Catholic coming back to the Church

[ffg]

I am sponsoring someone in RCIA for the first time.

The person I am sponsoring was baptized and had Confession and Communion as a youngster. He is going through RCIA for Confirmation.

Technically, wouldn’t he need to just go to confession to be in the state of Grace for Communion?

He said a priest said he needed to make a good confession for communion, but our RCIA leaders told him to wait (I think for a specific event in the next week or two, not until Easter).

As my first round through RCIA, my intention was to listen and watch and understand the process, but I also want the guy I’m sponsoring to have correct information.

Thanks,

Mike

 

[Polycarp1]

I am sponsoring someone in RCIA for the first time.
The person I am sponsoring was baptized and had Confession and Communion as a youngster. He is going through RCIA for Confirmation.
Technically, wouldn’t he need to just go to confession to be in the state of Grace for Communion?
He said a priest said he needed to make a good confession for communion, but our RCIA leaders told him to wait (I think for a specific event in the next week or two, not until Easter). Mike

I would go with the Priest’s advice or at least go back to talk to him about when to go. Walking around with un-confessed sin is a risky and serious matter. Its more important then just adhering to the RCIA schedule for new catechumens if that is in fact the reason they want him to wait.

 

[cominghome1966]

I really think that RCIA should only be used for catechumens. I get annoyed when I hear about the baptized being put there. Here is a great website with a lot of articles that explain why RCIA should only be used for catechumens, not candidates (baptized Protestants who are converting) and not Catholics (those who have already been baptized Catholic, and possibly also had first confession and first holy communion). Team RCIA

Having said that, I see two things going on here.

1. The person can absolutely go to confession right now. If it were me, I’d ignore the advice of RCIA leaders and just go to confession, then start receiving communion. I really do not think it is appropriate for the RCIA leaders to tell somebody, who is eligible to go to confession, to wait. Not appropriate at all. It is really none of their business, to be quite frank. This person has the right to go and should go, today or as soon as possible, imo.

As a courtesy to the RCIA leaders, this person can explain that he is going to go to confession since he has the right to go and wants to go. If they object, then I really do think they are out of line, and are possibly misinformed about the rights this person has as a Catholic.

1. Being confirmed is different. As far as making this person wait for confirmation… I guess that is to be decided by the priest and the RCIA leaders.

 

[Polycarp1]

I really think that RCIA should only be used for catechumens. I get annoyed when I hear about the baptized being put there. Here is a great website with a lot of articles that explain why RCIA should only be used for catechumens, not candidates (baptized Protestants who are converting) and not Catholics (those who have already been baptized Catholic, and possibly also had first confession and first holy communion).

Ideally I would agree with you. But we know that there are many Catholics who have had the first three sacraments but really know little about the Faith. They likely didn’t go much beyond a catechism class for children unless they were able to go to a good Catholic School.

In a small parish where finding qualified people to do pastoral care I would agree to invite baptised Catholics who want to know more about the Faith to attend as well.

 

[angeltime]

Pax et Bonum! There are some unique situtations that come into the RCIA and as far as I remember, the Priest is aware of them more than anyone else in the room. I do agree if this individual is in need of learning more about his faith and bonding with parishners to feel more welcome, then the RCIA might be the right place for him. This is really between him and the priest first of all.

As for the confession, the priest said he needs a good confession and so be it - he didn’t say he needs a good confession and to wait a few months. If this individual needs confession, then someone needs to encourage him to go and make it a consoling experience. The RCIA team may be wanting to keep all their candidates together to go to confession at the same time and then have the Easter Vigil - I still don’t agree though, that this person should be kept on hold for that if he has the need for confession.

The other thing I see, is that this person would be sitting with baggage on his mind/soul perhaps through the whole RCIA process when confession could help him along!

I hope you can take this to your priest and come to the right decision for this person.

God bless; nice that you care enough to watch out for him! angeltime

 

[Dorothy]

Ideally I would agree with you. But we know that there are many Catholics who have had the first three sacraments but really know little about the Faith. They likely didn’t go much beyond a catechism class for children unless they were able to go to a good Catholic School.

In a small parish where finding qualified people to do pastoral care I would agree to invite baptised Catholics who want to know more about the Faith to attend as well.

I agree, as there are many Catholics who were given very little information about their faith. Some were just baptized, and then the parents lost interest in going to Mass. Some made their first Communion with minimal information and were not taken regularly to Mass.

