H
hwriggles4
Guest
One thing that is highlighted here very well is that some RCIA programs are really good, but others are “horrible”. Jimmy Akin has mentioned this numerous times on Catholic Answers Live.
This may sound rude, but sometimes one has to “shop” for a suitable program. I had a two friends who left RCIA formation at one parish (both had not received confirmation in their youth, but had been baptized) and purposely went to another parish due to some questionable teaching by a certain deacon. I knew someone else to went to an introductory class by their house and the first day the RCIA instructor said, “forget the ten commandments, there are only two”. Needless to say, more than one person walked out.
A friend of mine who is a Catholic convert went through RCIA on three different occasions before receiving the “grand slam” - Baptism, Reconciliation, Eucharist, and Confirmation. I admire converts like this who have really thought about becoming Catholic.
One thing I would ask about would be materials used. Materials from known “dissenters” I would question why they are being used. The problem is, one who is not as educated may not know who the dissenting Catholics are. Certain publishing houses I would question too. Ten years ago, I would have been oblivious to who the dissenters were.
I highly recommend Catholicism for Dummies, and some universities are even using it for an introductory theology class. It is also written in plain English, and both Fr. Trigilio and Fr. Brighenti have a Nihil Obstat. Another resource I recommend is Rome Sweet Home by Scott Hahn, which helped me a great deal in my reversion story. Another part of my reversion story was meeting a girl at a parish I attended (I lived in another city at the time) who was a returning Catholic through RCIA, and she was on fire.
I also agree that people are on different levels, and sitting around reading the readings is not enough preparation. I used to attend a Bible Sharing for singles’ where we read the Sunday readings and discussed, but I came more for social reasons than anything else, but I digress.
One parish I belonged to years ago had a separate RCIA for those who had already been baptized and had received Eucharist, so it was more like an adult confirmation preparation. Some people would like that better, but I could also see others just rushing through this kind of program for different reasons.
I do know some people that were able to have a “1 on 1” type study that could start at anytime. That way, you wouldn’t have to wait for RCIA to start in the fall. Some places are more open to this than others. I do admire those who have taken the time to study on their own, or attend lectures/seminars/adult programs on their own time. Most of my convert Catholic friends are very well-formed, and spent some time thinking and praying about whether to cross the tiber. My reversion story is somewhat similar.
I got confirmed in high school, and my brother and I just did it without much question. I think half my class was there because parents and grandparents forced them to be there, and by high school graduation, quite a few had “graduated” from Church. I remember going to my 5 year high school reunion (I went to public school) and out of the people I ran into from the parish I attended, 90% were no longer attending Mass.
As far as Sacramental preparation, I’ve said like a broken record that I learned more about the Sacraments from the Boy Scout Ad Altare Dei program than I learned in any CCD class growing up. Unfortunately, I was already a Life Scout (and confirmed) when I enrolled in the Ad Altare Dei program. I had been asking around since I was 13 (and a First Class Scout) to find a program, and even my parish priest didn’t know much about the program. Fortunately, my younger brother was able to go through the Ad Altare Dei at a much younger age, receiving his at 13.
I’ll close my box today.
This may sound rude, but sometimes one has to “shop” for a suitable program. I had a two friends who left RCIA formation at one parish (both had not received confirmation in their youth, but had been baptized) and purposely went to another parish due to some questionable teaching by a certain deacon. I knew someone else to went to an introductory class by their house and the first day the RCIA instructor said, “forget the ten commandments, there are only two”. Needless to say, more than one person walked out.
A friend of mine who is a Catholic convert went through RCIA on three different occasions before receiving the “grand slam” - Baptism, Reconciliation, Eucharist, and Confirmation. I admire converts like this who have really thought about becoming Catholic.
One thing I would ask about would be materials used. Materials from known “dissenters” I would question why they are being used. The problem is, one who is not as educated may not know who the dissenting Catholics are. Certain publishing houses I would question too. Ten years ago, I would have been oblivious to who the dissenters were.
I highly recommend Catholicism for Dummies, and some universities are even using it for an introductory theology class. It is also written in plain English, and both Fr. Trigilio and Fr. Brighenti have a Nihil Obstat. Another resource I recommend is Rome Sweet Home by Scott Hahn, which helped me a great deal in my reversion story. Another part of my reversion story was meeting a girl at a parish I attended (I lived in another city at the time) who was a returning Catholic through RCIA, and she was on fire.
I also agree that people are on different levels, and sitting around reading the readings is not enough preparation. I used to attend a Bible Sharing for singles’ where we read the Sunday readings and discussed, but I came more for social reasons than anything else, but I digress.
One parish I belonged to years ago had a separate RCIA for those who had already been baptized and had received Eucharist, so it was more like an adult confirmation preparation. Some people would like that better, but I could also see others just rushing through this kind of program for different reasons.
I do know some people that were able to have a “1 on 1” type study that could start at anytime. That way, you wouldn’t have to wait for RCIA to start in the fall. Some places are more open to this than others. I do admire those who have taken the time to study on their own, or attend lectures/seminars/adult programs on their own time. Most of my convert Catholic friends are very well-formed, and spent some time thinking and praying about whether to cross the tiber. My reversion story is somewhat similar.
I got confirmed in high school, and my brother and I just did it without much question. I think half my class was there because parents and grandparents forced them to be there, and by high school graduation, quite a few had “graduated” from Church. I remember going to my 5 year high school reunion (I went to public school) and out of the people I ran into from the parish I attended, 90% were no longer attending Mass.
As far as Sacramental preparation, I’ve said like a broken record that I learned more about the Sacraments from the Boy Scout Ad Altare Dei program than I learned in any CCD class growing up. Unfortunately, I was already a Life Scout (and confirmed) when I enrolled in the Ad Altare Dei program. I had been asking around since I was 13 (and a First Class Scout) to find a program, and even my parish priest didn’t know much about the program. Fortunately, my younger brother was able to go through the Ad Altare Dei at a much younger age, receiving his at 13.
I’ll close my box today.
