Being received into the church

[fiddlemaker]

My wife and I are in the process of becoming Catholic. We both have annulments to go through. When they happen do we have to wait until next Easter to be received into the church or is it up to the priest? We asked one priest and he said we didn’t have to wait, but others have told us we do?

 

[Phemie]

My wife and I are in the process of becoming Catholic. We both have annulments to go through. When they happen do we have to wait until next Easter to be received into the church or is it up to the priest? We asked one priest and he said we didn’t have to wait, but others have told us we do?

Are you already baptized?

If you’re baptized and wanting to be in full communion then no you shouldn’t have to wait. If you’re ready it can happen any time and the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is clear on that.

If you are not baptized, then yes you should have to wait until the next Easter Vigil.

 

[fiddlemaker]

Yes, my wife and I are both baptized. Our RCIA sponsors were not clear on that question.

 

[Phemie]

Yes, my wife and I are both baptized. Our RCIA sponsors were not clear on that question.

My Canadian copy of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults #387 (other countries may have a different number for this article) referring to the “Reception of Baptized Christians into the full communion of the Catholic Church”

"This is the liturgical rite by which a person born and baptized in a separated ecclesial Community is received, according to the Latin rite 1, into the full communion of the Catholic Church. The rite is so arranged that no greater burden than necessary (see Acts 15:28) is required for the establishment of communion and unity.2

1 & 2 refer us to the Decree on ecumenism “Unitatis redintegratio”

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

Yes, my wife and I are both baptized. Our RCIA sponsors were not clear on that question.

Sponsors wouldn’t necessarily know the ins and outs of things. Since you are already baptized you and your wife could be received into the Church at any time. You’ll need to wait for your marriage issues to be cleared up and then it’s a question of when you are sufficiently catechized, a decision of your priest and/or RCIA director.