Expert: Fr. Michael - 6/26/2006

Question
Hello and Good day to you!

I am Radjah from the Philippines. I came from a pure Muslim family. When I was 14, I was baptized to Protestantism, due to the influence of my Protestant teachers (I have studied in a Protestant school from primary to secondary). This baptism is unknown to my parents, who greatly despise Christian teachings.

My whole life changed when a devout Catholic friend introduced Catholicism to me. She told me everything about the unconditional love of Christ to us, the humility and mercy of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the history of the Church and everything. I am greatly moved and enlightened by the Catholic teachings. The Catholic Church is indeed the true Church which I formerly persecuted.
One night, after praying (Hail Mary, Our Father and a personal prayer), I was greatly refreshed and I know that the Holy Spirit is now on me.

Presently, I am studying catechism, lives of Saints and traditional Catholic prayers. I have an intense desire to preach the Gospel, be a Catholic priest and help the needy.
I have "Christianized" my siblings and are also following Catholic teachings.

But the problem is, I am not yet baptized into the Catholic Church. I really, really want to be baptized in order for me to enter a seminary, to preach, to bring my parents to Christ and to be able to call my self a real, baptized Catholic.

1.) What are the first steps to Catholic baptism?
2.) How is Catholic baptism performed?
3.) Will the Church accept me?

Thank you very much!
Hope to hear from you soon.

Yours in Christ,
Radjah


Answer
First of all, be sure that you are getting the *traditional* Catholic Faith, not the New Order religion that poses for it in many churches that call themselves Catholic.  To answer your questions, you need to contact a *traditional* Catholic priest.  For assistance in finding one, check with the Traditional Catholic correspondent for Pacific Oceania, as listed in the Official Traditional Catholic Directory:

Cyril Yee
42 Jalan TK 5/23, Taman Mawar, 47100 Puchong, Selangor, Malaysia
+60 (16) 361-9104, kelvin@baptized.com