of one’s current or former congregation. Many of our members really need this because of the opposition and outright trauma they face in their lives as they move closer to God.
So you see, Terri, the Church as a whole is doing something about your concern.
David
|
|
|
Dave Armstrong
Network Apologist
| Joined: | Fri Nov 2nd, 2007 |
| Location: | Melvindale, Michigan USA |
| Posts: | 1226 |
| First Name: | Dave | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Nominal Methodist / evangelical non-denom / "Bapticostal" / Catholic |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Wed Jan 16th, 2008 05:43 pm |
|
the Church as a whole is doing something about your concern.
That's an excellent point. The Coming Home Network began out of a desire to aid potential and actual converts. It has support from a great many bishops and priests (which do represent the Church). So this is an outreach of the Catholic Church that can help meet many of the needs that perhaps "fall through the cracks" in the RCIA system: one that is too often (sadly)deficient in reality, in varying degrees.
There are options online and "in real life" that can make up for those deficiencies. It is simply a matter of guiding folks to find 'em. The Internet has been a tremendous blessing in assisting Catholics to better know and live their faith. When have we ever had the capacity, for example, to access and read any papal encyclical within five minutes or all the classic books that are now online (I have compiled virtually the complete Newman and Chesterton online bibliographies on my own blog)?
____________________
I'm happy to offer whatever theological & personal assistance I can. My blog, Biblical Evidence for Catholicism, contains 1900+ papers & web pages (absolutely free) & 16 apologetic books (for sale):
http://www.biblicalcatholic.com/
|
|
|
David W. Emery
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Brownsville, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 1714 |
| First Name: | David | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Catholic |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Wed Jan 16th, 2008 07:35 pm |
|
Allow me to make one additional point about the place of the Coming Home Network and its forum. This apostolate should be seen as a supplement to RCIA, not as a substitute. For better or worse, RCIA or its equivalent in private instruction is the Church’s official gate of entry. CHN is instead an avenue of inquiry, a repository of resources and a place of refuge for those on the journey. I believe it serves an urgent need for thousands of people in the crisis of conversion, and this is why I support it with my labor as well as my donations.
David
|
|
|
Intercessor
Member
| Joined: | Tue Sep 25th, 2007 |
| Location: | Southcentral, Kentucky USA |
| Posts: | 854 |
| First Name: | Becky | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Southern Baptist, Catholic |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Wed Jan 16th, 2008 08:37 pm |
|
Hi, Mary Beth,
I know of no more relaxing, reassuring way to be introduced to the basics of the Catholic faith than by listening to a conversation between Kris Franklin and Rosalind Moss. Both ladies are former Evangelicals.
If you can afford to order the VHS (and still have a VHS player), it's worth the money to get the visuals. However, their voices are so expressive that the free audio files on EWTN will do just fine. If you want to listen to it in privacy, you could get a cheap set of earplugs and plug in to your computer.
There are sixteen programs, each half an hour long. Try it out. 
Click--Household of Faith free audio 16 half-hr. programs
Click---Second Season of Household of Faith This is the VHS for the second season. I couldn't find the first season's VHS, but the free audio files are above.
____________________
"If our charity is arrested by the difficulties encountered in dealing with our neighbor, . . . our relations with our brethren are not regulated by our love of God, but by our love of self." Divine Intimacy p. 781, Fr. Gabriel, O.C.D.
|
|
|
Dave Armstrong
Network Apologist
| Joined: | Fri Nov 2nd, 2007 |
| Location: | Melvindale, Michigan USA |
| Posts: | 1226 |
| First Name: | Dave | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Nominal Methodist / evangelical non-denom / "Bapticostal" / Catholic |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Thu Jan 17th, 2008 06:42 pm |
|
| Excellent choice. I second that, too! I know Kris. She is a delightful woman, as is Rosalind. Here is Kris's blog.
____________________
I'm happy to offer whatever theological & personal assistance I can. My blog, Biblical Evidence for Catholicism, contains 1900+ papers & web pages (absolutely free) & 16 apologetic books (for sale):
http://www.biblicalcatholic.com/
|
|
|
Current time is 07:30 pm | |
|
|
|
|
|
