r/CatholicConverts

Catholicism has had a major part in my life since childhood and when I was 22, I went to classes to become Catholic but had to stop once my ex said there was no way he would(even though he was raised Catholic.) now I’m single and about 90% ready to commit. My biggest area of doubt is the relics. It really creeps me out and I don’t understand their purpose. I did sign up OCIA so maybe I can get a better understanding there but perhaps someone can help me see the light today!

Thanks

Does this bother you or do you not think much of their opinions and are confident in the validity of the traditional authorship?

Hi everyone, this is kind of embarrassing but i didn't know where else to post.

Around easter of last year, after Pope Francis passed away, I started to, for lack of a better vocabulary, get into Catholicism. I checked out books from the Library, started researching and watching videos and found that I wanted to learn more.

I started attending Daily mass when possible, and was really enjoying it, and reconnecting with God, and decided to look into the Parish's OCIA classes. It didn't work out.

I had gotten into a college program about 2 hours from home, I had a class on the day the OCIA classes would be held, so I wouldn't be in town to attend. So I decided to look at the Parish in my School's town, they had already started their OCIA program, and were actually incredibly full and I wouldn't have been able to attend.

I'm pretty frustrated, just because my brain feels like it's running out of time. My schedule for the fall semester would line up with me being able to be in my hometown for OCIA classes. I drive home on the weekends to help my Mom as she is older, and my brother is busy caring for his own family.

OCIA classes at this parish begin in August. My class schedule would allow me to attend, I would just have to drive back the day of classes. I will graduate in December, and am worried about what will happen if I have to relocate for work halfway through the program.

Someone suggested I email our Parish's Faith Formation Deacon, and talk with him about scheduling as there might be a way to start OCIA early/ meet on a different day. But I'm unsure of what to say. I'm pretty sure I've never met him. I'm pretty nervous about the whole thing. I haven't even worked up the courage to attend a Full Sunday Mass yet.

What should I do? What do I say if I email him?

I put together a traditional Catholic playlist with Gregorian chant, Latin hymns, Marian hymns, Eucharistic hymns, and older sacred music. It’s over 10 hours long, so I figured I’d share it in case anyone else would enjoy it for prayer, reading, driving, or quiet reflection.

It’s called Cantica Catholica. Shuffle is recommended.

I’ve been trying to become a lector for eight weeks (the first time I called to speak to the pastor). The pastor just never calls back. I’m persistent, so after Mass two weeks ago I asked him in person about being a lector. He told me to call him. I didn’t say I already had (\~3 times), and instead tried again. To my amazement, he answered. He determined I need to get certified via our diocese’ “safe space” requirements, and asked me to call him back when I was. I now have my paperwork and have called him twice with no reply. Over the course of this whole \~eight week period, I’ve also gone into the office three times to try to catch him, but he wasn’t there and so the (mostly unhelpful) receptionist took my name/number.

Either (a) he is too busy to return a phone call, or (b) he’s ducking me. Of course (a) is possible, but he’s called me back in the past over much more trivial matters. I did send him an email 9 months or so ago that could have been perceived as an ever-so-polite-and-respectful challenge to something he said in the homily, though, so I’m beginning to think it could be (b).

And at this point, I feel like continuing to try to contact him is weird. Like I am trying to harass him into submission or something.

Do I just give up? Wait indefinitely for him to call back without reaching out again? Continue reaching out at the risk of apparent harassment? Ask him directly if he is bothered by the email (this seems the least obvious thing to do …)?

Any advice would be much appreciated!