Confirmation and RCIA?

[waxwing]

—Alright here is the preface to my question. —

I wasn’t 100 % sure I was baptized Catholic; I asked one parent and was told no, so I went with that - though in the back of my head I always thought I was, anyways so I attended RCIA for about 8 months last year. Near the end of RCIA I was at the folks place for dinner and the topic came up again, and spoke to my Dad who said yes of course you were, who then spoke to my Mom who then said oh yes I remember yes you were. (They joined a protestant church when I quite young) Well I find out the parish, I write the parish and a month later I have my Baptismal Certificate, which btw was a great feeling - knowing my hunch that I am Catholic is true. By the time this all happens RCIA is almost over, the others in the class are baptized, or confirmed etc. This summer the RCIA director spoke to me and said you know you’ve been catechized, your Catholic, why don’t you go to first confession and then receive First Communion. I discussed this with the Priest and he said yes you can go to Confession and receive Eucharist. Well I did, am so glad that after two years of attending Mass and not receiving, finally I can, it was a very nourishing and unifying experience. Well now the new RCIA person called and said do want to go another year of RCIA to be confirmed next year, I said I would go to the catechism portion, not breaking open the word. Well here is my question, I feel like I am coerced (could be just me injecting that feeling) that I need to attend another year to be Confirmed. Last year I attending RCIA because I wanted to, this time its like it different. Do I need to go to RCIA again to be confirmed? I know I will probably learn more about the faith than if I didn’t attend, but part of me feels reluctant to attend, maybe pride, maybe explaining the story to people everytime they see I’m back in RCIA

Any ideas, thoughts, answers, words of encouragement???

Thanks for reading my long post
God Bless
ww

 

[1ke]

You need to discuss it with your priest. Ask him how he wants to handle it.

 

[benedictgal]

—Alright here is the preface to my question. —

I wasn’t 100 % sure I was baptized Catholic; I asked one parent and was told no, so I went with that - though in the back of my head I always thought I was, anyways so I attended RCIA for about 8 months last year. Near the end of RCIA I was at the folks place for dinner and the topic came up again, and spoke to my Dad who said yes of course you were, who then spoke to my Mom who then said oh yes I remember yes you were. (They joined a protestant church when I quite young) Well I find out the parish, I write the parish and a month later I have my Baptismal Certificate, which btw was a great feeling - knowing my hunch that I am Catholic is true. By the time this all happens RCIA is almost over, the others in the class are baptized, or confirmed etc. This summer the RCIA director spoke to me and said you know you’ve been catechized, your Catholic, why don’t you go to first confession and then receive First Communion. I discussed this with the Priest and he said yes you can go to Confession and receive Eucharist. Well I did, am so glad that after two years of attending Mass and not receiving, finally I can, it was a very nourishing and unifying experience. Well now the new RCIA person called and said do want to go another year of RCIA to be confirmed next year, I said I would go to the catechism portion, not breaking open the word. Well here is my question, I feel like I am coerced (could be just me injecting that feeling) that I need to attend another year to be Confirmed. Last year I attending RCIA because I wanted to, this time its like it different. Do I need to go to RCIA again to be confirmed? I know I will probably learn more about the faith than if I didn’t attend, but part of me feels reluctant to attend, maybe pride, maybe explaining the story to people everytime they see I’m back in RCIA

Any ideas, thoughts, answers, words of encouragement???

Thanks for reading my long post
God Bless
ww

First of all, congratulations, and welcome back home. :clapping: :hug1:

Regarding the issue of confirmation, pray about it, first and foremost, as it is one of the sacraments of initiation. For some of us, at least those of us who were confirmed as teenagers, this is the last sacrament of initiation. For others, those who were baptized and confirmed at the same time, it is the second one. Spend some quiet time in front of Jesus in the tabernacle and open your heart. He will tell you what to do. I would also suggest that you meet with your pastor. Explain the situation to him and ask him for his guidance.

