How long do RCIA classes typically last each weekend?

[Nicea325]

I grew up Anglican. In terms of the dismissal, no differentiation was made between the one catachumen and the three candidates. It bothered me a bit, but it’s not like I was going to make a scene and not do what I was told. Even in one of the scrutinies that happened, the rites were different for the catachumen versus candidates and the RCIA director was behind the candidates in a pew and the priest kept telling us to stand up, she kept telling us to sit down.

Well I will try to make it brief because the RCIA process,practices and rituals can lead to a long discussion. Strictly speaking, RCIA is for the unbaptized,not those baptized Catholic or another faith. One main reason is because at the Vigil Mass the focus should be on the unbaptized who are preparing to approach the Lord’s Table. By having baptized faithful there and at times baptized Catholics at the Vigil, in a sense, takes the focus away from the unbaptized. Rememebr that was the ancient process…the catechumenates are the focus,thus being accepted into the family of God. However, it has become custom to incorporate converts and at times baptized Catholics. Now as a Director Catechetical Ministry I prefer that our candidates (converts) remain at the Masses,prior to Easter Vigil Mass. The RCIA ritual book does not really state converts should be dismissed or remain, it is a pastoral decision. I prefer that they remain.

As a Director of Catechetical Ministry, I prefer to have our candidates remain due to their virtue of baptism. Of course, they cannot receive the Blessed Sacrament,they should remain seated. Catechumens are dismissed as they should be and break open the Word/homily at the classroom. Catechumens leave also because it was the ancient custom for them not to stay for the Eucharist. If I am correct, in the East they could not even enter the church? Anyway…do not let small things like “sit” or “stand-up” be an issue. What matters is that the scrutnies be carried out and finally be accepted at Easter Vigil.

 

[RedSparklyShoes]

Well I will try to make it brief because the RCIA process,practices and rituals can lead to a long discussion. Strictly speaking, RCIA is for the unbaptized,not those baptized Catholic or another faith. One main reason is because at the Vigil Mass the focus should be on the unbaptized who are preparing to approach the Lord’s Table. By having baptized faithful there and at times baptized Catholics at the Vigil, in a sense, takes the focus away from the unbaptized. Rememebr that was the ancient process…the catechumenates are the focus,thus being accepted into the family of God. However, it has become custom to incorporate converts and at times baptized Catholics. Now as a Director Catechetical Ministry I prefer that our candidates (converts) remain at the Masses,prior to Easter Vigil Mass. The RCIA ritual book does not really state converts should be dismissed or remain, it is a pastoral decision. I prefer that they remain.

As a Director of Catechetical Ministry, I prefer to have our candidates remain due to their virtue of baptism. Of course, they cannot receive the Blessed Sacrament,they should remain seated. Catechumens are dismissed as they should be and break open the Word/homily at the classroom. Catechumens leave also because it was the ancient custom for them not to stay for the Eucharist. If I am correct, in the East they could not even enter the church? Anyway…do not let small things like “sit” or “stand-up” be an issue. What matters is that the scrutnies be carried out and finally be accepted at Easter Vigil.

Yes, I do wish that there was a bit of an accelerated process for those of us already baptized and raised in the church. HOWEVER, when I made this decision to convert in the particular diocese I’m in, this is just how it was done. I can honestly say for the first couple of months of the RCIA sessions, I was bored. Truly bored and trying not to fall asleep. I really wanted to fast forward to the meaty stuff. And unfortunately, I became deathly ill on the weeks we DID get to the more meaty stuff and I had to catch up with an awful CD recording that you could barely hear.

I’m not “worried” about anything that happened really, although I did have some frustrations about parts of the process. The whole point of the process was that we all were received at the Easter Vigil, which we were. The only times we were dismissed from mass was on the scrutinies, the rest of the time it was up to us to get to mass ourselves and get to as many of the classes as possible. In our RCIA group, I believe my parish was the only one with both cathachumens and candidates. What bothered me about the stand up sit down stuff was that it was REALLY DISTRACTING. I was trying to pay attention to what the priest was saying and I have someone whispering behind me and telling me to sit down after being told to stand up. I took the scrutinies very seriously and to have someone whispering other instructions to me was really distracting.

 

[Nicea325]

Yes, I do wish that there was a bit of an accelerated process for those of us already baptized and raised in the church. HOWEVER, when I made this decision to convert in the particular diocese I’m in, this is just how it was done. I can honestly say for the first couple of months of the RCIA sessions, I was bored. Truly bored and trying not to fall asleep. I really wanted to fast forward to the meaty stuff. And unfortunately, I became deathly ill on the weeks we DID get to the more meaty stuff and I had to catch up with an awful CD recording that you could barely hear.

I’m not “worried” about anything that happened really, although I did have some frustrations about parts of the process. The whole point of the process was that we all were received at the Easter Vigil, which we were. The only times we were dismissed from mass was on the scrutinies, the rest of the time it was up to us to get to mass ourselves and get to as many of the classes as possible. In our RCIA group, I believe my parish was the only one with both cathachumens and candidates. What bothered me about the stand up sit down stuff was that it was REALLY DISTRACTING. I was trying to pay attention to what the priest was saying and I have someone whispering behind me and telling me to sit down after being told to stand up. I took the scrutinies very seriously and to have someone whispering other instructions to me was really distracting.

Precisely why I do not place candidates in the RCIA processes,because most have been catechized at their previous faith. The only time I place a convert is if he or she never received any catechetical instruction in their previous faith. I usually place converts in a separate class with those already baptized as Catholics or commonly called Adult Confirmation.

I usually tell me RCIA team to focus and teach the stuff that truly is vital for the faith. Yes…all the material is useful,but I do not worry if church history is not discussed in great detail.

Anyway, congratulations on journey and may God continue to send you the holy Spirit to strengthen your existing graces.

 

[Usige]

Precisely why I do not place candidates in the RCIA processes,because most have been catechized at their previous faith. The only time I place a convert is if he or she never received any catechetical instruction in their previous faith. I usually place converts in a separate class with those already baptized as Catholics or commonly called Adult Confirmation.

I usually tell me RCIA team to focus and teach the stuff that truly is vital for the faith. Yes…all the material is useful,but I do not worry if church history is not discussed in great detail.

Anyway, congratulations on journey and may God continue to send you the holy Spirit to strengthen your existing graces.

First let me say thank you to you (and others) that realize that RCIA is really not the place for candidates who have been catechised. :bowdown::clapping:

Secondly a practical question. Since you separate candidates and catechumen then are candidates received when they are ready regardless of the time of year or are they still received during the easter season? Our parish seperates their reception with catachumen at the vigil (as is proper) and candidates generally two to three weeks later. Many feel like they are penalized for being baptized since they have to wait a couple weeks longer. We tell them that we respect the dignity of the baptism, but i can understand where they are comming from. Just currious how you handled it since you don’t lump everyone together.