Is it too late to join RCIA and get baptized by Easter?

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Again, pastors arent usually involved. Yes they are reaponsible to oversee how things operate. That usually seems to be deferred to teachers who actually instruct.
 
Stunningly enough, there are pastors who teach the Instruction Classes, it is not rare.
 
Our pastor teaches the Spanish RCIA (RICA) and I teach the English.
 
I do. And i would hope that a director would receive affirmation from the administrative priest.

I just get the impression, and from my own experience, that directors are given the discretion to make those decisions.
 
Not around here. The priest ultimately decides. We can allow people into instruction, but only the priest decided when they are ready.
 
So your priest interviews thise cases?

Wouldnt the priest just decide based on the suggestion of the instructor?
 
Of course that’s part of it…we work together. I write the curriculum, actually, mostly because he doesn’t have time. I organize the Rites, etc. I gather all the paperwork, etc. But regardless of what I say, he STILL must meet with the candidates and ascertain if they are ready. He’s bound to approve them by our Archbishop, his call.
 
Your parish sounds formal. And thats good. I think pastors should be more actively involved in formation.

But teachers should be given their due. They are hands on guiding people on the beliefs and Teachings!

I love my RCIA director! He is the wisest man i know.

And when priests come and go, its hard to develop relationships with them.
 
Yeah. There’s a fair bit of lay minister bashing, but they are glue that hold a parish together in times of turnover. People develop longtime relationships with their lay leaders. Some people just can’t accept that, but honestly, a new pastor relies on the feedback from such as these when he doesn’t know anyone or isn’t familiar with procedures in the new parish. He’ll only know what to fix or amend if someone gives him a head’s up.
 
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In my parish the RCIA Directors are a Deacon & wife. They have been doing RCIA for over 20 years. Our priest trusts them with their ministry and making the determination of who should or shouldn’t go forward. We are fortunate to have a wonderful priest who is truly an administrator. He chooses good people to run ministries and then trusts them to do their job. My priest would fire me if I went to him with every little thing. He would believe, rightly so, that he was wrong when hiring me to do the job.
 
Horton said:
In my parish the RCIA Directors are a Deacon & wife. They have been doing RCIA for over 20 years. Our priest trusts them with their ministry and making the determination of who should or shouldn’t go forward. We are fortunate to have a wonderful priest who is truly an administrator. He chooses good people to run ministries and then trusts them to do their job. My priest would fire me if I went to him with every little thing. He would believe, rightly so, that he was wrong when hiring me to do the job.
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At least there seems to be a determination about whether people are ready or not. I’ve come across very few parishes that work that way. Most advertise “Join in September, be baptized at Easter.”

I was most interested when a priest who was also a member of the North American Forum on the Catechumenate told us about his parish’s experience. One catechumen, an immigrant from either Serbia or Croatia, couldn’t bring herself to offer the sign of peace to a fellow parishioner also an immigrant but one from the other country they’d been at war with. Until she was able to do that she was deemed to not have converted enough to be baptized. It took her three years and she thanked them when she was finally baptized, saying, “You were right, I wasn’t ready.”
 
Here is it the priest who does RCIA, we have no team or director, just him.
 
SMHW said:
That is why my parish has made a point of avoiding bringing the baptized into full communion at the Easter Vigil. They may attend some of the same classes as the unbaptized but their journey takes only as long as it takes.
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Same around here - those who are already validly baptized are brought in when they are ready.
 
I think yhere should be a balance. Is he doing the job because no one else is available? Or does he prefer?

I think we face a lack of laity filling positions. And we have a lack of priests too!
 
Honestly I think it’s more that I’m the first adult in it in years so there was no need for a team or anyone else. However in the future there may be need for more people, has since I started my enquiry others have come forward and said they have been interested, sadly only one other is now doing it with me.
 
The NORM is YES you are too late for this tear; BUT it does depend on the priest and likely your degree of prior faith formation.

DO call and speak to a priest at the parish closest to you. NORM are only norms.

God Bless you
Patrick
 
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