Just started RCIA, and some questions

[conrad979]

HI all,
I had my first RCIA class last week, and I am very happy with the path I am on at the moment. However, I have a couple of procedural questions that I wondered if anyone would be able to help with. I know I could ask the priest when I see him, but I always forget to ask these small things, so I thought I’d try here whilst I remember them (although I’m sure to forget a couple ) I know they may not matter in the greater scheme of things, but it seems silly to not try and get things right.

1. Should a priest be addressed as Fr surname, or Fr Christian name? Where my RCIA class is it is very informal and everyone says Fr Christian Name, but I’m sure I’ve heard other priests refered to as Fr Surname. When meeting a new priest, should I wait to be be told the more informal way is fine, and be more formal until then?
2. I happen to be taking RCIA in a different parish from where I live (and a different diocese actually). This is because I knew the priest who is taking the RCIA classes anyway through my work, and I began talking to him a few months ago and it seems natural and right to have him as my RCIA instructor. I attend Mass in my ‘home’ parish on a Sunday (and sometimes in the week), and try to go to Mass at least once in the week in my RCIA parish. I also visit that church when I can, and feel more of the ‘community’ there than my home parish. But as I attend Mass on Sundays in my home parish, should I introduce myself to the priest and tell hime what I’m doing (I’ve only been attending for a few months, and the church is often very busy, even mid-week, so I doubt the priest has ever noticed me tbh). Of course I should add I know I don’t receive (is that the right term?) in Mass, and just stay seated when everyone else goes up.
3. In one of the churches the entrance is halfway down the side of the church. I usually sit near the back. Should I bow before I turn my back to the alter, or just before I sit down?
4. I presume because I am a baptised Christian (although not Catholic yet) that it is ok for me to make the sign of the cross on entering and leaving church, and at various points in the service. But before the gospel is read, the rest of the congregation make a different sign - I think forhead, lips, chest??? What does this mean, and can anyone clarify please?

Sorry there are so many questions, thanks in advance for your help,
Adele.

 

[puzzleannie]

Should a priest be addressed as Fr surname, or Fr Christian name?

that is up to him
take your cue from the catechists and other members, and call him Fr. Tom or Fr. Smith as others do, or as he invites you to
“I am Fr. Tom” or “I am Fr. Smith”

you can attend Mass anywhere, you don’t need permission, you don’t need to explain yourself, the Catholic Mass is public worship and no one is barred from it

You genuflect toward the tabernacle before taking you place. If the tabernacle is located elsewhere, you bow to the altar before taking your place.

yes the sign of the Cross is appropriate for all Christians before, after and during prayer

before the Gospel, if you wish, you may make the sign of the Cross on your forehead, lips, and chest reciting, May the Word of God be in my mind, on my lips and in my heart. It is not a required prayer of the faithful, but you may do it.

 

[kage_ar]

1. Should a priest be addressed as Fr surname, or Fr Christian name? Where my RCIA class is it is very informal and everyone says Fr Christian Name, but I’m sure I’ve heard other priests refered to as Fr Surname. When meeting a new priest, should I wait to be be told the more informal way is fine, and be more formal until then?

Hello and WELCOME.

Unless the Priest introduces himself as Fr. Firstname, to be polite use Fr. Lastname. He may come back with “It’s Fr. Firstname” or, he may not. Different Priests have different feelings about this.

1. I happen to be taking RCIA in a different parish from where I live (and a different diocese actually). This is because I knew the priest who is taking the RCIA classes anyway through my work, and I began talking to him a few months ago and it seems natural and right to have him as my RCIA instructor. I attend Mass in my ‘home’ parish on a Sunday

I’d suggest you either speak to the Priest at your home parish after Mass, or make an appointment to visit with him. Again, it is a polite thing to do

1. In one of the churches the entrance is halfway down the side of the church. I usually sit near the back. Should I bow before I turn my back to the alter, or just before I sit down?

It is proper to bow or genuflect, most people do this before sitting down, but there is no real “rule”. For me, bowing is something that I do when I cannot physically genuflect (I have physical problems), as long as I can genuflect, I do.

1. I presume because I am a baptised Christian (although not Catholic yet) that it is ok for me to make the sign of the cross on entering and leaving church, and at various points in the service. But before the gospel is read, the rest of the congregation make a different sign - I think forhead, lips, chest??? What does this mean, and can anyone clarify please??

It is a small cross on the forehead, lips and heart - there is a silent prayer one prays, that these words will be on my mind, on my lips and in my heart.

