Heartbroken and quit RCIA

[twosweetgirls]

Wait a sec. . . you mentioned upthread that Sister Mary Militant (SMM) was only asked this year because the previous RCIA couple was having health issues, correct?

Could it be that SMM is overwhelmed at being asked, that this really isn’t what she wants to do (as opposed to, say, doing bookkeeping or other duties at the parish) and she accepted the job because she was maybe put on the spot?

If so, what about lovingly saying, “SMM, I’m really seeing some stress in you–do you need a break? How about I take RCIA for the next two weeks and give you a rest?”

Maybe??

 

[EsclavoDeCristo]

Wait a sec. . . you mentioned upthread that Sister Mary Militant (SMM) was only asked this year because the previous RCIA couple was having health issues, correct?

Could it be that SMM is overwhelmed at being asked, that this really isn’t what she wants to do (as opposed to, say, doing bookkeeping or other duties at the parish) and she accepted the job because she was maybe put on the spot?

If so, what about lovingly saying, "SMM, I’m really seeing some stress in you–do you need a break? How about I take RCIA for the next two weeks and give you a rest?"

Maybe??

What a great idea! Also along those same lines, it sounds as if this may be her only year?!? Perhaps you or someone like minded could lead next year?

 

[jhash1]

Prayers for you and your parish that the Holy Spirit may influence and guide the folks involved in the RCIA program. Each of us must do what we can to help prospective members of our beautiful faith have a welcoming and enriching RCIA experience, regardless of the impediments. The priest is ultimately responsible for the success of the program along with the team, so your priest needs to understand what is going on in a fact based, non judgemental manner. I joined the Catholic Church through RCIA five years ago, after spending 15 years as a bystander in the pews next to my Catholic wife. I would hate to think any of the politics and infighting that is described in these posts is rubbing off on the impressions of the RCIA participants and influencing them as they undergo one of the most important initial formation experiences in their journey of faith. This problem is all about the people who are studying to join the Church, not about the teachers or RCIA team members. Please do everything you can to persevere and help your pastor insure the RCIA participants have a meaningful, joyful, spiritually challenging, and enriching experience in the RCIA program.

Also, for all who see the political side of the happenings in these posts, please do not let things like this affect your willingness to get involved and try to positively influence activities in your parish. Ultimately, none of us can guarantee the outcome of our involvement in parish life, but we can do the very best we can to participate in these activities to the best of our abilities and let God determine the outcome. No one knows when some aspect of our personal involvement in parish life may set the spark that helps some one else develop a deeper understanding or commitment, or may help someone who is “misguided” reflect on the issue and have a change of heart, or may inspire someone on the sidelines to get involved and make a difference. God bless you and give you strength and courage to continue being part of the solution for your parish.

 

[Chris-WA]

DH= Dear Husband

There was a big thing about the priest firing a woman and it all blew up… and people in charge of different ministries got mad because he is very hands on and our last pastor let them do as they pleased… basically they are mad because he doesn’t just let them do as they please. Some examples: our Choir Mistress… she used to do the kids liturgy Gloria with the clapping at EVERY mass…UGH! About 2 weeks after he got here, she was no longer doing it. He does the Kyrie instead of in English, and he also uses all of the different Eucharistic Prayers not just the short one. The woman who was fired had refused to give him keys to the office because he shouldn’t need them because the last pastor didn’t. The RCIA leaders didn’t want to bring up topics like NFP, abortion, adultery because they are unpleasant… he insisted on it. He insisted on teaching the hard stuff to the youth group too… chastity, etc… and the funny thing is… it was popular when he did it… but the people running these things are definitely more liberal than the new pastor.

