Dismissal during Mass (RCIA)

[CalifMomma]

My husband and I have been taking RCIA for about four months. We were both welcomed into the church two weeks ago. I am a candidate and my husband a catechumen. We are basically the only adults in our stage of RCIA and up until about two weeks ago the two of us met seperately with an instructor.
Now we meet with a very small group of teens and very young adults who will be receiving their sacraments this Easter. During Mass our group is excused after the Homily and we meet in the chapel and go over the gospel and readings from Mass. I am the only candidate in the group.
I have read that candidates may be asked to join the catechumens during the dismissal but are not required to leave if they do not wish. I really enjoy the full mass even though I obviously can’t take communion, but being able to witness a full mass is very enjoyable for me.
If I asked to stay for the full mass would that be considered rude on my part since I’ve been told I have to join the catechumens?
I don’t want to seem like I don’t want to be with the group because that is really not the case. If I am incorrect on candidates not being required to leave during the dismissal please correct me. Thanks!

 

[jmcrae]

Because they are already baptized, Church law requires that Candidates have a Sunday obligation to attend Mass.

To “attend Mass” (according to the advice of a priest I know) is to be present from at least the Gospel Acclamation until at least the final blessing after the distribution of Holy Communion. (Obviously, the ideal is to be present for the whole thing.)

So, if you attend the Dismissal at that particular Mass, you should attend another Mass on that Sunday to make your Sunday obligation.

What complicates it is if the Sunday Dismissal is being used as the main Catechism class - that is, if you would miss out on the teaching of the faith if you were to not attend it, since Candidates are also required to attend the Catechism classes.

And while the Dismissal period is not supposed to be a Catechism class (RCIA Catechism classes are supposed to take place on a weekday evening or on Sunday at a time when there is no Mass taking place), a lot of RCIA facilitators don’t know what they are supposed to do with that time, so they use it for doing Catechism.

 

[CalifMomma]

I didn’t want to make my post longer than needed so I didn’t explain that our group also meets at 9:30am prior to mass. Sorry I left that out. The dismissal is not treated as the class, just as time to reflect and discuss.

 

[jmcrae]

I didn’t want to make my post longer than needed so I didn’t explain that our group also meets at 9:30am prior to mass. Sorry I left that out. The dismissal is not treated as the class, just as time to reflect and discuss.

Ah, okay. In this case, if I were you, I would certainly not feel guilty about staying in the Church and making my Sunday obligation at that time.

 

[jwashu]

Where are you getting that informaiton? I would really like to provide it to my RCIA director.

We attend a 1.5 to 2 hours instruction every Monday night then have dismissal on Sundays at our 10:45 Mass.

While we have normally attend the 5:00 Mass as a family until the Dismissals started I have been attending those with my wife (she is an Elect now but I’m a Canidate) as instructed by our RCIA Director and Deacon.

I thought we were doing very well, however I definitely hate missing part of the service, even though I can’t take communion yet. If I’m not fulfilling my Obligation then I want to make sure I stop going to the dismissal.

Thanks!
Joe

 

[jmcrae]

It’s in the document from the Vatican with the title Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, which is where all of the rules and regulations of the RCIA are spelled out. There is a section in the back that deals with Candidates, and the differences between Candidates and Catechumens, as well as all of the Rites that pertain to Candidates.

In Canada, it is referred to as “the blue book,” but I think in the US, it is published with a white cover.

 

[coranewf]

**I am currently in an RCIA group of 4. We are all candidates. We meet with the Priest directly after noon mass. Our meetings range from 1-2 hours. He does not have us leave after his homily, which I am pleased. We asked him about this just last week, and he explained that because we’re all Candidates, and a small group, that he feels it’s fine for us to stay.

If we were a larger group, and there were catechumens in our group, we’d probably be excused after the Homily. I know that the group last year was larger, and they did leave.**

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

My husband and I have been taking RCIA for about four months. We were both welcomed into the church two weeks ago. I am a candidate and my husband a catechumen. We are basically the only adults in our stage of RCIA and up until about two weeks ago the two of us met seperately with an instructor.
Now we meet with a very small group of teens and very young adults who will be receiving their sacraments this Easter. During Mass our group is excused after the Homily and we meet in the chapel and go over the gospel and readings from Mass. I am the only candidate in the group.
I have read that candidates may be asked to join the catechumens during the dismissal but are not required to leave if they do not wish. I really enjoy the full mass even though I obviously can’t take communion, but being able to witness a full mass is very enjoyable for me.
If I asked to stay for the full mass would that be considered rude on my part since I’ve been told I have to join the catechumens?
I don’t want to seem like I don’t want to be with the group because that is really not the case. If I am incorrect on candidates not being required to leave during the dismissal please correct me. Thanks!