As far as your classmates in RCIA are concerned, I don’t believe that you have to explain your situation to anyone, as it is a matter between you and the Lord.

You are in my prayers.

 

[waxwing]

First of all, congratulations, and welcome back home. :clapping: :hug1:

Regarding the issue of confirmation, pray about it, first and foremost, as it is one of the sacraments of initiation. For some of us, at least those of us who were confirmed as teenagers, this is the last sacrament of initiation. For others, those who were baptized and confirmed at the same time, it is the second one. Spend some quiet time in front of Jesus in the tabernacle and open your heart. He will tell you what to do. I would also suggest that you meet with your pastor. Explain the situation to him and ask him for his guidance.

As far as your classmates in RCIA are concerned, I don’t believe that you have to explain your situation to anyone, as it is a matter between you and the Lord.

You are in my prayers.

Benedictgal

Thanks for you thoughts and prayers - I know I don’t have to respond the peoples queries about my repeat year in RCIA, but they will ask and I don’t want to be rude and say ‘none of your business’ I would like a to have a succinct answer. Part of me wants that answer to say none of your business in a nice way, and part wants to explain the situation. The former RCIA director I would explain the whole situation; others, maybe the other answer, the shorter one

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Benedictgal

Thanks for you thoughts and prayers - I know I don’t have to respond the peoples queries about my repeat year in RCIA, but they will ask and I don’t want to be rude and say ‘none of your business’ I would like a to have a succinct answer. Part of me wants that answer to say none of your business in a nice way, and part wants to explain the situation. The former RCIA director I would explain the whole situation; others, maybe the other answer, the shorter one

Speak with the pastor. He can request permission from the Bishop to Confirm you. Or if the Bishop is going to be near-by for a Confirmation group you can go there to be Confirmed by the Bishop, your pastor can arrange this also.

 

[waxwing]

Speak with the pastor. He can request permission from the Bishop to Confirm you. Or if the Bishop is going to be near-by for a Confirmation group you can go there to be Confirmed by the Bishop, your pastor can arrange this also.

Thanks, I thought confirmation had to happen during Easter. Thats one of the reasons why I feel like I have to attend RCIA again, because if I don’t, next spring will roll around and I’ll miss out again.

Thanks again
ww

 

[Joe_Kelley]

At one time our diocese permitted Confirmation only during the Easter Season. [It was peculiar to our diocese and, I think it has been dropped now.] However, if someone missed, they would not repeat the whole program. We would keep in touch and bring them back the next year. We would encourage them to attend a few of the meetings and rites in Lent, so they could get acquainted with the group and feel a part of it, but it was not mandatory.

 

[Jea9]

Thanks, I thought confirmation had to happen during Easter. Thats one of the reasons why I feel like I have to attend RCIA again, because if I don’t, next spring will roll around and I’ll miss out again.

Thanks again
ww

I think you really need to discuss this with your pastor and then follow what he says regarding it. I’m a new convert (well a year! ) and was privately catechized by my pastor and he baptized me at a random time. When confirmation time came around (Easter Vigil, which by the way was my birthday last year, that would have been great!) I asked my pastor if he could confirm me then because they can have permission to do this and do so at the Easter Vigil. The Bishop decided that since Fr had nobody in the RCIA class to baptize AND confirm, that we all had to wait until he came to do the high school group a month later. No biggy for me really…obedience has its own rewards

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Thanks, I thought confirmation had to happen during Easter. Thats one of the reasons why I feel like I have to attend RCIA again, because if I don’t, next spring will roll around and I’ll miss out again.