It sounds like your parish, like many, many parishes across this country, is in the grips of the radical feminist church-authority-hating liberals. They despise the Church’s teaching on the all-male priesthood, sexual morality, life issues, etc. They criticize the pope for being too rigid. And they can’t stand a new pastor who actually stands up for what the church teaches as truth. Do you want to know the truth? Those people in RCIA who don’t want issues like abortion and sexuality discussed are blocking you because they themselves bitterly hate the Church’s teaching on those issues. They want to change things to suit their own whims. Sounds like the old pastor sat on the sidelines and let things run amuck, and these liberal parish staffers built up their own little serfdoms and thought that the parish was theirs for the running. I had a similar experience in my old parish before I moved. We got a new young orthodox priest who fixed some awful liturgical abuses and tried to take the reins back from the liberal feminazi’s. About 30 parishoners had a conniption, made up charges of abuse against this poor young priest, and complained to the bishop until our priest was re-assigned. Many of us supported our priest and wrote to the bishop ourselves, but only received form letters back. The whole thing was a huge controversy in the parish, and many left the parish over it. The bishop never even personally came down to settle the matter. He sent some lay staffer down to handle things. It was awful. I was very disappointed in our bishop for how it all went down, and how discouraging for a new young priest to have a minority of his own parish turn on him and get him booted.

The pastor is in charge. Support him, especially since he is trying to do things the right way. Don’t leave him, and get others in the parish to help you support him. Eventually these awful hippie liberal parish staffers will die out and be replaced by people who are faithful to the church and not just their own whims. The funny thing is that these 50 and 60-something liberals, who are now largely in charge of most parish ministries, don’t realize that the upcoming younger generation wants orthodoxy. The new young priests coming out of the seminaries are on fire for the truth. They need all our support so we can root out the liberal nonsense that has infected our parishes for several decades now.

I love the nuns who support Church teaching and do their best to pass it on. Unfortunately, there are also a lot of nuns out there who openly oppose the Church on so many issues and are trying their best to effect change by teaching their own radical, feminist, liberal agenda.

 

[PJM]

I was volunteering on our RCIA team but I quit last week. I am so so sad about my parish. There is so much dissension between the RCIA staff and the parish priest it is breaking my heart.

I don’t want to leave my parish because it isn’t about the people, it is about God, but these folks are really making me want to join the parish up the road. The problem is that if I do, it will be seen as disagreeing with the pastor and nothing could be further from the truth.

There is a big split in our parish over our new pastor. Many really really hate him because he is so much more involved than our last pastor and he isn’t afraid to say things about the tough subjects like abortion and divorce like the old pastor was. I love the pastor… he is exactly what I was praying for… but I can’t seem to do anything at my parish without hearing all the complaints about him from the people who are supposed to be in charge of different ministries. We are talking nuns and EMHC’s and lectors and the organist… it is sickening!

I have been upset about all this for a while now, but the icing on the cake was a rude phone call from the nun in charge of RCIA… she called and told dh and me not to bother coming to RCIA because the deacon was sick and the pastor wasn’t covering RCIA for him… well duh… he got back at 4 pm from a trip to the Holy Land… of course he was tired and couldn’t be at RCIA at 7 pm! I don’t even know why she would say that… it isn’t like she really wanted him there anyway… she just wanted an excuse to complain!

So, one of the other volunteers asked me why I wasn’t there… I didn’t go into detail, but I did let her know I quit because I was sick of all the rudeness and quite frankly, I was really disrupting my family life for this… it just wasn’t worth it! She said that the nun was going to call me and talk to me… I told her I wouldn’t hold my breath… good thing too… it’s been over a week…and she didn’t call.

I am so heartbroken over the whole thing. There is nothing more I feel I can do anymore. I feel totally unwelcome at things like RCIA. Sorry for the rant… I guess I just needed to get it out.

WOW:blush:

As an RCIA teacher myself and one who has been involved for many years in other parish task, I offer you my love and prayers.

But I also have some advice for you, for whatever it’s worth.

First let me say you are BLESSED to have a pastor who has the Faith and gut’s to take the heat.

Second, may I suggest you ask yourself : Lord, why me, why now, why here, why at this time?

There are no accidents, no coinicediences, no just luck (good or bad.) We have a ALMIGHTY GOD! God either causes or permits everything, E-V-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G! Why? For our possible sanctification and HIS greater glory.

