Subjects:
Personal Conversion Stories
Personal Conversion Stories
[10/Aug/2004:21:14:45] <Father Phillip> branthamel: Hello
[10/Aug/2004:21:14:47] <Father Phillip> hey
[10/Aug/2004:21:15:44] <Father Phillip> branthamel: How are you
doing this evening? Would you mind telling me a little about how you yourself
came to the catholic faith?
[10/Aug/2004:21:15:58] <Father Phillip> this evening, i'm doing
well -- thank God!
[10/Aug/2004:21:16:05] <Father Phillip> hope you are!
[10/Aug/2004:21:16:15] <Father Phillip> a little about moi, eh?
[10/Aug/2004:21:16:21] <Father Phillip> well, let's see...
[10/Aug/2004:21:16:41] <Father Phillip> i was born and raised a
Methodist in a very devout Methodist home in Texas
[10/Aug/2004:21:16:56] <Father Phillip> (that was about a thousand
years ago!)
[10/Aug/2004:21:17:13] <Father Phillip> i went to college in Dallas
at Southern Methodist University and majored in religion
[10/Aug/2004:21:17:36] <Father Phillip> then i came out to North
Carolina to attend Duke University Divinity School
[10/Aug/2004:21:17:57] <Father Phillip> honestly, i didn't have
a lot of intention of becoming a minister, but i wanted to know more about religious
faith and theology
[10/Aug/2004:21:18:05] <Father Phillip> so Div School seemed like
a good choice
[10/Aug/2004:21:18:07] <Father Phillip> and it was
[10/Aug/2004:21:18:24] <Father Phillip> while i was in Div School,
i was -- first -- 'converted' to Christianity
[10/Aug/2004:21:18:49] <Father Phillip> at least in the sense that
my mind was given a firm foundation of understanding for the faith that my heart
had pretty much always had
[10/Aug/2004:21:19:04] <Father Phillip> as i studied mostly Protestant
theology at Duke Dive,
[10/Aug/2004:21:19:14] <Father Phillip> i realized that i really
wasn't a Protestant
[10/Aug/2004:21:19:23] <Father Phillip> that Protestant theology
didn't make a lot of sense to me
[10/Aug/2004:21:19:30] <Father Phillip> so i started looking around
[10/Aug/2004:21:19:37] <Father Phillip> and i read lots and lots
of stuff
[10/Aug/2004:21:19:54] <Father Phillip> and came to the conclusion
that Catholic theology DID (and does) make sense
[10/Aug/2004:21:19:59] <Father Phillip> branthamel: kudos to you
for pursuing your interests even to divinity school without the intention of
making a career of it. a true academic
[10/Aug/2004:21:20:05] <Father Phillip> thanks
[10/Aug/2004:21:20:35] <Father Phillip> so the second 'conversion'
was what i would call an 'intellectual conversion' to Catholicism
[10/Aug/2004:21:21:24] <Father Phillip> experientially, the magnificent
undergraduate students at Duke showed me that being Catholic was where i should
live out this 'intellectual faith' that had come through study and the teaching
of my professors
Back to the Top
[10/Aug/2004:21:21:29]
<Father Phillip> branthamel: obviously this is not a simple question,
but what were the main aspects of the catholic faith that made you think it
"made sense" in ways that protestantism didn't?
[10/Aug/2004:21:21:48] <Father Phillip> oh, basically, it had to
do with historical continuity
[10/Aug/2004:21:22:03] <Father Phillip> if Jesus really was the
Son of God Who was born of the Virgin Mary
[10/Aug/2004:21:22:22] <Father Phillip> and if Jesus' life, teaching,
death, and resurrection were historical REALities
[10/Aug/2004:21:22:53] <Father Phillip> then i figured the faith
community which He established needed to have something like an unbroken line
of historical continuity with that faith community
[10/Aug/2004:21:22:59] <Father Phillip> Catholicism seemed to have
that
[10/Aug/2004:21:23:12] <Father Phillip> in other ways of being
Christian, i couldn't find it as clearly
[10/Aug/2004:21:23:19] <Father Phillip> so Catholicism kind of
'made sense' to me
[10/Aug/2004:21:23:23] <Father Phillip> ok?
