Well Gil you have to talk to the right people. These catholic people you talked to don't know anything more than you do. They deceive themselves by putting all these rules / traditions in place, thinking that's what God wants them to do.
Catholic people are going to tell you to do this and do that, to pray and be good, and all will be well. They say just make your contribution, discipline yourself to not do bad things and not even think about them. It's a pretty good working replacement for what the bible actually says. Trouble is they miss the supernatural part, by thinking they have it right.
The doing is secondary to believing in Jesus, his name is the name which is above all names and this includes Mary, which makes everyone who thought they were helping you wrong.
I was brought up in a christian home, but when I was about 18 the home broke apart. I was too young to see what was going on, but I felt I wasn't living quite right and needed to make things right.
In your case I'd say to take it a step at a time, because that's how you build something. Firstly pray that the Lord brings you into contact with christians, not catholics. Because once you agree in Jesus name on anything in prayer with true christians, you can consider the matter resolved.
Especially if you can find more than one. I strongly believe that the more that agree on something the better, while two are a sure thing, three expedites it and makes it happen faster. You need these people in your life to set you straight and talk these things over with anyways.