Ackward RCIA Question

[Ted_in_Charlott]

DO you have access to a Catholic Library? The Catholic litanies are a fabulous way to learn about the faith. For example, the Litany to the BVM has a good list of her titles. You might go through the litany and discover the origin and meaning of each title. Like the BVM is called the Ark of the Covenant. Research that and find out the meaning and when it was assigned to her.

Litany of the Saints is an amazing compilation of the great Saints of the Church. You might get a Saint Book and learn their stories.

Start some adoration, go to a rosary group. Memorize the great prayers of the Church. Memorize the Nicene Creed.

And most of all pray for the “limited” lady. God put her in your group too, not necessarily to disrupt it, but so you all can help her along.

 

[jmcrae]

Deborah;

Welcome!!

Strictly speaking, RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) is for people who have never had any Christian experience in the past, and have not been baptized.

As someone who has been Catholic before, it might not necessarily be appropriate for you to attend RCIA - obviously, you would be welcome to sit in and observe, but for getting your own questions answered, and for completing whatever steps you need to complete, these things would be done by private appointment with a priest, whether or not you were attending RCIA sessions, as well.

If I were in your situation, I would contact a priest as soon as possible, explain your situation to him, and see where it goes from there.

 

[deborahssong]

Greetings to all,
First allow me to apologize for the misspelling of the word awkward! Thank you so much for all of your (name removed by moderator)ut. to pippin, my hubby and I were married in the catholic church in 1970. We both were raised catholic. I went to a catholic grade school. My hubby went to catholic grade and high school. I realize that I will probably have to do this by myself. This journey I have been on has been something! I will repeat that my decisison to obey what I am hearing will affect many people. Particularly my children. My son is a youth minister. My daughter is active in another denomination as well.
I am telling you folks this is really on my heart. Has been for quite some time…anyway thnaks so much for your (name removed by moderator)ut! God Bless you all…

Deborah

 

[colliric]

Deborah,

I have been on the path you are on. If you want to come back to the Church, you do not have to wait for your husband. You will be required to give up all your ministries in your current church. If you were Confirmed in the Catholic Church, you do not need RCIA. The first step is to find a Catholic Church near you. Make an appt. with the priest and explain your situation. He tell what you need. It may be as simple as go to confession and get your marriage blessed in the Church (if you weren’t married in the Catholic Church).

Yes, although If you have not been to church for a while, getting back in touch with the theological teachigns through “sitting in” on some RCIA classes can be very benificial. This is usually allowed and sometimes even suggested by the Priest.

 

[pippin]

My husband converted at the same time I came back. I attented RCIA classes with him and found them very helpful.

 

[funnyyetsavvy]

Greetings to all,
First allow me to apologize for the misspelling of the word awkward! Thank you so much for all of your (name removed by moderator)ut. to pippin, my hubby and I were married in the catholic church in 1970. We both were raised catholic. I went to a catholic grade school. My hubby went to catholic grade and high school. I realize that I will probably have to do this by myself. This journey I have been on has been something! I will repeat that my decisison to obey what I am hearing will affect many people. Particularly my children. My son is a youth minister. My daughter is active in another denomination as well.
I am telling you folks this is really on my heart. Has been for quite some time…anyway thnaks so much for your (name removed by moderator)ut! God Bless you all…

Deborah

Why would you apologise for my misspelling?? That would be my error …we all type quickly sometimes and make mistakes:shrug: …lol go back and read your typo in your second to last statement…and then smile and call your church about RCIA…
Good luck, the classes are very interesting, I’ve found. And I enjoy studying the week’s lesson beforehand. It really helps connect with the homily on Sunday’s.

 

[mangy_dog]

Hi,

In my new RCIA class we have one woman who is somehow mentally disabled. She attends with her mother, but she is apparently married. She tends to interrupt the Sister, glares at some of us when we seem to get an answer ‘right’. and has to be monitored by her mother constantly because she starts talking about other topics in the middle of our discussions. Last week, she caused a new couple to feel uncomfortable by asking very direct questions about their marriage and dating life. She does not seem to comprehend what we read in the lessons, often repeating things that were already said, causing her mother to chastise her.

In our first session, she asked the leader when she’d be ‘done’ with the class. The Sister replied that everyone progresses at a different rate.

I’m pondering that. If everyone is in class together, how can we progress at different rates? Our sessions have been running over time because of this woman’s interjections and need for affirmation. I think it’s great that she is interested in becoming Catholic (or her mom is interested in her being Catholic, not sure which), I’m just wondering how the rest of the group can continue to progress and have the kinds of discussions we’d like to have about the faith. Whenever one of us asks a question, she jumps in and acts like we’re stupid for not knowing the answer, then has to be corrected by the Sister…

Anyone have any counsel for me? At some point do we break in to other groups based on ‘progress’? I’m clueless here

Hope this is in the right forum?

Only three things occur to me: She is mentally unstable; she has a chemical imbalance or she requires a prayer of deliverance or healing.

Tolerance is good; political correctness but, (you knew there was a "but’ in there somewhere), if this person is interfering with RCIA it may be as clinical as a medical or psychological problem or it may be as nefarious as demonic oppression designed to disrupt the making of new catholics.

Just a suggestion. I prefer to mention it and recieve flak than to not mention it and let your new potential catholics fall away from RCIA.

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum.

 

[BlestOne]

funnyyetsavvy,
Congrats on RCIA! I have sponsored a few people and one woman in particular would get really annoyed at another person in RCIA because he asked very confrontational questions and acted like a know it all… she came to me one day and confided about how annoying this guy was and what could be done because it was driving her crazy. I told her that this man might seem confrontational but he is learning. He came from a Pentecostal background and alot of what we were learning was new to him. I also told her that in my experience, the ones who seem to question everything and struggle with every concept are the ones that become the best Catholics because they did challenge everything and made a really informed decision. When I got done this explanation I looked up to find one of our nuns smiling at me… she winked and said, “Exactly”

 

[Suudy]

Strictly speaking, RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) is for people who have never had any Christian experience in the past, and have not been baptized.

While strictly true, I know of very few priests that don’t require RCIA of converts, regardless of their background. I was a devout AoG when I decided to swim the Tiber, but the priest required my attendance at RCIA. I felt I was ready to be confirmed without RCIA, but I humbly submitted. And in the end, it was a good thing.

As someone who has been Catholic before, it might not necessarily be appropriate for you to attend RCIA - obviously, you would be welcome to sit in and observe, but for getting your own questions answered, and for completing whatever steps you need to complete, these things would be done by private appointment with a priest, whether or not you were attending RCIA sessions, as well.

Now, if one is already baptized and confirmed, RCIA would not be required. However, at our parish we invite all to attend RCIA–converts, reverts, fallen away, etc–to help better understand our Catholic faith. If one hasn’t been back in a while, I would recommend attending to refresh one’s memory.

If I were in your situation, I would contact a priest as soon as possible, explain your situation to him, and see where it goes from there.

Sagely advice! Whenever in doubt, ask your priest. They are there to help.