[10/Aug/2004:21:23:31] <Father Phillip> branthamel: yeah
[10/Aug/2004:21:23:34] <Father Phillip> good
[10/Aug/2004:21:24:39] <Father Phillip> well, for the purposes
of 'chat' that's really about it -- at least the intellectual part
Back to the Top
[10/Aug/2004:21:25:33]
<Father Phillip> branthamel: since you mention historical continuity
[10/Aug/2004:21:25:36] <Father Phillip> branthamel: so why catholicsm
vs. the orthodox church which has the same continuity?
[10/Aug/2004:21:25:39] <Father Phillip> good question
[10/Aug/2004:21:25:54] <Father Phillip> the short answer to your
very good question is:
[10/Aug/2004:21:25:59] <Father Phillip> caesaropapism
[10/Aug/2004:21:26:16] <Father Phillip> which in really simplistic
terms (which always help me to understand better!)
[10/Aug/2004:21:26:19] <Father Phillip> is
[10/Aug/2004:21:26:47] <Father Phillip> the belief that only a
caesar can call a truly ecumenical council with full conciliar authority
[10/Aug/2004:21:27:31] <Father Phillip> that belief in Orthodoxy
has meant that they really can only accept as authentically "ecumenical"
the Councils in the first 6 or 7 centuries of the Christian era
[10/Aug/2004:21:28:01] <Father Phillip> that leaves the faith community
somewhat bereft of the absolutely necessary guidance and dogmatic providence
of the Holy Spirit
[10/Aug/2004:21:28:03] <Father Phillip> or
[10/Aug/2004:21:28:17] <Father Phillip> as one of my Orthodox teachers
once put it
[10/Aug/2004:21:28:29] <Father Phillip> "we have our feet
planted firmly in the 6th ecntury"
[10/Aug/2004:21:28:52] <Father Phillip> which was cool in the 7th
century, maybe, but doesn't work real well in the 21st!
[10/Aug/2004:21:29:57] <Father Phillip> of course, let me hasten
to add:
[10/Aug/2004:21:30:05] <Father Phillip> according to Catholic belief
--
[10/Aug/2004:21:30:15] <Father Phillip> the Orthodox Churches are
FULLY Churches
[10/Aug/2004:21:30:23] <Father Phillip> their Sacraments of FULLY
Sacraments
[10/Aug/2004:21:30:44] <Father Phillip> and their Churches are
not deficient in any of the attributes of the Church
[10/Aug/2004:21:30:55] <Father Phillip> it's just that my own opinion
[10/Aug/2004:21:30:57] <Father Phillip> was that
[10/Aug/2004:21:31:13] <Father Phillip> Orthodoxy's ecclesial self-understanding
[10/Aug/2004:21:31:24] <Father Phillip> made following the guidance
of the Spirit
[10/Aug/2004:21:31:27] <Father Phillip> more difficult
Back to the Top
[10/Aug/2004:21:31:31]
<Father Phillip> branthamel: so perhaps you are saying the lack
of a mechanism for doctorinal "development" is a hinderance in the
orthodox faith, although to play the devils advocate they certianly are able
to "interpret" the scripture in todays world according the the 7th
century (or original faith)
[10/Aug/2004:21:31:41] <Father Phillip> precisely
[10/Aug/2004:21:31:58] <Father Phillip> interpreting the Scipture
isn't really the issue as i see it
[10/Aug/2004:21:32:56] <Father Phillip> it's the development of
doctrine - to use Cardinal Newman's apt phrase in dogmatic issues, and the specifically
with regard to whatever 'development' the Spirit of God may graciously chose
to give the community of faith via the Tradition
[10/Aug/2004:21:33:27] <Father Phillip> Pope Pius XII put these
ideas into his otherwise somewhat maligned encyclical, "Humani generis"
Back to the Top
[10/Aug/2004:21:33:31]
<Father Phillip> branthamel: so in contrast to the ceasaropapsim,
catholics believe that only the pope can litgementaly call a ecumenical council
and only through his authority as the "head" of the church is its
decisions legitimized
[10/Aug/2004:21:33:53] <Father Phillip> basically, yes -- i think
you're right on the mark about Catholic belief in this regard
[10/Aug/2004:21:35:57] <Father Phillip> oh, one semi-correction:
[10/Aug/2004:21:36:12] <Father Phillip> Christ is the Head of the
Church -- for Catholics and for everybody else!
[10/Aug/2004:21:36:42] <Father Phillip> the Pope is the "visible
head" or more correctly, Christ's Vicar, that is, the one who stands in
for Christ
[10/Aug/2004:21:36:47] <Father Phillip> branthamel: No one would
argue with that!
