Becoming Catholic

[CeeBee]

I hear becoming Catholic is a long process. I want down to earth, as short as possible posts, lol, Catholics tend to make long confusing posts, no offense. But I am only 13. Anway, some stuff about me: Been to Mass once, mom don't want me to go back, ya know, the whole Protestant thing. Yeah, I wanted to try mass for sumtin knew, it went further. Anyway, I haven't been baptized in any wa. Though my icon says Catholic, officially I guess I'm nothing, at heart I am catholic.

 

[FullyMT]

This is for those who aren't in college yet (and at least applies to my parish):
Talk to a religious coordinator/youth minister/pastor/priest SOMEONE who works at the parish closest to you. Tell them that you have never been baptized and wish to be initiated. They should be able to get you started with RCIA classes (or something similar). You might be able to start the classes soon, I'm not sure. If you can start classes right away, you MIGHT be able to recieve the Sacraments of Baptism and (First) Communion at the Easter Vigil and then continue classes later. In High School, you can take Confirmation preparatory classes and (pending on the program your diocese/parish uses) recieve Confirmation after one or two years sometime after Easter!
If you have any Catholic friends who live near you, they might be kind enough to take you to Mass every Sunday and (possibly) take you to your classes.

I hope that's short enough for you and I really think it's awesome what you're doing and willing to do. If you need any support, know that I'm here (and everyone else in OBOB too!).

 

[Filia Mariae]

FullyMT pretty well summed it up.

Please remember though that if your mom forbids you to become Catholic, you can't until you're out of the house. So try and open the doors of communication now.

I'm praying for you

 

[thereselittleflower]

I hear becoming Catholic is a long process. I want down to earth, as short as possible posts, lol, Catholics tend to make long confusing posts, no offense. But I am only 13. Anway, some stuff about me: Been to Mass once, mom don't want me to go back, ya know, the whole Protestant thing. Yeah, I wanted to try mass for sumtin knew, it went further. Anyway, I haven't been baptized in any wa. Though my icon says Catholic, officially I guess I'm nothing, at heart I am catholic.

I think this is wonderful . . and yes, becoming Catholic can take a while . . at one point in the Early Church it took 3 yeras!! Now it doesn't take so long. . usually about 7-8 months, but some Churches I have heard it can take a year and a half . .

The reason is, when you are baptized your sins are washed away . and you start afresh . . you only get to do that once so the Church wants to make sure you understand the faith well enough to live the faith correctly with God's help so you can maintian that baptisimal state . . and it is not hard to do if you start out ready to do it . . I wish I had understood as a child what had really happened . . I have 30+ years to account to God for . . . (I am in the process of becoming Catholic too! )

So, you attend classes through the local Church .. these are called RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) . .because you are 13, you could be part of that or RCIC (Rite of Christian Initiation for children . .same thing, just in a format that might be more appropriate for someone your age) . .

To start you need to talk to the priest at the parish you would want to becoem a member through .

The problem you are going to run into is how to deal with your mother not wanting you to . . we are to honor and obey our parents . . so if you can, you may wish to seek the counsel of the priest in that parish and he could help you do what you can now until the time is right for your to formally enter the Church . .

OK - yep, our posts tend to be long . . but then again, Catholicism is a deep and rich faith . . lots to talk about!

 

[KennySe]

Cb7,

in my opinion, you should get baptized if you want to be a Christian.
"In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit".


Whenever you are baptized, in ANY Church, explain to the pastor/priest/elder.minister that you want an official Certificate.

(You then have this official document for when you are to become Catholic, as proof that you were baptized.)

Peace be with you and your family.

 

[Aaron-Aggie]

I hear becoming Catholic is a long process. I want down to earth, as short as possible posts, lol, Catholics tend to make long confusing posts, no offense. But I am only 13. Anway, some stuff about me: Been to Mass once, mom don't want me to go back, ya know, the whole Protestant thing. Yeah, I wanted to try mass for sumtin knew, it went further. Anyway, I haven't been baptized in any wa. Though my icon says Catholic, officially I guess I'm nothing, at heart I am catholic.

Do you know any friends/parents of friends or extended family members that are catholic that might be able to provide guidance?


And remember because of your desire Our Lord and the Church cherishes you.

 

[CeeBee]

My mom may bring me to Mass tonight, I will have to beg. I will talk o the priest about it. What do y'all mean by parishes? I live in LA where counties are calld parishes and y'all are confusing me. I live in LA but this church is barely in Mississippi. My mom, well, I got to talk to her. I know a friend that is catholic, but, well, he didn't help me. He didn't like talking of religion it seemed. I live in hypocrite country, few real Christians. Most real ones here are charasmatic and a few Catholics. Anyway, no family, all Baptist, except an aunt that I don't know well at all that converted with her husband. But mark her out, just trust me.

 

[KennySe]

Cb7,
Every Catholic church has an "area that it is the church building for. This area is called "a parish" (little p not capital, as in Jefferson Parish)

In Jefferson Parish (EAST Jefferson, which is from Kenner [where the New orleans Airport is] to Metairie and including River Ridge and Harahan, there are a number of Catholic church buildings.

So in the one Parish are many Catholic parishes.

