Confirmation without RCIA?

[SuscipeMeDomine]

RCIA is not as much about book-learning (although that is certainly also an essential component) as it is about inculturation and spiritual development. Obedience is the first lesson, and (unfortunately for your case) one of the best ways to find out if someone isn’t ready to get Confirmed yet, is if they are insisting on “I’ll do it my way.”

Amen!

So many people seem to regard RCIA as a class that they should be able to skip if they already know everything.

There is an educational aspect. But mostly RCIA is about conversion. It’s about learning to think and live like a Catholic. It’s about developing and nurturing your relationship with Jesus Christ. It’s also about becoming part of a parish.

I understand that RCIA is beneficial and I am not trying to downplay its importance at all. The whole thing about trying to get confirmed without attending RCIA is mostly due to scheduling issues and less about thinking I don’t need it.

You keep mentioning confirmation, but that’s not all you need. You need to make a profession of faith and receive your First Communion as well. Prior to receiving communion you will go to confession.

If you don’t know about the sacraments of initiation – as you apparently didn’t know about the Sunday obligation – you need RCIA for the educational aspect as well as the conversion aspect.

I hope you can find a parish with a schedule that works with yours.

 

[jmcrae]

You keep mentioning confirmation, but that’s not all you need. You need to make a profession of faith and receive your First Communion as well. Prior to receiving communion you will go to confession.

After the end of the Period of Catechesis, and after he has been presented to his Bishop for approval of him moving on to the Sacraments, he will receive First Reconciliation, he will make his Profession of Faith, he will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, and then he will receive his First Holy Communion.

I hope you can find a parish with a schedule that works with yours.

My prayers are joined with yours.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

After the end of the Period of Catechesis, and after he has been presented to his Bishop for approval of him moving on to the Sacraments, he will receive First Reconciliation, he will make his Profession of Faith, he will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, and then he will receive his First Holy Communion.

Just for the record, I know that. I’m an RCIA director myself.

But the OP never mentioned the Eucharist and probably didn’t know about making a profession of faith. Look at the title of the thread – Confirmation without RCIA. I was trying to point out that we’re not talking only about confirmation.

 

[jmcrae]

Just for the record, I know that. I’m an RCIA director myself.

But the OP never mentioned the Eucharist and probably didn’t know about making a profession of faith. Look at the title of the thread – Confirmation without RCIA. I was trying to point out that we’re not talking only about confirmation.

Right - I was merely expanding on your very good point.

 

[otter272]

Just for the record, I know that. I’m an RCIA director myself.

But the OP never mentioned the Eucharist and probably didn’t know about making a profession of faith. Look at the title of the thread – Confirmation without RCIA. I was trying to point out that we’re not talking only about confirmation.

I knew about the profession of faith but from what I was told you can not perform your 1st reconciliation until after you are confirmed. I was obviously told wrong. I also knew that you can not take communion until you are confirmed. This is why I am stressing the confirmation part so much.

 

[ServantofMary]

When I was in the process of joining the Catholic Church, I couldn’t attend the RCIA classes either because of my work schedule, so my priest at the time met with me one-on-one each week at a time that I could.

 

[Qoheleth]

Well said.

To the OP. This is a prime example of why RCIA would be right for you. Simple misunderstandings of things can lead to big trouble.

What twopekinguys said,

If you havent understood that Sunday Mass is only fulfilled by sat evening Mass or Sunday attendance then this is a very good indication that you do need to go to RCIA inspite of how you feel. So go for it:thumbsup: it will be well worth you time.

 

[otter272]

What twopekinguys said,

If you havent understood that Sunday Mass is only fulfilled by sat evening Mass or Sunday attendance then this is a very good indication that you do need to go to RCIA inspite of how you feel. So go for it:thumbsup: it will be well worth you time.

The whole Sunday obligation is just something I am going to have to take up with the priest when I talk to him. I am sure that there are plenty of Catholics out there that work weekends that can’t attend Mass. I can’t be the ONLY one in the world.

 

[twopekinguys]

The whole Sunday obligation is just something I am going to have to take up with the priest when I talk to him. I am sure that there are plenty of Catholics out there that work weekends that can’t attend Mass. I can’t be the ONLY one in the world.

Most parishes have more than one mass on Sundays, plus the vigil mass on Saturday evenings.

For example, on Sunday at our parish, the masses are at 730 am, 9 am, and 11 am. The Saturday vigil Mass is at 5pm.

You couldn’t make one of these?

 

[otter272]

Most parishes have more than one mass on Sundays, plus the vigil mass on Saturday evenings.

For example, on Sunday at our parish, the masses are at 730 am, 9 am, and 11 am. The Saturday vigil Mass is at 5pm.

You couldn’t make one of these?

I work on Saturdays AND Sundays from 9am to 745pm. I might be able to make a 730 one if I can find a parish here in the area that has one. I’ll do some checking around.