[10/Aug/2004:21:36:58] <Father Phillip> i didn't figure you would
argue with that
[10/Aug/2004:21:37:03] <Father Phillip> but just wanted to be clear!
:-)
Back to the Top
[10/Aug/2004:21:37:08]
<Father Phillip> branthamel: well. It seems likely that the idea
of ceasaropapism is something that might have been politically forced on the
russian church especially which they would perhaps not agree is a basic tenet
of thier faith (much akin to the right of heads of catholic states to block
a canidate for the pope)
[10/Aug/2004:21:37:34] <Father Phillip> i think you're probably
right in the observation
[10/Aug/2004:21:38:08] <Father Phillip> though the particulars
of Russian Orthodoxy and the right of Catholic Sovereigns to block papal candidacies
are not things i know too much about :-)
[10/Aug/2004:21:39:27] <Father Phillip> but while caesaropapism
never made it into the Creed for the Russian Orthodox, i do think they would
argue that some form of it is basic/fundamental/really, really important to
their faith
[10/Aug/2004:21:39:31] <Father Phillip> branthamel: well they probably
aren't whats key to living a life of faith anyways, all the intellectual doctrine
in the world isn't worth much if you still walk right by the nearest homeless
man
[10/Aug/2004:21:39:46] <Father Phillip> no argument here!
[10/Aug/2004:21:39:53] <Father Phillip> that homeless guy is probably
Jesus!
Back to the Top
[10/Aug/2004:21:41:02]
<Father Phillip> branthamel: But I will say at least from my viewpoint
as a seeker trying to find the "right" church, all the different denominations
of christianity can be confusing at times and I don't think its safe to say
one is as good as another
[10/Aug/2004:21:41:23] <Father Phillip> no comment
[10/Aug/2004:21:41:24] <Father Phillip> :-)
[10/Aug/2004:21:41:34] <Father Phillip> i am grateful that God
led me to where i am
[10/Aug/2004:21:41:39] <Father Phillip> that's about all i'm willing
to say
[10/Aug/2004:21:41:52] <Father Phillip> but i can say that with
conviction and GENUINE gratitude
[10/Aug/2004:21:41:56] <Father Phillip> branthamel: and I 'll pray
he leads me where he wishes me to go
[10/Aug/2004:21:41:59] <Father Phillip> oh dude!
[10/Aug/2004:21:42:05] <Father Phillip> God will DEFINITELY lead
you
[10/Aug/2004:21:42:13] <Father Phillip> and you seem to be listening
and following
[10/Aug/2004:21:42:21] <Father Phillip> so that sounds like a GRAND
combo!
Back to the Top
[10/Aug/2004:21:44:34]
<Father Phillip> branthamel: I'm a little bit curious about the
sacrament of confession? are only full members of the catholic church "eligible"
for this sacrament and if so when do people undergoing RCIA undertake the sacrament?
[10/Aug/2004:21:44:59] <Father Phillip> let me answer this in a
second but first
[10/Aug/2004:21:45:03] <Father Phillip> nick: hi
[10/Aug/2004:21:45:06] <Father Phillip> hello
[10/Aug/2004:21:45:36] <Father Phillip> i'm going to answer the
question about confession, nick, and then will be happy to chat with you --
ok?
[10/Aug/2004:21:45:53] <Father Phillip> the fundamental issue with
ALL the Sacraments is Baptism
[10/Aug/2004:21:46:14] <Father Phillip> the only people who are
"eligible" for any of the Sacraments are those persons who have been
Baptized
[10/Aug/2004:21:46:37] <Father Phillip> that leaves a bit of "wiggle
room" in a technical answer to your question about who's eligible
[10/Aug/2004:21:46:49] <Father Phillip> with regard to RCIA participants
[10/Aug/2004:21:47:29] <Father Phillip> usually RCIA participants
who have been baptized in another Christian community, are offered the opportunity
to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation toward the end of Lent
[10/Aug/2004:21:47:31] <Father Phillip> IF
[10/Aug/2004:21:47:44] <Father Phillip> they have made the decision
to come into full communion with the Catholic Church
[10/Aug/2004:21:48:16] <Father Phillip> if RCIA participants have
NOT been baptized, they don't receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation before
their Baptism
[10/Aug/2004:21:48:27] <Father Phillip> for Baptism wipes away
all sin -- both original and actual
[10/Aug/2004:21:49:12] <Father Phillip> newly baptized Catholic
Christians are catechized to celebrate Reconciliation at an approptiate time
AFTER they have been baptized and after they may have committed sins
[10/Aug/2004:21:49:14] <Father Phillip> ok?
