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austcatholic
Guest
That is wonderful news! Welcome home and may God bless you 
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esmac
Guest
I would get in another parishā¦do what you have to do to meet your spiritual needs. I would also talk to someone at the Diocese office about any nonsense going on you experienced.
V
vince2paul
Guest
Congratulation! Welcome and you can use your experience to start making the church a better place for people who want to join RCIA. 
Iām so happy for you.
Iām so happy for you.
C
Casilda
Guest
Dear OP, I am having the same problems with RCIA programs as you did and I am a revert. Iāve been to several, all different, all lacking terribly. I believe the Lord is leading converts/reverts into the church to do something about this. We need to inspire Catholics to not be afraid to live their faith. I have several Catholic friends who exude faith, I was surprised at first to learn they were Catholic. But this is what has led me back and almost converted my husband; their steadfast faith.
I have had to disregard all the advice I was given here, except hunt down someone at the parish who would listen to me to get me an appointment with the priest. Too many bodies in the way of converts/reverts coming into the church, I truly think they are demonic.
I thought I was in a good sacrament prep class until the deacon, who used the CCC directly, told everyone there we dont need sponsors. The person who originally asked never came back to class. HE obviously needed someone to come along side him and encourage him. My heart aches for the young man.
We need more sponsors, we need more Catholics looking outside of themselves and their comfort zones to help these believers integrate into the church. We need better office staff, religious ed directors and more priests! I come from a family where several of my cousins wanted to be nuns, but this was highly discouraged by the family. Why? I would have loved that vocation! They will be doing Godās work, what better employer could you ask for!
Now that you are a Catholic, what are your goals in helping the local church? Be a sponsor to a convert/revert and you will pay it forward
I have had to disregard all the advice I was given here, except hunt down someone at the parish who would listen to me to get me an appointment with the priest. Too many bodies in the way of converts/reverts coming into the church, I truly think they are demonic.
I thought I was in a good sacrament prep class until the deacon, who used the CCC directly, told everyone there we dont need sponsors. The person who originally asked never came back to class. HE obviously needed someone to come along side him and encourage him. My heart aches for the young man.
We need more sponsors, we need more Catholics looking outside of themselves and their comfort zones to help these believers integrate into the church. We need better office staff, religious ed directors and more priests! I come from a family where several of my cousins wanted to be nuns, but this was highly discouraged by the family. Why? I would have loved that vocation! They will be doing Godās work, what better employer could you ask for!
Now that you are a Catholic, what are your goals in helping the local church? Be a sponsor to a convert/revert and you will pay it forward
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Andrew2009
Guest
I tried 4 different RCIA programs and couldnāt get through any of them, for different reasons. I was eventually able to enter the Church by finding a Priest who was willing to do a ācustomisedā one-on-one RCIA program with me. I was the only candidate and we met every week over a 6 month period (roughly), culminating in me being baptised just a few weeks ago. Iām very grateful to this Priest for taking the time out of his very busy schedule to help guide me along the path into the Church!
As to your question about what am I now going to do to help the local Church - thatās a very good question and to be honest Iāve never even thought about it. I hardly know anyone in my local parish and I have no idea if there are any people there I could help as a sponsor or in a similar role. But I would be happy to help in this way. At this stage I guess Iām still adjusting to my new life as a Catholic, and to be honest I havenāt given any thought to how I can contribute and help others who may be in a similar position to the one I was in, until very recently.
Going by my experiences, I think itās fair to say that my Archdiocese does a pretty terrible job when it comes to welcoming and encouraging potential converts and reverts, let alone actively seeking them outā¦
As to your question about what am I now going to do to help the local Church - thatās a very good question and to be honest Iāve never even thought about it. I hardly know anyone in my local parish and I have no idea if there are any people there I could help as a sponsor or in a similar role. But I would be happy to help in this way. At this stage I guess Iām still adjusting to my new life as a Catholic, and to be honest I havenāt given any thought to how I can contribute and help others who may be in a similar position to the one I was in, until very recently.
