Msg Base:  AREA 3  - ASK FATHER (AMDG)
  Msg No: 46.  Fri  8-28-92 21:40  (NO KILL)
    From: Father Mateo
      To: Stephen Toth
 Subject: religious orders, et al.

ST|Father Mateo, I have already written you a previous question about
  |praying to the Saints.  I have a second question.  I am interested in
  |learning more about the Religious Orders which exist within the Roman
  |Catholic Church.  I was raised as a Roman Catholic and now am a United
  |Methodist.  I am seriously seeking God as to my vocation in life and have
  |given serious consideration to rejoining the Catholic Church and pursuing
  |a vocation in one of the many Religious Orders.  My problem is that I
  |don't know much about them and can't remember what a good book or person
  |to talk to about this. I hope this is a proper use of this board to ask a
  |more personal question.  I sincerely hope that you can provide me with the
  |information I need as I seek God's will.  My third question is:  If I
  |decided to rejoing the Catholic Church, would I have to be reconfirmed or
  |would the Church even accept me back??  I appreciate your time and
  |patience in answering my many questions!
  |                  Grace and Peace
  |                  Stephen Toth
 
 
Dear Stephen,
 
All your questions about Catholic faith and practice are welcome here.
 
You have a noble name, unmistakably Hungarian.  One of Europe's most
influential writers and preachers between the two World Wars was
Bishop Tihamer Toth (1889-1939).Some of his books were: "The Our
Father", "The Great Redeemer", "The Risen Christ", and "Life
Everlasting".  These and his other books are out of print now, but if
you search for them and find them, you'll enjoy a great reward.
 
Stephen, or Istvan, named after the deacon-martyr of Acts, chapters 6
and 7, was Hungary's greatest king and now her patron saint.
 
Returning to the Catholic Church, the Church of St. Stephen and
Tihamer Toth, will be a return to your culture, your rightful heritage.
You need to read, study, reflect and pray now.  Only God can call a
person to the Catholic Church, Christ's Body (Colossians 1; Ephesians 5)
through the free gift of His grace.  And grace comes by prayer.
 
When one wishes to examine the credentials of the Church and then to
be received into the Church, he must undergo preparation and
training.  This preparation is called the Rite of Christian
Initiation for Adults (RCIA).  RCIA is provided in every Catholic
parish and also in Catholic centers attached to universities.
Preparation requires one year, sometimes two.  Most parishes handle
it basically with evening classes once a week.
 
Because you are now a student and no doubt fully occupied, perhaps
private reading about Catholic doctrine and practice is the way to go
at present.  Here are some books you can buy if your library cannot
provide them:
 
1) John Hardon.  The Question and Answer Catholic Catechism.  New York:
Image Books, Doubleday, 1981.  ISBN 0-385-13664-1 (paperback, $10.95);
 
2) F.J. Sheed.  Theology for Beginners.  Ann Arbor, Michigan: Servant
Books, 1981.ISBN 0-89283-124-3 (paperback).  Available from Servant
Books, Box 8617, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48107;
 
3) F. J. Sheed. Theology and Sanity.  London: Sheed and Ward, third
impression, 1987.  ISBN 0 7220 9017 X (paperback).  Available from
Sheed and Ward, Ltd.  2 Creechurch Lane, London EC3A 5AQ, England.
(American bookstores and college libraries can order this for you.
Foreign publishers often prefer to deal with institutions, rather
than with retail customers.)
 
Baptism and confirmation can be received only once in a lifetime.  One
who is already baptized and confirmed is received into the Church by
a profession of Catholic faith, followed by confession and Holy
Communion.
 
Before following a special vocation like priesthood or life in a
religious order, a convert must ordinarily live as a Catholic for
three years.  So permit me to put your question about religious
orders on hold.  If you enter RCIA, you will meet many priests,
deacons, brothers and sisters.  You can question them personally
about their vocations and lifestyles.
 
You are and will be in my prayers, Istvan.
 
                                Sincerely in Christ,
 
 
                                        Father Mateo