So I’m thinking God has placed you there for a reason. It is clear even to me your pastor is going to need all the friends and support he can gather, and I suspect that is just what God will expect from you??? That is a matter for you and God to determine.

I have had to deal with Liberal Nun’s and laity, and it’s not easy. Support your pastor, because it seems to me he’s right.

Here is an opportunity to be " a becaon on a hill-side" and let your light shine for GOD.

Do it willingly, with charity, without gossip or complaint (except to your pastor.)

The parish, if if not the “leaders” will see the TRUTH and the Light, and will began to follow along.

God bless you by dear friend with Christ. Jesus will never, never, give you a cross that He will not help you carry.

PJM m.c.

 

[MarkBrown]

I was volunteering on our RCIA team but I quit last week. I am so so sad about my parish. There is so much dissension between the RCIA staff and the parish priest it is breaking my heart.

I don’t want to leave my parish because it isn’t about the people, it is about God, but these folks are really making me want to join the parish up the road. The problem is that if I do, it will be seen as disagreeing with the pastor and nothing could be further from the truth.

There is a big split in our parish over our new pastor. Many really really hate him because he is so much more involved than our last pastor and he isn’t afraid to say things about the tough subjects like abortion and divorce like the old pastor was. I love the pastor… he is exactly what I was praying for… but I can’t seem to do anything at my parish without hearing all the complaints about him from the people who are supposed to be in charge of different ministries. We are talking nuns and EMHC’s and lectors and the organist… it is sickening!

I have been upset about all this for a while now, but the icing on the cake was a rude phone call from the nun in charge of RCIA… she called and told dh and me not to bother coming to RCIA because the deacon was sick and the pastor wasn’t covering RCIA for him… well duh… he got back at 4 pm from a trip to the Holy Land… of course he was tired and couldn’t be at RCIA at 7 pm! I don’t even know why she would say that… it isn’t like she really wanted him there anyway… she just wanted an excuse to complain!

So, one of the other volunteers asked me why I wasn’t there… I didn’t go into detail, but I did let her know I quit because I was sick of all the rudeness and quite frankly, I was really disrupting my family life for this… it just wasn’t worth it! She said that the nun was going to call me and talk to me… I told her I wouldn’t hold my breath… good thing too… it’s been over a week…and she didn’t call.

I am so heartbroken over the whole thing. There is nothing more I feel I can do anymore. I feel totally unwelcome at things like RCIA. Sorry for the rant… I guess I just needed to get it out.

Blestone,

I did not read all the post on this thread. So maybe someone has already said it. Go back! When I was a Baptist pastor I had a church with too many people like the nun you discribe. And too many who hated it, but did nothing. What I would have given to have just one person stand with me in the face of such hostility.
Do not let you priest feel that he is alone facing these people. Talk with him, go back to RCIA and stay very involved with the parish.

Fast forward a year. I am now an Anglican. Our new priest arrived. And he upset the apple cart in some peoples mind. People whispered against him for doing things like going to those who had left the parish to minister to them and get them to return. As he is Anglo-Catholic:thumbsup: , the puritans did much of what you described. It finally came to a head at a vestry meeting. I stood up for the priest, and since I am a former Marine Infantry officer I tend to go for the throat. Confession after that was long. That was months ago. The joy suckers are gone. The parish is thriving and new families and young families are joining. I am saying stand by your priest, though you will certainly have a better way to accomplish that than I did.

The problem is not the joy suckers, but the people who let them suck all the joy out of what we love.

Mark

 

[BlestOne]

Wow you guys are wonderful!

I would propose that when this happens (and it does, a lot) it is not really because one group is “more liberal” or “more conservative” – it is all about POWER. I’ve seen it occur in parishes, in schools, in businesses, in neighborhoods and it ultimately comes down to people wanting to be in charge and control others and not yield “their turf” even to just and proper authority.

I often wonder if the word OBEDIENCE is even in the dictionary any longer . . .

Amen Sister!

