How to become catholic

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Hi I was just wondering what the difference between catechism and RCIA classes are?

So I’m almost 20 and I haven’t been baptized, my dad is a confirmed catholic, and my mom isn’t confirmed. So when I was 6-7 I attended catechism classes at my local parish, but stopped going unfortunately. However, now as of recently I’ve started going to my nearest parish again. what classes do I have to go through in order to be confirmed? And how long does the process take in order to recieve the sacraments? I’ve been drawn to the faith for awhile now and I want to be a part of this community of faith.

Thanks guys.
 
Keags47 said:
Hi I was just wondering what the difference between catechism and RCIA classes are?

So I’m almost 20 and I haven’t been baptized, my dad is a confirmed catholic, and my mom isn’t confirmed. So when I was 6-7 I attended catechism classes at my local parish, but stopped going unfortunately. However, now as of recently I’ve started going to my nearest parish again. what classes do I have to go through in order to be confirmed? And how long does the process take in order to recieve the sacraments? I’ve been drawn to the faith for awhile now and I want to be a part of this community of faith.

Thanks guys.
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RCIA is supposed to be for non-Christians converting. In practice, it tends to be for all converts, even non-Catholic Christians.
 
RCIA = The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults.

Catechism = a summary of the principles of Christian religion in the form of questions and answers, used for the instruction of Christians.
  • a series of fixed questions, answers, or precepts used for instruction in other situations. “the preventive health catechism “more exercise, less tobacco and alcohol, and better diet””
Now, it has been common to use the classes that are Instruction in the Catholic Faith for non-Catholics “RCIA” and teaching for Catholics as “Catechism or CCD or RE or Faith Formation”, but, these are colloquialisms.

This is a good resource:

http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/how-we-teach/catechesis/index.cfm

ETA for your personal situation, simply call your parish and ask 🙂
 
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To become Catholic, you have to go through RCIA. That stands for the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults. It is for non-Christians that want to come into the Church as well as those from other Christian denominations seeking the full communion with the Catholic Church. Classes typically start in September and end with confirmation and/or baptism at the Easter Vigil. For those who are already baptized can be confirmed throughout the year with the bishop’s permission. It really depends on the parish you go to. Feel free to message me if you have any more questions!
 
People may also come in through private instruction, it all starts with talking to one’s pastor and determining what is the best in each situation 🙂
 
Do you know how often that happens? If I were to convert for my family, I wouldn’t be interested in 9 months of classes and being received at the Easter Vigil.

I could, however, be interested in private instruction in a different parish though.
 
It varies from pastor to pastor. My advice back to you would have been “at a different parish than the one you are in now!!”
 
Catechism means teaching. RCIA means Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.

Catechism classes are generally for children, but otherwise they should cover many of the same things.

If you have not been baptized or officially received into the Church, you will go through RCIA. You may do that in classes with a group or via individual instruction with someone, but regardless, it’s technically still RCIA because that’s a process and rites, as the name implies (even though people use the letters to refer to their classes).
 
You are not being baptised and confirmed because of your family. You are baptised because you believe in God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit has called you to communion with Himself.

The Catholic Church has her reasons for having a time of initiating new members into the Church. The early Church had a period of three years before people were baptised. It is not just about learning the faith but also start living it. It is a matter of standing solidly with both feet on the ground the day you are baptised. If someone is just “feeling” called to become Catholic than that new Catholic is likely gone as quick as the “feeling” changes to something else. We are Catholics until we take our last breath.
 
HeDa said:
You are not being baptised and confirmed
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I am baptized…have been for 20 years.

The amount of Sunday’s that I missed both Sunday School and Church the 18 years I lived under my parents roof you could probably count on one hand. For 2 years I attended the “parent night” of Family Faith Formation for our family. I have found I’m pretty well catechized, thanks to my upbringing and from attending parents night. Many times my group would look to me to answer questions.

I’ve been a Christian for 41 years, and was totally immersed in it living with my parents. Therefore, I’m not super interested in 8-10 mos of instruction. IMHO, if I were to decide to convert I would get more out of an accelerated private instruction, probably at a different parish than where my wife goes. That’s me personally though.
 
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