Do I have to go through RCIA?

[JohnnyReb]

RCIA seems like it will be a great benefit for those who convert. I look forward to starting. I have a theology degree, and it has been my theological studies and study of church history that has lead me to the Catholic church. I know a lot, and have read a lot (several books on Catholicism, including Scott Hahn), but have much more than that to learn.

 

[Joshua7]

It has been particularly interesting to hear about other stories similar to my own. I think part of my problem stems from my RCIA experience. My teacher was knowledgeable of the RCIA instruction booklets and some other info from the CCC, but not much else. She wasn’t able to effectively communicate the depth of the faith or the doctrines, was unaware of the subtle heresies within the statements of other candidates (and therefore didn’t respond to them), and made RCIA overall a very emotionless (not to mention extremely dull) experience.

Would it be possible for me to try going to a different RCIA class, or am I required to go to the one in my parish?

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

I would agree with those who say you should go through RCIA whether it’s absolutely required or not. It’s not just the catechesis though that’s part of it. It’s also about entering the Catholic community, and doing it as part of a community. It’s about learning from others and teaching others. It’s about being Catholic and thinking Catholic and you can’t learn that from a book.

I’m not sure about attending RCIA in another parish. Philosophically, I think that it’s about becoming part of the parish community. If you went to another parish, you would be part of that community. When it comes to the Easter Vigil, I assume you would want to be baptized with the other people you went through the process with, but that would mean being baptized at the other parish.

Maybe the RCIA program in your parish isn’t as good as it could be, but one of those “Catholic things” is the idea of offering it up, making a small sacrifice. After your baptism perhaps you can volunteer to join the RCIA team and improve the program for others.

 

[puzzleannie]

It
Would it be possible for me to try going to a different RCIA class, or am I required to go to the one in my parish?

don’t tempt me, Josh, we are just all hoping you will finish RCIA in this parish, gently and politely correcting misinformation when it comes up in an ever-so-helpful way, be a sponsor next year, and RCIA director year after that. I will be retiring by then so come on over to my parish and we will put you to work.

 

[Joshua7]

don’t tempt me, Josh, we are just all hoping you will finish RCIA in this parish, gently and politely correcting misinformation when it comes up in an ever-so-helpful way, be a sponsor next year, and RCIA director year after that. I will be retiring by then so come on over to my parish and we will put you to work.

I don’t know whether or not to feel scolded

 

[YADA]

One point to take note of…RCIA is not a ‘class’ or a ‘program’…it is not just the method through which information is passed on…

RCIA is a journey [process] by which individuals receive information and formation…and that self same person is transformed…it does not end with the Rites if Initiation [baptism, confirmation and eucharist] but is really a relationship with Christ that lasts a life time…

There is no rush, take your time, use your head knowledge and your heart knowledge to make an informed “commitment”…remember you will not walk this journey alone, but join others on the path…like your first RCIA experience, they will be at varying levels of understanding and committment…

As one who has a Masters in Pastoral Ministry and has worked with RCIA for over a decade…I can tell you that I have met some very devout Christians, who know and love the Lord in an intimate manner, they are selfless in living out the gospel message and yet cannot articulate various catholic theologies or doctrines. They don’t know the difference between exegesis and psoriasis…but they LIVE the faith…

Join RICA, you won’t be sorry…

 

[painter]

My good friend helps with the RCIA at our parish. She is sure that the time is well spent especially because there is opportunity to develop relationships. These are very important for continued growth in your faith. Please consider taking RCIA. This is an great way to share what you already know about your faith with others who are just learning and it is following the Master’s example… of being a humble servant of others.

God grant you peace.

 

[puzzleannie]

I don’t know whether or not to feel scolded

I intended to be welcoming, you will be doing a lot of good in whatever parish you join so my advice is not to shorten the journey, because you undoubtedly will learn something, but even more will be teaching others, not the least of whom may be your catechists.

 

[jmcrae]

I don’t know whether or not to feel scolded

You’re going to be just fine.

(And you’ll be a wonderful asset to your RCIA team, after you’ve received the Sacrament of Confirmation and can start to do volunteer work in the Church. )

 

[Joshua7]

New development:

RCIA is held on a night when I already have prior committments. Nothing I can do about this. What are my options now?

 

[Ahimsa]

New development:

RCIA is held on a night when I already have prior committments. Nothing I can do about this. What are my options now?

If you aren’t baptized yet, not much.

 

[jmcrae]

New development:

RCIA is held on a night when I already have prior committments. Nothing I can do about this. What are my options now?

Go to a different parish that has it at a more convenient time.

 

[quiet52]

Dear Joshua,
Can your “prior commitments” be re-prioritized? If you cannot make the adjustments needed to participate in the RCIA in your parish, then investigate the RCIA in your neighboring parishes – but make a commitment to that new parish for a while – including the formal period of mystagogy (one year after you are received into the Church).
Remain prayerful.

 

[puzzleannie]

it is worth taking time to talk with priests and neighboring parishes as well, because the process may operate differently, in ways other than the scheduling. we are much more creative and flexible than neighboring parishes, although I will say that any time I have offered to set up an alternative meeting time for someone, they have not followed through, and end up coming to the Sunday class anyhow. What we have done, for instance, is set up a class on our local UT campus, with the permission of the pastor through the Campus Ministry center, and the students meet there, but celebrate the rites and are received in to the Church at the Parish.

