Yay welcome tomorrow!!

It's finally my turn to be welcomed into the Church and its happening tomorrow! I'm really excited! I've got a sponsor and I think even Sue is coming up! I just e-mailed her today as she was wondering if Mum was coming... I don't think so. I don't even think she will come to my baptism. All I got when I asked if she'd like to is "we will see" which in mumspeak means "no".

Baptism - do you take yours seriously?

Okay so last Sunday was the feast of the baptism of Jesus and our Bishop was celebrating. He wanted us to think about our (and my future) baptism and what it means and how in the early church it took quite a long time to get baptised. He also asked what do you we think Jesus thought when he got baptised by John - the perfect, sinless man getting baptised and that it was the start of his public ministry? All I could think of after he said that was the song by the black-eyed peas "Lets get it started in here!" and honestly, from that point on thats all was singing in my head. I'm a horrible peson. However, its made me think even more intently upon my future baptism as a sign that "I'm getting in started" in my new life in the family of God and my walk with Christ.

The Pilgrim Church

I think I finally understand what this means. If not completely understand then have a firm grasp of what it means. Every time I hear this idea, I get this image in my mind of all the Chruch in a procession towards holiness. Everyone making his or her journey indivually but also with all the other members of the church. There are the Saints who are more towards the front because they are closer to holiness and then there are people a little bit further behind for their own reasons. But we are all heading in the same direction - towards God. This also means that we can't stop moving -the Church always has to keep one foot moving in front of the other in order to keep moving towards God.

In other news my welcom wasn't the Sunday I thought it was. Mainly because I still don't have a sponsor so Sue and Kath are helping me organise that a.s.a.p (I just hope I'm not rushing it. I pray that God can help me make the right choice). It is definately going to be sometime at the end of this month. Oh and:

Happy New Year Everyone!

Even thought it isn't easter yet

I just had to share this. It's a powerpoint presentation of some very interesting Stations of the Cross.

Acceptance into the Order of Catechumens

Will be happening next Sunday (19th December) for me!! There is one other inquirer who I think is (was?) an Anglican and thus already baptized and therefore, her journey is going to be a bit different to mine. I think there is going to be combined rite. Sue (who is apprently going to be my sponsor O_o not that I mind) and I are going to the Diocsean center tomorrow evening to prepare with other people from the Diocease for this.


I'm quite excited!

P.S - are Catechumens still dismissed after the homily? I don't know what will happen in our Parish as there is only me.

finally

Mann was talking to me during Mass about us getting initiated together. Kill 2 birds with one stone so to speak. She hasn't been confirmed and I haven't been baptized so I'll be getting baptized and we'll be getting confirmed together and maybe even my first communion. I'm talking to Sue about this afternoon - finally! something is happening.

Where to from here?

To be honest, I'm feeling a bit lost in the lurch. I'm really keen on becoming Catholic (and have been for some time now. Even before I started, officially, going to Mass) but... nothing seems to be happening. I thought there was this programme I had to go through but... there is nothing happening and I don't know what I should do to be honest. Perhaps I'll talk to Sue on Sunday. She is taking the Year 3's at St. Josephs through first reconciliation and said I might be interested. I might pop along actually. Although spending the morning with a bunch of hyperactive 7-8 year-olds doesn't exactly excite me (they are the same age as 2 of my brothers).

If someone said "Tania, do you want to get baptised this Sunday instead of waiting till Easter?" I would say yes. In a heartbeat.

Dinner and a chat

I went and had dinner with a lady in the parish called Sue Ryan. She is the mother hen of a discernment house that is connected to the parish (it used to be where the priests lived in days passed). Anyways, we had a great talk about everything and she even asked my opinion about an idea that the Bishop has about moving the house to Palmerston North (the city). I personally thought it was a good idea as Feilding is a bit out of the way especially for 20-somethings most of whom moved to the city anyways either to study or because there is more jobs. However, it needs to be in the center of the city and connected to either the Cathedral (it's in the centre of town) or St Mary's or Our Lady of Lourdes parishes. I'm more for the Cathedral because it's more central. So yes. Thats my bit about that.

