Bypassing RCIA?

[Phemie]

That is not true! There is no church requirement to wait a year. In any event many RCIA programs are run by lay people and not clergy. While there may be some theological sound RCIA programs, I have looked at the material from many and found that they are run by very liberal committees. Some with their own agenda.

I did not say there was a Church requirement, I said that the Church “ideal” is for the catechumenate to be open ended with the catechumen in it for at least a full liturgical year before baptism. Unfortunately, when a parish starts RCIA in September and tells the catechumens that they will be baptized at Easter it doesn’t take into account the distinct probability that not everyone will be ready by Easter.

The baptized may well require less time. How much less would depend on their level of catechesis.

I know that what happens in many parishes is not what the North American Forum on the Catechumenate envisions.

 

[Joannm]

I did not say there was a Church requirement, I said that the Church “ideal” is for the catechumenate to be open ended with the catechumen in it for at least a full liturgical year before baptism. Unfortunately, when a parish starts RCIA in September and tells the catechumens that they will be baptized at Easter it doesn’t take into account the distinct probability that not everyone will be ready by Easter.

The baptized may well require less time. How much less would depend on their level of catechesis.

I know that what happens in many parishes is not what the North American Forum on the Catechumenate envisions.

We have had catechumens who have been in RCIA for almost 2 years and some for less than a year. We have had candidates for a year. We have had candidates (already baptized) for only a few months and had an Orthodox woman for only a few weeks. The key is proper discernment for readiness. That is something that is lacking in many RCIA teams. It is easier to just give a time table to an inquirer and to follow a strict PROGRAM than tailor the PROCESS to the individual, which can be done even in a group setting. I have three people on my team, including me, and we are able to deal with each situation and not fit everyone in to the same mold.

 

[Phemie]

We have had catechumens who have been in RCIA for almost 2 years and some for less than a year. We have had candidates for a year. We have had candidates (already baptized) for only a few months and had an Orthodox woman for only a few weeks. The key is proper discernment for readiness. That is something that is lacking in many RCIA teams. It is easier to just give a time table to an inquirer and to follow a strict PROGRAM than tailor the PROCESS to the individual, which can be done even in a group setting. I have three people on my team, including me, and we are able to deal with each situation and not fit everyone in to the same mold.

I think your parish & diocese are very lucky to have you. Our parish is not that fortunate. We have no RCIA team; although we had several people attend the “Beginnings and Beyond” workshop and started a team in 2000, most of them have moved away.

We’ve only had one catechumen in the twelve years I’ve been here (she was 10) and the pastoral assistant (a Sr.) worked with her for over a year to prepare her for her baptism. Then we had one Anglican received into full communion. That candidate’s preparation was so hush-hush you’d have thought national security depended on no one finding out. Until the very end the parish didn’t even know this woman was preparing – and she was the wife of the Grand Knight! It was the strangest thing. I know we want to avoid triumphalism but really!

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

RCIA, the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, is (ideally) only for the unbaptized.

Ideally, those who are baptized Christians would go through private instruction and would be initiated in the Church, Confirmed and receive first Eucharist, when they are ready.

That is the ideal, it is not the reality. The reality is that with the lack of resources RCIA has become the catch all. It is used for both the unbaptized and candidates for full entry into the Church.

While some parishes may try to do this outside of RCIA it is not always practical and then there is the issue of justice. Why do some baptized Christians get to skip RCIA while others do not?

Again, RCIA is the way the Church has decided to accept all those who intend to enter the Catholic Church fully. Even Catholics who have been raised Catholic but where never Confirmed go through RCIA in places.

RCIA is not just instruction in the Church, but it is also an introduction to the community of the parish.

 

[corsair]

My wife (Catholic) and I (heathen) were married in 1966 in Santa Anna, CA. at St. Cecelia’s Catholic Church by Fr. John F. Salmon. Four years later I decided I wanted to become Catholic. So the priest Fr. Rafferty, from Our Lady Star of the Sea, Port Townsend, WA asked me a few questions and how long it would take to get my sponsor present. I told him about a week. So there it was. No RCIA.

Kind of reminded me of my Marine recruiter. He just checked to see if I was alive and “ping” I was signed up. On the other hand I have friends that recently came into the Church and had to “endure” about a year of ultra liberal Nuns talking about everything from modern music to and including liturgical dance. Darn near run them off. But they did survive.