When they become grown up and are interested in the faith there needs to be a place for them in RCIA. If not, then they need instruction for themselves on a long-term basis. That doesn’t work when there are only one or two minimally instructed Catholics that want to learn more. Being in RCIA increases their instruction, and their sense of community and enthusiasm with the others there.

 

[tawny]

RCIA is not only for Catechumens & Candidates. It is also for any Baptized/Confirmed Catholic who wishes to seek further catechisis. It is a great resource tool for any Catholic.

 

[LittleFlower378]

I would go with the Priest’s advice or at least go back to talk to him about when to go. Walking around with un-confessed sin is a risky and serious matter. Its more important then just adhering to the RCIA schedule for new catechumens if that is in fact the reason they want him to wait.

 

[FrDavid96]

I am sponsoring someone in RCIA for the first time.

The person I am sponsoring was baptized and had Confession and Communion as a youngster. He is going through RCIA for Confirmation.

Technically, wouldn’t he need to just go to confession to be in the state of Grace for Communion?

He said a priest said he needed to make a good confession for communion, but our RCIA leaders told him to wait (I think for a specific event in the next week or two, not until Easter).

Mike,

Let’s look at this:

The priest, who is the one who decides whether or not he can receive Communion, told him (it seems to me) that after Confession, he can go to Communion.

The RCIA director essentially says that the priest is wrong.

What’s wrong with this picture?

Now, waiting a week isn’t much of a big deal. Maybe there’s something special happening on a Sunday and the RCIA director thinks it would be “nice” for him to return to receiving Communion when there’s some other reason that makes that particular Mass a bit special (such as being part of a group of people in a similar situation, or maybe it’s the parish patronal feast, etc. etc.) So a few days doesn’t matter much.

However, even if the man were to go to Confession and receive Communion at a daily Mass, there’s nothing that would prevent this.

As my first round through RCIA, my intention was to listen and watch and understand the process, but I also want the guy I’m sponsoring to have correct information.

Thanks,

Mike

Then by all means, follow what the priest is saying. He is the minister of both sacraments, Confession and Communion.

If the RCIA director has a problem with that, say “talk to Father X”

I can assure you that if I ever told a parishioner that he could receive Communion and someone else said something to the contrary, the words “talk to Father” would be exactly what I would want to be the response.

 

[1ke]

Technically, wouldn’t he need to just go to confession to be in the state of Grace for Communion?

Yes, absolutely.

He said a priest said he needed to make a good confession for communion,

He should listen to his priest. Go to confession ASAP and resume the sacramental life.

but our RCIA leaders told him to wait (I think for a specific event in the next week or two, not until Easter).

Sigh.

He certainly can do this, but doesn’t have to do this. He can still attend the “special even” and receive communion.

 

[USMC_Convert]

I honestly don’t have an answer for you, I have no idea, but I can say that my experience in RCIA was awesome, in fact since then I have been constantly looking for another group similar to that where I can go learn more about the Catholic faith.

I loved RCIA, I’d say if you can go through it, do it!!!

 

[ffg]

Thanks All.

 

[Don_Ruggero]

I am sponsoring someone in RCIA for the first time.

The person I am sponsoring was baptized and had Confession and Communion as a youngster. He is going through RCIA for Confirmation.

Technically, wouldn’t he need to just go to confession to be in the state of Grace for Communion?

He said a priest said he needed to make a good confession for communion, but our RCIA leaders told him to wait (I think for a specific event in the next week or two, not until Easter).

As my first round through RCIA, my intention was to listen and watch and understand the process, but I also want the guy I’m sponsoring to have correct information.

Thanks,

Mike

Frankly, what you relate does not give me specific information to offer much meaningful advice.

How I, as a priest, would deal with this situation would vary broadly depending upon any number of circumstances.

You indicate that your friend was baptised and had first reconciliation and first Eucharist as a child…but when he stopped practicing would be a critical element. If he desired to return to the practice of the Faith but had not been to Mass since the day of his First Communion, that would be a different situation to deal with pastorally than if he had stopped attending Mass in High School, for example.

As is how old he is now and what his state of life is. If he is single and a university student, for example, we are talking about a very different situation from a man in his 30s who has acquired a wife or a live-in relationship in his time away from the Church.

What “a priest” said moreover does not indicate if this is his parish priest. What can be a generic answer to a hypothetical can become a very different answer in the concrete…such as the need to do a convalidation

Nor do I have any idea what this “special event” might be…whether it is the bishop coming to administer Confirmation or a penance service focused on general confessions or any number of other possibilities.