Going by my experiences, I think itās fair to say that my Archdiocese does a pretty terrible job when it comes to welcoming and encouraging potential converts and reverts, let alone actively seeking them outā¦
C
Casilda
Guest
I belong to a group of people (we are all close friends) who were in a non-denom church that went bust. Our families have grown up together. We were all set adrift. Today we are everywhere and nowhere (in a church or not in a church). I am reverting and so is one other family. They are finding it equally hard.
In our diocese the few and far between Catholic parishes are packed, with 4-5 Sunday Masses. I think they think they have reached capacity so outreach is stagnant. Okay, three parishes that I know of are or have just expanded.
There has to be a better way to help someone desperately wanting to convert/revert with better information and guidance. You are dealing with someoneās soul, not just their presence at Mass or not or on the rolls. I have had to plead in silent, agonizing prayer everyday for guidance. I didnt want to keep switching parishes, but I had to, to ease my soul. I will be talking to the priest today about this.
Currently reading Rome Sweet Home by Scott Hahn and I see that he had encountered cold priests and was even told he didnt have to convert to Catholicism. Can you imagine that? There are impostors in the house of the Lord.
In our diocese the few and far between Catholic parishes are packed, with 4-5 Sunday Masses. I think they think they have reached capacity so outreach is stagnant. Okay, three parishes that I know of are or have just expanded.
There has to be a better way to help someone desperately wanting to convert/revert with better information and guidance. You are dealing with someoneās soul, not just their presence at Mass or not or on the rolls. I have had to plead in silent, agonizing prayer everyday for guidance. I didnt want to keep switching parishes, but I had to, to ease my soul. I will be talking to the priest today about this.
Currently reading Rome Sweet Home by Scott Hahn and I see that he had encountered cold priests and was even told he didnt have to convert to Catholicism. Can you imagine that? There are impostors in the house of the Lord.
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Immensus
Guest
I am a revert who was baptized RC as an infant but was never catechized and only attended Baptist and Pentecostal churches as a teenager. I am doing a similar thing with informal discussions with a (great, very tradition-minded) priest in my new parish. My local collection of parishes has no organized RCIA program. It is great to have personalized discussions but I just worry about the bases not being covered right.
I do not have a sponsor. I asked the priest I am meeting with to sponsor me for Confirmation.
Iāve had to call up lots of parishes while trying to find my baptismal records and lots of my messages are not being returned. Itās a bit disheartening at times.
As far as learning Mass, I have been going regularly during the week and on Sunday, just taking in the experience like a child would instead of trying to follow along with the missal.
I do not have a sponsor. I asked the priest I am meeting with to sponsor me for Confirmation.
Iāve had to call up lots of parishes while trying to find my baptismal records and lots of my messages are not being returned. Itās a bit disheartening at times.
As far as learning Mass, I have been going regularly during the week and on Sunday, just taking in the experience like a child would instead of trying to follow along with the missal.
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PJM
Guest
No
Hereās why
Their are Seven Sacraments, ALL instituted by Christ. ALL a means of grace. And ONLY through the Catholic Church can the FULLNESS of ALL that Christ intended be had. [This is a biblical teaching]
The CC ties together 3 of these Sacraments as a NECESSARY part of entering into the CC, Baptism, Reconciliation/ Penance/Confession, and the Moist Holy Eucharist which require the previous TWO sacraments.
Baptism is ONLY the first necessary step. And because it makes one āa catholicā ONE MUST know what they are committing too in order to fulfill Godās expectations for ALL Catholics. This REQUIRES Faith-formation, which we term RCIA. = Rites of Christian Initiation for Adults.
Because their is Only ONE true God; that god can and does have ONLY One true set of Faith beliefs and only One Church that He Founded.
Salvation MUST occur as Christ himself has mandated and commanded. It canāt be manās modified methods, even if they are easier.
The purpose of RCIA which CAN vary greatly from parish to parish is to [1] provide sufficient information about the Catholic Faith and practices to permit one to determine if God is ācalling them HOMEā to His CC. [2] A great amount of latitude in HOW this is accomplished exist. RCIA programs can be āVery Good to not so good.ā The Holy Spirit is relied upon to assist both.
If you have additional questions, Please send me a Private message
God Bless you,
Patrick [PJM] here on the FORUM
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