 

[otter272]

I work on Saturdays AND Sundays from 9am to 745pm. I might be able to make a 730 one if I can find a parish here in the area that has one. I’ll do some checking around.

Nope. I have checked every parish that I can think of in my area and the earliest one I can find is 8am. That does not give me enough time to go to mass and get to work on time. Poop.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

Nope. I have checked every parish that I can think of in my area and the earliest one I can find is 8am. That does not give me enough time to go to mass and get to work on time. Poop.

Try masstimes.org.

If there isn’t a Mass that works with your schedule you have a few options. One would be to reconsider your job schedule to see how it might be made to fit with your Mass obligation. Could you go to a nearby Mass during your lunch break? That’s assuming you make your obligation your priority. Another would be to talk with your pastor to ask about a dispensation. I usually think of a dispensation as a one-time thing, but you could talk to him about dispensing your obligation for Sunday and perhaps going on Monday instead. I wouldn’t regard that as ideal, but it might be doable. It would be your pastor’s decision.

 

[RosaryCrusader]

Yes, you can receive confirmation without RCIA and it’s pretty obvious that yours is a hardship case which will require one on one with a Priest. I recommend you take it up with a Priest of the Fraternity of Saint Peter (FSSP) since they’re used to doing it this way. They’re traditional Catholic Priests and RCIA is not a part of their normal way of doing things. Plus you’ll have the added benefit of receiving a more wholesome Catholic education. Basically how it works with the FSSP, ordinarily, is that you’ll meet with the Priest and he’ll talk things over with you and send you home with reading material and you’ll periodically meet to go over the material you’ve read and questions you may have.

Your prior baptism will need to be discussed with the Priest to determine whether or not you should be conditionally baptised so let’s not assume just yet that you’re ready or able to receive confirmation or the other sacraments.

The FSSP is in Oklahoma City at the following locations: (fssp.org/en/messes.htm)

Chapel of Bishop McGuiness High School (diocese: Oklahoma City)
801 NW 50th Street
Oklahoma City OK 73118
Website: www.geocities.com/okcllatinmass
Masses: Sun. 9.00 (missa cantata) and 11.30 a.m.

St. Charles Borromeo Church (diocese: Oklahoma City)
5024 N Grove Ave.
Warr Acres OK 73122-5119 73122-5119
Masses: Mon.-Thur. 8.00 a.m. / Fri. 5.00 p.m. / Sat. 8.00 a.m.

The Parish of St. Peter ~ (diocese: Tulsa)
1720 East Apache
Tulsa OK 74110

 

[otter272]

Yes, you can receive confirmation without RCIA and it’s pretty obvious that yours is a hardship case which will require one on one with a Priest. I recommend you take it up with a Priest of the Fraternity of Saint Peter (FSSP) since they’re used to doing it this way. They’re traditional Catholic Priests and RCIA is not a part of their normal way of doing things. Plus you’ll have the added benefit of receiving a more wholesome Catholic education. Basically how it works with the FSSP, ordinarily, is that you’ll meet with the Priest and he’ll talk things over with you and send you home with reading material and you’ll periodically meet to go over the material you’ve read and questions you may have.

Your prior baptism will need to be discussed with the Priest to determine whether or not you should be conditionally baptised so let’s not assume just yet that you’re ready or able to receive confirmation or the other sacraments.

The FSSP is in Oklahoma City at the following locations: (fssp.org/en/messes.htm)

Chapel of Bishop McGuiness High School (diocese: Oklahoma City)
801 NW 50th Street
Oklahoma City OK 73118
Website: www.geocities.com/okcllatinmass
Masses: Sun. 9.00 (missa cantata) and 11.30 a.m.

St. Charles Borromeo Church (diocese: Oklahoma City)
5024 N Grove Ave.
Warr Acres OK 73122-5119 73122-5119
Masses: Mon.-Thur. 8.00 a.m. / Fri. 5.00 p.m. / Sat. 8.00 a.m.

The Parish of St. Peter ~ (diocese: Tulsa)
1720 East Apache
Tulsa OK 74110

Aren’t they a strictly Latin church? Not that I have a problem with that. It’s just that I don’t speak it.

 

[otter272]

Yes, you can receive confirmation without RCIA and it’s pretty obvious that yours is a hardship case which will require one on one with a Priest. I recommend you take it up with a Priest of the Fraternity of Saint Peter (FSSP) since they’re used to doing it this way. They’re traditional Catholic Priests and RCIA is not a part of their normal way of doing things. Plus you’ll have the added benefit of receiving a more wholesome Catholic education. Basically how it works with the FSSP, ordinarily, is that you’ll meet with the Priest and he’ll talk things over with you and send you home with reading material and you’ll periodically meet to go over the material you’ve read and questions you may have.

Your prior baptism will need to be discussed with the Priest to determine whether or not you should be conditionally baptised so let’s not assume just yet that you’re ready or able to receive confirmation or the other sacraments.