[10/Aug/2004:21:49:55] <Father Phillip> branthamel: yes
[10/Aug/2004:21:49:57] <Father Phillip> cool
[10/Aug/2004:21:50:02] <Father Phillip> so, nick, may i help you
now?
[10/Aug/2004:21:50:17] <Father Phillip> and branthamel, you DON'T
have to go
[10/Aug/2004:21:50:57]
<Father Phillip> nick: i had a question regarding a previous answer
that was given to a student inquiring about what edition of the Bible is authorized
[10/Aug/2004:21:51:11] <Father Phillip> ok -- what's the question?
[10/Aug/2004:21:52:08] <Father Phillip> nick: in the reply it said
that The New American Revised Edition is the right one to go with, so I went
to my local bookstore becasue I've been reading "Good News"
[10/Aug/2004:21:52:41] <Father Phillip> right -- NAB Revised is
the one that is currently proclaimed at weekend Liturgy (and daily Mass as well
for that matter)
[10/Aug/2004:21:52:51] <Father Phillip> so it's the one we/i recomment
[10/Aug/2004:21:52:56] <Father Phillip> nick: I finally found a
bible which only said Holy Bible in the centre and at the bottom it said: "New
Revised Edition"
[10/Aug/2004:21:53:07] <Father Phillip> ok -- that's probably not
it, but....
[10/Aug/2004:21:53:51] <Father Phillip> and what's the question,
then?
[10/Aug/2004:21:54:17] <Father Phillip> nick: If it was the same
thing
[10/Aug/2004:21:54:22] <Father Phillip> nope, don't think so
[10/Aug/2004:21:54:35] <Father Phillip> the easiest way to tell
is to look in the table of contents
[10/Aug/2004:21:55:07] <Father Phillip> if the books of I and II
Maccabees are in this Bible, then you might be in the right version
[10/Aug/2004:21:55:47] <Father Phillip> but if those books (and
some others) aren't there, then you don't have a New American Bible Revised
edition
[10/Aug/2004:21:55:53] <Father Phillip> nick: I went to several
bookstores and none of them actually had the words "New American Revised
Edition of them", just stuff like King James, Good News, Revised.... actually,
I did find one that said "New American Revised" however, it was a
Study Bible.
[10/Aug/2004:21:56:16] <Father Phillip> may i ask where you are,
geographically?
[10/Aug/2004:21:56:30] <Father Phillip> nick: Montreal, Quebec,
Canada
[10/Aug/2004:21:56:35] <Father Phillip> francophone?
[10/Aug/2004:21:56:48] <Father Phillip> nick: bilingual
[10/Aug/2004:21:56:51] <Father Phillip> c'est bon!
[10/Aug/2004:21:57:02] <Father Phillip> nick: bien sur!
[10/Aug/2004:21:57:11] <Father Phillip> ok -- now you've heard
all the french i know!
[10/Aug/2004:21:57:16] <Father Phillip> let's go back to english!
[10/Aug/2004:21:57:17] <Father Phillip> :-)
[10/Aug/2004:21:57:22] <Father Phillip> a confession i have to
make
[10/Aug/2004:21:57:43] <Father Phillip> the New American Bible
Revised version is the one that is used in the United States
[10/Aug/2004:21:57:49] <Father Phillip> it's not what's used in
Canada
[10/Aug/2004:21:58:04] <Father Phillip> and i can't remember the
name of the version that is used in Canadian parishes :-(
[10/Aug/2004:21:58:25] <Father Phillip> did you see a Bible called
the Revised New Jerusalem Bible?
[10/Aug/2004:21:58:51] <Father Phillip> or it's french version,
l'bible d' jerusalem nuveau, i think it it
[10/Aug/2004:21:59:02] <Father Phillip> nick: Well, my Good News
bible was the one (if I remember correctly), that was given to me my the Priest
at my church at either communion or confimation.
[10/Aug/2004:21:59:09] <Father Phillip> then stick with it for
now!
