Discouraged by RCIA

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I recently started RCIA (again… I started it in Aug a few years ago but dropped out after a month… long story). The church does things differently - instead of having a set schedule for RCIA (inquirer, precatechumen, etc) they have a year-round open-ended program, so you just join the church when you’re ready. Well… I’ve gone for 2 weeks now and haven’t learned anything specific to the Catholic Church… it’s just general Christianity, the first week topic was repentance and they talked for 5 minutes out of the 2 hours about confession. I’m so disappointed, I want something meaty and specific to the Catholic faith!!! UGH its frustrating to listen to a bible study on the beatitudes for 2 hours when I want to be Catechized and learn specifics. I spoke with the instructor tonight about what I need to do to join the Church if I’m certain (I’ve been studying a lot on my own the past few months) and he was really vague and confusing and said “we aren’t concerned about number of members here, we just want to make sure you understand your commitment and don’t find something out later and change your mind”. He said I’m there emotionally but they need to know I’m there doctrinally? Which is fine, but he couldn’t tell me how he would know I was ready, he mumbled something about an interview??? There isn’t a test apparently… :confused: It seems like most of the others in the class aren’t sure about the Catholic faith right now… I just feel held back and like they don’t want me to join the church when I want to so badly! Should I try to find a different, more structured, RCIA program? Do I have unrealistic expectations of RCIA?😊 Thanks… and sorry I’m new here 🙂
 
RCIA is generally setup to teach people from all walks of life. There will not doubt be much overlap to your own faith. If you’ve faithfully attending bible classes in your Protestant faith you’d know that there is much overlap. Nothing new here. In fact, if you have questions you’ve always wanted to ask but couldn’t muster up the courage to ask, now is the time to ask. Put him/her on the spot. As the grueling hard questions. That’ will make it more interesting for you and make your RCIA teacher work.

When my wife and i sat through RCIA we had a sense that our pride was hurt. We felt that we knew far more than necessary to be sitting through a class like this. However, the JOURNEY is the POINT. Try to understand that your journey doesn’t start once you say your Catholic officially. Your journey began years ago. It would be a great thing if you can find the strength to sit through the meetings. It goes by much quicker than you realize. After a year of this we found we missed it so much that we began a new program for adult catechetical instruction, a program that is required for my acceptance into the diaconate. We treat it like a very special date. At the end of RCIA we finally realized that the journey is not simply something you read in a book. It’s about giving time to the wonderment of God, time, why we are here, etc.

Be patient. Humility is a virtue. Learn to be still. So many protestants want to convert the world with there exciting determination. God yields more and longer lasting results than any man made model. If you think your ready, then pick up a rosary and say it while you listen. Do something the help your through your journey in the instruction of the Catholic Church teachings. There are more questions waiting to be asked than you even realize, but may not have thought to ask before. Just about everything has a basis. And the interview is to make sure you’re okay with the teachings of the Church and actually can accept them. By the time you complete RCIA you will be in the top 10% of Catholics that know their faith according to what we’ve been taught. You will only skim the surface and briefly cover the most important doctrines. The course, as I said initially, is design to take even atheists from nothing to something. Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and some Pentecostals, not to mention Muslims, will struggle with things you believe you already know. Your presence for them may be to help them through it as well by just being there.
 
Sadly, there is great disparity among RCIA programs. There is a reason for everything happening as it has - that reason is just not being revealed at this point. But, perseverance will pay off very shortly. As to learning the Catholic faith, I can most heartily recommend Catholicism for Dummies, by Fr. John Trigilio and Fr. Kenneth Brighenti. It is a goldmine of information, and every RCIA program should provide them to the catechumanate, IMO. Outside of a bible, it will likely be the best $20 you will ever spend on your faith.

