At what point of the RCIA process is a non-catechumen official considered a Catholic?

[Lead_Me_Home]

I am a candidate and have been baptized in a protestant Church. I recieved the Rite of Welcome and am praying to Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation soon so that I can receive the most Holy Eucharist on Easter Sunday. At what point can I say that I am officially Catholic; do I have to wait until my first confession?

I am also curious because I want to write Catholic on the Census.

 

[Texas_Roofer]

You are catholic when you chose to be, you are in communion with the church when you live by Church teachings and complete your education period which is typically considered adquate when you receive first communion

 

[Lead_Me_Home]

I wish I knew that 4 years ago. I used to hesitate to call myself Catholic because I didn’t start RCIA then. You just took a huge worry of my mind. Thank you.

 

[Marie5890]

I am a candidate and have been baptized in a protestant Church. I recieved the Rite of Welcome and am praying to Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation soon so that I can receive the most Holy Eucharist on Easter Sunday. At what point can I say that I am officially Catholic; do I have to wait until my first confession?

I am also curious because I want to write Catholic on the Census.

RCIA instructor here who also when thru the RCIA process back in '07 with 2 other people. I had been baptzed as a Catholic when I was a baby so I was what is known as a Catholic though not fully initiated.

The other two were baptized in different denoms other than Catholic, so they were not officially Catholic until they were confirmed at the Easter Vigil.

Since you were baptized in a different denomination as a child, it will be your confirmation that makes you a member of the Catholic Church. Hope that helps

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

I would say that you’re Catholic when you make your profession of faith. This will be at the same Mass where you are confirmed and receive your First Communion.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I am a candidate and have been baptized in a protestant Church. I recieved the Rite of Welcome and am praying to Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation soon so that I can receive the most Holy Eucharist on Easter Sunday. At what point can I say that I am officially Catholic; do I have to wait until my first confession?

I am also curious because I want to write Catholic on the Census.

You will be officially Catholic when you are Confirmed and receive your First Holy Communion. The three Sacraments (Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Communion) complete your initiation into Catholic union. Infants Baptized in the Catholic Baptismal Rite for infants are considered Catholic even though they are not Confirmed or have yet received Holy Communion, but that is because infants in the Latin Rite do not receive all three Sacraments of initiation together, like an adult normally would.

 

[Marie5890]

You will be officially Catholic when you are Confirmed and receive your First Holy Communion. The three Sacraments (Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Communion) complete your initiation into Catholic union. Infants Baptized in the Catholic Baptismal Rite for infants are considered Catholic even though they are not Confirmed or have yet received Holy Communion, but that is because infants in the Latin Rite do not receive all three Sacraments of initiation together, like an adult normally would.

Thanks for the clarification.

 

[anjoh66]

Since you were baptized in a different denomination as a child, it will be your confirmation that makes you a member of the Catholic Church. Hope that helps

I dont think it is the confirmation that makes one a catholic, i am currently in RCIA and will be baptized at easter vigil, in my group there are some persons who was baptized in other denominations and they will have their first reconciliation soon and will be accepted into full communion with the church on Holy Thursday.

None of us will be confirmed at easter but it will be delayed until june 6 since the bishop has reserved the right for confirmation to himself.

Anyhow they will become full members at Holy Thursday and as such will recieve the eucharist and the others of us will become full members and recieve eucharist at easter vigil in the baptism.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I dont think it is the confirmation that makes one a catholic, i am currently in RCIA and will be baptized at easter vigil, in my group there are some persons who was baptized in other denominations and they will have their first reconciliation soon and will be accepted into full communion with the church on Holy Thursday.

None of us will be confirmed at easter but it will be delayed until june 6 since the bishop has reserved the right for confirmation to himself.

Anyhow they will become full members at Holy Thursday and as such will recieve the eucharist and the others of us will become full members and recieve eucharist at easter vigil in the baptism.

Canon Law would seem to require that an adult be Confirmed and receive Holy Communion at the time they are Baptized. (unless it’s not possible to do so) Those already Baptized could be received on Holy Thursday morning or afternoon and the Bishop could reserve Confirmation to himself for them (June 6), however their Sacraments of Initiation will not be completed until June 6th.

 

[anjoh66]

Canon Law would seem to require that an adult be Confirmed and receive Holy Communion at the time they are Baptized. (unless it’s not possible to do so) Those already Baptized could be received on Holy Thursday morning or afternoon and the Bishop could reserve Confirmation to himself for them (June 6), however their Sacraments of Initiation will not be completed until June 6th.

