I can definitely relate.
I decided to investigate the Church in Oct of 2003. I called my nearest parish and they said classes had already started and I would have to wait for the next one. They didn't tell me at the time that would be the following September. I'm also very shy, a loner. I simply do not walk up to strangers and start conversations.
I persevered. I found EWTN on the radio, attended a few masses and did alot of reading but attending my first TLM was the turning point. It was an emotional epiphany that just capped my intellectual conviction that the Catholic Church was true.
I still knew no one.
I started attending the TLM every week, alone. My wife wouldn't go, my son wouldn't go. Couldn't get them out of bed. I'd stand there on the sidewalk after mass and see everyone talking and yukking it up. I'd usually stay about long enough to smoke a cigarrette or two and then leave. For probably 4 months no one even said Hi. To make it worse the priest that offers the TLM at my parish seems to be about as painfully shy as I am. Even to this day I can't get 10 words out of him in a conversation. I mean the Lord said "let your answers be yes yes and no no" but sheesh this guy takes it too far
Anyways, finally somone did introduce themselves. That helped some but it wasn't like I was suddenly innudated with dinner invitations. Now I knew one guy and his wife.
I started RCIA at a different parish, where my son attended school and I hoped to make friends there but after about 3 months of hearing heresy taught and being called a "fundamentalist" by the pastor because I believe in extra ecclasium nulla sulla. I quit.
But
In that time I had taken it on myself to get involved in whatever I could. I'm a pretty busy fellow - full-time job, part time college, 3 kids and wife but I made myself do something. Get involved in an organization or something. I went to meetings of the Legion of Mary. The lady in charge was very nice and after I told her of my struggles in the other RCIA she talked with the Sister at our parish who is the D.R.E. .
I coudn't attend RCIA at that parish because it conflicted with my work but she set me up with private instruction. I was introduced to a couple who would serve as godparents for me since I didn't know a soul who was a practicing Catholic. I finally got my son interested and it's been much better since then.
One thing we did at our parish was start a "convert support group". We haven't had alot of success but the idea is sound. I really wish other parishes would do something like it. There is absolutely no excuse for a seeker to be told "come back next year" like I was (not in so many words).
Catholics are notorious, I found out late,r for not really being real welcoming. I've never had the experience but I've heard evangelical sects grab newcomers and almost overwhelm them with attention. We should as Catholic been doing even better, since we have the truth.
All I can say is God as called you to the Catholic Church, He has plans for you. Have courage and faith. You will get what you need when you need it, I did.If you take one step toward Jesus he will run to greet you and welcome you home.
Being on message boards helped me, the anonymity of this medium is a help to me. I'm much more comfortable talking to strangers, like you right now, here than I am in real life.
I guess I did have the advantage of a similiar experience nearly 13 years ago when I got sober and started attending AA. But AAs are a pretty outgoing bunch as a rule, they gobble up newcomers. It still wasn't easy but then, as now (maybe even moreso now) I knew how important it was that I make it work. Then my life was at stake, today it is my immortal soul.
I hope you see this message and keeping coming back (as they say in AA). I'm a long way from B.C. but I offer whatever support I can give and prayers of course.