Oh, as to RCIA, here is an article from This Rock magazine that tells of a woman who had a really difficult time joining the faith: catholic.com/thisrock/2007/0707dr.asp
 
po18guy said:
Sadly, there is great disparity among RCIA programs. There is a reason for everything happening as it has - that reason is just not being revealed at this point. But, perseverance will pay off very shortly. As to learning the Catholic faith, I can most heartily recommend Catholicism for Dummies, by Fr. John Trigilio and Fr. Kenneth Brighenti. It is a goldmine of information, and every RCIA program should provide them to the catechumanate, IMO. Outside of a bible, it will likely be the best $20 you will ever spend on your faith.

Oh, as to RCIA, here is an article from This Rock magazine that tells of a woman who had a really difficult time joining the faith: catholic.com/thisrock/2007/0707dr.asp
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Catholicism for Dummies

Yes, I love this book after purchasing it while in RCIA. There are many resources you can read on the side while enrolled in RCIA. Lucas Pollice has a book written for Adult Faith formation called “Open Wide the Gates to Christ”, particularly written for RCIA instruction. It’s the same program we went through, before it became a book. Lucas is a friend of ours. He’s a very faithful Catholic - graduated from Franciscan University and Ave Maria University with the MTS. He was so good the bishop hired him right out from under our nose. But he still attends our particular parish. He’s a great young man.
 
pilgrim_mama said:
I recently started RCIA (again… I started it in Aug a few years ago but dropped out after a month… long story). The church does things differently - instead of having a set schedule for RCIA (inquirer, precatechumen, etc) they have a year-round open-ended program, so you just join the church when you’re ready. Well… I’ve gone for 2 weeks now and haven’t learned anything specific to the Catholic Church… it’s just general Christianity, the first week topic was repentance and they talked for 5 minutes out of the 2 hours about confession. I’m so disappointed, I want something meaty and specific to the Catholic faith!!! UGH its frustrating to listen to a bible study on the beatitudes for 2 hours when I want to be Catechized and learn specifics. I spoke with the instructor tonight about what I need to do to join the Church if I’m certain (I’ve been studying a lot on my own the past few months) and he was really vague and confusing and said “we aren’t concerned about number of members here, we just want to make sure you understand your commitment and don’t find something out later and change your mind”. He said I’m there emotionally but they need to know I’m there doctrinally? Which is fine, but he couldn’t tell me how he would know I was ready, he mumbled something about an interview??? There isn’t a test apparently… :confused: It seems like most of the others in the class aren’t sure about the Catholic faith right now… I just feel held back and like they don’t want me to join the church when I want to so badly! Should I try to find a different, more structured, RCIA program? Do I have unrealistic expectations of RCIA?😊 Thanks… and sorry I’m new here 🙂
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When I went through RCIA I was in a situation similar to yours. I’d been reading and studying Catholic theology and history fairly regularly for maybe 2 or 3 years before I finally joined a program. When I did join I found that the handouts were written at probably a 5th or 6th grade level and our discussions were more like friendly chats than theological lectures I’d hoped to get. The program was very orthodox and didn’t really stray from Church teaching, but it wasn’t the heavy duty Catholicism I thought I would get.

During this time I came each week and continued my own little course of study. If I had a question there were team members I could go to and I had my books and internet to find out anything else I needed. But there were things that the RCIA program gave me that no self-study could. I became part of the parish and went through the various rites and initiations just like everybody else. In my opinion RCIA isn’t just about getting you into the church, but about making you Catholic and a part of the parish. If you feel you can skip all of that because you know your Catholicism already you could end up missing the better part of what the program has to offer.

We had interviews also with our priest a few weeks prior to Easter. They were informal discussion meant to let the priest talk to you one on one and hear more about your own conversion story and where you are coming from. I really doubt the vast majority of parishes have tests you have to pass to become Catholic.

