How long to become officially catholic?

[Mgray82]

I start the RCIA program next week (I found a parish that offers it year round, thank God). I’ve never been baptized. But I am a very faith-filled Christian person who has been attending a non-denominational Christian church for 3 years now. I was also raised a Pentecostal but denounced my faith in high school…however, never baptized.

My question is, how long will it take for me to become baptized and accepted into the catholic church?

And I know it “depends on the individual” and is primarily up to God. But I feel that I am convicted in this decision, and am ready to begin the process and eager to become catholic! Assuming I accel in the program could it be 9-12 months? Or is it a safe assumption that it will take like 2 years or maybe even longer?

 

[Rolltide]

I start the RCIA program next week (I found a parish that offers it year round, thank God). I’ve never been baptized. But I am a very faith-filled Christian person who has been attending a non-denominational Christian church for 3 years now. I was also raised a Pentecostal but denounced my faith in high school…however, never baptized.

My question is, how long will it take for me to become baptized and accepted into the catholic church?

And I know it “depends on the individual” and is primarily up to God. But I feel that I am convicted in this decision, and am ready to begin the process and eager to become catholic! Assuming I accel in the program could it be 9-12 months? Or is it a safe assumption that it will take like 2 years or maybe even longer?

Generally, you start in the summer or fall, and go through the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Communion, Confirmation) on the Easter Vigil next March or April (whenever it falls next year).

 

[in_servitude]

I start the RCIA program next week (I found a parish that offers it year round, thank God). I’ve never been baptized. But I am a very faith-filled Christian person who has been attending a non-denominational Christian church for 3 years now. I was also raised a Pentecostal but denounced my faith in high school…however, never baptized.

My question is, how long will it take for me to become baptized and accepted into the catholic church?

And I know it “depends on the individual” and is primarily up to God. But I feel that I am convicted in this decision, and am ready to begin the process and eager to become catholic! Assuming I accel in the program could it be 9-12 months? Or is it a safe assumption that it will take like 2 years or maybe even longer?

It will depend on your parish. But, as the previous reply says, the norm is for all of those in RCIA to be sealed with the Holy Spirit during the Easter Vigil service. Year round RCIA is a blessing. Our parish will not start the next round of RCIA for another 3.5 months, and some of my new friends are anxious to get started.

 

[FIU_student]

I was an atheist before I found faith. Waited about 7 months to enter an RCIA program in August, was baptized and confirmed last April.

Best decision of my life. Go for it.

 

[po18guy]

I start the RCIA program next week (I found a parish that offers it year round, thank God). I’ve never been baptized. But I am a very faith-filled Christian person who has been attending a non-denominational Christian church for 3 years now. I was also raised a Pentecostal but denounced my faith in high school…however, never baptized

I was an atheist before I found faith. Waited about 7 months to enter an RCIA program in August, was baptized and confirmed last April.

Best decision of my life. Go for it.

Welcome to both of you! One reading suggestion, if you do not have it already: Catholicism for Dummies. It is an excellent resource on the Catholic faith and may be used as a form of catechism, since it carries both the nihil obstat and Imprimatur of a Bishop. I learn something each time I open my copy.

Christ’s peace be with you.

 

[TheRealJuliane]

I start the RCIA program next week (I found a parish that offers it year round, thank God). I’ve never been baptized. But I am a very faith-filled Christian person who has been attending a non-denominational Christian church for 3 years now. I was also raised a Pentecostal but denounced my faith in high school…however, never baptized.

My question is, how long will it take for me to become baptized and accepted into the catholic church?

And I know it “depends on the individual” and is primarily up to God. But I feel that I am convicted in this decision, and am ready to begin the process and eager to become catholic! Assuming I accel in the program could it be 9-12 months? Or is it a safe assumption that it will take like 2 years or maybe even longer?

Welcome home!!!

No, it should not take 2 years for you to be baptized and confirmed and receive your First Eucharist. There is a specific timeline, though, which your RCIA director will explain to you. I can understand that you are anxious to become a Catholic! I’m excited for you and I don’t even know you!

 

[po18guy]

Welcome home!!!

No, it should not take 2 years for you to be baptized and confirmed and receive your First Eucharist. There is a specific timeline, though, which your RCIA director will explain to you. I can understand that you are anxious to become a Catholic! I’m excited for you and I don’t even know you!

Amen! I would imagine that the OP has begun mass attendance. Good. I would also suggest that the OP begin attendance at adoration of our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament (Holy hour). An email acquaintance did just that and it was a form of whetting her appetite for the Eucharist until she made her profession of faith. She is elated to now be Catholic. It is worth the wait. Of that there should be no doubt.

 

[YoungTradCath]

Generally, a year or less.

 

[Usige]

I start the RCIA program next week (I found a parish that offers it year round, thank God). I’ve never been baptized. But I am a very faith-filled Christian person who has been attending a non-denominational Christian church for 3 years now. I was also raised a Pentecostal but denounced my faith in high school…however, never baptized.

My question is, how long will it take for me to become baptized and accepted into the catholic church?

First, congratulations and welcome Home.

If you had been baptized and are in year round RCIA it could be as shorts as couple months. Since you are an adult and have not been baptized you may have to wait until the Easter Vigil in 2013 (March 30th, 2013). While I know of no absolute prohibition to baptizing adults at other times, many parishes will not baptize adults outside of Easter unless it’s an emergency. Whoever runs the RCIA program should be able to tell you how they handle baptisms for adults.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

If your parish follows the RCIA norms – and the fact that they have it year-round is a very positive sign – you should spend AT LEAST a year in the catechumenate. Many parishes truncate this. If they do it properly someone starting Inquiry now would receive their sacraments of initiation at the Easter Vigil of 2014 or later.

