Returning To The Catholic Church

[AussieChris]

I'm not sure if this is the right section for this question or if this question has been asked before but I thought I'd ask it here and now.

I was baptized in the Catholic Church, went to a Catholic boys high school but after high school I fell away from the church. It's been way too many years since I've been to church and I've got this overwhelming feeling to return to the Catholic Church and be an active Parishioner again. What steps would I have to take to be active again?

Any help would be appreciated!

 

[SashaMaria]

Welcome Home!

Did you receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation (Confession) and the Eucharist? If you did, you only need to go to Confession.

However, I recommend you call your Parish and ask them what to do. You might benefit from making an appointment to talk with a priest. If you only need Confession, it might take some time and private Confession with the priest may be the best way.

if you were only Baptized, then there is the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) that you might need to go through. The classes normally start in Sept./October and go through to Easter, when you would make your first Confession and receive your first Eucharist.

 

[AussieChris]

Welcome Home!

Did you receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation (Confession) and the Eucharist? If you did, you only need to go to Confession.

However, I recommend you call your Parish and ask them what to do. You might benefit from making an appointment to talk with a priest. If you only need Confession, it might take some time and private Confession with the priest may be the best way.

if you were only Baptized, then there is the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) that you might need to go through. The classes normally start in Sept./October and go through to Easter, when you would make your first Confession and receive your first Eucharist.

HI SashaMaria!

Yes, I have received the Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist. I will definitely call my Parish and make an appointment with the Priest. With how long I have been away from the church, I suspect Confession will take some time.

I appreciate you! Thank you!

 

[SashaMaria]

You're welcome!

Prayers for you and hope everything goes smoothly. If you can, please let us know how it went.

God Bless!

 

[Michie]

I'm not sure if this is the right section for this question or if this question has been asked before but I thought I'd ask it here and now.

I was baptized in the Catholic Church, went to a Catholic boys high school but after high school I fell away from the church. It's been way too many years since I've been to church and I've got this overwhelming feeling to return to the Catholic Church and be an active Parishioner again. What steps would I have to take to be active again?

Any help would be appreciated!

Call the priest. As far as I know, it would just be confession and then you can proceed as an active Catholic. You can set up an appointment for that. Glad you are returning to the Church. God bless you.

 

[AlexB23]

I'm not sure if this is the right section for this question or if this question has been asked before but I thought I'd ask it here and now.

I was baptized in the Catholic Church, went to a Catholic boys high school but after high school I fell away from the church. It's been way too many years since I've been to church and I've got this overwhelming feeling to return to the Catholic Church and be an active Parishioner again. What steps would I have to take to be active again?

Any help would be appreciated!

I hope that your faith journey goes well, brother. To rejoin the Catholic Church after a long absence, you can follow these general steps:

1. Confession (if you wish) - This is not always necessary but it's a good way to express your remorse and receive God's forgiveness for any sins committed during your time away from the church.
2. Rite of Welcome or Reception - In some cases, especially if you were previously confirmed (in the Catholic Church), this might be called a "Rite of Reception" instead. This is usually done during Mass and involves a public statement of faith by the individual being welcomed back to the church community.
3. Catechesis or RCIA - If it has been many years since your last involvement with the Catholic Church, you may need to go through some catechism classes to reacquaint yourself with the teachings and practices of the faith. This is especially true if there have been significant changes in the church during that time.
4. Sacrament of Penance - After making a confession (if needed), you will likely participate in this sacrament again as part of your reentry into full communion with the Catholic Church.
5. Confirmation and Eucharist - If you were previously confirmed, you won't need to be confirmed again unless there are special circumstances. However, if it has been many years since your last confirmation or you weren't confirmed as a teenager (or older), you may choose to receive the sacrament of confirmation once more. The Eucharist is also an essential part of being an active Catholic and should be received regularly after reentry into full communion with the church.
6. Get involved in your parish community - Attend Mass, participate in small groups or ministries, volunteer for outreach programs, and generally become an active member of your local faith community. This will help you grow spiritually and deepen your relationship with God and other members of the church.