The FSSP is in Oklahoma City at the following locations: (fssp.org/en/messes.htm)

Chapel of Bishop McGuiness High School (diocese: Oklahoma City)
801 NW 50th Street
Oklahoma City OK 73118
Website: www.geocities.com/okcllatinmass
Masses: Sun. 9.00 (missa cantata) and 11.30 a.m.

St. Charles Borromeo Church (diocese: Oklahoma City)
5024 N Grove Ave.
Warr Acres OK 73122-5119 73122-5119
Masses: Mon.-Thur. 8.00 a.m. / Fri. 5.00 p.m. / Sat. 8.00 a.m.

The Parish of St. Peter ~ (diocese: Tulsa)
1720 East Apache
Tulsa OK 74110

Thanks! I got in touch with a priest at the St Charles Church and scheduled a meeting with him!

 

[RosaryCrusader]

Thanks! I got in touch with a priest at the St Charles Church and scheduled a meeting with him!

Super!

Aren’t they a strictly Latin church? Not that I have a problem with that. It’s just that I don’t speak it.

FSSP is a traditional Catholic Priestly Fraternity which only celebrate the traditional Latin Mass [TLM] as it was celebrated prior to Vatican II (in the 1960’s). The Mass itself is in Latin but if you go to Mass there (which I would highly recommend) you can always follow along with the english translation which is side by side with the latin text of the missal. There’s usually loaner missals at the entries.

The good thing about the FSSP is that you know you’re not going to be subject to a lot of the heterodox nonsense which is prevalent in a lot of the RCIA’s out there - you’re going to get a good solid Catholic education.

We’ll keep you in our family rosary tonight.

God Bless,

 

[Mrs_Sally]

If you are a baptized Christian, than yes you can be confirmed without going through RCIA. were you rasied Catholic and received First Holy Communion but not Confirmation? What steps you need to take depends on your specific situation. However, it is up to the priest of the parish in according with the bishop’s rules for his diocese to determine what process people need to go through to be accepted into the church in that diocese.

Do you know the priests in question well? Do they know you? If you’ve just asked them a passing question when speaking after Mass, they probably will say to go through RCIA because that is the default position. If you make an appointment with the priest and speak to him about your studies and what you know and what you have more questions about, he’ll be more likely to consider other options.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

I work on Saturdays AND Sundays from 9am to 745pm. I might be able to make a 730 one if I can find a parish here in the area that has one. I’ll do some checking around.

You’ll very likely be able to find an early morning Sunday Mass (7:30am) that you can make and still get to work.

But your larger point is worth making. It is true that if you MUST work (scheduled), you can be excused from your Sunday obligation. The caveat being of course, that you will go to Mass every Sunday that you don’t HAVE to work or if you can find a Mass outside of your work hours (even if it is early, not at your regular parish, or the one with the foriegn priest with an accent, or any other excuse).

 

[oak2520]

Mine is similar, but a bit twist here.

I was baptised when I was in Bangkok at a Catholic Church after a year of catechism. During the rite of initiation, so I thought, I have a vague memory that the priest told me that he would baptise and confirm me at together in one mass. So, he told me to wear a red and white clothes for the occasion. It all went well and I did start my practice since then–1994.

Now I am in Houston, TX. I have been learning more about the Church and developing a deeper sense of appreciation. I decided to contact the church in Bangkok for a copy of my baptismal register (my original one was thrown away by my father who did not approve of my conversion).

To my surprise, I did not see the record for my confirmation. I called the church back, and I was informed that it was more likely that I did not receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. Having been a Catholic for 16 years, I found that was a shock.

I am now wondering what to do. I am thinking about talking to a priest I know and discuss the possibility to receive this sacrament on my anniversary which is May the 5th. I hope it will be this year. If not, there goes another year with studying the same things over.

Any comment or suggestion?

 

[RosaryCrusader]

Mine is similar, but a bit twist here.

I was baptised when I was in Bangkok at a Catholic Church after a year of catechism. During the rite of initiation, so I thought, I have a vague memory that the priest told me that he would baptise and confirm me at together in one mass. So, he told me to wear a red and white clothes for the occasion. It all went well and I did start my practice since then–1994.

Now I am in Houston, TX. I have been learning more about the Church and developing a deeper sense of appreciation. I decided to contact the church in Bangkok for a copy of my baptismal register (my original one was thrown away by my father who did not approve of my conversion).

To my surprise, I did not see the record for my confirmation. I called the church back, and I was informed that it was more likely that I did not receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. Having been a Catholic for 16 years, I found that was a shock.

I am now wondering what to do. I am thinking about talking to a priest I know and discuss the possibility to receive this sacrament on my anniversary which is May the 5th. I hope it will be this year. If not, there goes another year with studying the same things over.

Any comment or suggestion?

if doubtful they can do a conditional confirmation.