Another RCIA question

[McGilvra]

I am just wondering what the reasoning is for there being so much separation between those who are only “confirmed” through RCIA and those who are baptised and confirmed. After the others were confirmed, their obligations ended. So, essentially, they went to a few months of classes and are done.

Doesn’t it seem like they would, like those baptised and confirmed, benefit from reflection and additional learning, since they have just as much exposure to catholicism as the others?

 

[Della]

If you mean those brought up in the Church, baptized and confirmed, it is assumed their parents have instructed them as well as the instruction they got through their confirmation program.

For those who have come in from outside the Church, from a non-Catholic Christian community or outside of Christianity altogether and who usually are adults, it is probably considered prudent to give them time to adjust to being Catholic.

I am a convert and was received/confirmed in 1987. At that time there was no follow up program. Although, in my case, I think that was a good thing since I was more orthodox in my understanding of Church teaching than those running RCIA. Anyway, it took me years to adapt a Catholic world view and to become truly acclimated to being Catholic.

I’ve read your other threads about your after-confirmation experience and I agree that your RCIA directors are being just a bit draconian in their approach, but they truly do want to help you adjust to being a Catholic. If you feel you don’t need to participate then don’t. And if they won’t let you register at that parish find another one. It’s really that simple.

 

[McGilvra]

Thanks, Della. I guess maybe I should have been more aware throughout this process and perhaps found a different parish to begin with. I just have a fundamental issue with the “assumption” that because someone was baptized someplace else means they were raised in a Christian tradition. I know plenty of people who were baptized as infants and MAYBE go to church once a year. In our RCIA class, we have many people who weren’t baptised in a recognized faith, but many of us are far more knowledgeable about Christian tradition and scripture than the others.

 

[Della]

I understand your frustration. The parish I started out in is not the parish we are members of now, and we still live in the same place we did then. We sought out another one pretty soon after I was received–in our case, one that was more orthodox in teaching and practice.

This looms large on your horizon now, but after you’ve been Catholic and been enjoying the sacraments and have settled into a good parish you’ll look back on all this as a learning experience. It maybe that you will want to get involved in RCIA as a leader someday yourself, to help others through the process and make it easier/better for them than it was for you.

In any case, just do what you think is right for you. As long as you are obedient to the teachings of the Church, pray, and truly desire to follow God, you can’t go wrong.

 

[Texas_Roofer]

I am just wondering what the reasoning is for there being so much separation between those who are only “confirmed” through RCIA and those who are baptised and confirmed. After the others were confirmed, their obligations ended. So, essentially, they went to a few months of classes and are done.

Doesn’t it seem like they would, like those baptised and confirmed, benefit from reflection and additional learning, since they have just as much exposure to catholicism as the others?

Thanks, Della. I guess maybe I should have been more aware throughout this process and perhaps found a different parish to begin with. I just have a fundamental issue with the “assumption” that because someone was baptized someplace else means they were raised in a Christian tradition. I know plenty of people who were baptized as infants and MAYBE go to church once a year. In our RCIA class, we have many people who weren’t baptised in a recognized faith, but many of us are far more knowledgeable about Christian tradition and scripture than the others.

I think the issue you may be finding is you have a 2000 year old church, which did not have an english version of the bible for about 1700 years, and then did not have much education outside the church for about 1950 years. Now you can at home on a PC access more than any individual teacher can address. If you are formiliar with the Church it usually takes about 100 years to address a change so the computer generation will be taught accordingly about 2090.

 

[Kayleigh]

I don’t think there is “separation” between those who are only “confirmed” vs “baptised and confirmed”.

In my RCIA program this year, there were 3 of us.
All 3 of baptised as infants, 2 of us baptised Catholic.
The other 2, aside from myself, had not received first communion and did so at the Easter Vigil.
I was only confirmed at the Easter Vigil, as I had received first communion at the age of 7.5.

The previous posters have raised very valid points, so really I am just offering my own experience as someone who was “only confirmed” at the Easter Vigil.

I was raised Catholic, although didn’t attend mass for about 3 years; I am 27 years old now and have spent most of my life being a Catholic.
I missed my confirmation with my grade 8 class due to moving across the country.

Our parish encourages everyone to come to our rcia classes, which have been dubbed “strengthening our faith” class!

good luck!

 

[puzzleannie]

I am not going to comment again on this topic that has been so much discussed recently, except to note that those directing preparation of adults for sacraments of initiation are bending over backwards and devoting much thought, prayer and anxious planning to provide the best most profitable experience for each participant, tailored as much as possible to his or her needs.

Beyond that, I will only note what I tell every person who comes to us for this purpose: it is fruitless and potentially dangerous spiritually to compare your journey and progress with that of anyone else in the process. You do not know where they are coming from, how far they have to travel, what issues they are dealing with, nor is it proper that you should know. I keep your personal matters confidential, as I do theirs, and it is unwise and uncharitable to speculate about the progress or condition of anyone else in the program.

 

[McGilvra]

I am not going to comment again on this topic that has been so much discussed recently, except to note that those directing preparation of adults for sacraments of initiation are bending over backwards and devoting much thought, prayer and anxious planning to provide the best most profitable experience for each participant, tailored as much as possible to his or her needs.

I certainly do not want to come across as rude, but this response is similar to the attitude that has made me so unhappy in my community. I definitely appreciate the efforts of my sponsor, the Deacon who runs things, and many of the members, but have dissatisfaction with particular individual team members and the organization of the program itself.

Where does my dissatisfaction with certain of the people come from? The attitude and assertion that because they *volunteer *their time to this endeavor, they are beyond reproach. Ironically, isn’t service a tenent of our faith? When we serve, we certainly should not do so for the accolodates or appreciation we get…rather, we should be doing it to benefit others and our community.

 

[puzzleannie]

whether or not the time of those involved in RCIA is paid or unpaid was not my point. my point was that decisions made in the best interests of the candidates and catechumens are not arbitrary based on the whim of those directing the program. There is a guide, it is in the rites themselves, and there are reasons for these decisions, which have been carefully thought out, and backed up by over 30 years experience with the RCIA. I can only repeat that if you do not like the way it is implemented in your parish to get involved, and do as we have done, spend your own time and money in attending the training and acquiring the experience which has led to these decisions and practices.

if you care to revisit the earlier threads on this topic you will also find strident arguments against the practice you find problematic, and insistence on separating each “variety” of candidate. so obviously there is no way to please everyone, so my best tactic is to rely on the judgment of the pastoral staff, who know the candidates and do our utmost to provide what each one needs to the best of our ability, and leave it to the Holy Spirit to remedy our many defects and failings.