aprehensive about converting

[Leah]

Hello, all. I am a 22 year old student in library science. I have signed up for RCIA classes and am looking forward to joining the Church. However, I feel aprehensive about it for several reasons. The first is my family. Since I was raised in a non-religious household, they naturally have negative views on Catholicism, or rather what they percieve it to be. They can't understand my opposition to things like abortion and stem cell research. It's not as if they're insulting the Church 24/7, but it makes me feel separate from them. The second is a fear that I won't fit in somehow. I've never been a "girly-girl" and I've never been that interested in getting married and having children either. I'm just content leading a chaste single life. I'm also vegan. Maybe it's silly, but these issues cause me anxiety over my choice to convert. Thanks for listening everybody.

[St. Gregory the Great]

Hey there, im glad to hear that you are going to be in RCIA. If your experience with it is half of what mine was it will be a great life changing process. I can somewhat relate to what you mean. I grew up in a family that was made up of people who were either hardcore protestant or had little interest in religion. Most of them still dont really understand why i joined the church but have actually been much much more supportive than i ever thought they would be. As for the fitting in I was worried too, but this too proved not to be a problem as the Catholic Student Association at my university proved to be amazing and accepted me as if i had been a Catholic all my life. While your case is probably a little different than mine was my advice would be this. Just go for it, true you're a little worried now and that is understandable but soon after RCIA starts you will realize you are in the right place and will begin to wonder why you were so nervous at all.
Peace of Christ to all

[jezic]

trust in Jesus and love him. he will guide you home.

Don't worry about fitting in, he loves you anyway. He loves you always as well.

God bless

[Laudate_Dominum]

[quote name='Leah' date='Aug 1 2005, 06:16 PM'] I'm just content leading a chaste single life. I'm also vegan.  Maybe it's silly, but these issues cause me anxiety over my choice to convert. [right][snapback]667771[/snapback][/right]
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As I'm sure you know, plenty of saints were content leading caste single lives. And plenty of saints were vegan. There is nothing wrong with either of these things or incompatible with Catholicism, unless perhaps they are for reasons that conflict with the Catholic world-view.

Maybe think about the good that your conversion will do. When one truly embraces life in Christ and strives to do God's will, the grace extends to those they love.

[philothea]

[quote name='Leah' date='Aug 1 2005, 06:16 PM']Hello, all. I am a 22 year old student in library science. I have signed up for RCIA classes and am looking forward to joining the Church. However, I feel aprehensive about it for several reasons. The first is my family. Since I was raised in a non-religious household, they naturally have negative views on Catholicism, or rather what they percieve it to be. They  can't understand my  opposition to things like abortion and stem cell research.  It's not as if they're insulting the Church 24/7, but it makes me feel separate from them. The second is a fear that I won't fit in somehow. I've never been a "girly-girl" and I've never been that interested in getting married and having children either.  I'm just content leading a chaste single life. I'm also vegan.  Maybe it's silly, but these issues cause me anxiety over my choice to convert. Thanks for listening everybody.
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Hi Leah! Welcome!

I'm thrilled to hear about you joining RCIA It's a great program.

Obviously, you already know that it is essential to follow God rather than your family... I know it must be very hard. If they are open to discussion, you might try reading some of the articles in the [url="http://www.phatmass.com/directory/"]Catholic Defense Directory[/url] here at Phatmass.

As for the fear of not fitting in, don't give it a moment's thought. The Church is HUGE, and filled with every kind of person. Other than being obedient to the teachings of the Magisterium, you're not going to be expected to live any particular kind of lifestyle, or act in any particular way.

theculturewarrior will be happy to meet you, I'm sure. He's been occasionally scolding us for our carnivorous ways.

Again, welcome! If you have any questions, there are lots of helpful and friendly people here.

[homeschoolmom]

[quote name='philothea' date='Aug 1 2005, 09:41 PM']theculturewarrior will be happy to meet you, I'm sure.  He's been occasionally scolding us for our carnivorous ways.
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That and he's a reference librarian.

Welcome Leah... I had the same concerns joining the Church-- but for different reasons. My in-laws and friends were all Evangelicals and they couldn't understand why we would leave for Catholicism... And being former Evangelicals, the idea of going to casino night, wine and coagulated milk tasting events or the like were sort of culture shocking to us.

There's a place for everyone in the Church.

[journeyman]

Welcome Leah to the "big tent" known as the Catholic Church . . . there's a place for everyone from former rakes and libertines (like Augustine) to contemplatives to those called to service (like Mother Theresa) . . . there is a place for you

[DeeDee]

Hey Leah,
I've been back with the church for about 6 years, and I'm not sure where I fit in either, but I just keep praying, reading the Bible, and other spiritual books, and I love the mass. There are some things I find hard to accept in the church, but like I said I just keep praying and I think God knows I'm trying. RCIA is going to answer a lot of questions for you, and keep questioning. If there are things you aren't sure about talk to your pastor or get to know other priests in your parish. They will be a big help to you.

[theculturewarrior]

I'm an ovo-lacto vegetarian. Sometimes it's hard, when you are among Catholics, and they want to feed you (usually fajitas or brisket in Texas) and you have to say no. Today I told some that I have "special dietary needs," which is the truth! If I eat anything that's not vegetables, milk, or eggs, I get sick!

However, I decided to become a vegetarian in part because I am Catholic, and I want to live a life of self-denial. By the way, I am also studying library science.

That said, it seems like the biggest thing holding you back is your family. Try to look at this from God's point of view. He said himself, "a little bit of leaven leavens the whole batch." God wants your whole family to go to Heaven, but it has to start somewhere, and it looks like it has to start with you.

Your family is pulling you in one direction, and God is pulling you in the other. But God is pulling your family too! All you have to do is say yes to God. He doesn't want you to be alone in Heaven.

[zwergel88]

[quote]I'm just content leading a chaste single life. I'm also vegan. [/quote]

I am a vegetarian wanabe vegan, and I think you will fit in just fine. Leading a single life is also an important vocation.

Good Luck!

[avemaria40]

Hey, that's awesome that ur thinking about converting! i myself converted to Catholicism and it's awesome. U can PM me if u have any questions. I myself was raised in a non religious home and sometimes i feel my fam says things about the Church that i find upsetting and i was apprehensive about telling them i wanted to convert but i told them and they were very supportive. also, many saints led a chaste single life, for example, my patron saint, St. Joan of Arc did and there is nothing that says u can't be Catholic and a vegan, i myself am thinking about becoming a vegan. stay strong and God bless!

[Sojourner]

I also had a lot of apprehension before converting, largely due to my family and the church community I was part of before converting. Both of those situations worked themselves out, and in many ways today I've got stronger relationships with people because of my conversion. Some relationships didn't survive the move, though, and that's hard. The key is to remember that you're following Jesus and getting to know him better. As that happens, your needs for fellowship and community are met in many ways -- some of which you can't anticipate now. At least, that was true for me.

On the "girly-girl" topic ... this was something I struggled with when I was younger, and in many ways still deal with today. I grew up in a pretty conservative church where being a woman meant having babies and keeping a home. As I grew older, it became apparent that those things weren't going to happen for me right away, which caused me a lot of consternation and brought me to question things about my worth in life and all sorts of other stuff.

I won't say I'm done with those struggles, because I'm not, but in the Catholic church I've found some really beautiful answers about questions I've had about femininity and what it means to truly reflect God's truth in and through my being. It's changed a lot about how I perceive myself, and how I act in my relationships with friends and co-workers and family.

So come on in, make yourself at home. We take all kinds here.