Wait a sec. . . you mentioned upthread that Sister Mary Militant (SMM) was only asked this year because the previous RCIA couple was having health issues, correct?

Could it be that SMM is overwhelmed at being asked, that this really isn’t what she wants to do (as opposed to, say, doing bookkeeping or other duties at the parish) and she accepted the job because she was maybe put on the spot?

If so, what about lovingly saying, “SMM, I’m really seeing some stress in you–do you need a break? How about I take RCIA for the next two weeks and give you a rest?”

Maybe??

SMM was in charge for years and years… then for about 5 yrs the couple took over. SMM has been relieved of her grade school principal position and her duties now are DRE only, with an assistant… she really can’t be too overwhelmed. But I did appreciate the sentiment… really I did.

It sounds like your parish, like many, many parishes across this country, is in the grips of the radical feminist church-authority-hating liberals. They despise the Church’s teaching on the all-male priesthood, sexual morality, life issues, etc. They criticize the pope for being too rigid. And they can’t stand a new pastor who actually stands up for what the church teaches as truth. Do you want to know the truth? Those people in RCIA who don’t want issues like abortion and sexuality discussed are blocking you because they themselves bitterly hate the Church’s teaching on those issues. They want to change things to suit their own whims.

Yep you got that about right…the problem is that they are the DRE’s, EMHC’s, lectors, Choir Mistress’s, and any other position where they think their opinion counts.

Sounds like the old pastor sat on the sidelines and let things run amuck, and these liberal parish staffers built up their own little serfdoms and thought that the parish was theirs for the running.

I don’t blame him and I don’t think he saw the problem because he is also a Catholic Chaplain in the AF Reserves… he was called away alot to Iraq and to Landstool to minister to our Catholic troops which I am eternally grateful for since my own brother did 5 tours in the middle east.

I had a similar experience in my old parish before I moved. We got a new young orthodox priest who fixed some awful liturgical abuses and tried to take the reins back from the liberal feminazi’s. About 30 parishoners had a conniption, made up charges of abuse against this poor young priest, and complained to the bishop until our priest was re-assigned. Many of us supported our priest and wrote to the bishop ourselves, but only received form letters back. The whole thing was a huge controversy in the parish, and many left the parish over it. The bishop never even personally came down to settle the matter. He sent some lay staffer down to handle things. It was awful. I was very disappointed in our bishop for how it all went down, and how discouraging for a new young priest to have a minority of his own parish turn on him and get him booted.

Wow… my bishop has wholeheartedly supported our priest and when I wrote to him, I got a response back very quickly and it was very personal and warm.

The pastor is in charge. Support him, especially since he is trying to do things the right way. Don’t leave him, and get others in the parish to help you support him. Eventually these awful hippie liberal parish staffers will die out and be replaced by people who are faithful to the church and not just their own whims. The funny thing is that these 50 and 60-something liberals, who are now largely in charge of most parish ministries, don’t realize that the upcoming younger generation wants orthodoxy. The new young priests coming out of the seminaries are on fire for the truth. They need all our support so we can root out the liberal nonsense that has infected our parishes for several decades now.

I love the nuns who support Church teaching and do their best to pass it on. Unfortunately, there are also a lot of nuns out there who openly oppose the Church on so many issues and are trying their best to effect change by teaching their own radical, feminist, liberal agenda.

OMGosh you are soooo right it is all 50-60 somethings that are the liberal ones… amazing huh? We have two very faithful nuns that are awesome and two that break my heart. I think you are right… I need to step up more and let these folks “retire”

Oh… and for the good news… the Choir mistress… who really perpetuated alot of the problems… has moved on and is no longer with the Choir… God is good and merciful! I was ready to scream about her not doing any traditional Christmas songs when at mass the priest made the announcement and was very nice about thanking her for her years of service… I leaned over to dh and whispered, “What a miracle” and we both smiled…

 

[Deacon_Ed_B]

Having read only the first post, I will pray for your parish. From what I read, it sounds like you do indeed have a good priest. The truth will set you free.
Prayers & blessings
Deacon Ed B

 

[mystagogia]

I sympathize with the opening poster regarding the minefield of difficulties and petty politics that can arise from RCIA and how they can snare everybody up in frustrating mindgames.

