Skip to main content

An Open Letter to Priests: When Catechumens and Candidates Step Back

Dear Fathers,

I write to you with deep respect and gratitude for the work you do in guiding souls toward Christ and His Church. The journey of faith is a sacred and personal one, and your role as spiritual fathers is invaluable. You pour your hearts into teaching, encouraging, and welcoming those who seek to enter the Catholic Church. For many, the OCIA process leads to the joyous moment of full communion. But for some, after months of discernment, the decision is made to step back.

This letter is for those moments—when a catechumen or candidate chooses, for whatever reason, not to enter the Church at this time.

Please know that this is not a failure. It is not a failure on your part, nor on the part of the sponsors, the catechists, or the catechumen or candidate themselves. Faith journeys do not always follow a straight path. Sometimes, God calls a person to wait, to wrestle with questions a little longer, or to grow in ways unseen before they take that final step.

As priests, you have planted seeds, and those seeds may take time to bear fruit. Even Apollos planted seeds, and others watered them, but it is God who gives the growth (1 Corinthians 3:6). Your words, your kindness, and your teaching are not in vain. Even when someone chooses not to move forward now, the love and truth they have encountered through you remain with them.

To the sponsors and fellow parishioners who have walked alongside them—your support has not been wasted. Your witness to the Catholic faith, your prayers, and your companionship matter. You have shown them what it means to be part of the Body of Christ, and that example may one day be what brings them into the Church.

And to the catechumens and candidates who feel uncertain or who choose to wait—do not see this as a rejection of faith, nor as a sign of failure. God works in His perfect timing. If you have wrestled with doubts, if you feel unready, if something in your heart says, "Not yet," trust that God is leading you. The Church will always be here, ready to welcome you whenever you are ready to return.

Fathers, your work is sacred. The impact you have goes beyond what you see. Trust that God is moving even when the timing does not align with human expectations. Continue to shepherd, love, and trust in the Holy Spirit’s guidance.

With gratitude and prayers,
A Fellow Seeker of Christ

Labels

Labels:

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

Navigating Faith: A Letter to the Pope on My Journey Toward the Catholic Church

For months, I’ve been navigating one of the most difficult spiritual decisions of my life: whether or not to join the Catholic Church. As a Protestant, I’ve always had a deep respect and admiration for the Catholic faith, but there are questions and reservations that have kept me from taking that final step. This journey has been filled with both intellectual and emotional struggle, but it has also been a process of deep reflection and discernment. A Love for the Church, Yet a Hesitation to Commit There is so much about the Catholic Church that speaks to me. I am drawn to the beauty of the liturgy, the rich theological depth, and the vibrant sense of community that exists within the Church. I love the reverence surrounding the Eucharist and the incredible mystery of Christ’s presence in the sacrament. Even more, I find great comfort in the Church’s veneration of Mary and the saints. The thought of a "heavenly cheering section" filled with interceding saints and the Virgin Mar...
Post a Comment
Read more

Navigating Faith: A Letter to the Pope and My Journey to the Catholic Church

Faith is a journey, and for me, that journey has been anything but conventional. It has led me across various Christian and even Jewish traditions, each shaping my understanding of God, truth, and the person I am becoming. My journey toward the Catholic Church has been long, but it has been a path filled with discovery, questions, and, above all, a deep desire to understand God's will for my life. My Journey of Faith: A Unique Path I was raised in the Southern Baptist tradition, but my spiritual journey took many turns over the years. In college, I attended a Messianic Jewish congregation, and after that, I found myself in Presbyterian and conservative Jewish circles. I even went to seminary and ended up in a Methodist congregation before the denomination split. Throughout all of this, my faith was being shaped, my beliefs were evolving, and God was leading me step by step toward something new. In 2024, I began attending Mass, and my official path toward joining the Catholic Church...
Post a Comment
Read more