Skip to main content

Navigating Faith and Belonging: A Personal Journey Through the Catholic Church

In late 2023, I embarked on a significant journey of faith, prompted by a profound disillusionment with my previous Methodist church. The split within the Methodist denomination, centered on issues such as homosexuality, same-sex marriage, and LGBTQIA+ inclusion in leadership roles, left me deeply troubled. I chose to abstain from the vote on the split, unable to support a decision that would marginalize a part of the Christian community based on their identity. My commitment to love and inclusivity guided this decision, leading me to leave the church when it aligned with a more conservative stance.

For nearly eight months, I was away from any church community. This period of absence was marked by a lack of outreach from my former church or its leaders, which was disheartening and left me feeling disconnected. My spiritual journey took an unexpected turn when a dentist friend invited me to attend Mass with him and his wife. What began as a single visit quickly became a regular practice, leading to an invitation from the parish priest to join the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA) and consider teaching faith formation.

Despite the warmth and welcome I’ve experienced, I find myself grappling with several significant questions about the Catholic Church that have arisen during my time in OCIA. My reflections on these questions may resonate with others who are also navigating their faith journey:

1. The Origins of the Church

One of my main questions revolves around the historical origins of the Catholic Church. The Catholic tradition often traces its roots back to Peter, viewed as the first pope. However, this raises questions about how the Church’s practices have evolved since the early Christian community. If the Church’s origins were directly with Peter, why does the Catholic Church not align more closely with the early Jewish roots of Christianity, including the observance of Jewish feasts and festivals?

2. The Role of Communion

Another area of concern for me is the role and requirements for participating in communion. The Bible, particularly 1 Corinthians 11:28-30, emphasizes self-examination before partaking in the Lord’s Supper: “Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup,” and warns of serious consequences for those who do not. This suggests that communion is a personal and reflective act of faith. Why, then, is formal church membership a prerequisite for receiving communion in the Catholic Church?

3. The Concept of Pride and Exclusivity

Lastly, I’ve encountered the notion that not joining the Catholic Church could lead to a questioning of one's faith or standing before Jesus. This idea concerns me, as I believe that salvation and faith are deeply personal and not solely contingent on denominational affiliation. I find it troubling that some might view non-Catholic Christians as inadequate or excluded. This perspective seems to imply a level of pride and exclusivity that conflicts with the inclusive nature of the Christian faith as I understand it.

Reflecting on Faith and Belonging

My reflections are not meant to challenge or critique but to seek understanding and clarity. I am deeply committed to exploring a faith community that aligns with my values of inclusivity, love, and personal faith. As I continue this journey, I hope to gain a deeper understanding of how the Catholic Church’s teachings and practices align with the broader principles of Christianity.

Thank you for joining me in this exploration of faith and community. I look forward to continuing this journey with an open heart and a quest for knowledge, hoping to find a spiritual home where my beliefs and values are embraced and nurtured.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Navigating Faith: Called to Go Deeper

This morning’s daily reading from the Catholic lectionary— Jeremiah 1:4–10 —hit me hard. It’s one I’ve read before, maybe even skimmed. But today, I slowed down and took it in. Jeremiah was afraid. He thought he was too young to be used by God. Too inexperienced. Too small. And in response, God didn’t entertain the excuse. He said to him,   “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ To whomever I send you, you shall go; whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you” (Jeremiah 1:7–8). That struck a chord in me. Later, I saw an Instagram post from a local church. In the photo, a little girl—my former friend’s daughter—was sitting in Children’s Church with her Bible and highlighter on her lap. She looked like she was studying. I don’t know if she was just following instructions or if something deeper was happening in her heart. But either way, I found myself praying for her. In that moment, I understood something: God isn't interested in how q...
Post a Comment
Read more

Holy Saturday: Stillness, Scars, and the In-Between

Today is Holy Saturday —a sacred, quiet pause in the Christian calendar. It’s the day Jesus lay in a borrowed tomb, purchased by Joseph of Arimathea. According to the Nicene Creed , it was during this time that He descended into hell , entering the deepest places of human pain and separation so that we would never have to know that finality—if we accept Him as our Savior. “He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits…” —1 Peter 3:18–19 It’s also the day of the Easter Vigil , the most solemn and sacred liturgy in the Catholic Church. For many catechumens and candidates, this is the night of becoming Catholic. And for me, that was supposed to be today. As many of you know, I’ve been discerning Catholicism for quite some time. I love the Catholic liturgy—the beauty, the reverence, the rhythm of it. I’m active in the Church and genuinely enjoy being there. But the truth is, I haven’t discer...
Post a Comment
Read more

Navigating Faith: Thank You, Mom and Dad—You Taught Me How to Be Catholic

I’ve said it many times before, and I’ll keep saying it: being Catholic will always be an experience in my family. That’s not just because of theology—it’s because of my story. I was raised in a traditional Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) church. My maternal grandfather was an assistant pastor at a small Pentecostal/holiness congregation, so my mom grew up in a deeply charismatic environment. Church was non-negotiable. If the doors were open, they were there. My dad’s upbringing was different—his father was a moonshiner, and while they went to church occasionally, it wasn’t regular or structured. In between those two worlds—Pentecostal intensity and Baptist formality—I was raised. But what my parents gave me, more than any creed or custom, was a gift that I now realize was extraordinary: freedom. Not just the freedom to choose my own hobbies or pick out my clothes. It was the sacred kind of freedom—the kind that allows a child to ask hard questions, explore unfamiliar paths, and wre...
Post a Comment
Read more