[10/Aug/2004:21:59:21] <Father Phillip> nick: I may have, not sure
though..
[10/Aug/2004:21:59:46] <Father Phillip> for french-english bilingual
folks, the Revised New Jerusalem Bible is the BEST version available
[10/Aug/2004:22:00:05] <Father Phillip> it is really, really excellent
for folks who are smart enough to read and speak both languages
[10/Aug/2004:22:00:13] <Father Phillip> not necessarily for dolts
like me!
[10/Aug/2004:22:00:14] <Father Phillip> ;-)
[10/Aug/2004:22:00:56] <Father Phillip> but did you get the thing
about looking in the table of contents for the names of the books of Maccabees?
only Catholic Bibles have those in them as a rule
[10/Aug/2004:22:01:01] <Father Phillip> nick: Oh, I thought it
was wrong for me to read another version... I was also wondering if it is okay
to read study bibles and books about catholism, and even about others religions
(it's probably a stupid question)
[10/Aug/2004:22:01:16] <Father Phillip> THERE IS NO SUCH THING
AS A STUPID QUESTION!!!!!
Back to the Top
[10/Aug/2004:22:01:37]
<Father Phillip> sure, it's very good to read study bibles and
books about catholicism and even other religions
[10/Aug/2004:22:01:42] <Father Phillip> nick: ahh!!!! ok ok, im
sorry :P
[10/Aug/2004:22:01:45] <Father Phillip> good for you!
[10/Aug/2004:22:01:56] <Father Phillip> as a general pedagogical
rule though
[10/Aug/2004:22:02:19] <Father Phillip> one needs to be well grounded
in one's own point-of-view before one can read intelligently about other points-of-view
[10/Aug/2004:22:02:28] <Father Phillip> that means, practically
speaking
[10/Aug/2004:22:03:08] <Father Phillip> that you probably need
to know as much as possible about Catholicism -- within reason of course --
before you start spending a whole heckuva lot of time reading about other kinds
of Christianity or other faiths
[10/Aug/2004:22:03:41] <Father Phillip> knowing your own tradition
gives you a measuring stick, so to speak, to understand and make 'comparisons'
with other traditions
[10/Aug/2004:22:03:44] <Father Phillip> nick: i see
[10/Aug/2004:22:03:46] <Father Phillip> cool
Back to the Top
[10/Aug/2004:22:04:16]
<Father Phillip> nick: what about READING about things liek Wicca
and witchcraft for example?
[10/Aug/2004:22:04:34] <Father Phillip> my best advice is to stay
away even from reading about things like that
[10/Aug/2004:22:04:53] <Father Phillip> God can and does work miraculously
through virtually anything
[10/Aug/2004:22:05:14] <Father Phillip> but wicca and witchcraft
have (un)healthy 'doses' of reference to the evil one in them
[10/Aug/2004:22:05:36] <Father Phillip> and i think the evil one
is -- well -- so evil that we should stay as far away from him/it as we possibly
can
[10/Aug/2004:22:05:58] <Father Phillip> i just think there's enough
meanness in the world without spending any extra time consorting with that stuff
[10/Aug/2004:22:06:03] <Father Phillip> make sense?
[10/Aug/2004:22:06:21] <Father Phillip> nick: wouldn't that just
empower the evil one?
[10/Aug/2004:22:06:29] <Father Phillip> i'm sorry -- i don't understand
the question
[10/Aug/2004:22:06:33] <Father Phillip> nick: to fear and avoid
him?
[10/Aug/2004:22:06:38] <Father Phillip> no, i don't think so
[10/Aug/2004:22:06:53] <Father Phillip> the only thing that is
powerful enough to overcome the evil one is God
[10/Aug/2004:22:07:00] <Father Phillip> you're not strong enough
to do it
[10/Aug/2004:22:07:11] <Father Phillip> and i'm CERTAINLY not strong
enough
[10/Aug/2004:22:07:48] <Father Phillip> so i think the best thing
we can do to avoid temptation from the evil one (as the Our Father puts it)
is to spend our time and energy focused on God Who Alone can overpower the evil
one
[10/Aug/2004:22:08:05] <Father Phillip> nick: oh, my way of thinking
was always that being a follower of God who is almighty and powerful enough
to overpower the evil one, he is kind of my body guard in a sense..
