Were You a Cradle Catholic or a Convert?
Born and raised a Catholic, I went to Catholic schools until high school.
How Old Were You When You Left the Catholic Church?
I left when I was around 35 and moved to southeast Georgia from New York.
How Old Were You When You Returned to Catholicism?
I was 60 when I returned in 2007.
Why I Left the Catholic Church
It was a combination of being away from family influence and working and raising three children. When I moved to Georgia, there was only a small Catholic church in the next town. With my work schedule there wasn't much time to do anything else. There was a sister with the church that would pick my children up on Wednesday after school and take them to religious instruction. All three were baptized Catholic, and the two oldest received First Communion and First Penance. There were no other Catholic children in their school, so they did not want to go to Mass. Like a foolish person, I gave into them and stopped going.
Why I Returned to Catholicism
After my mother passed away in 2003, I began thinking about going back to that small church, which had grown a lot since the late 70's. Then I had resentment, because my Mom, who had moved here with me, went to Mass every week and taught a catechism class, and when she got sick with Alzheimer's and we put her in a nursing home, only one person from the church ever came to see her. This went on for a few years. Then my youngest son married a girl who was Pentecostal. As I got to know her and watch her with my grandchildren, and she always had such a devotion to her faith and God, I was amazed. So I decided to go to church with them and see if that was where I needed to be. I was welcomed by all the people at her church, and they all seemed to love God so much. After a few months, I still felt something was missing. So, I thought about it, and then I called the Catholic pastor and scheduled a time for him to hear my confession. That was the hardest thing to do. I was crying by the time I left. Having to face all the sins head-on was really trying. But I survived it and have been going to Mass as regularly as I can, and I try to say my rosary every night. I have taken some Bible-study classes offered at the church and have learned so much. I feel so at home when I walk into the Catholic church now, and always find peace when I am there. It is not the same type of worship as my son's and daughter in law's, but it is the kind I need. Sometimes I find it hard to believe that a Pentecostal pastor led me back to the Catholic Church.
Advice
- Just keep listening, and God will speak to your heart; then you will know what is the right thing to do. I know that the Pentecostal people I have met truly love God but do not realize all that they are missing.
- Don't push others too hard; just lead them by your example.