 

[Phemie]

My wife (Catholic) and I (heathen) were married in 1966 in Santa Anna, CA. at St. Cecelia’s Catholic Church by Fr. John F. Salmon. Four years later I decided I wanted to become Catholic. So the priest Fr. Rafferty, from Our Lady Star of the Sea, Port Townsend, WA asked me a few questions and how long it would take to get my sponsor present. I told him about a week. So there it was. No RCIA.

Kind of reminded me of my Marine recruiter. He just checked to see if I was alive and “ping” I was signed up. On the other hand I have friends that recently came into the Church and had to “endure” about a year of ultra liberal Nuns talking about everything from modern music to and including liturgical dance. Darn near run them off. But they did survive.

When you became Catholic there was no such thing as RCIA.

For what it’s worth the RCIA properly refers to the rites, not what is taught. If you pick up the RCIA book it doesn’t offer anything by way of teachings for the catechumen or the candidate. It simply lays out the rituals that are to be done, just as the Rite of Baptism lays out the ritual but not the preparation given to the parents and the Rite of Marriage lays out the ritual but not the marriage preparation. Each parish or diocese deals with the actual preparation in its own way.

It’s quite possible to have private one on one with the priest and still be doing RCIA. When the last catechumen we had was in preparation she was having one on one teaching but we were still doing all the rituals with her and following the Rite to a T.

 

[cthulhubryan]

I’ve been through RCIA. Twice. Each time something happened that caused the class to either stop meeting or my work schedule intervened. I can truly agree with the earlier posted statement of faith, though I was surprised that the “descended to Hell” or “descended to the dead” part was left out.

I also want to know if I need to go through RCIA again. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed it both times, but once you understand the sacraments (especially Eucharist and Reconciliation) you really don’t want to wait to take part.

 

[Phemie]

I’ve been through RCIA. Twice. Each time something happened that caused the class to either stop meeting or my work schedule intervened. I can truly agree with the earlier posted statement of faith, though I was surprised that the “descended to Hell” or “descended to the dead” part was left out.

I also want to know if I need to go through RCIA again. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed it both times, but once you understand the sacraments (especially Eucharist and Reconciliation) you really don’t want to wait to take part.

I think if you approached the pastor of the nearest parish – or perhaps the diocese – and explained this you might well be received into full communion in a short while (I’m assuming that since you’re Methodist you are baptized.)

 

[EmBee]

I did not say there was a Church requirement, I said that the Church “ideal” is for the catechumenate to be open ended with the catechumen in it for at least a full liturgical year before baptism. Unfortunately, when a parish starts RCIA in September and tells the catechumens that they will be baptized at Easter it doesn’t take into account the distinct probability that not everyone will be ready by Easter.

The baptized may well require less time. How much less would depend on their level of catechesis.

I know that what happens in many parishes is not what the North American Forum on the Catechumenate envisions.

I don’t understand why you specifically say “the baptized may well require less time.” My not having been baptized as an infant did not hinder my ability to read about Church history, attend Mass and learn about the Catholic faith as an adult before deciding to become Catholic Many of the participants in the RCIA program (during the season that I went thru) were discerning whether or not to become Catholic while they were going thru the program. I agree that discerning whether to convert or not and learning all about Church teaching could take a while.

–

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

I am speaking as someone who not only went through RCIA but as someone who has helped teach it.

This is also about obedience to proper authority.

The issue here is that RCIA is required for those who are not baptized and most dioceses use RCIA for those candidates who while being baptized are not Catholic. Some dioceses also require those who where baptized Catholic but fell away from the Chruch prior to Confirmation who wish to be confirmed when they are adults to attend RCIA.

We can complain about it all we wish but there is something to being obeident to the Church and the proper authority.

RCIA is also not just about learning the facts, it is also an integration into the parish community.

 

[mswood]

While it is not required that someone who is already baptized complete the entire RCIA processes, many parishes, including my own only bring people into the church through the RCIA process. In my current RCIA group we have 3 of us who are unbaptized, 4 that where baptized in another faith and one woman who was baptized and raised catholic (even received First Communion) but never confirmed, we are all required to complete the entire RCIA process.

 

[Phemie]

While it is not required that someone who is already baptized complete the entire RCIA processes, many parishes, including my own only bring people into the church through the RCIA process. In my current RCIA group we have 3 of us who are unbaptized, 4 that where baptized in another faith and one woman who was baptized and raised catholic (even received First Communion) but never confirmed, we are all required to complete the entire RCIA process.

Are they all treated the same? The Rite is clear that the baptized are to be treated differently (no dismissal, certain rites don’t apply, etc).

