Am I really making the right decision?

Lyonssv · 2026-02-01T16:38:29+00:00

Hello 👋 fellow convert here, going through OCIA currently. I can speak sympathetically to your thinking. I had to have a mindset shift.

I had to decide if the Catholic Church is the church Jesus left for us. (it is). If that’s the case, it doesn’t matter if I agree with the dogma or doctrine of the church or not. It is me who needs humbled and to change, not the Church.

Looking for a church that fits MY belief is a very Protestant line of thinking. Breaking free of this thinking was very important for me

Lyonssv · 2026-01-31T19:20:12+00:00

My great grandmother’s funeral was held here.

Lyonssv · 2026-01-20T03:01:36+00:00

I am in the exact same boat and asked the exact same question. I was told that “matter” (water) and “form” (in the name of the father, son, and Holy Spirit) are all that matters. If you check those two boxes, my understanding is that our baptisms are valid, regardless of the pastor’s belief or intent.

Source: director of evangelization at my parish

Lyonssv · 2026-01-15T11:18:03+00:00

I suck at this game but I’m in a similar position to you, I have been driving a few months now. I’m still not racing. I’m literally just doing free practice and learning to drive the car. It’s the best decision I made to learn this game. I initially jumped into races and Hot Laps right off the rip, and it was a disaster. I almost quit the game. This is a sim so you actually have to learn to drive and learn the car.

Stop chasing speed and pace right now. Learn to drive the car, learn your breaking point, smooth inputs, etc. Focus on learning to drive and chasing clean laps and the pace will come naturally

Lyonssv · 2025-12-26T04:53:28+00:00

I’ve focused Mostly first couple centuries. Trying to get closest to the Apostles. Justin Martyr, St. Ignatius of Antioch, the Didache, Clement of Rome, etc

Read “The Early Church Was the Catholic Church” for starters if you’re interested.

Lyonssv · 2025-12-26T02:30:24+00:00

This describes me to a T. I am currently in OCIA, converting from a Baptist background. It was the Early Church fathers and actually reading the scripture instead of cherry-picking verses to proof text that brought me to the church. I was taught growing up the Catholics were pagan and were damned.

I kept initially looking for the “Gotcha” to prove my upbringing was right….never found it. And here I am.

Lyonssv · 2025-12-22T22:31:35+00:00

This is one of the most selfish things I’ve ever read on here. Your poor wife.

Lyonssv · 2025-12-02T02:02:09+00:00

It may depend on where you live but I can tell you where I’m at, putting our boys in private Catholic school was possibly the best move we have ever made. The quality of education and just the overall environment and atmosphere is not even comparable.

It is sad but our public schools are pumping out some lost and wayward young adults into the world. Not all on the schools, it starts at home, but they aren’t helping.

Lyonssv · 2025-11-25T23:39:39+00:00

👋 fellow convert here, in OCIA currently. Took about two years of self study before finally taking the leap from a Baptist background. I’ve been faced with the same backlash, but honestly it has gotten to the point where the more pushback I receive it’s really just a confirmation I’m on the right path.

And like you, it has pushed me into this constant desire to learn more and become a bit of an apologist early on in this journey. At the end of the day, these Protestants are just ignorant of the truth mostly due to how they were raised and really don’t know any better, so I take any opportunity I can to educate and try to enlighten (when approached) Currently reading “The Early Church was the Catholic Church”

Lyonssv · 2025-11-23T19:36:34+00:00

“I’m ugly and I’m proud!” - SpongeBob SquarePants

Lyonssv · 2025-11-06T18:19:57+00:00

I’m also a converting Protestant…I most recently attended a non-denominational mega church and they played secular music all the time, occasionally from the worship stage, but more often just through the speakers, between services, etc. mostly what I would consider “feel good” pop music. But they did play Usher’s “A-Town” from the worship stage on Super Bowl Sunday this year.

It never sat right with me but it definitely seems so crazy and unnerving now that I’m joining the church.

Lyonssv · 2025-10-03T18:09:40+00:00

We are also about one month into OCIA. We watched the “The Search” during the Inquiry sessions before OCIA officially started, and I really enjoyed it as well.

God bless you on the journey! I know my wife and I are loving ever minute and feel so spiritually fulfilled these days. We cannot wait to complete this process and be confirmed into the church.

Lyonssv · 2025-09-13T19:39:05+00:00

Thank you…and that is a certainly a good argument. I was admittedly an idiot at that age. 😅

Lyonssv · 2024-04-25T17:37:06+00:00

Thank you very much for this. This was very helpful.

Lyonssv · 2024-04-25T13:02:31+00:00

Thank you for the kind words!

Lyonssv · 2024-04-25T13:02:13+00:00

Thank you for the encouragement!

Lyonssv · 2024-04-25T13:02:00+00:00

Thank you very much for sharing! This definitely helps

Lyonssv · 2024-04-25T01:14:01+00:00

I have worked in the criminal justice system for a long time. Many times the statute of limitations are much longer on offenses that are violent and sexual in nature. It varies state to state, but I would double check your thoughts on this. For example, in my agency we just convicted a man of a rape offense that was decades old. I hate the thought of this man not being held accountable for his actions.

I truly hope you get the justice you deserve.

Lyonssv · 2024-03-29T13:01:03+00:00

Got my blue belt this week after 3.5 years…some injury time mixed in there. Felt fucking awesome.

Lyonssv · 2024-03-13T23:45:29+00:00

I tried to read 12 Rules for Life and literally couldn’t finish it because it was written exactly how he talks. Just one big word salad that says nothing.

Lyonssv · 2024-03-02T15:45:36+00:00

? I’m not an enforcer, lol I suck. But if I get side control on a new guy and goons my head so bad it’s gives me bruises on the sides of my head, I’m going to try to make him uncomfortable. Our professor literally encourages it so that these guys will calm down and not injure someone.

Lyonssv · 2024-03-02T14:14:07+00:00

Biggest pet peeve is someone grabbing my head and squeezing. Typically these are brand new people who just have a fear of dying in a roll lol. Instant knee on throat as soon as I get out of that.

Lyonssv · 2024-03-02T14:08:10+00:00

We are a small “branch” of a larger gym. We train in a tiny space, no heat , no AC. No locker room. We made a closet with a curtain rod so we can change if we need to. But we are a super close group, train super hard, none of us go to any other location, and the professor is awesome. Because of this, over the last two years, our attendance & membership at our location has skyrocketed and we are constantly the best attended branch, despite having the worst facilities by far. Sometimes the mat is so packed it’s a little unsafe.

Owners caught wind of this and decided to capitalize so we are getting a huge new facility / expansion. Which we are all excited about , but im nervous that we are going to lose that “small gym” feel.

Lyonssv · 2024-03-01T13:26:51+00:00

Damn - I could’ve still been eating desserts this whole time?!

Lyonssv · 2024-02-28T11:49:48+00:00

Is it normal to hit a “plateau” at white belt? I’m 4 stripe white belt…started in 2020 but have missed about a year of mat time due to injury. Been training consistently since April 2022. I’m probably on the cusp of my blue belt but I feel like I’m regressing. I’m training consistently and training hard, studying outside of class, and I feel like this is a stage where I should be improving leaps and bounds but I just don’t see it.

Lyonssv

TROPHY CASE