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I was baptized Greek Orthodox and practiced as an adult until I married my husband in the Catholic Church several years ago. Now that we have kids it's important to us to be of the same faith so that Church is a family event.
I am interested in converting since I know more about the Catholic Church (I attended 9 years of Catholic school) than my husband knows about the Orthodox Church. Can you tell me is a long process for me to convert? everything I've read seems to say it could take a year or more.
Thank you for your help
Hi, Michelle:
Thanks for the question.
You are correct, the usual RCIA process for somebody already baptized but preparing to be received into full communion with the Roman Catholic Church is about 1-year. Due to your circumstances of having been raised Greek Orthodox, however, I can see how a Priest might be able to go through a quicker process to receive you into full communion with the Roman Catholic Church. At the same time, it seems to me to be worthwhile for you to spend the time looking into the profound reasons for becoming a Roman Catholic, and what would be the essential differences between the Roman Church and the Orthodox Churches.
I suspect that you ought to find overwhelmingly the teachings to be pretty much the same. The biggest differences tend to center around the question of how authority is exercised among the Bishops in union with the Pope as successor of St. Peter.
You ought to present your circumstances and your desire to become a Roman Catholic to the local parish Priest. I certainly hope that he will be helpful and encouraging. I wish you the best!
Fr. Timothy Johnson
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Fr. Timothy Johnson
Expertise
A Traditional Catholic Priest, validly and licitly ordained, incardinated legally and canonically in the Diocese of Fargo, and in good-standing with my Local Ordinary (Bishop) on active assignment at a rural Tri-Parish. I can provide honest and balanced answers to questions on topics pertaining to Traditional Roman Catholicism of the Latin Church (Councils of Trent and Vatican II)and a lot about the Eastern Catholic Churches, including the Sacred Liturgy, Sacred Scripture, Church History, the use of the Latin language, the tradition of Sacred Music, and current events in the Catholic Church from a traditional, historical and balanced perspective.
Experience
I have been ordained a Roman Catholic Priest since June 2001.
Organizations
Knights of Columbus; Church Music Association of America (CMAA)
Education/Credentials
Ordained Priest, 02 JUN 2001; Ordained Deacon, 27 JAN 2001; MA - Dogmatic/Systematic Theology;
MDiv - Professional Degree from Seminary;
2-Years formation with Canons Regular of Premontre including studies and experience in Sacred Liturgy, Chant, Latin, Sacraments, Spirituality.
BA - Scholastic/Thomistic Philosophy;
BA - Liberal Arts;
AA - General Studies.
Past/Present Clients
I serve 3-small, rural Parish Communities in Easter North Dakota
I converted to the Roman Catholic Church in 1981, at the age of 15.
Over the years I have done work as an organist, cantor, and choir director for the Latin Rite (English & Latin) Mass (Liturgy of the Eucharist), and even for the Hours of the Divine Office.
I have worked as a cantor for a Melkite Byzantine Catholic Church.
Presently my pastoral and administrative duties as a Catholic Priest do not allow me as much time as I used to have to devote to Sacred Music; but for my weekend Masses and Solemnities within my Tri-Parish, I offer High Sung Mass in English. Weekday Mass is typically Low Mass (recited Mass) in English, though on occasion I will offer the "Tridentine Mass" in Latin, which I usually offer on my "Day Off", as well. And now, in light of the "Motu Proprio" by his Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI placing the extraordinary usage of the Roman Rite back into the mainstream of the Catholic Church, I have been offering a regularly scheduled SUN, 2:00 PM Tridentine Latin Mass with a community of the faithful that has a stable existence.
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