Howdy Folks!

[SuperDan]

Hello all,

Wanted to make a quick introduction and give you a history of myself and why I'm here.

I was raised coC and my father was a "preacher." We were a very strict coC family and we even moved around during my childhood so my dad could minister in other places. When I was in 4th grade we moved back to our home town and decided to start a new coC church there. The church lasted a few years but split over typical coC things...dancing is wrong, no eating in the building, etc etc. Luckily my dad wasn't your typical coC preacher. He is a very intelligent man and didn't always tow the coC party line blindly. He would have been considered very liberal by their standards.

After that church split, we joined a very conservative coC about an hour away. We attended there until I was 19, when my parents got a divorce. My dad was "disfellowshipped" and I was shortly thereafter for taking my dad's side and "forsaking the assembly." I was ok with that as I had checked out mentally years ago. My dad had many questions about the church and had for many years, as his study didn't line up with what the church taught. I didn't find out about his feelings on the coC until years later because he didn't want to completely upend his family.

At the age of 22, I was going through the typical spiritual crisis most faithful go through. One night, and I'll never forget this, I had a dream about visiting all different types of churches, including attending a Catholic mass, even though I had never been to one. At the end of the dream, everything went black and a bright white light pierced through the darkness and it seemed as a high pitched bell rang loudly and shook every fiber of my being. At that time, I knew Catholic was the way, and the only way.

I attended my first mass about a year later. I remember feeling something in that building that I had never felt in any church building before in my life. The feeling was alive, it was palpable and it was full of love, comfort and understanding. I didn't know what it was or understand it at the time, but I do now, and it did nothing but further reinforce the decision I had to make.

Sadly, I ran from the choice I knew I had to make for about 9 years. I was scared to admit to my coC family that I felt a calling to the "apostate" church. I was scared to admit to myself that almost everything I had learned in my childhood was wrong. These are earth shattering decisions for a person to make without any help and I ran from them.

A few years ago I met a very special lady, who I began to date. Our relationship became serious and talk of marriage abounded. I knew that if I got married I had to do so knowing that my wife and I would be raising our family in the church. I began to study about the Catholic church and see if what I read lined up with the callings I had earlier in my life. Of course, they did, and I decided I finally had to make the decision. It had to be done, I could not run from my call home any longer.

I remember sending an email to the RCIA director at our local parish last winter. Even at this time I was still a bit apprehensive and approached the RCIA director with an attitude of wanting to learn more but not to enter the process. One day, about 2 weeks after I sent that email, I was sitting in my office reading about the Church, the RCIA process and what to expect. I put my head down and prayed to God that if this was the path he wanted me to take to give me a sign. As I opened my eyes and looked up, the phone rang. It was the RCIA director.

I will be accepted into full initiation with the Catholic church on Easter Vigil in a few weeks. Its been a beautiful and amazing journey for me. Even though it took me 9 years to answer the call home, I don't regret it. God loves us and never pressures us, but he's always waiting and watching, ready for us to answer the call home.

I know for some this might seem a bit over the top or unrealistic. My dream, my feelings and my sign were all real, heck, I even get choked up to this day when I recount them. I wouldn't dare make something like that up. I truly believe that it shows that God is alive and the Holy Spirit is among us.

Thanks for reading and welcoming me here. I hope that I'm able to add something that will help someone make a comfortable transition home.

[cvbreno]

Welcome, SuperDan! Thanks for sharing your beautiful story. I (and I'm sure we all) look forward to getting to know you.

Did you marry that special lady? Is she Catholic? May God bless you, and give you a profound peace at confirmation.

[SuperDan]

We haven't married yet. She joined the RCIA process with me and will be confirmed as well. We decided that since I had such a strong calling that this is something we should do together so we could be married in the Church and have it recognized.

She was also married previously and we're in the process of getting that annulled through the Church. Once that is complete, we will formally announce our engagement that so it will be fully recognized.

[prairie]

Hi and welcome!

[DeiGratia]

welcome and congrats!!

Isn't it funny that feeling you get at a mass that you've never felt before? Or even just being in the church.. it's indescribable

[SuperDan]

Thanks again for welcoming me all.

I re-read my post and want to clear up what may be a misconception about what I wrote...

I use the phrase "answer the call home" in some form or fashion several times in my post. I use this phrase because that's what it felt like for me. It felt as if I was being called to the comfort and safety of "home." At this point in my faith, I can't imagine I would feel this if I attended any other church other than a Catholic church. I truly feel like the Catholic Church is my spiritual home and I don't feel I could ever turn my back on it.

I have read and heard stories where folks that converted to Catholicism experienced that same feeling of "coming home." I'm not sure if it's that way for everyone, but it seems to be a common thread amongst many converts.

I guess the point I'm trying to make is that I don't believe the Catholic church is the only way to salvation, but I believe living the Catholic faith is as close as it gets to walking side-by-side with Christ daily. I've never felt closer to Him in my life.

I hope I didn't accidentally offend anyone by those statements I made in my first post.

[SirFlea]

Hi!

[mllevaleur]

Welcome Dan!! Thanks so much for sharing your story with us, what an exciting time it must be for you right now. I absolutely believe your dream was real, I don't underestimate what the Holy Spirit can do! And plenty of us also understand the fear present in the thought of becoming Catholic...praise God that His Grace moved you to come home.

And no worries, I think all Catholics, especially converts, consider the Church their home. It is home, it is the Church Christ founded on earth, and most especially it is where Christ Himself resides in the Eucharist, and He is our home. No need to apologize for that.

I guess the point I'm trying to make is that I don't believe the Catholic church is the only way to salvation, but I believe living the Catholic faith is as close as it gets to walking side-by-side with Christ daily.

You probably learned this already in RCIA and acknowledge it, but I just wanted to clarify that the Church does teach that She is actually the vessel of salvation for the world, there is no other. That's not to say non-Catholics can't be saved, but it is a doctrine of the faith that even salvation of non-Catholics happens through the Catholic Church. The wonderful John Paul II explained that "The Church is the sacrament of salvation for all humankind, and her activity is not limited only to those who accept her message" and also "The Lord Jesus . . . established his Church as a saving reality: as his body, through which he himself accomplishes salvation in history." This article explains it well: http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/2005/0512fea3.asp

So, in one sense we do believe (as the Church teaches) that the Catholic Church is the only way to salvation. We must fully understand what is meant by that, though, and also understand that is not to say we think non-Catholics are therefore necessarily condemned. I imagine that's what you meant, but since I never know who is reading out there I always want to try my best to be clear about the teachings of the Church!

Anyway, welcome aboard, and make yourself at home! I hope you'll share your experience of Easter Vigil with us once you're received into the Church, I just LOVE to hear about it from new converts, it brings back my own wonderful memories.

[Joseph the Worker]

What a beautiful story! Welcome here.

[Moodyblue]

Welcome SuperDan! I think at lot of us share your experiences with pushes toward the Church. I had three before I gave up trying not to be Catholic. Should have listened the first time but I am stubborn, hard headed and care too much what other people think about me (much less so now that I am getting older, Thank God!). Hopefully all of us share the experience of a Higher Prescene at Mass too. I know I do -- that is the one reason I could never leave the Catholic Church, no matter what.

Glad to meet you! You will be my prayers as are all of us former CoC'ers who are heading to or have already made it home.

[musicman70]

Great story and Welcome!!

[Marcus]

Welcome

[sally]

Enjoyed reading about your upbringing in your faith!

Welcome!

Monica

[sbanks]

Welcome SuperDan!!!!!!
sounds .....well......SUPER!!!!
thanks for sharing!

[molejnik]

Welcome!