First Mass and questions

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GSUEagle

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Hi all,

I posted a few weeks ago saying that I was going to speak to my local parish’s priest about becoming Catholic. He suggested that I attend Mass and I went to my first one today. We had our discussion and he said that although it was possible for me to become Catholic by other routes, he prefers that I go through RCIA for the full 9 months, starting in September. Next September, I’ll be in Mexico for fourteen weeks and so he suggested that I do it in September, 2013.

Is this common? I don’t mind doing it, but I am going to be attending weekly mass, the rest of the RCIA classes for this year, AND the weekly Catechism classes and I feel that I’ll be pretty prepared before leaving for Mexico next fall. Perhaps the priest is just testing me and I have to prove my readiness, so to speak. If he is insistent that I do it in 2013, then I will of course continue attending mass, the rest of RCIA for this year, Catechism classes, etc. Then when I come back from Mexico in December, I’ll go through the rest of THOSE classes and then maybe it’ll be my turn! 😛
 
GSUEagle said:
Hi all,

I posted a few weeks ago saying that I was going to speak to my local parish’s priest about becoming Catholic. He suggested that I attend Mass and I went to my first one today. We had our discussion and he said that although it was possible for me to become Catholic by other routes, he prefers that I go through RCIA for the full 9 months, starting in September. Next September, I’ll be in Mexico for fourteen weeks and so he suggested that I do it in September, 2013.

Is this common? I don’t mind doing it, but I am going to be attending weekly mass, the rest of the RCIA classes for this year, AND the weekly Catechism classes and I feel that I’ll be pretty prepared before leaving for Mexico next fall. Perhaps the priest is just testing me and I have to prove my readiness, so to speak. If he is insistent that I do it in 2013, then I will of course continue attending mass, the rest of RCIA for this year, Catechism classes, etc. Then when I come back from Mexico in December, I’ll go through the rest of THOSE classes and then maybe it’ll be my turn! 😛
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I think you should perhaps make a special arrangement with your priest. It seems that by, say, the end of next year at the latest, you will have a very good understanding of the Catholic faith.

If you still don’t agree with him, then do RCIA at another parish. My parish, for instance, lets people start up until December, with baptism, confirmation, and first Communion at the Easter Vigil in April, even though RCIA starts in August. The RCIA director just has “catch up classes” for people who start later.
 
YoungTradCath said:
I think you should perhaps make a special arrangement with your priest. It seems that by, say, the end of next year at the latest, you will have a very good understanding of the Catholic faith.

If you still don’t agree with him, then do RCIA at another parish. My parish, for instance, lets people start up until December, with baptism, confirmation, and first Communion at the Easter Vigil in April, even though RCIA starts in August. The RCIA director just has “catch up classes” for people who start later.
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What you say is good advice, I might approach him about it once I fall into the swing of weekly Mass/Catechism/RCIA. He didn’t seem to fond of the idea when first we met as he really seems to prefer the 9 months.

As per going to another Parish, I live in a small city and don’t have a car, so I can’t make the commute, so this Parish is my only option. The priest and deacon are both really awesome people and their teaching styles are great, so I don’t really have any major complaints.
 
A suggestion only…

if you are keen…try attending a spiritual retreat. These can be life changing!!! I have attended a number over the years and tend toward the St. Ignatian retreats. Even though they are silent (where you get to be silent for up to 5 days) it allows the focus for prayer and communion with the Lord. There is usually several priests who are available for guidance every day. The norm is to see a spiritual director daily.

You do not have tobe Catholic to attend but it is best if the Retreat Master knows this beforehand in order to accomodate time constraints.

Anyhow, best wishes and God bless you
 
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