Advice on RCIA

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Ryniev

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I started a group 3 weeks ago at a large Parish. They have quite a big group going through the process. We’ve done bible stories for the past two weeks and got a lecture (no discussion) and frankly it’s not what I expected. It’s being led by lay people and I haven’t even met the Priest. I thought I’d be learning more specifically Catholic doctrines and it seems rather Protestant but I’m trying to keep an open mind. However, there is a smaller parish that is more traditional and is having it’s first RCIA on October 7th. I’ve talked to the Deacon and his wife and they will be leading it. They are more familiar with my journey and what I’ve been reading that has led me to this point. I just felt so comfortable talking to these people and in the other group it seems more like the Lutheran Sunday School classes I’ve attended in the past.Their group is just 3 Candidates and I’m wondering if it would be out of line for me to attend this group and see if it is a better fit for me?
 
Will you be joining this parish at the Easter Vigil? I don’t know about your area, but in my Diocese, the parish you attend RCIA is usually the parish you are joining.

It is still early in the process, and if you find the other RCIA program a better fit for you and you plan on attending that parish, I would think seriously about changing. To learn in-correct church teachings now can/will be very confusing to your faith formation. Becoming a Catholic Christian is a very serious and important journey as you know, and you have the absolute right to expect and demand correct church teachings.

Also,it’s not uncommon for more to join as the year progresses, and if none do, just think of the extra one on one time you will have and the ability to ask more indepth questions. We started out with 12 in our program, and I had LOADS of questions with little time to ask. I guess the others also had questions…GO FIGURE 😛
 
I have the option of joining either Parish. The larger Parish is my “official” Parish but the other Parish is close by and many people that live by me belong to both. I live in St. Louis and I think they aren’t real strict about which one you join. I actually think I’d like to join the smaller parish because the larger seems more “Protestant”. What I mean is the Sanctuary is all brick and it has a modern art crucifix (it’s like a cross with a bent metal image of Christ and you can hardly tell what it is). People tell me it’s more “relaxed” and “looser” than the smaller parish and I’m not quite sure *what that means.:eek:
 
More “relaxed” and “looser” sounds alot like a church drifting AWAY from solid Catholic teachings. From what you have said, the smaller parish offers a more solidly based program faithful to ALL church teachings.

You are on a life time journey and having the CORRECT road map will ALWAYS lead you home, just gotta follow it. Bigger is not always better, as in the size of a certain parish.

My prayers are with you on your faith journey and I know the Holy Spirit will lead you in the right direction.

BTW, Welcome Home and may God bless
 
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Ryniev:
I started a group 3 weeks ago at a large Parish. They have quite a big group going through the process. We’ve done bible stories for the past two weeks and got a lecture (no discussion) and frankly it’s not what I expected. It’s being led by lay people and I haven’t even met the Priest. I thought I’d be learning more specifically Catholic doctrines and it seems rather Protestant but I’m trying to keep an open mind. However, there is a smaller parish that is more traditional and is having it’s first RCIA on October 7th. I’ve talked to the Deacon and his wife and they will be leading it. They are more familiar with my journey and what I’ve been reading that has led me to this point. I just felt so comfortable talking to these people and in the other group it seems more like the Lutheran Sunday School classes I’ve attended in the past.Their group is just 3 Candidates and I’m wondering if it would be out of line for me to attend this group and see if it is a better fit for me?
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Go where you feel you are being led and where you will get what you need spiritually and doctrinally. Sounds like the smaller parish is the one that meets your needs. You are not bound by a geographical boundary when it comes to a parish.

I went through RCIA and I know where you are coming from.
 
I’d ask the parish to be sure there is not going to be some requirement imposed about where you have to be confirmed, but RCIA classes are usually open to anyone who is interested, so there is no reason you can’t attend the class you like regardless of anything else.
 
Pass your concerns about the RCIA class on to the local preist and/or class leaders. Remember though, with free help you get what you pay for. I say this only to say that people try to do good things in their parish. Not everyone is a great teacher but at least they try. Some who are great teachers mey not lift a finger to help. Catholics try to show others their Faith by their works. Perhaps someday you could help with the RCIA class and make it better.
 
As you probably are aware by now, the RCIA process is divided into steps/periods. The first period is the Period of Inquiry – during this time you will not get a lot of “Catholic” teachings. People come into this process from many different stages in their spiritual journey. Some come from protestant churches where they were very involved; others may have no basis in Christianity at all; and others might fall somewhere in between those two. This period will be a time for inquiry before easing into the more meatier topics that you are anxious to learn.