Next, I've noticed that I'm really, really interested in Church history, and how things arose as they did. Sue and I talked about the Council of Nicaea and the Council of Trent and then also about the reformation and counter reformation. I had no idea there was a counter reformation. Sue mentioned something about Luther being some sort of prophetic witness or something like that. Pointing out something that needed to be changed or done, but it being too early. She brought up the illustration of global warming and the environment. There are still the nay-sayers who deny anything is wrong just like in Luthers time. It's a shame that Luther didn't stick it out with the Church because as Sue says, "it's my church too!"

Does anyone know of some good books that give an overview of Church history that won't confuse someone like me?

Oh Sue also said that its possible for someone to be baptized at any Mass because people come into the Church with all sorts of previous history. And that its possible for me to not have to wait until Easter. But she said that we will just have to wait to see what happens with my hopefully-future job.

Religion and Science

Well, if I don't have to deal with enough stress trying to get myself through University the good Lord saw fit to bless(ing in disguise) me with PCOS. My Doctor (who is an Obstetrician / Gynaecologist and happens to have served as the president of the Royal Australasian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists so he knows his stuff!) just wants me to go on the pill. As a Catholic (or almost. Although it's never too late to surrender to Gods will is it? Even if I'm not "officially" counted among the faithful) the pill is an artificial birth control measure right? I want no take in that. I want to treat my symptoms by other means. Here is another womans experience here.

I don't think marriage and children is in Gods plan for me but I do, do, do want to treat the symptoms.

Now to my actual post: being on this road has made me think about science. A lot. It has made me view science and the scientific community and endeavors with new eyes. I think before I put too much trust and faith in science to lead me to knowledge. To lead me to truth. Jesus is truth, he can't deny his nature (as the priest said a couple of Sundays ago) and I will follow him and arrive, blissfully, and probably at the end of my life to the truth realized. I put a lot of stock into being honest and truthful, being the whole truth and nothing but. I think science was my false god, my idol that I would kneel before and say 'your will be done'. Sure, some Christians blindly refuse to believe obvious, OBVIOUS truths and that too, is also wrong. The Lord blessed us with reason and free will and we should use our reason and science help guide us along with His word.

Science can purify religion from error and superstition. Religion can purify science from idolatry and false absolutes.
Pope John Paul II. Ah yes Pope John Paul, you are right. 

anti-catholicism & gays

Okay so, the one thing I'm worried about during my faith journey (and it managed to manifest its self last weekend from my nana no-less) is the anti-Catholicism that is still present in the mind-set of some people. Even Father Marcus brought it up when I was talking to him over a cuppa. I would have NO IDEA how to deal with it. I was expecting a bit of flak from Jessie to be honest, when I told her about our professor and H.O.P (head of programme. I actually think she is an associate professor.) and her telling me she comes from a Presbyterian background but currently goes to the Baptist church in town.

Next, I like girls right? The Churches teaching is that I should be celibate right? Okay-doke no problems. However, a lot of my gay friends have big problems with this. And Christianity in general. I think it's because they feel shat on. They feel not loved because they're being CONSTANTLY told that they (who are made in the image of God) are an abomination in the eyes of God. We are all called to chastity if we aren't married right? Who doesn't struggle with that? The homos struggle with the same urges as hetero people do. It's just that the homos will never be allowed to express their sexuality (orientation?) because the Church doesn't allow 2 men or 2 women to get married so they will be forever sinning when they do something sexual someone they love, who just so happens to be of the same sex. I'm not for gay marriage simply because marriage is a religious term, and I want my marriage between a man and woman. I am fine however, with what ever formal recognition the state wants to provide for people who don't share the religious convictions I do. I don't care if it's marriage by any other name. Here in New Zealand we have civil unions. 2 men can get together and get civilly-unified and have similar rights in regards to properties and what not but they're not married. I'm all down for that.

Homosexuality should be no different than any other sin, if I ever slept with a girl again through my own lack of self-control I would be down on my knees asking God for forgiveness. Just like any other sin I have committed

I hope that makes sense..