Dilemma - When to get Baptized?

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Wannabe

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Need help gaining some perspective!

My wife and I are on a journey to convert from a Southern Baptist upbringing to Catholicism. We have been through RCIA and were to be Baptized, receive First Communion and Confirmation this past Easter Vigil 2019. Unfortunately, just a few days before the Vigil, we were informed by our parish Priest that we would not be able to proceed due to a previous marriage of my wife’s and her ex having been Baptized. My wife was totally unaware of this. To say I was crushed is an understatement!!

Our Priest explained that we would eventually be able to proceed, after some more approval process from a Tribunal in Rome, which would take maybe 3 months or so.

I was so looking forward to us being Baptized at the Easter Vigil. We only get to do this once, so I’m wanting to just wait and do it at next year’s Easter Vigil. But our Priest, all of the parishioners I’ve talked with thus far, and my wife ALL want us to do it as soon as we’re able to.

So my question is, how significant and important is it to be Baptized and receive First Communion at the Easter Vigil versus any other time of year? Appreciate any insight on this and some stories of others who have converted and been Baptized at other times of the year than the Easter Vigil??

Thanks so much in advance! God Bless!!
 
For those who haven’t gone through RCIA yet, I like to emphasize the journey of RCIA to Easter. However, since you’ve already gone through that, it’s my recommendation to get baptized as soon as possible now, since you’re eligible (pending the tribunal review) and your priest thinks you’re ready. The sacrament is as efficacious at any point in the year.
 
While it is the traditional time for baptizing converts, Easter is certainly not the only time it can happen. If your pastor has deemed that you are ready, go ahead as soon as it becomes possible. The important thing is to be baptized, not that it be done at the Vigil.
 
So your parish took you all the way through RCIA and at the last minute told you the canon law regarding a previous marriage? When my wife and I first started RCIA one of the first questions asked was about previous marriages.
 
I sympathize that this was not dealt with sooner in the process!

Most people are not baptized at the Easter vigil, as we are baptized shortly after birth. Even Protestant denominations baptize year-round. So while the significance is lovely, it is not at all necessary!

You and your wife could look ahead at the feast days at that time of year and chose one of those dates, or maybe a date that has a personal significance.
 
Wannabe said:
So my question is, how significant and important is it to be Baptized and receive First Communion at the Easter Vigil versus any other time of year? Appreciate any insight on this and some stories of others who have converted and been Baptized at other times of the year than the Easter Vigil??
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The sacrament is traditionally done on the Easter Vigil so that catechumens can participate in the feast of Christ’s resurrection. This is an important, but not essential aspect of the sacrament.

It is important to wait until your wife’s marriage situation is sorted out before receiving baptism. The pope can dissolve the marriage of an unbaptized person, potentially allowing allowing the Church to recognize your current relationship with minimal delay.
 
To me, I just think being baptized in extremely important. The Easter Vigil is a significant time, but baptism can happen at other times.
 
Oh yes we really enjoyed RCIA, the Rite of Acceptance, and the Scrutiny’s. Thank you so much for your reply and opinion. It truly helps!
 
Wannabe I am so sorry this happened and I am sure it was a horrible shock after building up for a year to Easter. I am a convert from atheism, I converted decades ago when I was 19. The priest prepared me and I was then baptized on the feast of St. James, July 25th, which was the parish feast day.

It’s really important that you come into the church now you are ready. I would suggest you look ahead to major feastdays of the church in the next few months and see if any speak to you and your wife. They may be special for personal reasons to you both. Pray and discern and discuss it with your Parish Priest. God may well have a particular feast day in mind for your reception.

Every baptism day is just as special and important as any other. The Easter vigil has been chosen as an obvious culmination after a year of preparation but it doesn’t make the baptism and other sacraments you receive at that time any more valid.

It was wonderful being baptized on the parish feastday as there was a huge turnout and I realise now that the Priest used my story of conversion as a witness to the parish that all their prayers and devotion were integral to my decision to become Catholic.

Remember you are joining a community and they are just as much part of your reception into the church. How God chooses to bring you in will be perfect. Try to let go of any preconceived ideas of how things “should” be but allow God’s plan to unfold. I think you will find God will not be outdone in generosity.
 
They did ask us about our previous marriages and baptisms at the very start of our RCIA. At that time,we did not know of any baptisms of our former spouses. Unfortunately, it was found out at the last minute from one of her former in-law’s that her former spouse had been baptized as an infant. He/they never spoke of it to her, nor was he or they religious in any way, shape or form so she did not know.
 
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Thank you for your reply. That’s a great idea! Will certainly give that serious thought. Thank you so much!
 
Yes, we have to wait for the approval and all. They won’t let us do it otherwise so no choice about that really. Want to be sure to do things properly for sure! Thank you for your reply. Very helpful!
 
Wow, your response was truly eye opening in that I had not thought of it in that way. Thank you so very much for sharing your story and this insight!
 
If you have been through the Scrutinies already, there is no reason to wait until the Easter Vigil. The Church’s calendar and the service on Holy Saturday are geared toward baptism, I hope you were able to attend.

But the bureaucratic delay should not keep you from being baptized at another time. The RCIA team should be able to guide you through a renewal of the Lenten experience before your baptism when ever it happens.

Think about when you want to be received. All Saints Day, Nov 1, or The Baptism of the Lord, Jan something, would be great days for a baptism, but another day might be special to you. Don’t get too committed to any date, or you may be disappointed again.
 
I actually had a friend of mine of many years who decided to join us on our journey and become Catholic. His wife is a cradle Catholic. He went through RCIA at the same time we did, but in another parish in another town north of us. Since we couldn’t do ours, we decided to drive up and surprise him by attending his. It was greatly inspiring, but made me a little more sad.
 
It isn’t that significant or important. Most baptisms do not occur at the Easter vigil. In fact most first communions dont either.

But it is too bad the parish timeline to recieve this information was so close to the vigil. Given that it is a year long process it would have been nice for them to get the information sooner.
 
I’m not the OP but I think it’s because now it’s become a Petrine Privilege case instead of a Pauline Privilege case — meaning her previous marriage must be dissolved by the Pope.
 
Or they could choose to do a formal case with the Tribunal. Worth asking about it.
 
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