I agree that Candidates should not leave Mass because even though they do not at this point have a Mass obligation, they have a right to attend the Liturgy of the Eucharist because of their Baptism. What concerns me in your post are the teens and young adults, who I would guess are Baptized Catholics preparing for Confirmation or are they another RCIA group of non-Catholic Christians and non-Baptized? If Baptized Catholics they should not leave Mass because they do have a Mass obligation. If they leave they should return for another Mass, to meet their Mass obligation.

 

[puzzleannie]

the baptized candidates should not leave Mass. but it would be very valuable to reflect on the Sunday gospel during the week, perhaps you can take the aide used in those sessions as a guide, or get a good devotional such as Word Among Us, or One Bread One Body, for that purpose.

if you are in a parish where the only class during the week is the session that happens after dismissal, better to attend another weekend Mass.

 

[CalifMomma]

I have found information regarding policies for catechumens and candidates from this link website.

Policy 419 of the Diocesan Handbook says:

Guidelines for Ecumenical Sensitivity in the Catechumenal Process

Issued by Bishop Robert Brom, 6/2/97

1. Only if, after serious investigation, there is doubt whether someone was baptized, or whether Baptism was conferred validly, should Baptism be administered conditionally.

1. In their initiation process, Candidates, that is those who have already been baptized, particularly those who exhibit some degree of Christian formation, should not be placed Guidelines for Ecumenical Sensitivity in the Catechumenal Process in the same classification as Catechumens, that is, those who have not been baptized. However, for pastoral reasons, candidates may benefit from the same sessions offered to the catechumens in the initiation process.

1. Candidates are invited to participate in the Liturgy of the Word and may choose to stay for the Eucharistic Prayer at Mass, provided they do not receive Communion until they are fully initiated into the Roman Catholic Church. The choice to remain for the entire Mass belongs to the candidates. However, for pastoral reasons, pastors and catechists may wish to invite candidates, along with catechumens, to participate in dismissal after the Liturgy of the Word in order to continue breaking open the Word.

1. Candidates should not be referred to as “converts.” Only catechumens, after their Baptism, are considered to be converts to the Faith.

There is obviously more information regarding policies for catechumens and candidates. If you browse around you’ll find other interesting stuff.

 

[coranewf]

Thank you for that! It’s very succinct! So, what are “Candidates” called once they have been initiated in to the Roman Catholic Church?

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Thank you for that! It’s very succinct! So, what are “Candidates” called once they have been initiated in to the Roman Catholic Church?

Catholics!

They are also would be properly called Neophites since they too are new to the practice of the Catholic Faith. Although Neophite is traditionally used to describe the newly Baptized.

 

[coranewf]

Catholics!

They are also would be properly called Neophites since they too are new to the practice of the Catholic Faith. Although Neophite is traditionally used to describe the newly Baptized.

**In retrospect I realize that was perhaps a silly question… and in reading your answer, all I have to say is: Yay!!!

Being called a Catholic is just fine by me… very very fine!**

 

[jmcrae]

**In retrospect I realize that was perhaps a silly question… and in reading your answer, all I have to say is: Yay!!!

Being called a Catholic is just fine by me… very very fine!**

If there is an opportunity to attend Mystagogia, or Neophyte classes, make the effort to do so - you will thank yourself later.

 

[coranewf]

If there is an opportunity to attend Mystagogia, or Neophyte classes, make the effort to do so - you will thank yourself later.

**Thank you for the suggestion! That is very good to know, and I will most definitely take them if I have an opportunity… and if one doesn’t present itself, I shall go looking for them! **

 

[puzzleannie]

Thank you for that! It’s very succinct! So, what are “Candidates” called once they have been initiated in to the Roman Catholic Church?

Catholic Christians

don’t mean to be glib but I will also note the usually need the same support after reception as neophytes receive in the mystagogy year, and special care should be taken to make sure they are invited to participate in parish life and ministry.

 

[coranewf]

Catholic Christians

don’t mean to be glib but I will also note the usually need the same support after reception as neophytes receive in the mystagogy year, and special care should be taken to make sure they are invited to participate in parish life and ministry.

**I definitely appreciate the suggestion and will seek this out! **