My advice to the OP is this: tough it out. Not only should you (or anyone else in a similar RCIA situation) you HAVE to. The inquirers and catechumenates most likely do not understand the parish politics, nor do they want to, nor do they have to. When you walk in the door of RCIA day one, you are the face of the whole Catholic Church to them until Easter, and that is your gig.

And of course, you can’t be expected to lead every RCIA session. When somebody else leads it, they’ll **** off this or that person, and we have a whole sub-set of drama in the RCIA realm.

Every mistake anyone makes, no matter how trivial, might result in somebody not coming back to RCIA ever.

Those are the stakes.

That sucks, and that’s why in a nutshell RCIA sucks.

What you have to do in RCIA is keep above the fray, both as a RCIA instructor and as a catechumenate. Really, for both, you do. And you have to pray that all goes well, and hope that Easter comes before anybody expects it then squeak through the door.

RCIA is the dumbest thing the Catholic Church ever thought up.

I love the classes, but I see the peril and the damage. RCIA is staggeringly stoopid.

 

[CWBetts]

I sympathize with the opening poster regarding the minefield of difficulties and petty politics that can arise from RCIA and how they can snare everybody up in frustrating mindgames.

My advice to the OP is this: tough it out. Not only should you (or anyone else in a similar RCIA situation) you HAVE to. The inquirers and catechumenates most likely do not understand the parish politics, nor do they want to, nor do they have to. When you walk in the door of RCIA day one, you are the face of the whole Catholic Church to them until Easter, and that is your gig.

And of course, you can’t be expected to lead every RCIA session. When somebody else leads it, they’ll **** off this or that person, and we have a whole sub-set of drama in the RCIA realm.

Every mistake anyone makes, no matter how trivial, might result in somebody not coming back to RCIA ever.

Those are the stakes.

That sucks, and that’s why in a nutshell RCIA sucks.

What you have to do in RCIA is keep above the fray, both as a RCIA instructor and as a catechumenate. Really, for both, you do. And you have to pray that all goes well, and hope that Easter comes before anybody expects it then squeak through the door.

RCIA is the dumbest thing the Catholic Church ever thought up.

I love the classes, but I see the peril and the damage. RCIA is staggeringly stoopid.

I disagree. RCIA helps the catechumens understand the teaching of the Church, if conducted properly. Your statements are throwing out the baby with the batwater.

 

[LeroyCRHP]

Sincerely and respectfully I must disagree my friend. RCIA is a great program that officially brings in many new Catholics each year. Could it be better, yes. When I went through there was a book we followed. I have been wanting to work with the RCIA team at my chuch and will next year I hope.

Hang in there BlestOne. FYI, history of RCIA, I didn’t realize how young it was when I went through in 1994.
americancatholic.org/Newsletters/CU/ac0502.asp

I
That sucks, and that’s why in a nutshell RCIA sucks.

RCIA is the dumbest thing the Catholic Church ever thought up.

 

[mystagogia]

Leroy and CWBetts, I understand the teaching value you find in the RCIA programs. I myself enjoy the classes and look forward to them. There are two other people in my class who feel the same way. We started with about 15 people who signed up, and we are pretty much down to three. Along the way several more people, about 6 or 7, have shown up and declared intention to join us, only to disappear and never be seen again after a session or two. Do you see the issue there?

Additionally, consider this. I began to feel inspired to become a Catholic and ruminated on it a long time. I went out and bought the catechism and read it thoroughly a couple times, and I read several papal encyclicals, as well as some church fathers texts and Augustine’s Confessions and City of God. I cast the die, made an appointment with the local priest, and went in there to tell him I wanted to convert to Catholicism and join his church. He said, “Come back in the fall. We’ve just wound down our RCIA classes for this year.” Easter had just passed, you see, and by the way at what point in the calendar do you think people are most inspired to join the church? Do you begin to see more issues here?