You will find that the next step, Period of Catechumen, involves more of the things you are looking for. Many people assume that they will jump right into the Catholic teachings right from the get-go, but the process is not designed that way. By the way, the RCIA process has been formulated by the Church and each parish should be following the process that way. Hang in there – what you are looking for will come soon.

Regarding lay instructors, my parish has 9,000 members and one priest. While our priest will be involved more during the Period of the Catechumenate, it is impossible for him to do this program alone. There are 6 lay members on our team, headed up by the coordinator, who is a nun.

God Bless You and best wishes to you in your journey!
 
P.S. If you are not comfortable with your present program, please do feel free to shop around for one that suits you better. This is, after all, for YOU, not us.
 
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Ryniev:
I have the option of joining either Parish. The larger Parish is my “official” Parish but the other Parish is close by and many people that live by me belong to both. I live in St. Louis and I think they aren’t real strict about which one you join. I actually think I’d like to join the smaller parish because the larger seems more “Protestant”. What I mean is the Sanctuary is all brick and it has a modern art crucifix (it’s like a cross with a bent metal image of Christ and you can hardly tell what it is). People tell me it’s more “relaxed” and “looser” than the smaller parish and I’m not quite sure *what that means.:eek:
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My advice is to take the RCIA at the church that you like the best, and want to attend. The beginning of RCIA anyway is question/answer. They’ll probably get more into doctrine a little later.

God Bless~ I’m also in RCIA now!!! Exciting!!!
 
Thanks everyone for the advice. Please don’t think I’m knocking the bigger church, its just that the group is so big and it feels a little impersonal. Now that I’m getting to know the other people it seems a bit better. However, I’m still going to try out the other group this week.

Also was this out of line? The leader asked this week to share “the word on the street” about what we’ve heard about Catholicism. You know stuff like Catholics worship Mary, pray to statues, transubstantation. She wanted the true and the false. So me and my big mouth chime in, “The Pope is the Anti-Christ” *Obviously I don’t believe that or I wouldn’t be there but my ex-Catholic friend who is now a fundie has said that. Also I know that the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod still has that in one of their official statements. Anyway, I thought people were going to have heart attacks when I mentioned it. Is this one of those things that should never be said out loud? The leader was fine with it but I heard several people say, “that’s horrible, I’ve never heard that, who would say such a thing etc, etc.” Should I have not brought that one up? :o
 
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Ryniev:
Also was this out of line? The leader asked this week to share “the word on the street” about what we’ve heard about Catholicism. You know stuff like Catholics worship Mary, pray to statues, transubstantation. She wanted the true and the false. So me and my big mouth chime in, “The Pope is the Anti-Christ” *Obviously I don’t believe that or I wouldn’t be there but my ex-Catholic friend who is now a fundie has said that. Also I know that the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod still has that in one of their official statements. Anyway, I thought people were going to have heart attacks when I mentioned it. Is this one of those things that should never be said out loud? The leader was fine with it but I heard several people say, “that’s horrible, I’ve never heard that, who would say such a thing etc, etc.” Should I have not brought that one up? :o
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No Ryniev, you were not out of line at all. I don’t know if it is a good thing or a bad thing that some Catholics have not heard all of the anti catholic statements out there. I do think it is important for Catholics to know what they are up against. All too often Catholics who do not know their faith will fall prey to these remarks because it is the first they heard of them and the anti catholic is able to give them reasons that sound good. :eek:

I am a cradle Catholic, however my wife went through RCIA just recently. Some of the best discussions were when people brought up honest objections that others hold to our Faith. Just keep being honest and don’t worry about offending others. Trust me, they are learning a lot from you. 👍

Also, if you ever get a chance in St Louis, go to the 10pm Sunday Night Mass at St Francis Xavier Cathedral at St Louis University. Make sure you get there early and I hope you like incense. :yup:
 
If you are at the beginning of the process, you are in the phase of inquiry, or pre-evangelization, the time to ask questions and get answers, and extremely important period. If this opportunity is not provided, they may be trying (in all good intent0 to rush the process unnaturally. Another important part of the RCIA process is to draw you into participation in the life of the parish community, so you had better feel comfortable within this community from the outset. Often the reason you start the class at a certain parish is by invitation from an individual Catholic you admire and trust. If there is a parish nearby that is a more comfortable fit for you, and where the teaching you receives resonates with truth (not necessarily making you comfortable in your prejudices), now is the time to change before you get into this too far. Pray daily for the help of the Holy Spirit on this journey, and pray with the scripture in the Mass readings each day. Prayer is indispensible, even if you are just learning how to pray. You are in my prayers, along with my own candidates and catechumens (ours, I should say).
 
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