[10/Aug/2004:22:08:34] <Father Phillip> well, that is kind of what
saint Paul says -- it's a famous passage of Scripture about putting on the whole
armor of God
[10/Aug/2004:22:08:40] <Father Phillip> and so i think you're right
[10/Aug/2004:22:08:43] <Father Phillip> but even so
[10/Aug/2004:22:09:07] <Father Phillip> i just can't imagine wanting,
willfully to spend time being with the evil one in any way, shape, form or fashion
[10/Aug/2004:22:09:34] <Father Phillip> i know that -- for example
-- i can put on sun screen to protect me from the sun's harmful rays
[10/Aug/2004:22:10:02] <Father Phillip> but if i am prone to skin
cancer, i can't imagine why i would want to be out in the sun more than i absolutely
HAVE to be
[10/Aug/2004:22:10:07] <Father Phillip> nick: i think i may understand
your point if you are implying that instead of devoting any of my tiem to the
evil one i should be devoting it God
[10/Aug/2004:22:10:15] <Father Phillip> yes, basically, that is
what i am saying
[10/Aug/2004:22:10:22] <Father Phillip> there's enough rottenness
in the world
[10/Aug/2004:22:10:38] <Father Phillip> i don't need to waste one
single instant of time or energy on the evil one!
[10/Aug/2004:22:10:44] <Father Phillip> nick: By the way, to go
off-topic for a second, I am a college student now, I just don't know if there
is a way to update the information in my profile..
[10/Aug/2004:22:11:08] <Father Phillip> the profiles aren't up-date-able
[10/Aug/2004:22:11:17] <Father Phillip> you can just create a new
profile if you'd like
[10/Aug/2004:22:11:23] <Father Phillip> and congrats on being a
college student!
[10/Aug/2004:22:11:28] <Father Phillip> that's great
[10/Aug/2004:22:11:32] <Father Phillip> what year are you?
[10/Aug/2004:22:11:42] <Father Phillip> nick: Well, CEGEP here
in quebec :)
[10/Aug/2004:22:11:49] <Father Phillip> ok -- i'm stupid -- what
does that mean?
[10/Aug/2004:22:12:55] <Father Phillip> nick: We are the only province
in Quebec that doesn't have college, we have 11 years of high school, 2 years
of CEGEP (our 'version' of college) and then whatever years of University.
[10/Aug/2004:22:13:07] <Father Phillip> ahhh,gotcha
[10/Aug/2004:22:13:13] <Father Phillip> nick: I'm starting on the
23rd of August, first year.
[10/Aug/2004:22:13:27] <Father Phillip> well, you will be STUPENDOUSLY
SUCCESSFUL at it!
[10/Aug/2004:22:13:30] <Father Phillip> i'm positive!
[10/Aug/2004:22:13:43] <Father Phillip> nick: Thank you very much!
[10/Aug/2004:22:13:48] <Father Phillip> ma oui!
[10/Aug/2004:22:14:09] <Father Phillip> i love canada -- it's a
great country
[10/Aug/2004:22:14:21] <Father Phillip> i take my vacation there
every summer
[10/Aug/2004:22:14:43] <Father Phillip> nick: I plan to come back
next week to talk about another issue. I promised my brother I would only use
the computer for fifteen minutes since I kicked him off his game :)
[10/Aug/2004:22:14:52] <Father Phillip> nick: It's beautiful.
[10/Aug/2004:22:14:55] <Father Phillip> it is beautiful
[10/Aug/2004:22:15:00] <Father Phillip> well, don't let me keep
you
[10/Aug/2004:22:15:06] <Father Phillip> be good to your brother!
[10/Aug/2004:22:15:12] <Father Phillip> and thanks for coming by
[10/Aug/2004:22:15:14] <Father Phillip> cheers!
[10/Aug/2004:22:15:29] <Father Phillip> nick: Once again, it has
been a pleasure chatting with you ;) Thanks for all the help
[10/Aug/2004:22:15:36] <Father Phillip> it's an honor to try to
help!
[10/Aug/2004:22:15:40] <Father Phillip> nick: Bye.
[10/Aug/2004:22:15:43] <Father Phillip> bye
[10/Aug/2004:22:15:52] <Father Phillip> nick: God bless.
[10/Aug/2004:22:15:56] <Father Phillip> :-)
[10/Aug/2004:22:17:46]
<Father Phillip> branthamel: What is discussed in genral during
the RCIA sessions?
