Am I Catholic if I didn't go through RCIA?

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rachelleah

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I converted just over four years ago. Because I was baptized at the age of nine in a Baptist church, I understood that I did not need to be baptized again, but Father also told me that because I had regularly attended a church since infancy, that I also did not have to complete any formal RCIA course. He handed me a catechism, told me to read and ask any and all questions I had. Then, I made my first confession and was confirmed with sponsors by my side at a Wednesday night Mass. Before the Mass, Father asked me several “test” questions to see if I understood Real Presence, receiving under one or both species, etc.

Now, since I went through no formal conversion “process” – except my own self-education (which continues) – am I Catholic? Should I have been confirmed and accepted into the Church at Easter?
 
Yes, you are indeed a Catholic. Your priest’s method of receiving you into the Church is actually to be preferred for non-Catholic Christians. RCIA is an acronym that stands for the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults, and its primary purpose is to catechize and sacramentally initiate those who are unbaptized. Many parishes lump adult catechumens (i.e., non-Christians awaiting baptism), candidates (i.e., non-Catholic Christians awaiting confirmation), and confirmands (i.e., adult Catholics seeking confirmation) into the same RCIA program for purposes of practicality and efficiency. This can be done, but your priest’s method better conforms to the purpose of RCIA.

Recommended reading:

How to Become a Catholic
 
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