Thanks again
ww

No, that is a major misunderstanding in many parishes. An already Baptized person (Candidate) can be received into full union with the Catholic Church at just about any time.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I think you really need to discuss this with your pastor and then follow what he says regarding it. I’m a new convert (well a year! ) and was privately catechized by my pastor and he baptized me at a random time. When confirmation time came around (Easter Vigil, which by the way was my birthday last year, that would have been great!) I asked my pastor if he could confirm me then because they can have permission to do this and do so at the Easter Vigil. The Bishop decided that since Fr had nobody in the RCIA class to baptize AND confirm, that we all had to wait until he came to do the high school group a month later. No biggy for me really…obedience has its own rewards

This shows that there are many misunderstandings in RCIA programs. Canon Law REQUIRES that an adult (anyone over the “age of reason”) be Confirmed and receive Holy Communion, at the time they are Baptized. (unless there is a serious reason they can’t be)

 

[puzzleannie]

—) . This summer the RCIA director spoke to me and said you know you’ve been catechized, your Catholic, why don’t you go to first confession and then receive First Communion. I discussed this with the Priest and he said yes you can go to Confession and receive Eucharist. Well I did, am so glad that after two years of attending Mass and not receiving, finally I can, it was a very nourishing and unifying experience. Well now the new RCIA person called and said do want to go another year of RCIA to be confirmed next year,
ww

absolutely not necessary, you should be confirmed the next time the Bishop calls adult Catholics for Confirmation, or comes to the parish to confirm teens.

of course keep attending the classes if you wish to learn more, esp. consider being a sponsor for an RCIA catechumen, but not required. So glad pastor and director had the smarts to get you to confession and communion right away.

I actually have quite a few people who have completed the classes, have made first communion, and are now just waiting for next time Bishop confirms adults (he reserves this to himself in this diocese), either they were waiting for marriage situation to be rectified, were deployed, unavoidably detained on Confirmation day last year, or whatever reason. My job to keep track of them, invite them to retreat just before Confirmation, make sure they are still properly disposed, do the paperwork etc. Some have come back to assist with CCD, take additional catechism or bible classes, active in parish work in other areas etc.

 

[plato3]

Strange situation. I have a mixed adult class with one needing Baptism and Holy Communion and Confirmation and most of the rest just Confirmation.Our bishop always Confirms the adults when he comes for the teens.

 

[SomeCatholicGuy]

Do I need to go to RCIA again to be confirmed?

Hi waxwing! That’s a good question. The answer I can give you is that if you went through RCIA again, you would in fact be confirmed, but I’m sure you were looking for a bit more than that. I’m aware of situations where RCIA is not necessary, if you can work directly with your priest, given that you are already sufficiently knowledgeable about the faith. In that case, I believe you will need the bishop’s approval, or something like that. I would recommend speaking with your priest, because you should never feel coerced to do anything. Best of luck to ya!

 

[palmas85]

—Alright here is the preface to my question. —

I wasn’t 100 % sure I was baptized Catholic; I asked one parent and was told no, so I went with that - though in the back of my head I always thought I was, anyways so I attended RCIA for about 8 months last year. Near the end of RCIA I was at the folks place for dinner and the topic came up again, and spoke to my Dad who said yes of course you were, who then spoke to my Mom who then said oh yes I remember yes you were. (They joined a protestant church when I quite young) Well I find out the parish, I write the parish and a month later I have my Baptismal Certificate, which btw was a great feeling - knowing my hunch that I am Catholic is true. By the time this all happens RCIA is almost over, the others in the class are baptized, or confirmed etc. This summer the RCIA director spoke to me and said you know you’ve been catechized, your Catholic, why don’t you go to first confession and then receive First Communion. I discussed this with the Priest and he said yes you can go to Confession and receive Eucharist. Well I did, am so glad that after two years of attending Mass and not receiving, finally I can, it was a very nourishing and unifying experience. Well now the new RCIA person called and said do want to go another year of RCIA to be confirmed next year, I said I would go to the catechism portion, not breaking open the word. Well here is my question, I feel like I am coerced (could be just me injecting that feeling) that I need to attend another year to be Confirmed. Last year I attending RCIA because I wanted to, this time its like it different. Do I need to go to RCIA again to be confirmed? I know I will probably learn more about the faith than if I didn’t attend, but part of me feels reluctant to attend, maybe pride, maybe explaining the story to people everytime they see I’m back in RCIA

Any ideas, thoughts, answers, words of encouragement???

