Heartbroken and quit RCIA

[mystagogia]

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.

Well then I must say I misunderstood you and I’m sorry about that. I am hoping for some success in evangelization for the Catholic Church as I continue in this way, and I agree with you that a lot of care and attention is demanded here. It seems a challenge of sorts; my hope is for the best and large, healthy churches!

 

[FCEGM]

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…

I’m glad there’s a smile on your face, now! The whole picture (nudity aside )looks so much more hopeful for you, thanks be to God.

 

[KCtheMommy]

I don’t have an answer Blest but I want to say I commiserate.

When DH and I moved to WA I fully embraced the Faith I grew up in, and finished up my Sacraments and what not. The priest there was an absolute God-Send for me and my commitment to be Catholic. He was so amazing. We even used to play a religious trivia game! I absolutely adored and respected the man – he told me/us things about our rituals of certain Masses I had never realized, nor do many Catholics. The following year DH – raised by atheists with no religion what so ever – decided to become Catholic, and did RCIA with the same Father. Same thing – he loved him! It actually set a difficult precedence for DH – he assumed ALL priests were this awesome!

It used to break my heart when people would bad-mouth him for the exact same thing you described. For instance when he came in he took over RCIA personally. People were mad over THAT?? Really? Oh their prayers were answered when Father left (close to retirement) to minister to a parish near his sister’s land – she was dying. Yeah well the parish nearly tore in half by the new priest - who wanted nothing to do with anything, much less the parishoners. Wouldn’t look you in the face when speaking. Blew it over a huge social issue, and the diocese had to step in.

While I do like the priests in our current parish, trying to hold court with them is next to impossible unless you catch them outside on their way to the office or rectory. They are so busy they just dont have the time – nor make it. Our pastor is up for Bishop – so guess which part of his busy schedule went first? Uh huh. Impossible to get in to see him.

We both so loved that priest – we have a picture of us three on our mantle.

I’m sorry you are going through this.

 

[BlestOne]

Thanks Frances and KC…

I am so glad I am not alone but at the same time it is really sad that there are people like some of our parishoners adn lay ministers.

Last night I went out to dinner and a woman I am friends with at the parish… one whose son is currently in RCIA… was at the same place… anyway, she filled me in on what I missed…

Apparently, the first woman who was fired that started all the trouble… I can now see why she was fired. I don’t want to go into it, but she terrorized people and abused her authority. I also found out why the choir mistress really quit and what was said and all…

Has anyone ever heard a song called Stay Awake?.. if you have… it was over the priest telling her not to play that song at mass… she didn’t like that one bit… and the cherry on top was about the dress for altar servers… Apparently, she played the song as the recessional just to defy the priest after her announcement of quitting. What the priest said with his mic still turned on pertained to that song, not to her personally…

Anyway, since my friend works at the grade school, she also explained how and why the whole thing got out of hand and turned into a battle… and it isn’t pretty… I thought nuns were supposed to understand authority and submit to the authority of the priest? It was the nun I am having trouble with… she really resented the priest participating in everything since that was really her domain. Isn’t it sad?

 

[Angels_Unaware]

I have actually seen almost the exact type of thing happen, interestingly, with a nun and a priest. My sense is that there is a significant minority of nuns and priests that run into power struggles with each other.

I also think RCIA is just plain vulnerable to the Enemy, and that there are lots of spiritual attacks against both the leaders and the people in RCIA.

 

[mlz]

I know it’s tough, but as someone in RCIA I can say first hand I know they need faithful and knowledgeable people like you.
I would say that if someone starts talking about the priest when you are at church you should say something like,
“you know what, it sounds like you really need to get this off your chest, lets go to the pastor right now and you can tell him how you feel yourself. You know we don’t want to have gossip going around, how loving is that?”
Or you could just say, let’s pray right now. I know Christ love for us all is bigger than any of our differences.

Hang in there!

Wisdom in your suggestions- Thanks be to God! I agree.
mlz

 

[mlz]

I have actually seen almost the exact type of thing happen, interestingly, with a nun and a priest. My sense is that there is a significant minority of nuns and priests that run into power struggles with each other.

I also think RCIA is just plain vulnerable to the Enemy, and that there are lots of spiritual attacks against both the leaders and the people in RCIA.

I was just thinking about this…I’m not sure the scripture but there is a verse about " a house divided against itself cannot stand" (maybe I’ve got that wrong…?) Anyhow, it seems to me that the enemy of God would just love to cause disunity and problems within the Church. Stand fast and hold onto God and pray, pray, pray. He IS always victorious and fights our battles for us
mlz