If you have a concern, you and your friend should discuss it with the parish priest…who can clarify the matter as to what is his will and determination for what needs to happen. I presume he is the one who referred your friend to the RCIA and therefore knows the reason for the choices he has made in your friend’s regard.

 

[Don_Ruggero]

I really think that RCIA should only be used for catechumens. I get annoyed when I hear about the baptized being put there.

That decision rests with the parish priest. It is his – and his alone – to make.

 

[pianistclare]

I agree, as there are many Catholics who were given very little information about their faith. Some were just baptized, and then the parents lost interest in going to Mass. Some made their first Communion with minimal information and were not taken regularly to Mass.

When they become grown up and are interested in the faith there needs to be a place for them in RCIA. If not, then they need instruction for themselves on a long-term basis. That doesn’t work when there are only one or two minimally instructed Catholics that want to learn more. Being in RCIA increases their instruction, and their sense of community and enthusiasm with the others there.

+1

Just because someone says they are Catholic does not mean they truly know much
about the faith. Catechesis is everything. And many parishes absolutely do not have the certified Catechists that are needed for the children, much less adults.
Poorly catechized Catholics can have as many misconceptions about the faith as anyone else.

 

[Ludger]

I definitely feel he should go to confession and communion as soon as he is able to. I don’t feel that he should be required to wait.

The Msgr. at my church opened his RCIA class to all parishioners. There are roughly 80 people attending. I strongly feel that parishioners should be encouraged to attend such a class as an adult.

Because of a remark Msgr. made during the second class, my understanding of Catholicism became clear. As a result, after several private sessions with Msgr., today I made my first confession in ten years. What a great feeling. Now I can receive the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.

I agree with some of the previous responses. If this person could die unexpected while waiting for an opportunity to receive these sacraments. Then what?

 

[Horton]

I really think that RCIA should only be used for catechumens. I get annoyed when I hear about the baptized being put there. Here is a great website with a lot of articles that explain why RCIA should only be used for catechumens, not candidates (baptized Protestants who are converting) and not Catholics (those who have already been baptized Catholic, and possibly also had first confession and first holy communion). Team RCIA

I converted and went through the RCIA process. Coming from a Protestant background RCIA was critical for me to learn about and come to love the Catholic Church. If I had been told to learn a little about Catholicism, make a first confession eek, receive communion, then be confirmed my head would have exploded. Candidates need the instruction also. I know if I would have been told to just figure it out on my own or worse yet have to rely on my first sponsor for correct information about Catholicism, I wouldn’t have finished the process.

 

[Horton]

I honestly don’t have an answer for you, I have no idea, but I can say that my experience in RCIA was awesome, in fact since then I have been constantly looking for another group similar to that where I can go learn more about the Catholic faith.

I loved RCIA, I’d say if you can go through it, do it!!!

I was like you, loved RCIA, didn’t want it to end. The following year the leadership of RCIA changed in my parish and a good friend of mine was asked to be the director of RCIA. He asked if I would be willing to help in some of the paperwork aspect of it and I’ve been part of the RCIA team in some way ever since. When I moved to another parish I just asked if I could help out in any way and I was part of the team. It also helps that I’m a marriage case advocate.

Talk to your priest or RCIA directors. Help is always needed. Being a sponsor is extremely fulfilling.

 

[angell1]

+1

Just because someone says they are Catholic does not mean they truly know much
about the faith. Catechesis is everything. And many parishes absolutely do not have the certified Catechists that are needed for the children, much less adults.
Poorly catechized Catholics can have as many misconceptions about the faith as anyone else.

yup, take it from a catholic that just basically fell through the cracks as far as catechesis is concerned, there is nothing more painful to learn that most of the things you had been taught were wrong or that you had only received one infinitely minute fraction of what the faith is all about.

 

[ffg]

I definitely feel he should go to confession and communion as soon as he is able to. I don’t feel that he should be required to wait.

The Msgr. at my church opened his RCIA class to all parishioners. There are roughly 80 people attending. I strongly feel that parishioners should be encouraged to attend such a class as an adult.

Because of a remark Msgr. made during the second class, my understanding of Catholicism became clear. As a result, after several private sessions with Msgr., today I made my first confession in ten years. What a great feeling. Now I can receive the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.

I agree with some of the previous responses. If this person could die unexpected while waiting for an opportunity to receive these sacraments. Then what?

Awesome! Thanks for sharing!