 

[Andre1000]

My mother took two weeks

 

[SilverCamellia]

Congratulations on joining the Catholic faith!

I’m currently waiting to join the RCIA program, which begins for me in September. As I am already baptised, I will be confirmed at the Easter Vigil. As far as I know, unbaptised people are baptised at the Easter Vigil as well as receiving confirmation.

Of course, if you did not feel ready to take the step towards Catholicism after you began the course, you have the option to leave it and begin again another time, but this option is only open for a limited amount of time. For me, although I do wish I could share in the Eucharist, I like (in a way) having to wait until next April, because it means I can work out whether my interest is just a fad, or something that I will be able to maintain life-long.

 

[Mgray82]

If your parish follows the RCIA norms – and the fact that they have it year-round is a very positive sign – you should spend AT LEAST a year in the catechumenate. Many parishes truncate this. If they do it properly someone starting Inquiry now would receive their sacraments of initiation at the Easter Vigil of 2014 or later.

With that said, I’ve got to ask myself; why would I spend so much time (a full 2 years if I start this particular RCIA program) in this parish’s RCIA program, when I can wait till the fall and find another parish that will baptize me at Easter?

I guess my point is, I am convicted that this faith is where I want to be. And I want to start receiving communion ASAP. I’m really excited about it, and I don’t want to wait 2 years to be baptized in the Holy Spirit.

 

[Phemie]

I start the RCIA program next week (I found a parish that offers it year round, thank God). I’ve never been baptized. But I am a very faith-filled Christian person who has been attending a non-denominational Christian church for 3 years now. I was also raised a Pentecostal but denounced my faith in high school…however, never baptized.

My question is, how long will it take for me to become baptized and accepted into the catholic church?

And I know it “depends on the individual” and is primarily up to God. But I feel that I am convicted in this decision, and am ready to begin the process and eager to become catholic! Assuming I accel in the program could it be 9-12 months? Or is it a safe assumption that it will take like 2 years or maybe even longer?

If your parish is doing it as it’s envisioned by the Church, you as a non-baptized would be in the catechumenate for a full year and come to Baptism at the Easter Vigil once you are ready – ready can take a year for some, five years for others. It’s a personal thing. Considering your parish does it year-round, you might be baptized next Easter but don’t be disappointed if you have to wait until Easter 2014. The catechumenate takes as long as it takes.

 

[thistle]

If your parish follows the RCIA norms – and the fact that they have it year-round is a very positive sign – you should spend AT LEAST a year in the catechumenate. Many parishes truncate this. If they do it properly someone starting Inquiry now would receive their sacraments of initiation at the Easter Vigil of 2014 or later.

I went through RCIA and I have friends in different countries who also went through RCIA and all the RCIA classes I have heard of have been less than a year duration. I would say it is definitely not the norm that such classes last at least a year. The norm is less than one year.

 

[Phemie]

My mother took two weeks

Can we assume that your mother was already baptized and well catechized? I know a well catechized Anglican would not have to wait as long to be confirmed as say, a non-catechized Anglican. OTOH, a non-baptized should be in the catechumenate for at least a year.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

With that said, I’ve got to ask myself; why would I spend so much time (a full 2 years if I start this particular RCIA program) in this parish’s RCIA program, when I can wait till the fall and find another parish that will baptize me at Easter?

Since you list your religion as Christian I assume that means you are already baptized. If that is the case, RCIA should take as long as you need and not any longer. That could potentially be weeks or months. In that case, why not find a parish that does things right rather than waiting until Easter?

For those who are not already baptized, the Church believes you need more than a few months to adopt the changes in life that come with becoming a Christian.

I went through RCIA and I have friends in different countries who also went through RCIA and all the RCIA classes I have heard of have been less than a year duration. I would say it is definitely not the norm that such classes last at least a year. The norm is less than one year.

That depends on how we define “norm.” If “norm” means whatever happens frequently, then yes, people are often baptized after a shorter period of time. If “norm” means what it is that the Church calls for, then the norm is one year or more in the catechumenate.

 

[thistle]

Since you list your religion as Christian I assume that means you are already baptized. If that is the case, RCIA should take as long as you need and not any longer. That could potentially be weeks or months. In that case, why not find a parish that does things right rather than waiting until Easter?

For those who are not already baptized, the Church believes you need more than a few months to adopt the changes in life that come with becoming a Christian.

That depends on how we define “norm.” If “norm” means whatever happens frequently, then yes, people are often baptized after a shorter period of time. ** If “norm” means what it is that the Church calls for, then the norm is one year or more in the catechumenate.**

Can you direct me to the Church document that states that.

 

[Phemie]

Can you direct me to the Church document that states that.

That is what the North American Forum on the Catechumenate teaches when they give us the workshops to allow us to set up RCIA programs in our parishes. They make a point that baptism is not a graduation at the end of a fixed school year but that “the cathecumenate has to last as long as is necessary, several years if need be, for the conversion of and the faith of the catechumen to become strong.” (RCIA 76, Canadian edition)

We’ve only had one catechumen in our parish in the last 14 years (usually our “converts” are already baptized spouses of Catholics who’ve been coming to Mass for years). She started before Easter one year and was baptized at Easter the next year. She was 10 years old.

 

[Cider]

It really depends on the parish. I used to go to a parish where it was 2 years but the norm is about 9 months assuming no impediments that need to be overcome like an annulment.