RCIA

Oh, what can I say about RCIA? I hear people talk about their experiences in these programs and their faces are filled with joy. It was such an amazing, magical experience that they will never forget. For me? Not so much.

It took me 2 years to finally commit to RCIA. As Southern Baptists, my family was extremely upset with me. Despite their objections, I was so excited! I started RCIA in August, 2012. My first day was terrible, as some old, bitter sponsors Bible-bashed me over the head. In case you are wondering what sparked their yelling at me, it is because I said I was dating a non-Catholic. That's all I said. They then proceeded to take it upon themselves to tear me apart about possibly getting married outside the Church, raising children with a non-Catholic which would ruin my children for life, and then I lost track of where they were going (I said nothing about marriage or children lol). That is when some other sponsors had to tell the women to calm down and back off. I excused myself early and cried in my car all the way home. Talk about a hell of a first impression! After speaking to the RCIA director, I suppose I became a little indignant, and I refused to let these miserable creatures ruin this for me. So, I stuck with it.

I am still in RCIA now and honestly, things haven't changed a whole lot. My program is in a very large parish so there are a lot of people, which means there is more room for hateful people. It almost feels like grade school when they call me names and try to keep me from worshiping there. Several Catholic friends at my university have told me that I need to switch into another parish. However, I'm so far through the program now, it hardly seems worth the trouble. Plus, I feel that God is calling me to stay there and push through. I am there for Him, not anyone else. RCIA may not be the most wonderful thing in itself for me, but the journey into the Catholic faith has been INCREDIBLE! I can tell you, I have never been more in love with anything.

The hateful people at the Church have only taught me more about the glory of God's love and helped push me closer to Him. For this, I have so much to thank them for.