You can do all the gestures, use the Holy Water, sing, pray, go to Adoration, pray the Stations of the Cross - everything except recieve the Eucharist. Use that time to pray and make a Spiritual Communion.

Welcome!!!

 

[stbruno]

Perhaps you have noticed at the entrance of the Catholic church, or close to the entrances are fonts with holy water in them. People upon entering and leaving church usually will dip their two fingers, or tips of the fingers in them and then make the sign of the cross. This is a gesture that reminds us of our baptismal promises…of the water and the Trinitarian formula…The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. As we began our life as a Christian, we should begin all things in life, in the name of the Father…etc. Good luck to you on your journey.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

The only thing I would add is to make sure your RCIA director knows that you’re attending Mass elsewhere and that it’s OK with him/her. If you were in my program I’d wonder where you were on Sunday morning and whether there was a problem of some kind. Also, in my parish, it would be a big problem if you weren’t at Mass in our parish regularly. The pastor feels strongly, as do I, that part of RCIA is becoming part of a particular parish community and one of the ways you do that is to worship together with the rest of the community.

 

[conrad979]

Thank you for all your lovely messages.
I have told the priest at my RCIA parish (who also takes the RCIA) that I attend Mass elsewhere on a Sunday. In fact he knew this before I even enquired about RCIA. I think the situation is unusual, but I very feel part of the parish community at my RCIA parish as well as my ‘local’ parish where I attend Sunday Mass. In fact I know many more people, and did before RCIA started.
I will tell the Priest at the other parish that I’m attending RCIA (in fact I don’t know if they have a RCIA programme - I’ve never seen or heard any announcement anyway - but do all parishes have one?). I was going to on Sunday, but thre was a queue of people waiting to see him, but I’m going to try to go to Mass tomorrow and maybe see him then.
Thanks again for the messages and welcome

 

[stbruno]

In our diocese, because some of the RCIA classes are small, parishes will join forces and have a team approach in the teaching and people who are the candidates will join with other candidates from other parishes. It is an opportunity to learn that being Catholic joins you to a group of one billion strong, not just a congregration of several hundred or thousand people. No matter, the language of the country, being Catholic is the connecting force and the liturgy and the tenets of the faith are one and the same…the church does not change. That’s the good part of becoming Catholic! The Eucharist is one and the same! God bless you on your journey.

 

[hays1122]

Is it a sin to receive the Eucharist if you are not catholic,even if you do believe in your heart that the Eucharist is the body and blood of Jesus?

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

Is it a sin to receive the Eucharist if you are not catholic,even if you do believe in your heart that the Eucharist is the body and blood of Jesus?

Communion has many layers. One is that we are receiving the Body and Blood of Jesus, which you say you believe. It is also a sign of how we are united. When the priest prays the Eucharistic prayer he says that he is praying in union with Benedict our pope and with our local bishop. If you’re not Catholic, then that unity isn’t there and receiving communion would be a lie.

In addition, a Catholic can receive communion only when he or she is in a state of grace. That means that if we have committed a mortal sin we have gone to confession and received sacramental absolution for that sin before we receive communion again.

So for a non-Catholic to receive communion there are at least two major problems. The person has not gone to confession and the person is not in unity with the Church.

If you do believe that communion in the Catholic church is truly the body and blood of Jesus, then perhaps you would want to explore the possibility of coming into the Church and having access to all of the sacraments.

Call your local parish and ask about RCIA, the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. RCIA consists of both classes to teach you about Catholicism and the rites that you go through to move forward into the church.

 

[Poor_Clare_tobe]

Thank you for all your lovely messages.
I have told the priest at my RCIA parish (who also takes the RCIA) that I attend Mass elsewhere on a Sunday. In fact he knew this before I even enquired about RCIA. I think the situation is unusual, but I very feel part of the parish community at my RCIA parish as well as my ‘local’ parish where I attend Sunday Mass. In fact I know many more people, and did before RCIA started.
I will tell the Priest at the other parish that I’m attending RCIA (in fact I don’t know if they have a RCIA programme - I’ve never seen or heard any announcement anyway - but do all parishes have one?). I was going to on Sunday, but thre was a queue of people waiting to see him, but I’m going to try to go to Mass tomorrow and maybe see him then.
Thanks again for the messages and welcome

As so many have already taken the time to answer your questions… I just wanted to say welcome and how awesome it is you found a community to participate in the rcia with!
Blessings and Good Luck and hope to hear more from you as your journey progresses.

(Depending on your previous background you may have many questions… this is a great place to get answers to many of them… I wish there had been an rcia program, and well personal computers… back when I converted in the 70s. )