I guess the same applies to me, i will be baptized but not confirmed, but i will recieve the eucharist at easter vigil.

I know what the canon law says about adult baptism and so does the RCIA conductors and the bishop, they see it as a grave reason that every new baptised person should get the confirmation from the bishop personally.

 

[puzzleannie]

I am a candidate and have been baptized in a protestant Church. I recieved the Rite of Welcome and am praying to Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation soon so that I can receive the most Holy Eucharist on Easter Sunday. At what point can I say that I am officially Catholic; do I have to wait until my first confession?

I am also curious because I want to write Catholic on the Census.

very good motive but I filled out the form and it did not ask about religion

when you make the profession of faith, are confirmed, your baptism is confirmed, that is you are fully in communion with the Catholic Church, and may now receive Holy Communion, which completes your Christian initiation. Confession is necessary first so that you may be in the state of sanctifying grace that you enjoyed at your baptism to receive the other 2 sacraments.

Welcome home!!!

ps it is the bishop of each diocese who confirms baptized adults, but he can delegate this to priests, such as what we have here, blanket permission to confirm non-Catholic baptized adults at the Easter Vigil. In this diocese the priest may not confirm Catholic adults at the same time. As the RCIA rite specifies, he must confirm adults whom he baptizes at the Easter Vigil. So yes you may see differences from diocese to diocese based on what the bishop judges is the most pastoral solution for his people and priests.

Here for instance First Communion may not be taken on Holy Thursday at the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, (and is discouraged during Lent) and I confess I do not know the reason. Catholic adults as in out of high school are supposed to be confirmed by the bishop at the diocesan wide celebration at Pentecost (there will be 2 celebrations, due to geography and # of candidates this year). Teens are suppposed to be confirmed in their parish by the bishop during his visit, or by the priest delegated (one of the deans, vicar general or chancellor) but there are some parishes who confirm their adults at the same time.

if in your diocese baptized adults will be making first communion sometime before Confirmation, the profession of faith will be during that Mass either the formal way with one of the rites for it, or simply when you recite the creed during Mass, which puts you in full communion with the Church and entitled to participate in reception of the Eucharist. don’t worry, your bishop is in charge and he knows what is right for you.

 

[PJM]

=Lead Me Home;6445275]I am a candidate and have been baptized in a protestant Church. I recieved the Rite of Welcome and am praying to Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation soon so that I can receive the most Holy Eucharist on Easter Sunday. At what point can I say that I am officially Catholic; do I have to wait until my first confession?

I am also curious because I want to write Catholic on the Census.

Soon and very soon

Easter Sunday when you are OFICIALLY brought into the Church.

Welcome Home:thumbsup:

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I guess the same applies to me, i will be baptized but not confirmed, but i will recieve the eucharist at easter vigil.

I know what the canon law says about adult baptism and so does the RCIA conductors and the bishop, they see it as a grave reason that every new baptised person should get the confirmation from the bishop personally.

I wold agree if the Bishop was there to do the Baptisms andthen immediately Confirm and celebrate Holy Communion. But generally the Bishop cannot be at every Easter Vigil uless of course he requires all who are being Baptized to come to him for the Easter Vigil.

Canon Law actually gives pastors the ability by law to Confirm those they Baptize at the Easter Vigil, not requiring any additional permission from the Bishop to do so.

 

[anjoh66]

I wold agree if the Bishop was there to do the Baptisms andthen immediately Confirm and celebrate Holy Communion. But generally the Bishop cannot be at every Easter Vigil uless of course he requires all who are being Baptized to come to him for the Easter Vigil.

Canon Law actually gives pastors the ability by law to Confirm those they Baptize at the Easter Vigil, not requiring any additional permission from the Bishop to do so.

With respect to your knowledge, and i got a small part of it there is not so much i can do about it,my country did it this way since 1998 when Anders Arborelius became catholic bishop of sweden, he gave permissions for baptisms but not confirmation, what can i do?

I trust in my bishop, or the fault is on him, not me

 

[petr]

When you sign your name in the book at Mass (election) you would receive a Catholic burial if you should die.

I would say that does it.

To me though, it will just feel right at Easter Vigil.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

When you sign your name in the book at Mass (election) you would receive a Catholic burial if you should die.

Actually the right to a Catholic burial comes much earlier, with the Rite of Acceptance into the Order of Catechumens.