 

[Pixie_Dust]

Please don’t take short-cuts in your process of conversion. As an RCIA leader I initially felt somewhat intimidated by a young man with a sound biblical education who is vastly more well-read than I am about Catholicism. He has read Chesterton, Aquinas, and more from the doctors of the Church than I have. He was a treasure to our group and to me because of his knowledge of the faith – but that doesn’t mean he didn’t learn. We can’t learn how to live the faith in isolation. He learned about practicing the faith – and it is in relationship with others that we learn what living the Catholic lifestyle really means. His participation in the RCIA helped him to be a better husband and Christian person in practice, not just mentally. RCIA is more than an teaching about what we believe – if well-done it includes sharing about our journeys of faith and praying together. Remember that our faith doesn’t merely involve our personal relationship with God – it requires our involvement in the community of faith.
I don’t know of any parishes near me without an RCIA program, usually led by a lay catechist. My prayer for you is to look forward to this process of conversion … and remember that when you receive the sacraments of initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, and first Eucharist) … that this is the beginning of your being a Catholic Christian … not a “graduation” or goal.

I am almost the female equivalent of what you just described. Like the OP, I had to work through each point of distinctively Catholic doctrine before I was willing to darken the door of a Catholic church. I’m currently in a RCIA Summer Intensive class and I kid you not - I am helping teach the class. BUT we are all learning together. I don’t think I know everything there is to know about the Faith, I know full well that I won’t ever know everything about the Faith this side of Heaven. However, it’s been good to form relationships and get to know some people. I haven’t read Aquinas or Chesterton much, but I have read Hahn, Keating, Currie, Thigpen, and listened to hours and hours of John Martignoni’s apologetics. I studied myself into the Church. I need to know how to live it out.

We were discussing the miracles of Jesus today, and one of the teachers somehow blended the accounts of Zacchaeus and the woman with the issue of blood into one miracle - she said her favorite story was the one about a man who climbed a tree to see Jesus and then climbed down to touch the hem of His garment to be healed.

 

[pmoo]

Here’s the situation…

I became a Catholic in 2006 after a year of researching it and Eastern Orthodoxy. I had been an anti-Catholic for several years, and had to move through each point of the Catholic faith in order to even consider it a viable Christian denomination.

I’m a theology student at a Protestant biblical university, and without trying to sound conceited, I’ve done a lot in the areas of theological studies. Theology is my profession, so when it comes to knowing the essentials of Catholic doctrine, I think I know what I need to know and then about a thousand things besides. Yes, my training has been in Protestant theology, but nearly all of my private study has been devoted to Catholic theology.

I started attending RCIA at my local church, but could not continue going because of other committments. I am not baptized, I’m ready to enter into the Catholic faith. One of the biggest benefits I could receive from RCIA is time to really meditate on my decision, which is something I’ve done for a year and a half now.

Is there a way I could avoid going to RCIA, but perhaps participate in the various rites throughout the calendar and be baptized next Easter?

I was raised as a Protestant and attended Catholic mass for amost a year before going through my RCIA classes. At first, I was a little peeved that I had to wait so long and go through the classes in order to convert. After all, at Protestant churches, you only have to raise your hand to be saved. However, it was so helpful. Plus, did you really learn all about transubstantiation and apostolic succession, everything that is really included under the 10 commandments, etc? I mean, I thought I understood the 10 commandments, but boy was I wrong. Plus, the classes give you a chance to discuss, question, and fully decide. I believe it’s also another way of professing your true desire to convert…to take time out of your life. I, too, had conflicts with my job. I had to rearrange my schedule, causing me to loose hours/money. Plus, once Advent came, I again lost hours at work in order to attend the 9:30 mass with all the other candidates. My point is it was a sacrifice I made because I wanted to convert.

On the other hand, there was one candidate in our class who had private instruction/counseling with our pastor because he was a university student in another city.

You really need to start with your church’s pastor for a real answer.

 

[Pixie_Dust]

I was raised as a Protestant and attended Catholic mass for amost a year before going through my RCIA classes. At first, I was a little peeved that I had to wait so long and go through the classes in order to convert. After all, at Protestant churches, you only have to raise your hand to be saved. However, it was so helpful. Plus, did you really learn all about transubstantiation and apostolic succession, everything that is really included under the 10 commandments, etc? I mean, I thought I understood the 10 commandments, but boy was I wrong.

I’m (obviously) not the OP, but I actually DID understand transubstantiation, apostolic succession, the 10 Commandments, the role of Mary, the process of salvation vs a one time event, I STUDIED myself into the RCC. I had to understand all the “Catholic distinctives” before I would darken the doorway of a Catholic Church.

Plus, the classes give you a chance to discuss, question, and fully decide. I believe it’s also another way of professing your true desire to convert…to take time out of your life. I, too, had conflicts with my job. I had to rearrange my schedule, causing me to loose hours/money. Plus, once Advent came, I again lost hours at work in order to attend the 9:30 mass with all the other candidates. My point is it was a sacrifice I made because I wanted to convert.

I agree with you completely here. The classes have been good for me, even if I do find myself “helping” the RCIA leaders teach the class. It’s a good opportunity to get to know some people in the parish. I’m fortunate that I’m in an Intensive RCIA that is designed for baptized believers who have been “in church” for a while. No need to go over the basics like who God is and that Jesus died on the cross for the sins of the world.

It is a sacrifice to have to listen to one of the RCIA leaders sing the praises of Oprah Winfrey , so I just offer it up. August will be here before I know it.