Is an RCIA Catechumen required to participate in Easter Vigil mass?

[Aanon123]

I know of someone who is a Catechumen in their 20s who has been missing quite a few classes for RCIA, and assume they have to make them up when they have time. Realizing that Easter Vigil is coming up, I also assume they cannot go to the Easter Vigil Mass to receive the sacraments until RCIA classes are complete and the Bishop “approves” them.

If all that’s correct, I was wondering if there is any way that they can become a Catholic outside of the Easter Vigil Mass, or does it have to be through that Mass alone with a group of Catechumens who will also be receiving the first sacraments?

 

[Fauken]

If all that’s correct, I was wondering if there is any way that they can become a Catholic outside of the Easter Vigil Mass, or does it have to be through that Mass alone with a group of Catechumens who will also be receiving the first sacraments?

I think you can, yes, but it would be up to the discretion of the pastor. Plus he’d have to get permission from the local bishop to administer the Sacrament of Confirmation. This is generally given yearly(?) as a blanket permission during the Easter Vigil Mass, but not outside of it.

 

[Aanon123]

I may not be understanding correctly what you said here, but it sounds like in order to become a Catholic and in full communion with the Church, the 3 sacraments (Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation) has to be administered through Easter Vigil Mass.

 

[Fauken]

No, it can be outside of Easter, but it is up to the pastor to decide if you can receive them outside of Easter or not (if I’m not mistaken). And if he does, you’ll still have to wait because he has to ask the bishop for permission to Confirm you since he does not have the faculty to do so.

 

[TheLittleLady]

This is all a question for this person’s priest.

 

[Phemie]

If the pastor baptizes him, Canon Law gives him the faculty to confirm him.

 

[SMHW]

If baptism is needed it is less likely that it will be permitted outside of the Easter Vigil.

As to whether or not a Catechumen needs to ‘make up’ missed classes and/or rites, that is definitely for his pastor to determine. (Although in practice, the pastor may delegate that responsibility to another.)

 

[1ke]

I know of someone who is a Catechumen in their 20s who has been missing quite a few classes for RCIA, and assume they have to make them up when they have time.

Maybe. Maybe not. This is up to the pastor.

I also assume they cannot go to the Easter Vigil Mass to receive the sacraments until RCIA classes are complete

Again. Maybe, maybe not.

and the Bishop “approves” them.

If you mean the Rite of Election, no. A person can be baptized without having gone to the Rite of Election.

I was wondering if there is any way that they can become a Catholic outside of the Easter Vigil Mass,

Yes, the pastor can administer the sacraments of initiation at another time.

or does it have to be through that Mass alone with a group of Catechumens who will also be receiving the first sacraments?

No.

 

[OldCAFMember]

A lot of assumptions made by the OP.