While I do enjoy the RCIA classes it can hardly escape my notice that there exists a rather large aspect to this program that acts as an entry barrier to the Church. This is indeed a glaring problem with the program, one you should take note of as you work with the people involved in these kinds of things.

 

[CWBetts]

just because problems exist in SOME programs is not a reason to write off all of them. it was Alexandre Dumas who said “All generalizations, incuding this one, are dangerous”

 

[mystagogia]

CW, I think I am pointing out concrete and easily understood real-life examples of how RCIA in actual practice can easily become an entry barrier to the Church.

Again I do support and do understand the pedagogic value of RCIA and hold that aspect of it in high esteem.

The separation and barriers of RCIA are serious problems nevertheless, for they are in contention with the evangelical mission of the Church, one of her core missions. Recall who said, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them.”

I come to you as a former member of an evangelical Protestant church that started with a handful of people meeting in a rec center and grew into monster spanning two campuses (campii?), with dozens of new converts joining every Sunday. Can’t we say that surely there is one thing at least that these megachurches are doing right?

I think on one extreme we have the Rick Warren type of “Purpose-Driven” movement that seems at times to devolve into an effort which puts church marketing over church mission and pastoral duties, and at the other extreme the Catholic one where evangelical dynamism is sapped up and frustrated around juggled RCIA schedules and headaches. Surely there is better way to do this.

Even in the Vatican II definitions of RCIA broad lattitude is given to missionary regions of Church outreach regarding how these programs are handled, a fact that suggests two things: 1) adaptability in RCIA is necessary, and, tellingly, 2) an implicit admission that RCIA is an entry barrier for missionary work. Why would anyone suggest a need for adaptability if it wasn’t?

The eternal sacraments of initiation are: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist. RCIA is not on that list, it is a year-long holding pattern during which people get discouraged at a time when they need the most encouragement.

So, I suppose we’ll just have to agree to disagree on this one.

 

[LeroyCRHP]

mystagogia;

And that is why they need people like BlestOne. Without real passionate Catholic people in charge that address the issues we believe in people think we are fake. When you hear it you may not agree with pro-life or no pill, but if you want to commit your life and listen to your heart, in the end you believe.

Our church has class of around 35 each year and one or two drop out and couple come late wanting to join. In 1994 my class at a small church in the country was ~25 but they had great people running the program and a Priest that spoke for the church at most meetings… I feel very fortunate to be where I am because of RCIA.

Leroy

 

[BlestOne]

Thank you all for your thoughts… we have had some recent developments which makes it plausible for my husband and I to return to the RCIA staff… we still haven’t decided what to do but we have been in touch with our parish priest about some of these matters.

It is funny in a way because when I was talking to the pastor (hilarious side story) he made a comment about how I really know my stuff… I was so amazed that he thought so… anyway, he mentioned that he needed a bunch more couples like my dh and I. I told him there were so many more people who know more and are better Christians than us but we don’t feel worthy to serve and the EMHC’s that we do have are there for the public show… he said he agreed!

So as for the side story… my sister swears I am going to hell because of it…

My dd has been talking to a young man that wants to take over as Music director… she asked me to contact the pastor and tell him since we are in need of a music director… *see above, So I called and left a message on the parish answering machine. Then I got myself ready for my shower and my phone rang… it was the priest. He was returning my call and wanted to ask me some questions and discuss the music program. I sat there talking to him in my bathroom naked! After about 5 minutes I was scrambling around trying to put my clothes back on because I felt weird talking to the priest naked and ready for my shower. The next day I was talking to my sister and told her how weird it was and how I was trying to get dressed even though it wasn’t like we had camera phones or anything… so she kept telling me I was gonna burn for it… we had a good laugh and I learned not to answer my cell as I am about to get in the shower. All in all I was on the phone for over an hour discussing the music program and several other topics and feeling guilty I couldn’t get my top over my head while talking.

