I woke up early this morning and was reading other Catholic blogs. I found several written by people who are new to our Catholic faith. One is beginning RCIA classes and wrote about her experience with that process. The other writes of learning how to live in community with others and practice the faith.
As I read these blogs, I was struck by the comments left by other Catholics who reached out. The warmth of these comments and pragmatic suggestions touched me.
I'm sure they understood the courage it takes for people who are new to our faith to start this journey. I certainly do. As a cradle Catholic, I've had an entire lifetime to absorb the teachings of the Church. I was educated in a parochial school. I've been around clergy members and had family friends who were clergy. I've experienced family weddings, funerals - all within my Catholic environment.
But people new to our faith, those who just now hear the call, do not have this background.
One blogger wrote about being afraid of priests when he was new. Another described not knowing the protocol of so many things. On and on.
So I want to thank those people in our Catholic community who are so warm and welcoming to these newcomers. I also want to commend the newcomers for reaching out, because it is true that if you don't express what you need, people just don't know.
What a great morning!
I am leaving to go to a wheelchair tennis tournament (USTA) today. I'll be back and will get emails, comments, etc. when I return.
2 comments:
I am a new Catholic and very excited about it. This was nice to see this morning for me.
Paula
Thank you for the comment and your encouragement! :)
All this is very new to me. Prior to this new journey, the only time I was ever in a Catholic Church was for a funeral and my son's kindergarten graduation, because ironically I have my children enrolled in a preschool/Kindergarten that is under the local diocese.
The environment is quite opposite of what I have been used to in non-denominationalism.
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