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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Salvation for Neighbor and help from Priest	Crystal	Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Question: Dear Brother, I wrote to you a few days ago about a neighbor who was practicing Santeria in which you gave me wonderful advice that I appreciate. Today my neighbor came to my home and was in distress, as she had lost her job. She spoke about her situation and as a good Christian, I prayed with her. I also told her that she needs to rely only on God and God alone, whereas she began to cry and asked me if I would go to church with her. We agreed to go to our neighborhood Catholic church for services this coming Sunday. I feel good about this because I prayed for this woman for her to receive revelation to God's beautiful will and purposes He has for us, however should I still be careful being that she was exposed to Santeria and are there any prayers you can recommend I say for her? Also, because I haven't been to a Catholic for quite some time now, do you think the Priest of my neighborhood church would give me counseling and deliverance on the situation I had, being associated in the past with acquaintances of Santeria, as I want to live a fruitful and peaceful life. I really want to become Catholic because it is a beautiful religion that I have always liked and I feel that this situation is a blessing in disguise, as I really feel closer to God. I have continued to prayer the prayers you suggested and if you would prayer for both my neighbor and I; I would really appreciate it. Thank you so much Brother, you are in my prayers! God Bless, Crystal
Question Answered by Dear Crystal: I praise God that this neighbor is interested in Christ and his Church. You have done the right thing to pray with her and encourage her to rely on God alone. This could be the beginning of a conversion for her, and your prayers may have been the spark for that. Nevertheless, you need to be cautious. She could turn back to witchy ways in a heartbeat. Inasmuch as she is interested in God and His Church, continue to encourage her and go with her to Church. When you attend Mass at your local parish, be sure that neither you or she receives communion. Communion is restricted only to those who are in full communion with the Catholic Church and who are in a State of Grace. When people get up to receive communion, you and she need to remain in your pew and pray. I praise God that you wish to join the Catholic Church, the Church that Jesus personally founded. What you need to do is to call the pastor of the local Catholic parish and tell him that you are interested in converting. He will then instruct you on what you need to do. Most parishes begin classes at this time of year for those interested in converting. Those weekly classes will teach you about the Catholic Faith and help you discern whether or not you wish to go forward next Easter Vigil with your Confirmation. If you have never been validly baptized, then you will also be baptized at the next Easter Vigil and the Confirmed. This is the normal course of things, though it is possible that the procedure may be different depending on the diocese you live in. God promises that all things work together for good to those who love him and are called to his purposes (Romans 8:28). It sounds like this situation with your neighbor, which could have ended up nasty, has been instead a divine appointment for the neighbor to be sparked into interest in Christ, and for you in bringing you forward in interest to join the Church. Praise God, and we will continue to pray for your neighbor and for you — praying for her need to find a job and her need to come to Christ, and your continued growth in the Spirit and in joining the Church. Welcome to the Church. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Salvation for Neighbor and help from Priest

Crystal

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Question:

Dear Brother,

I wrote to you a few days ago about a neighbor who was practicing Santeria in which you gave me wonderful advice that I appreciate.

Today my neighbor came to my home and was in distress, as she had lost her job. She spoke about her situation and as a good Christian, I prayed with her.

I also told her that she needs to rely only on God and God alone, whereas she began to cry and asked me if I would go to church with her. We agreed to go to our neighborhood Catholic church for services this coming Sunday.

I feel good about this because I prayed for this woman for her to receive revelation to God's beautiful will and purposes He has for us, however should I still be careful being that she was exposed to Santeria and are there any prayers you can recommend I say for her?

Also, because I haven't been to a Catholic for quite some time now, do you think the Priest of my neighborhood church would give me counseling and deliverance on the situation I had, being associated in the past with acquaintances of Santeria, as I want to live a fruitful and peaceful life.

I really want to become Catholic because it is a beautiful religion that I have always liked and I feel that this situation is a blessing in disguise, as I really feel closer to God. I have continued to prayer the prayers you suggested and if you would prayer for both my neighbor and I; I would really appreciate it.

Thank you so much Brother, you are in my prayers!

God Bless,
Crystal

Question Answered by

Dear Crystal:

I praise God that this neighbor is interested in Christ and his Church. You have done the right thing to pray with her and encourage her to rely on God alone. This could be the beginning of a conversion for her, and your prayers may have been the spark for that.

Nevertheless, you need to be cautious. She could turn back to witchy ways in a heartbeat. Inasmuch as she is interested in God and His Church, continue to encourage her and go with her to Church.

When you attend Mass at your local parish, be sure that neither you or she receives communion. Communion is restricted only to those who are in full communion with the Catholic Church and who are in a State of Grace.

When people get up to receive communion, you and she need to remain in your pew and pray.

I praise God that you wish to join the Catholic Church, the Church that Jesus personally founded. What you need to do is to call the pastor of the local Catholic parish and tell him that you are interested in converting. He will then instruct you on what you need to do.

Most parishes begin classes at this time of year for those interested in converting. Those weekly classes will teach you about the Catholic Faith and help you discern whether or not you wish to go forward next Easter Vigil with your Confirmation. If you have never been validly baptized, then you will also be baptized at the next Easter Vigil and the Confirmed.

This is the normal course of things, though it is possible that the procedure may be different depending on the diocese you live in.

God promises that all things work together for good to those who love him and are called to his purposes (Romans 8:28). It sounds like this situation with your neighbor, which could have ended up nasty, has been instead a divine appointment for the neighbor to be sparked into interest in Christ, and for you in bringing you forward in interest to join the Church.

Praise God, and we will continue to pray for your neighbor and for you — praying for her need to find a job and her need to come to Christ, and your continued growth in the Spirit and in joining the Church. Welcome to the Church.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum