Any RCIA participants out there?

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Nik

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Hi everyone

I’m due to start RCIA a week on Tuesday. The closer it’s getting the colder feet I’m getting. I’m not from a religious background but for whatever reason jumped straight into attending Mass and Adoration very regularly about a year ago (long story). Up to now I’ve been able to trust God that I’m where I need to be, but with RCIA I’m just not sure.

Anyone on here begun RCIA recently? How did it go? I’m in two minds about leaving it until next year…
 
I never thought of any move being as ‘impactful’ on my self-understanding as when I looked toward RCIA and being Catholic. Scary.
But, reading the Gospels, especially Matthew, and seeing Jesus there spending his time with his disciples, especially as in the “Sermon on the Mount”, how they were special people to him, his chosen, for his new Kingdom that he was establishing, I wanted inclusion in this. And how to be with him? Just find his disciples as ask them to make me a disciple also. Real people including me with him: Go, make disciples, baptizing them into the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all I have commanded you. I am with you always, and with those who take you seriously and believe in me through your words.
RCIA is the disciples making me (you) into a legitimately included disciple who can legitimately see Jesus addressing you when it is written, “And Jesus, seeing the crowds, turned to his disciples and said…” His words are for the disciples; crowds can only look in on the teaching as outsiders, and only hear parables.
 
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Lifelong Catholic, but I have attended the RCIA program at our Parish the last two years. Do it to support those there, and to share it with inmates who care to attend a weekly meeting we have at the local workcamp (prison).

Nothing to be put off or reluctant about. Some people have attended for multiple years before choosing to join the Catholic Church.
 
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Nik said:
Hi everyone

I’m due to start RCIA a week on Tuesday. The closer it’s getting the colder feet I’m getting. I’m not from a religious background but for whatever reason jumped straight into attending Mass and Adoration very regularly about a year ago (long story). Up to now I’ve been able to trust God that I’m where I need to be, but with RCIA I’m just not sure.

Anyone on here begun RCIA recently? How did it go? I’m in two minds about leaving it until next year…
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I started on September 15th, classes have been great so far. We read assigned sections of the catechism during the week and discuss what we read during class. There’s time to ask questions about anything at the end.
 
Thanks 🙂 I’ve been watching quite a bit of Bishop Barron, Father Mike and Father Johnathon Meyer. Out of everything I’ve seen or read I’ve mostly been drawn in by St Augustine’s Confessions tbh - so I’ve asked him to pray for a bit of help for me with the whole RCIA thing.

I just have this feeling in the pit of my stomach that says I really shouldn’t be there.

Anyway, i guess I’ll just suck it up and go see what it’s all about!
 
So it’s not been, in your experience, all about sharing feelings and things? Because I’ve read some horror stories on here about that kind of thing.
 
Nik said:
So it’s not been, in your experience, all about sharing feelings and things? Because I’ve read some horror stories on here about that kind of thing.
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I think it depends on the program. You’ll likely get more of that part if it’s a one-on-one program versus a class setting.
 
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Im pretty sure it’s gonna be a classroom type setting as the parish is quite big so hopefully I’ll be ok 😊
 
Our group is rolling into week 6 this week. Our RCIA is being led by the Parish Priest, very small group in a small community. No glitter, no glam, just straight forward catechism from the St. Joseph’s Baltimore Catechism book.

Go. There is no reason to delay. Go with an open heart and mind. The instructors are there to guide you through the process. The pastoral staff is available for further discussion and guidance.

Keep in mind that your inhibitions are the same probably as everyone else’s in the room. Give one month to the program to get over that initial doubt. By then a sponsor will probably be assigned to guide you further. Wouldn’t it be nice to attend Mass and have someone next to you that you know is a friend?

Outside instruction. You have to seek it out. RCIA is there to teach you why you’re becoming Catholic, from the Apostles Creed through the Sacraments. It is a program of instruction but it is not a theologian program. Take the time to read and watch others. Even take the time to watch RCIA taught by others on Youtube if necessary. That can help fill in the gaps faster.

I might categorize how I’ve watched YouTube content as follows
  • conversions (Buffering Saint channel is a good testimonial)
  • instructional (teaching or learning masses, RCIA instruction)
  • daily life (Ascension Presents)
  • theologian and philosophical discussions (the who, what, and why of religion)
all of this is to be done in moderation. We are always assigned to read ahead the lesson for the next week and complete the questions. That shouldn’t be a challenge but for some it is. Make it a priority for yourself. 30 minutes per day is easy enough.

Make friends in the class. Get together outside of RCIA. Work on the assignments together.

There are other things to add, others will do so. But don’t put it off.
 
I was baptized into the Catholic Church as an infant. Went through CCD to first communion, then my family fell away from the Church.

When I came back to the Church I had to go through the RCIA program. Mine wasn’t very structured. I didn’t have a book or lesson or homework. I would go & have a conversation about things with the RCIA director for three weeks & the 4th week I’d have that conversation with the parish priest.

I did that for four months. It was a good experience for me.
 
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Nik said:
Anyone on here begun RCIA recently? How did it go? I’m in two minds about leaving it until next year…
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I went through RCIA last year. Just remember, that no one is going to force you to become Catholic at the end. Just attend the classes, ask questions, and remain open to the Holy Spirit.
 
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Every time I’m about to start something on my journey with Christ (joining the choir, going to a new church after moving) a combination of cold feet and coincidental bad luck start hitting me. Often these are signs I’m embarking on something big.

What I’m saying is, far from a warning, your cold feet may be a sign RCIA is the right place for you.
 
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Maybe you’re right, I’ve never thought about it like that before. Every step so far has felt similar but has worked out ok. I guess this just feels like a more decisive move.
Thanks for your insight.
 
Nik said:
I just have this feeling in the pit of my stomach that says I really shouldn’t be there.
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Interesting; our first Pope (St. Peter) didn’t think he should be with Jesus (“Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.”) But, Jesus did not leave him; and I think Peter was all the more devoted because of that.

Let RCIA send you away, if you should not be there; if they do not send you away, take that as your full welcome inclusion from Jesus.
 
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As a lifelong Catholic, I attended an RCIA class as an observer about three years ago. It was an eye-opening experience, and not in a good way.

Keep in mind that these classes vary, not only by parish and diocese, but by the teachers and participants. You might get lucky, and you might not. The problem is that often you won’t know if the teachers are right or wrong. My personal advice would be to buy a copy of the catechism and bring it to class–or a laptop to look up things live as they occur in class. It’s difficult to come in the next week and say “Oh, about that discussion we had on X, it looks like…” You need to do that on the spot: “You said X, but the catechism said Y. Take a look at section xyz. How can you explain that?” Etc.

And of course you can always come back here to run by some sketchy points. Good luck.
 
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I started RCIA three times, after dropping out twice.
The class leaders said it was okay to leave at any point, and I took them at their word. The first time I quit, I don’t even think they noticed that I wasn’t there anymore.

I learned the most by listening to Catholic radio, much more than by going to RCIA.
Good luck, just know that you can always quit!
 
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Along with the theme of some of the responses, learn what you can from RCIA, but don’t rely on it completely for your catechesis. Read as much as you can get your hands on and pray, a lot. I personally have found that praying the rosary daily has greatly enriched this process
 
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