ChadS
 
Pilgrim. I can understand where you are coming from. When I began RCIA I was working through a Masters in Historical Theology and had taken courses in Catholic Theology. Before I began RCIA I talked with the priest and clearly pointed out that I may be “bored” at times because it was not going to be a theological lecture on the orthodoxy and orthopraxy of the Latin Rite Catholic Church but instead bringing us into a community. The Catholic Church is a community a believers with its own culture and behaviors and part of the RCIA is bringing you into this. I agree with all the above and would add that you be patient and really listen to how faith is applied in the peoples lives. PAX
 
I completely know how you feel. Tonight I’m going to my 12th RCIA session (there’s one per week) and we only started looking at Catholic-specific information last week when we covered the Mass. This week though we’re looking at Grace and the Sacrements so we’re really getting into learning Catholic things instead of just Christian.

I do think it was necessary however. I was raised Christian so I already knew a lot about the OT, NT and the concept of the Trinity and Prayer (we had a meeting per topic I just mentioned) so although it was frustrating it was worth it because it has deepened my understanding of those things from a Catholic point of view, instead of a non-specific Christian one.

I’ve also really enjoyed RCIA from a social point of view 🙂 I’m really going to miss it when it ends.
 
I am despising my RCIA class. Sometimes it’s really fun and other times it’s just like pulling teeth.

Stick with it. I encourage you to do your own research and when you run into questions bring them to your class. They won’t teach you about the Catholic Faith, you’re going to have to learn on your own… at least that’s been my experience.

My RCIA class has taught me these things:

A: Protestant churches are no different from the Catholic faith and there’s no reason at all to choose the Catholic church over the Baptist church. In fact, if you choose to go to the Baptist church the members of my RCIA class would praise you for embracing your journey.

B: There are NO SINS. Something is a sin ONLY if you do it out of malice. So if I lovingly kill someone it’s okay! Because my heart was in the right place.

C: Anyone can get an annulment.

… I could go on but I think you get the point.

RCIA, for those of us who have already made up our minds, is a test of patience. BUT there’s nothing wrong with learning a little patience. 🙂 Just stick with it! You might be surprised by what you DO learn (see above checklist).

🤷

And I have had people (within the Church) actually try and talk me out of joining the church because they’re tired of ‘people joining up just to never come to church’ and they didn’t want their time wasted. No kidding! I laughed really hard at that one.

PS: No I cannot change RCIA classes. That isn’t an option where I live so I’ve really had to buckle down and learn to swallow whatever this class throws at me. Besides, I think ‘Church’ hopping even WITHIN the Catholic Faith is pretty… um… Protestant. 😉

PPS: Sorry for making this response largely about my own experience. :\ I just needed a rant I guess! But yeah, stick with it!!! Patience is a virtue, so just consider this a test of character!
 
LemonAndLime said:
I completely know how you feel. Tonight I’m going to my 12th RCIA session (there’s one per week) and we only started looking at Catholic-specific information last week when we covered the Mass. This week though we’re looking at Grace and the Sacrements so we’re really getting into learning Catholic things instead of just Christian.

I do think it was necessary however. I was raised Christian so I already knew a lot about the OT, NT and the concept of the Trinity and Prayer (we had a meeting per topic I just mentioned) so although it was frustrating it was worth it because it has deepened my understanding of those things from a Catholic point of view, instead of a non-specific Christian one.

I’ve also really enjoyed RCIA from a social point of view 🙂 I’m really going to miss it when it ends.
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I really don’t think RCIA is for Christians who are converting. Because it’s an INTRODUCTION to Christianity… and those of us raised Protestant already know what being Christian means (the leaders of our class really know very little about Christianity as a whole - it’s kind of surprising).

Of course every RCIA class is going to be strikingly different, but I do think there needs to be a different approach for converting Christians. Although I realize there aren’t really resources for that sort of thing in most parishes and that’s too bad. :\
 
I guess everyone is right in their frustration. I am quite sure RCIA classes are as varied as the individuals who lead them. There really are to be separate classes for the baptized and the unbaptized, so some of what you are hearing is overkill for some. It is the lack of volunteers which inevitably leads to the classes being combined.

