Meeting a priest for RCIA

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gettingthere

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I’m not sure if this belongs in a different section or not… if so, please let me know or move it or whatever. 🙂

My husband and I are hoping to start RCIA next week. We just moved (on the 30th of August) to this city, so we have only barely started attending the church we plan to attend and go to RCIA at.

When I called to sign up for RCIA we were told we had to meet the priest and have a meeting with him. I’m curious (and to be honest, a little nervous) about this meeting. I would like to have some idea what may or may not be discussed so I can sort of mentally prepare myself. I’m not very good at speaking when I’m nervous (stutter and stumble over words a lot, forget what I want to say, etc) and would like to prepare myself at least a little bit. I’m really really excited and anxious to start RCIA, but I don’t want to say something dumb that could hinder the process!

Does anyone know what this meeting might be about?

Also, how should I address the priest? Should I just call him Father? I don’t know yet how to pronounce his last name.
 
Hi There! Don’t worry… he probably just wants to get to know you and find out where your faith background is… alot different teaching an atheist about God than an Episcopalian… kwim? He may also ask about marriage to see if there is going to need to be paperwork for annulments started so it can be done by Easter.

You can call him Father or Reverend… whichever you are more comfortable with…

Seriously, don’t worry… there is no test…
 
BlestOne said:
Hi There! Don’t worry… he probably just wants to get to know you and find out where your faith background is… alot different teaching an atheist about God than an Episcopalian… kwim? He may also ask about marriage to see if there is going to need to be paperwork for annulments started so it can be done by Easter.

You can call him Father or Reverend… whichever you are more comfortable with…

Seriously, don’t worry… there is no test…
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Hehe, I know I shouldn’t worry… I’m just one of those crazy people who worries about everything. Though my husband worries about almost nothing, so we balance each other out. 🙂

And I forgot that he’d probably ask about our marriage and our faith background. That makes sense. Fortunately it’s a pretty easy story there. 🙂
 
gettingthere said:
Hehe, I know I shouldn’t worry… I’m just one of those crazy people who worries about everything. Though my husband worries about almost nothing, so we balance each other out. 🙂

And I forgot that he’d probably ask about our marriage and our faith background. That makes sense. Fortunately it’s a pretty easy story there. 🙂
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I am sure he will appreciate the ease… so when is your meeting? I have a meeting tomorrow night 'cause DH and I are volunteering to help out with RCIA this year… and it was DH’s idea!!! So I will have Wed nights at RCIA and Thurs at Bible study…YAY!!!
 
BlestOne said:
I am sure he will appreciate the ease… so when is your meeting? I have a meeting tomorrow night 'cause DH and I are volunteering to help out with RCIA this year… and it was DH’s idea!!! So I will have Wed nights at RCIA and Thurs at Bible study…YAY!!!
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Our meeting is on Thursday! I’m soooo excited to start RCIA. And we’re also signing up for a Bible study that meets on Tuesdays… it should be great! I’m really hoping we’re able to meet people.
 
gettingthere said:
Our meeting is on Thursday! I’m soooo excited to start RCIA. And we’re also signing up for a Bible study that meets on Tuesdays… it should be great! I’m really hoping we’re able to meet people.
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That sounds great! I am really happy for you…
 
:hug3:

He just wants to know you better, and let you know more about RCIA…
 
our diocese has a plan for the initial interview, which we follow
first of course contact info and personal details
dates and places of baptism and other sacraments (if any)
details of the baptism, to determine if valid

there is a series of questions to get an idea of your upbringing and your faith now, were you raised in any particular religion, what was your family background, what ideas about religion did you get from that, are you practicing any religion now, what has led you to come and inquire about the Catholic Church.

there are also necessary questions to ascertain your marital status, and whether or not any action may be required in that line (previous marriage needing annulment etc).

be honest and open, and if either of you would prefer to speak alone with the priest, rather than be interviewed as a couple, say so. We are actually discouraged from interviewing couples together, because one might feel hesitant to bring up issues that might pose a problem.

a priest is called Father, and he will probably tell you his name (call me Father Jim or Father Jones).

the purpose of this interview is to find out where you are in your faith journey, where you are coming from, what background you have, and what needs you have, so that the preparation can be tailored to meet those needs.
 