[10/Aug/2004:22:17:58] <Father Phillip> there's a kind of plan
and process that is generally used
[10/Aug/2004:22:18:16] <Father Phillip> but it's shaped by the
needs of the group that the Lord brings together each year
[10/Aug/2004:22:18:21] <Father Phillip> essentially
[10/Aug/2004:22:18:27] <Father Phillip> each session has some prayer
[10/Aug/2004:22:18:34] <Father Phillip> and some kind of presentation
[10/Aug/2004:22:18:38] <Father Phillip> and some discussion
[10/Aug/2004:22:18:44] <Father Phillip> and a little bit of social
time
[10/Aug/2004:22:18:50] <Father Phillip> over the course of the
year
[10/Aug/2004:22:19:09] <Father Phillip> the sessions are divided
into -- roughly -- four times
[10/Aug/2004:22:19:31] <Father Phillip> inquiry is when people
are given a chance to tell their own stories or as much of those stories as
they wish to share
[10/Aug/2004:22:19:49] <Father Phillip> and the group sort of 'collects'
the kinds of questions they would like to have answered
[10/Aug/2004:22:19:55] <Father Phillip> in the second 'stage'
[10/Aug/2004:22:20:29] <Father Phillip> there are more presentations,
usually around the questions the group has specifically asked in the initial,
inquiry phase
[10/Aug/2004:22:20:48] <Father Phillip> as well as some topics
that the RCIA team knows from experience will probably be useful
[10/Aug/2004:22:21:20] <Father Phillip> the third stage is a more
intensely spiritual time of immediate preparation to be received into the Church
at the Easter Vigil
[10/Aug/2004:22:21:55] <Father Phillip> and the fourth period which
is called "mystagogia" is after Easter when the group sort of "unpacks"
the experience of journeying toward deeper faith through which they have come
together
[10/Aug/2004:22:22:03] <Father Phillip> does that sort of answer
your question?
[10/Aug/2004:22:23:13] <Father Phillip> branthamel: yes I believe
it does
[10/Aug/2004:22:23:15] <Father Phillip> cool :-)
[10/Aug/2004:22:24:04] <Father Phillip> branthamel: When does RCIA
start at Newman?
[10/Aug/2004:22:24:07] <Father Phillip> branthamel: (UNC)
[10/Aug/2004:22:24:15] <Father Phillip> ok -- another Confession
[10/Aug/2004:22:24:20] <Father Phillip> i don't know exactly :-(
[10/Aug/2004:22:24:31] <Father Phillip> early September or really
late August
[10/Aug/2004:22:24:46] <Father Phillip> could you call the Church
office next week and ask Tracey -- she should know
[10/Aug/2004:22:24:58] <Father Phillip> of maybe it's in the bulletin
which is on the web
[10/Aug/2004:22:25:09] <Father Phillip> at our website: www.newman-chapelhill.org
[10/Aug/2004:22:25:35] <Father Phillip> branthamel: ok. I'm sure
I'll be able to figue it out
[10/Aug/2004:22:25:43] <Father Phillip> i have all the confidence
in the world in you!
[10/Aug/2004:22:25:44] <Father Phillip> :-)
[10/Aug/2004:22:25:51] <Father Phillip> sorry to be such a slacker!
[10/Aug/2004:22:26:32] <Father Phillip> branthamel: you are just
blessed to have such good people to work with and organize such things
[10/Aug/2004:22:26:37] <Father Phillip> that is SO true!
[10/Aug/2004:22:26:43] <Father Phillip> we have the BEST staff
in the world
[10/Aug/2004:22:26:50] <Father Phillip> and the BEST volunteer
ministers
[10/Aug/2004:22:26:57] <Father Phillip> WE are so blessed!
[10/Aug/2004:22:27:32] <Father Phillip> there are about 3 things
that i'm pretty good at -- EVERYTHING else is due to other people at Newman!
[10/Aug/2004:22:27:45] <Father Phillip> and EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING,
EVERYTHING is due to God!
[10/Aug/2004:22:29:04] <Father Phillip> branthamel: I think I've
asked all I wanted to ask for the evening so I thank you for your time and your
thoughts and I hope that you have a peacful night!
[10/Aug/2004:22:29:12] <Father Phillip> thank you so much for dropping
bye
[10/Aug/2004:22:29:14] <Father Phillip> take care
[10/Aug/2004:22:29:20] <Father Phillip> God's blessings!