I will say however, that in spite of personalities and the like, God does work in different ways. Our journeys to truth are not the same, but they all involve some degree of us giving of ourselves to others. Some degree of sacrifice. This sacrifice comes in many different ways. It could be as simple as the schedule for the classes or as complex as the uncomfortable discussion of birthcontrol or the veneration of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

It is about putting something into the process as much as it is what we get out. This One, Holy , Catholic and Apostolic church I converted to is awe inspiring because it is the creation of God Himself. It is most inspiring when we realize that God in His infinite love for us uses “the least” to accomplish “the great”, such as helping folks who are searching for the truth find it in the Holy Catholic Church.Enjoy yourself, put everything you can into making this journey to Truth as great an experience as it can possibly be.

Pray for the leaders of the group, pray for the other searchers. Take the focus off of yourself and let Jesus lead you ever so slowly to the Truth. What an opportunity to feel the Grace of Jesus in this situation.

This post is not to anyone in particular. I just wanted to shine some light on the greatness of the Rite you are participating in.

In Christ,
Stan
 
I avoided RCIA and found a traditionalist priest who gave me one on one preparation. 6 months later I was received into the church. RCIA’s one size fits all approach suits nobody.
 
nickybr38 said:
I really don’t think RCIA is for Christians who are converting. Because it’s an INTRODUCTION to Christianity… and those of us raised Protestant already know what being Christian means (the leaders of our class really know very little about Christianity as a whole - it’s kind of surprising).

Of course every RCIA class is going to be strikingly different, but I do think there needs to be a different approach for converting Christians. Although I realize there aren’t really resources for that sort of thing in most parishes and that’s too bad. :\
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Your points are right on target! Yet as a sponsor of a candidate who will be received next week into the Church after going through other considerations, I asked the class, as well as myself, why do all these things, these miracles always seemingly happen in this one Church? Is my Lord trying to tell me something?

Of course, you can imagine where the conversation went from there, yet I believe it possibly opened some eyes?

Learning is life long.

May our Lord be with you!
 
Unlike a prior poster, RCIA isn’t a primer in Christianity; in fact, it’d be difficult indeed for someone with no Christian knowledge. RCIA classes very enormously, but they should all be centering on the Catholic catechism, adjusted to the leaders and catechumens and candidates. I can’t say that RCIA necessarily has taught me lots about theology, but has been a gold mine not only for learning at the RC church, but also for fellowship with many faithful who know so much more about this church. Yes, we have leaders who are cradle Catholics and yet don’t know Scripture as well as I learned in my Protestant faith. So what? We all bring our own strengths to the Church. And, I’m very, very grateful that there are people in this Church willing to donate their time and effort to helping those of us coming in.
 
Everyone comes from a different walk of life when converting–I was never raised Christian or religious, so all I knew about Jesus were misconceptions I’d picked up while growing up in a primarily Christian society. RCIA did correct a lot of those misconceptions I had. But of course, I supplemented with a lot of reading before even considering calling up the parish to ask about baptism.

But yes, I can see how other’s mileage may vary.
 
RCIA isn’t meant to be an advanced program, it’s the complete beginner’s guide to the Catholic Church. So, of course, it’s going to start with the basics of being Christian and work it’s way into Catholicism.

I’m in RCIA right now and I must admit that due to the extra study I have been doing I know most of the stuff we discuss each week before I get there. However, we have a very good group and we ask a lot of questions so we tend to stumble onto interesting topics not covered in the handouts…ect.

So, if you are not getting what you want out of the classes you can do two things:

#1- Wait until they get around to the more crunchy bits, which may take some time.

#2- Ask a ton of questions. By asking questions you can dig a little deeper. Now if you wanted more than 5 minutes on confession, then you should have asked some questions to drive the discussion.
 