This is less confusing for those Americans who live in every other State then Louisiana. LA has Parishes, but every other state as Counties, as you mentioned.

 

[MariaRegina]

Cb7,

in my opinion, you should get baptized if you want to be a Christian.
"In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit".


Whenever you are baptized, in ANY Church, explain to the pastor/priest/elder.minister that you want an official Certificate.

(You then have this official document for when you are to become Catholic, as proof that you were baptized.)

Peace be with you and your family.

Ken:

FYI

If a person wants to be Catholic but seeks baptism in a Protestant church, that Protestant pastor will most likely want a proclamation of faith from the candidate that is likely to be anti-Catholic: Sola scriptura and Sola fide. I don't think our CatholicBoy would like that, do you?

 

[ukok]

i must be misunderstanding something. why would a protestant minister baptise a person so that that person could then go and enter the Catholic Faith...wouldn't it be simpler to be baptised in the Catholic Faith in the first place, if possible. To be baptised knowingly into the Protestant faith by a protestant minister when ones heart and mind belong to the Catholic Faith, seems rather a clumsy way of entering the intended Catholic Church.

I'm mystified, i think that CB7 needs to converse with his mother about his wishes, and hopefully this wil enable him to proceed with his wishes in a far less complicated manner.

 

[Benedicta00]

Catholic boy,

I think you should wait, learn about the Church more and when you are able, that is when you mom allows you to, enroll in a CCD class that prepares children to convert or when you are an adult you can enroll yourself in RCIA.

Do not worry about not being baptized, the lord knows you situation and he does not fault you. There is baptism of desire that, God forbid if you should die before you can enter the Church, you have been received in Christ through your desire.

Since you are just 13, sit tight. If mom wants to take you to mass and wants you to be Catholics, then that would be great but in the meantime if she is against this, live the Catholic life as best you can, learning the faith so you can be a good Catholic, knowing that when you are 18 you can convert by enrolling in RCIA.

I wonder if this is a trend but I see more children now wishing to convert.

 

[ukok]

Catholic boy,

I think you should wait, learn about the Church more and when you are able, that is when you mom allows you to, enroll in a CCD class that prepares children to convert or when you are an adult you can enroll yourself in RCIA.

Do not worry about not being baptized, the lord knows you situation and he does not fault you. There is baptism of desire that, God forbid if you should die before you can enter the Church, you have been received in Christ through your desire.

Since you are just 13, sit tight. If mom wants to take you to mass and wants you to be Catholics, then that would be great but in the meantime if she is against this, live the Catholic life as best you can, learning the faith so you can be a good Catholic, knowing that when you are 18 you can convert by enrolling in RCIA.

I wonder if this is a trend but I see more children now wishing to convert.

 

[CeeBee]

yeah, I need to talk to my mom. No, I wouldn' like tog et protestantly baptized, my heart isn't there.

 

[Benedicta00]

i must be misunderstanding something. why would a protestant minister baptise a person so that that person could then go and enter the Catholic Faith...wouldn't it be simpler to be baptised in the Catholic Faith in the first place, if possible. To be baptised knowingly into the Protestant faith by a protestant minister when ones heart and mind belong to the Catholic Faith, seems rather a clumsy way of entering the intended Catholic Church.

I'm mystified, i think that CB7 needs to converse with his mother about his wishes, and hopefully this wil enable him to proceed with his wishes in a far less complicated manner.

I think the concern is not being baptized at all and Kenny's point is if mom is against a Catholic baptism then Catholic's recognize any Trinitarian water baptism to be valid. So I think Catholic boy just wants to be baptized at this point which says a lot about his understanding of the need of baptism.

 

[ukok]

I think the concern is not being baptized at all and Kenny's point is if mom is against a Catholic baptism then Catholic's recognize any Trinitarian water baptism to be valid. So I think Catholic boy just wants to be baptized at this point which says a lot about his understanding of the need of baptism.

I understood all that Shelb, i was more concerned about Chanters post actually.

 

[CeeBee]

Heh,no trend here, noboy converts here reall, a few protestants to charasmatic is it. I am doing it not for a trend. My heart is there. And my family calls me wannabe catholic, and Iwanna do lent to show my faith, but, well, the catholics'll be like, youaren't catholic, right? in my grade, and I just wanna be it officially.

 

[Benedicta00]

I understood all that Shelb, i was more concerned about Chanters post actually.

Oh.

 

[ukok]

I just wanna be it officially.

I understand. I will be received into the Catholic Faith, along with my children, at Easter Vigil, i do understand what it is like for you, and also about not being baptised. I discovered only a few weeks ago, that after 35 years of thinking myself baptised, i in fact, am not.

 

[ukok]

Oh.

you've nothing to be sorry about Shelb.

 

[Benedicta00]

Heh,no trend here, noboy converts here reall, a few protestants to charasmatic is it. I am doing it not for a trend. My heart is there. And my family calls me wannabe catholic, and Iwanna do lent to show my faith, but, well, the catholics'll be like, youaren't catholic, right? in my grade, and I just wanna be it officially.

You just go ahead and be Catholic then as best you can and when the day comes you will convert God willing. Pray about it and never stop praying to God.

I am a little surprised that you aren’t in a more Catholic area, where is you’re Parish (county) locate near?