There… I am the amusement for today… enjoy, your turn might be tomorrow…

 

[CWBetts]

Mystagogia,
With all due respect, the megachurches are doing nothing right. They lure people in with false promises of “once saved alsways saved” and easy believism. Recite the “sinners paryer”, and POOF! You are saved for all time with no strings (or responsibilites) Lives are not being changed. They are full because they are disregarding the responsibility of Christianity, packaged in a slick milti-media presentation. I know this because I used to belong to a Fundamentalist Evangelical Church. I know thier lies and deceptions. Largest church attendence is in no means a measuring stick for success in God’s eyes. In fact Jesus said that it would be few who find the way to salvation. An accelerated “lests get you in before you know a thing about the faith” is NOT the way to win lasting converts. RCIA is not perfect, but it is far better than the high-pressure used car salesman approach of Fundamentalist Evangelicals.

 

[Angels_Unaware]

Leroy and CWBetts, I understand the teaching value you find in the RCIA programs. I myself enjoy the classes and look forward to them. There are two other people in my class who feel the same way. We started with about 15 people who signed up, and we are pretty much down to three. Along the way several more people, about 6 or 7, have shown up and declared intention to join us, only to disappear and never be seen again after a session or two. Do you see the issue there?

Additionally, consider this. I began to feel inspired to become a Catholic and ruminated on it a long time. I went out and bought the catechism and read it thoroughly a couple times, and I read several papal encyclicals, as well as some church fathers texts and Augustine’s Confessions and City of God. I cast the die, made an appointment with the local priest, and went in there to tell him I wanted to convert to Catholicism and join his church. He said, “Come back in the fall. We’ve just wound down our RCIA classes for this year.” Easter had just passed, you see, and by the way at what point in the calendar do you think people are most inspired to join the church? Do you begin to see more issues here?

While I do enjoy the RCIA classes it can hardly escape my notice that there exists a rather large aspect to this program that acts as an entry barrier to the Church. This is indeed a glaring problem with the program, one you should take note of as you work with the people involved in these kinds of things.

Ok, I guess I’m missing something. Didn’t I and another person assure you that if you are going to be deployed and out of the country this Easter it would be incredible if your priest did not make an accommodation for you?

I missed where you actually tried to receive the sacraments instead of simply continuing to complain. I apologize in advance for missing that.

 

[mystagogia]

Ok, I guess I’m missing something. Didn’t I and another person assure you that if you are going to be deployed and out of the country this Easter it would be incredible if your priest did not make an accommodation for you?

I missed where you actually tried to receive the sacraments instead of simply continuing to complain. I apologize in advance for missing that.

Yeah, you did. What you missed, I suppose, is the flow of the conversation away from my particular case and onto more general concerns about the undue action of RCIA as entry barrier to the church.

With regard to my particular case, since you’re interested, I’m to sit down with my deacon when I get back home from where I am now training and see where we are at. I consider these details tangential to the other points I raised. RCIA in general practice is a large entry barrier into the church. If you decline to see that as a valid point or a significant concern, well that’s your perogative. Having more room in the pews does have its upside. Enjoy them.

 

[Angels_Unaware]

Yeah, you did. What you missed, I suppose, is the flow of the conversation away from my particular case and onto more general concerns about the undue action of RCIA as entry barrier to the church.

With regard to my particular case, since you’re interested, I’m to sit down with my deacon when I get back home from where I am now training and see where we are at. I consider these details tangential to the other points I raised. RCIA in general practice is a large entry barrier into the church. If you decline to see that as a valid point or a significant concern, well that’s your perogative. Having more room in the pews does have its upside. Enjoy them.

Did I ever indicate whether I agreed or disagreed with you? I did not, but if you are interested, I do see that catechumens and candidates are often treated exactly the same way, which can become a barrier at times, and I think schedule conflicts can be a real barrier for people. The Church should work harder to overcome those without abandoning the sanctity and importance of the process, IMO, which is a very delicate and difficult balance.

I was simply concerned that you had not found a solution to enter the Church, and hoped that you could.