 

[AussieChris]

I hope that your faith journey goes well, brother. To rejoin the Catholic Church after a long absence, you can follow these general steps:

1. Confession (if you wish) - This is not always necessary but it's a good way to express your remorse and receive God's forgiveness for any sins committed during your time away from the church.
2. Rite of Welcome or Reception - In some cases, especially if you were previously confirmed (in the Catholic Church), this might be called a "Rite of Reception" instead. This is usually done during Mass and involves a public statement of faith by the individual being welcomed back to the church community.
3. Catechesis or RCIA - If it has been many years since your last involvement with the Catholic Church, you may need to go through some catechism classes to reacquaint yourself with the teachings and practices of the faith. This is especially true if there have been significant changes in the church during that time.
4. Sacrament of Penance - After making a confession (if needed), you will likely participate in this sacrament again as part of your reentry into full communion with the Catholic Church.
5. Confirmation and Eucharist - If you were previously confirmed, you won't need to be confirmed again unless there are special circumstances. However, if it has been many years since your last confirmation or you weren't confirmed as a teenager (or older), you may choose to receive the sacrament of confirmation once more. The Eucharist is also an essential part of being an active Catholic and should be received regularly after reentry into full communion with the church.
6. Get involved in your parish community - Attend Mass, participate in small groups or ministries, volunteer for outreach programs, and generally become an active member of your local faith community. This will help you grow spiritually and deepen your relationship with God and other members of the church.

Thank you Alex! I appreciate your advice.

 

[Michie]

I hope that your faith journey goes well, brother. To rejoin the Catholic Church after a long absence, you can follow these general steps:

1. Confession (if you wish) - This is not always necessary but it's a good way to express your remorse and receive God's forgiveness for any sins committed during your time away from the church.
2. Rite of Welcome or Reception - In some cases, especially if you were previously confirmed (in the Catholic Church), this might be called a "Rite of Reception" instead. This is usually done during Mass and involves a public statement of faith by the individual being welcomed back to the church community.
3. Catechesis or RCIA - If it has been many years since your last involvement with the Catholic Church, you may need to go through some catechism classes to reacquaint yourself with the teachings and practices of the faith. This is especially true if there have been significant changes in the church during that time.
4. Sacrament of Penance - After making a confession (if needed), you will likely participate in this sacrament again as part of your reentry into full communion with the Catholic Church.
5. Confirmation and Eucharist - If you were previously confirmed, you won't need to be confirmed again unless there are special circumstances. However, if it has been many years since your last confirmation or you weren't confirmed as a teenager (or older), you may choose to receive the sacrament of confirmation once more. The Eucharist is also an essential part of being an active Catholic and should be received regularly after reentry into full communion with the church.
6. Get involved in your parish community - Attend Mass, participate in small groups or ministries, volunteer for outreach programs, and generally become an active member of your local faith community. This will help you grow spiritually and deepen your relationship with God and other members of the church.

*Confession is necessary if you wish to return to the sacraments.

 

[AlexB23]

*Confession is necessary if you wish to return to the sacraments.

Agreed. I am not sure if OP is ready to consider the sacraments, but I hope that he does.

 

[AussieChris]

*Confession is necessary if you wish to return to the sacraments.

I plan on going to Confession. I really need to cleans my soul.

 

[AlexB23]

Thank you Alex! I appreciate your advice.

You are welcome. I do hope that you go to confession. For myself, I need to go again. Haven't confessed via a priest since 2022.

 

[AlexB23]

I plan on going to Confession. I really need to cleans my soul.

Amen, brother. God bless you for planning on doing this.

 

[Michie]

Agreed. I am not sure if OP is ready to consider the sacraments, but I hope that he does.

The Eucharist is the Source and Summit of our faith. I’m sure he’s wants to receive again.

 

[AussieChris]

Agreed. I am not sure if OP is ready to consider the sacraments, but I hope that he does.

Receiving the Sacraments is another reason why I'm going to Confession.

 

[AlexB23]

Receiving the Sacraments is another reason why I'm going to Confession.

Amen to this. You are on the right track.

 

[Michie]

You are welcome. I do hope that you go to confession. For myself, I need to go again. Haven't confessed via a priest since 2022.

We are required to confess at least once a year. That’s the bare minimum from what I was taught.

 

[AlexB23]

The Eucharist is the Source and Summit of our faith. I’m sure he’s wants to receive again.

Yep, he just verbalized that to me. AussieChris seems to be doing things the right way.

 

[AlexB23]

We are required to confess at least once a year. That’s the bare minimum from what I was taught.

True. That means this Saturday I will have to go.

 

[Michie]

I know confession is not always my favorite thing to do. I still struggle with it. It’s my previous Protestant mindset I guess.

 

[AlexB23]

I know confession is not always my favorite thing to do. I still struggle with it. It’s my previous Protestant mindset I guess.

Yeah, it can be hard to, plus confession is not just right after mass at my church, so I have to go on Saturday evening.