Although I’m not discouraging you from finding community in your parish you may want to consider the deeper study on your own. Often, your Diocese will hold workshops - check their Christian Formation department. You can also take online adult formation classes through vlc.udayton.edu/ This is what I’m doing. You could also see if your own parish has a small group bible story or a Come, Lord Jesus group.
 
mcrow said:
RCIA isn’t meant to be an advanced program, it’s the complete beginner’s guide to the Catholic Church. So, of course, it’s going to start with the basics of being Christian and work it’s way into Catholicism.

I’m in RCIA right now and I must admit that due to the extra study I have been doing I know most of the stuff we discuss each week before I get there. However, we have a very good group and we ask a lot of questions so we tend to stumble onto interesting topics not covered in the handouts…ect.

So, if you are not getting what you want out of the classes you can do two things:

#1- Wait until they get around to the more crunchy bits, which may take some time.

#2- Ask a ton of questions. By asking questions you can dig a little deeper. Now if you wanted more than 5 minutes on confession, then you should have asked some questions to drive the discussion.
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I think you have many good points here. When I first started RCIA our team leaders asked us if there was anything in particular we wanted to study or learn about, of course sitting in a first week class and not knowing what it’s like to write anything too specific.

As the class went on we learned that we needed to ask questions because the leaders aren’t mind readers. What’s obvious or a given for them may lead them to think the same about the candidates especially if there are no questions being asked.

RCIA also isn’t meant to be a graduate level course in theology either. Ideally candidates and cathecumens should have their own classes, but let’s be honest most parishes are very lucky to have the few volunteers they get and then most parishes don’t have the priests available to run these programs and be present a every minute. So in every RCIA class you have a mixture of people with backgrounds from the basically unchurched to candidates that come prepared with a lot of study and a solid Bible background.

It’s natural to be frustrated, but don’t think you can’t learn from these other people.

ChadS
 
johnr55 said:
Unlike a prior poster, RCIA isn’t a primer in Christianity; in fact, it’d be difficult indeed for someone with no Christian knowledge. RCIA classes very enormously, but they should all be centering on the Catholic catechism, adjusted to the leaders and catechumens and candidates. I can’t say that RCIA necessarily has taught me lots about theology, but has been a gold mine not only for learning at the RC church, but also for fellowship with many faithful who know so much more about this church. Yes, we have leaders who are cradle Catholics and yet don’t know Scripture as well as I learned in my Protestant faith. So what? We all bring our own strengths to the Church. And, I’m very, very grateful that there are people in this Church willing to donate their time and effort to helping those of us coming in.
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👍
 
johnr55 said:
Unlike a prior poster, RCIA isn’t a primer in Christianity; in fact, it’d be difficult indeed for someone with no Christian knowledge. RCIA classes very enormously, but they should all be centering on the Catholic catechism, adjusted to the leaders and catechumens and candidates. I can’t say that RCIA necessarily has taught me lots about theology, but has been a gold mine not only for learning at the RC church, but also for fellowship with many faithful who know so much more about this church. Yes, we have leaders who are cradle Catholics and yet don’t know Scripture as well as I learned in my Protestant faith. So what? We all bring our own strengths to the Church. And, I’m very, very grateful that there are people in this Church willing to donate their time and effort to helping those of us coming in.
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I’m surprised by this, I really am, because we are just a few months from being finished RCIA and our group hasn’t learned anything about the Catholic Church. We just have a nice little Bible Study every week where everyone discusses their personal opinions about certain scripture readings and when asked what the CHURCH teaches the team leaders rarely have an answer. 🤷
 
nickybr38 said:
RCIA, for those of us who have already made up our minds, is a test of patience.
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Sadly, with some RCIA programs, that is often the case. It may be a test of patience even for those who have not made up their minds but would desperately just like to learn what the Catholic Church actually teaches!

My own parish RCIA program is much improved and now has a great deal of actual Catholic content. Would that be too much to ask of all RCIA programs?

I don’t know–maybe it would help if those having inadequate RCIA programs would point out these deficiencies to the local bishop.
 
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