puzzleannie said:
our diocese has a plan for the initial interview, which we follow
first of course contact info and personal details
dates and places of baptism and other sacraments (if any)
details of the baptism, to determine if valid

there is a series of questions to get an idea of your upbringing and your faith now, were you raised in any particular religion, what was your family background, what ideas about religion did you get from that, are you practicing any religion now, what has led you to come and inquire about the Catholic Church.

there are also necessary questions to ascertain your marital status, and whether or not any action may be required in that line (previous marriage needing annulment etc).

be honest and open, and if either of you would prefer to speak alone with the priest, rather than be interviewed as a couple, say so. We are actually discouraged from interviewing couples together, because one might feel hesitant to bring up issues that might pose a problem.

a priest is called Father, and he will probably tell you his name (call me Father Jim or Father Jones).

the purpose of this interview is to find out where you are in your faith journey, where you are coming from, what background you have, and what needs you have, so that the preparation can be tailored to meet those needs.
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Thanks for your response. I really don’t know what I was so worried about. It should be pretty straightforward.

The only thing I’m worried/nervous about is questions about baptism. I was baptized in a protestant (Evangelical) church, but I don’t have an exact date or a baptism certificate. I know without a doubt that I was baptized, because I remember it fully, so I’m hoping that there will not be a problem if I can’t get a baptism certificate.

They never mentioned whether or not we’d be meeting individually or as a couple. It doesn’t matter to us either way, so I guess we’ll just see what they prefer when we get there.

Thanks again! 🙂 Your response is really helpful!
 
gettingthere said:
The only thing I’m worried/nervous about is questions about baptism. I was baptized in a protestant (Evangelical) church, but I don’t have an exact date or a baptism certificate. I know without a doubt that I was baptized, because I remember it fully, so I’m hoping that there will not be a problem if I can’t get a baptism certificate.
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I was baptised at 8 as a Lutheran and I knew the church name. That’s all I told them. The magic people in the office took it from there. You are in good hands.

Enjoy RCIA. Ask lots of questions. Study the answers. I converted 20 years ago and never looked back. It’s a journey and don’t be too concerned if something doesn’t make sense. This is where many of us need to study various other sources to get the proper understanding. An hour a week does not a Catholic make. 😉
 
gettingthere said:
I’m not sure if this belongs in a different section or not… if so, please let me know or move it or whatever. 🙂

My husband and I are hoping to start RCIA next week. We just moved (on the 30th of August) to this city, so we have only barely started attending the church we plan to attend and go to RCIA at.

When I called to sign up for RCIA we were told we had to meet the priest and have a meeting with him. I’m curious (and to be honest, a little nervous) about this meeting. I would like to have some idea what may or may not be discussed so I can sort of mentally prepare myself. I’m not very good at speaking when I’m nervous (stutter and stumble over words a lot, forget what I want to say, etc) and would like to prepare myself at least a little bit. I’m really really excited and anxious to start RCIA, but I don’t want to say something dumb that could hinder the process!

Does anyone know what this meeting might be about?

Also, how should I address the priest? Should I just call him Father? I don’t know yet how to pronounce his last name.
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You’ll be fine! They WANT you there! 👍

You can call him Father, or ask for help pronouncing his name. In our parish da faddas go by their first names.

All he asked us was, our names, etc, taking that basic info, then he asked were we serious, and finally he explained when and where the classes would be held and how long they were. Just the basics. And he was so sweet and friendly. No wonder our small parish that year had one of the largest RCIA classes and group of converts in the whole region. 👍
 
Everyone else has already answered your questions, so I just wanted to say, “Welcome to the journey!!” :extrahappy:
 
Thanks to everyone!

Just wanted to update. We met with the priest last night, and it went well. I had nothing to worry about. 🙂 We start the Bible study on Tuesday, and RCIA on the 25th. I’m so excited!
 
gettingthere said:
Thanks to everyone!

Just wanted to update. We met with the priest last night, and it went well. I had nothing to worry about. 🙂 We start the Bible study on Tuesday, and RCIA on the 25th. I’m so excited!
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Woohoo!
 
We had our first RCIA meeting this past Wednesday…

We filled out a form (an “Inquirer’s Form”) just to give them a bit of information about our Christian history, marriage status, address, etc… I knew when I was filling it out that I was coming home… Also, a lot of the doubts and fears I had started fading away…

There’s no greater feeling than drawing close to Jesus through Mary…
 
Congratulations! May God bless you and your family on this journey Home!
 
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