 

[mswood]

Are they all treated the same? The Rite is clear that the baptized are to be treated differently (no dismissal, certain rites don’t apply, etc).

We will all be dismissed (starting in the season of Advent), We will have slightly different Rites. The unbaptized will have the Rite of Acceptance and the Baptized will have the Rite of Welcoming. , however both Rites are being combined and done at the same time. Then at the begning of Lent we will have the Rite of Election for the unbaptized and the Rite of Continuing Conversion for the baptized - again performed at the same time. I am not sure yet if they the catholic woman who only needs confirmation will take part in these rites or not.

 

[nina0113]

My original parish required two years of RCIA for non-Catholics and one year for Catholics who needed confirmation. I ended up changing to another parish and being received the first year.

 

[mswood]

My original parish required two years of RCIA for non-Catholics and one year for Catholics who needed confirmation. I ended up changing to another parish and being received the first year.

At my parish it is a 9 month process. It begins in mid-August and continues through mid-May, with all that want to become Catholic being baptized (if needed), confirmed and receiving First Communion at the Easter Vigil.

 

[cthulhubryan]

I think if you approached the pastor of the nearest parish – or perhaps the diocese – and explained this you might well be received into full communion in a short while (I’m assuming that since you’re Methodist you are baptized.)

Yes, I am baptized. Thanks for the info.

 

[jw2lds2catholic]

When I visited with the Deacon in May 2007, I knew I wanted to convert. In June I started inquiry classes, July filled out my paperwork for my annulment. By the time RCIA began in earnest in September, I had already read the Cathecism (sp) and pretty much didn’t learn anything new during the year. I completed the Rites as I was able. I had been baptized an Episcalian.

Easter 2008 came and went for me. I was still waiting an annulment. And would be waiting until December 2008. Two days after I got the paperwork from the Diosese I was received privately before a Wednesday night Mass.

Nineteen months was how long my journey was. And while I got impatient a few times (seeing my ‘classmates’ received into the Church at the Easter Vigil was bittersweet), but all in all, I am thankful for the process. I made good friends with my classmates and drew closer to God as I waited for him in the Eucharist. We didn’t always get along, but He was worth the wait.

The Lord knows your desires and will provide them on His time schedule, not necessarily ours.

God Bless you on your journey.

 

[happilycatholic]

IMHO RCIA is part of your faith journey and your commitment. You will undoubtedly experience the Holy Spirit moving in your life through RCIA. Why would you not want that opportunity.

I was in RCIA for 14 months. There is a period called Mystagogia where you will discern how to deepen your life with Christ. All is not over after the Easter Vigil!

RCIA was a very humbling experience for me and it really is the foundation of your faith journey as it relates to the Church itself. I wouldn’t skip it. In fact, I was willing to go through it again when my finacee went through.

Even after contemplating catholicism and studying it for years, I found RCIA to be enlightening because others had questions that never crossed my mind and yet were very compelling. They had those questions as a result of their own life experiences. You can’t benefit from that if you don’t take advantage of RCIA.

Do it. Enjoy it. Cherish it. Then be thankful for it.

Peace Be With You.

HC

 

[Mrs_Sally]

A properly catechized Christian can be received in full Communion in a matter of weeks. There is no requirement to go through a year of preparation and be received at the Easter Vigil. In fact, one of the articles in the RCIA books says that (I’m paraphrasing) no hardship should be imposed on the Christian wanting to be received – IOW, no hoops to jump through nor unnecessarily prolonged preparation.

A conversation with the priest or the diocesan person responsible for RCIA should resolve the issue.

This is correct. In fact, my husband was received into the Church within about 2 months of his first conversation with our pastor. It happened that he was received at the Easter vigil, but if we had approached our priest at a different time of year, he would not have had to wait any longer.

OP, please make an appointment with the priest at your local parish. Only he can tell you what is possible given your exact situation.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

I’ve been through RCIA. Twice. Each time something happened that caused the class to either stop meeting or my work schedule intervened. I can truly agree with the earlier posted statement of faith, though I was surprised that the “descended to Hell” or “descended to the dead” part was left out.

I also want to know if I need to go through RCIA again. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed it both times, but once you understand the sacraments (especially Eucharist and Reconciliation) you really don’t want to wait to take part.

Please speak to the priest at your local parish. Call and make an appointment with him to explain your situation. It is up to him (not the secretary, DRE, or knights of Columbus) to decide.