How Do I Best Prepare For RCIA?

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Steve-o

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Assuming my parish finds a replacement for the fifteen-year veteran who isn’t teaching RCIA this year, and also assuming that RCIA begins in late Summer or September, what can I study for the seemingly loooong wait until I start classes? I’ve been attending Mass on sundays and have begun a few weekdays, I’m learning the basic prayers, especially those in Mass and of course reading the Bible. I do need to pick up a copy of the CCC, though I’ve been reading through it online.

Also: How does a “typical” RCIA program run? What is the syllabus like? What gets covered and in what order? I realize every parish is different, but just a general picture of what I can expect during this time. I have no problem with studying, and have good study habits. My faith needs strengthening, and that is more difficult than any class could ever be, but I want to immerse myself as much as possible for a so-called “head start.”
 
By all means pick up a copy of The Catechism of the Catholic Church. If your program is a good one, they may give you a copy but it can’t hurt to get ahead of the curve.

A copy of the New American Bible or the Revised Standard Version-Catholic Edition would also be helpful.

Godspeed.
 
One thing that most RCIA programs don’t emphasize is “Catholic Culture” --the smells and bells that most Catholics take for granted. If you have a decent RCIA program, they’ll teach you the nuts and bolts. However, I’d start getting aclimatized by looking into Church customs, traditions, and the esoterica that is part of being a Catholic. I remember my own RCIA experience. I was something of a revert, but I had not been raised in the Church. After RCIA and my own study, I knew quite a bit, but I didn’t *feel * Catholic. It took a while to learn the lingo and the mindset. Some things you may want to ask others about or look into are:

candles
novenas
popular saints
incense
Gregorian chant
Latin
Mass responses
icons and other sacred artwork
The Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office)
The Rosary and Divine Mercy chaplets
Holy Days
Advent and Lenten practices and customs
 
Hi Steve-O. Sorry this is a long post.
May I, as a catechist share a few words? Your eagerness to learn is marvellous. I think that one is on the right path. Keep attending Mass, reading the Bible, perhaps with a commentary at your elbow. If you read the daily Scripture verses from the lectionary there are some Quarterly magazine-style commentaries you could use. The priest probably knows the titles of some as they are designed primarily for priests to help in Homilies, and for catechists and lectors.

Catechism; well buy one by all means but the CCC isn’t for the casual reader and you don’t need to know it cover-to-cover. It is for the guidance and advice of Catechists. I don’t teach to the catechist but I refer to it when I am planning a catechetical session on whatever doctrine I happen to be instructing on, to ensure I am not teaching a heresy or a half-truth.

Sure, there are syllabus. I can’t speak for your parish but my parish (here in London, England) uses a programme called Foundations in Faith which is published by Resources for Christian Living, Texas, and bears the Imprimatur of the Archbishop of Dallas. There are loads of others. It follows the Sunday lectionary church year A (there are two more manuals, for years B and C) and the session themes are taken from the readings for each week, and linking them to a particular doctrine or aspect of catholic culture. For example, the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time concentrates on Chastity.

Don’t worry too much about ‘study’ as an intellectual pursuit. There aint no examinations! RCIA is not meant to be a programme, study or otherwise. It is far more important that you grow in your heart a truly personal relationship with Christ and that the enthusiasm of initial evangelisation is not allowed to be snuffed out. RCIA will give you a firm foundation upon which, after your Baptism, Confirmation and First Holy Communion, please God you will continue the building of all that stuff that Fidelis was listing for you.

Remember, after the Joys of your baptism on Easter night, it don’t stop there! No way! All the faithful are called to commit themselves to continuing development and growth in the faith. Forever and Amen.
 
Great advice everyone, and I mean that! You’ve all been so very helpful and I thank you.

Cockney Olive: I just got a copy of my Certificate of Baptism from the Church my family belonged to back in '72 when I was just a wee infant. It was nice to “see it writing” that I was a Catholic owing to Baptism. I’m hoping that my RCIA classes don’t take three years! The common amount of time is about a year, according to my parish anyhow.

Fidelis: I’m reading off of newadvent.org for now and am finding good historical info relating to the subject areas you listed. Thanks!

Mercygate: You’re always so helpful! Will you be my sponsor? 😉
 
Well, as I said, it isn’t a programme but you might take a year to go through the RCIA but only you and your catechetical team will know if you are ‘ready’ at that point. You will require much prayer and discernment.

There is no time limit. The book of the Rite of Christian Initiation, and the General Directory for Catechetics both say that an individual can take ‘several years’ to go through the RCIA and develop a personal relationship with God and his church and the parish community. I pray that you will ‘come home’ to the one, true church and be Confirmed.
 
Steve-o, I went through RCIA Sept 2003 - Apr 2004 in MN. If you want, I could scan my syllabus and e-mail it to you. Check your PMs for my e-mail address.
 
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Steve-o:
Mercygate: You’re always so helpful! Will you be my sponsor? 😉
Click to expand...
I was hoping you would ask! I’d be proud to be your sponsor.

I’d also be Jew_Man73’s sponsor in a heartbeat!

We have some mighty fine catechumens/candidates on these Forums. But somehow, I’m thinkin’ your pastors are a little in dread of y’all . . . Way to go!
 
Steve-o, have you seen the monthly publication, Magnificat? magnificat.net/

In the U.S. it’s about $40 per year – a little pricey but worth every nickel. Each edition is over 400 pages and only about half an inch thick because it’s printed on exquisite india paper. It has all the Mass readings, the Mass itself, bios of the most amazing saints, and excellent meditations on the Mass readings for every day of the year. These meditations are from Church Fathers, saints, theologians, active priests, living and dead Religious . . . It is a very valuable tool for praying the Scripture with the Church.
 
I would suggest you start with a shorter summary catechism, the CCC is a hard read for a beginner. I assume you are actually preparing for confirmation and first communion, since you say you found you were baptized Catholic. The time period probably won’t be as long as an unbaptized person in RCIA, but you will probably take classes together for convenience. the advice to begin with the lectionary, especially the Sunday readings is excellent. The Word Among Us, One Bread One Body are both good inexpensive resources to read and meditate on the daily readings. Good shorter catechisms: Essentials of the Faith by Alan Schrenk, and the Faith by John Hardon SJ., you can’t beat Theology for Beginners by Frank Sheed. Your other job is to attend Mass regularly and understand it. The How To Book of the Mass from Our Sunday Visitor is great for this.
 
You also might try reading some of the conversion stories out there. I’ve found that they are frequently filled with Scripture references that helped bring the person into the Catholic Church. For example, you might read Rome, Sweet Home by Scott and Kimberly Hahn, or any of the 3 Surprised by Truth books put together by Patrick Madrid. Although I am a cradle Catholic, I found all of these very enjoyable, and I really learned a lot about my faith.

Peace,
Linda

PS If you enjoy reading fiction, a great read is A Philadelphia Catholic in King James’ Court by Martin DePorres Kennedy. Also filled with great references
 
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