Am I still a Catholic?

Question

My parents recently died and I was going through their paperwork To pay some of their bills and I found an adoption paper, it stated I was adopted when I was 3 months old, plus there was a Baptismal Certificate saying I was Baptised in the Catholic Church, before the adoption, they never told me, they must have their reasons, and I don't hate them for not telling me.

I have wanted to become a Catholic for a long time and also a Priest, I feel this is my calling

I am 24 and after all this time, my parents never took me to Mass, am I a Catholic or do I have to start over again?

I have learn't so much about the Catholic Faith by going to Catholic sites on the internet and I know this is what I want

Answer 1

Yes, you are a Catholic. However, as others have pointed out, you need to attend RCIA classes to receive the sacraments of First Communion and Confirmation.

Your desire to become a Priest was put there by God Almighty. He is the One who calls men to the Priesthood. I see your calling as miraculous, for even though your adopted parents never told you about your catholic baptism, you still feel a call to the priesthood. I strongly urge you to investigate that calling. Most importantly, pray about it. Your first step is to go to the local parish and inquire about RCIA. As I recall, RCIA begins precisely at this time of the year, in late September.

Make sure you go to a Roman Catholic parish, and not one of those schismatic Old Catholic Church, or American Catholic Church parishes.

Peace be with you. I will pray for you.

Answer 2

The Catholic Church will still recognize you as a Catholic.

However, you haven't learned much about that faith during all these years, so you should talk with your local Priest. Explain your situation. He may suggest a set of courses similar to those given in preparation for the First Communion (did you already receive this sacrament?). I would also hold off on expressing a desire to join the Priesthood until you understand what being Catholic means and what being a Priest means.

I don't mean to discourage you, but proceed with both eyes (and your heart) open. Pray to know if this is the path for you.

Answer 3

Obviously your baptism is still valid or you wouldn't feel the calling to become Catholic and possibly even a Catholic priest!

There are adult catechism course, called RCIA in the U.S., taught at pretty much every parish. Call whatever Catholic church is close to you and explain your situation. They'll get you started on the instruction process.

You need to start with the learning and work toward confirmation and First Holy Communion (typically that would happen next Easter). After that, you can start praying about a potential vocation to the priesthood.

Welcome back to Catholicism!

Answer 4

Yes, I am a training Catholic. I do think dangerous whilst, at Christmas and Easter, all the ones "two times a 12 months" Catholics pop out - however then I detect that it might be worse. It might very good be feasible they do not pop out in any respect. It's convenient for anyone, who attends Church each week, to visit Mass on Christmas, Easter, and Holy Days of Obligation. I in most cases marvel simply how a lot more complex it's for individuals, who do not attend Mass most often, to get out and pass to Mass a couple of time in keeping with 12 months. We can not suppose it, due to the fact we all know what we would be lacking. I do not suppose those "two times a 12 months" forms can utterly respect what it's they are lacking. If they did, they would be at Mass greater than two times a 12 months. I am proud to be Catholic, so it is the entire extra disappointing whilst I see individuals taking an "oh hum: angle in the direction of their vocation as lay Catholics. All we will fairly do approximately it's pray, and desire that they illustration we set will, sooner or later, encourage them to begin dwelling the Catholic way of life all 12 months circular.

Answer 5

Well, having been baptized a Catholic, the church would indeed consider you a Catholic. However, you'll still need to receive your first communion and your first confession, and be confirmed, before you could even begin to consider the priesthood. Kids spend lots of time in their catechism classes preparing to receive these sacraments. There may or may not be some kind of "fast track" for adults ... the best thing to do would be to check with a local Catholic church.

Answer 6

If you were baptized with water, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, you are a member of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. It doesn't require a priest to do it although that is a common custom. Neither does the baptizer need to be a communicant in any particular communion such as the Roman.

Baptism is as irrevocable as circumcision is to a Jew, and like circumcision, it cannot be repeated, no matter who did it.

The One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, or Catholic Church for short, consists of several communions but is a single church.

The major Catholic communions are the Roman, Orthodox and Anglican.

The Orthodox is the oldest and closest to the original except for the Coptics who are allegedly pre-Pauline.

From the perspective of the Orthodox the formation of the Latin communion in independence from them in 1054 was a secession or schism.

The Anglican communion on the other hand is not really separated from the Roman communion except inasmuch as the papal decision in the 1890s to deny continued acceptance of Anglican holy orders as valid, a decision not reciprocated by the Anglicans who will still let a Roman priest administer the sacraments. The birth of the Anglican church was in 604 when Gregory the Great sent Augustine to Canterbury.

They, however, do seem to have an identity crisis, being Catholic in origin and in true character yet veering towards Protestantism, especially the American church, the Episcopal, which had "Protestant" in its name until quite recently. Those Episcopalians USA are about to be kicked out of the Anglican communion.

An Anglican church in much of the world is just a Catholic church in communion with the See of Canterbury rather than with the See of Rome.

There is a flow both ways of laymen and clergy. The Holy Catholic Church of Japan (Nippon Sei Ko Kei) is comfortably in communion with the See of Canterbury. If you go to Dublin and visit St. Patrick's Cathedral, which dominates O'Connell St., the main cathedral and on the main street, you find they are Catholic institutions in communion with Canterbury.

The title "Pope" is not Christian in origin. Long before Christianity, "Pappa" was a title given to Attis of Phrygia, consort of Cybele. Attis inherited the status of the man-god who is mediator and redeemer, Osiris of Egypt.

The biggest joke in contemporary Christianity is the claim, not yet dead, that St. Peter died in Rome, was ever a "Pope," or that any evidence exists that he was even in Rome at any time.

If you apply to any of the Catholic churches you will be told to undertake a course of instruction and then to be confirmed.

Best wishes to you in pursuing your calling. The holy church desperately needs more good priests.

Answer 7

:) ok Catholic believe in one Christian baptism, so I don't think you will be rebaptized. But you will have to go through some classes before you can take the other sacraments, and even more to become a priest. Go to your local church, bring the certificate if you like, and talk to them about becoming Catholic.

Answer 8

"Catholicism for Dummies" is an excellent and clear explanation of all the basics. Catholicism is complex, and a lot of people who like simple, easy answers don't get it. The theology has been worked out for two thousand years, so it rests on a bedrock of Sacred Scripture, the traditions of the early Church, and sound reasoning. It's also beautiful. If people give you a hard time about your choice and attack the Church on various issues, go to Catholic Answers (www.catholic.com) for first-rate rebuttals. They have tons of materials that counter anti-Catholic arguments. Good luck, and may God bless you on your journey.

Answer 9

You should call a local Catholic Church and ask to speak to a priest who will know the faith and be able to answer your questions. I know they have classes for people who want to convert that might be helpful for you as well. May the Lord guide you on your journey as you seek Him. God Bless.

Answer 10

Then go to a Catholic church and speak with a priest.