Thanks for reading my long post
God Bless
ww

I’m a little confused. When you went into the program did you tell them that you had or had not been baptized? If you were not sure then they could have put you on track for Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. At least that was the way we did it. Then if we confirmed Baptism, prior to the Vigil, in these situations you can actually do it by phone or fax, the candidate would just be confirmed and receive Holy Communion. If no proof could be obtained then we would have them baptized along with everyone else. Getting baptized a second time really doesn’t hurt anything and it would have kept you with the group. I’m kind of at a loss here

Are you saying that you dropped out of RCIA towards the end of the program and thats why you could not continue? We would make people repeat RCIA if they dropped out. Or did something else happen? Something doesn’t make sense here at all.

 

[waxwing]

I’m a little confused. When you went into the program did you tell them that you had or had not been baptized? If you were not sure then they could have put you on track for Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. At least that was the way we did it. Then if we confirmed Baptism, prior to the Vigil, in these situations you can actually do it by phone or fax, the candidate would just be confirmed and receive Holy Communion. If no proof could be obtained then we would have them baptized along with everyone else. Getting baptized a second time really doesn’t hurt anything and it would have kept you with the group. I’m kind of at a loss here

Are you saying that you dropped out of RCIA towards the end of the program and thats why you could not continue? We would make people repeat RCIA if they dropped out. Or did something else happen? Something doesn’t make sense here at all.

At the beginning of RCIA (early Oct) I was a about month late enrolling, I told them I was not baptized because my Mother said I had not, though I thought I was, but I wasn’t going to argue .
I attended every RCIA ‘meeting’ from Oct on (missed one due to being out of town). late April rolls around - I am at my parents house having dinner, subject of baptism comes up. My father emphatically say yes you were baptized Catholic. I find out where the parish was, write them and and shortly after I have my Baptismal Certificate. So no I never dropped out of RCIA.
I believe because I started RCIA about a month late, nothing was planned for me at 2008 Easter, where as others who started in early Sept were Baptized or Confirmed. My only query was the need to attend RCIA again because I went through it last year, save a month. Hope this clarify

God Bless
ww

 

[palmas85]

At the beginning of RCIA (early Oct) I was a about month late enrolling, I told them I was not baptized because my Mother said I had not, though I thought I was, but I wasn’t going to argue .
I attended every RCIA ‘meeting’ from Oct on (missed one due to being out of town). late April rolls around - I am at my parents house having dinner, subject of baptism comes up. My father emphatically say yes you were baptized Catholic. I find out where the parish was, write them and and shortly after I have my Baptismal Certificate. So no I never dropped out of RCIA.
I believe because I started RCIA about a month late, nothing was planned for me at 2008 Easter, where as others who started in early Sept were Baptized or Confirmed. My only query was the need to attend RCIA again because I went through it last year, save a month. Hope this clarify

God Bless
ww

I believe that if that had been the case they would have told you that you that you could not participate after enrolling that late. At least we would have done so and you would have been aware from the start as to your position with the group. It appears though that you missed at least, what, about five or six classes, give or take? Thats actually a lot to miss out on. Now I am assuming that what you missed were actual classes and not the inquiry stage which usually starts in either August or September.

If it was only the inquiry stage then I don’t see why they would not allow you to participate. If however, you missed six classes or so, it would make sense, but they should have told you. At what point did you know that you could not participate in the Rite of Reception and Celebration of Baptisml? Did you know all along or did they tell you near the Vigil which if this happened in 07 was April 5 or this year March 22?.

And as to your question, at my old parishes, if someone missed five or six sessions, yes, they more than likely would have to repeat the RCIA process.