Missing RCIA rites--please tell me about yours!

[SeekerWillie]

The weather here in the DC suburbs has been…uncooperative…the past two weekends. As a result, my RCIA group has missed two of our Rites. Last weekend, our Rite of Sending was canceled due to weather. Today, icy conditions kept our parish from going to the Basilica and Shrine of the Immaculate Conception for the Rite of Election and Continuing Conversion. I was especially disappointed about today, because Cardinal Weurl, our archbishop, was presiding. How often is the common parishioner going to be able to process into a Shrine to stand before a Cardinal?

Anyway, I’d love to hear from other folks in RCIA about their Rites, since I’ve missed a few of my own. The more detail, the better!

 

[PDXSeeker_1975]

We did our rite of sending and call to continuing conversion at our Cathedral (St. Louis) last week. At the rite at our parish, we had a chance to get up before the congregation and briefly share what brought us to that point, and our sponsors gave a brief testimony on our behalf. This is probably more practical with a smaller group like ours (2 candidates and 3 catechumens-elect). This weekend, the candidates (myself and the other woman who has been baptized) were presented in the “penitential rite”, kneeling before the altar and asking the congregation to pray for us. I guess that means confession is not too far off…“only” 24 years of post-baptism life to deal with.

It’s been a great experience, a lot of support in our parish. I have a great sponsor who is a theology professor, although we haven’t had a lot of opportunities to talk one on one since his schedule is real busy. And since I’m involved with a couple of groups including a bible study and the Holy Name Society, it gives me another layer of support, which is good because I basically moved here by myself from the west coast a couple of years ago and my family/friends, both Catholic and non-Catholic, are all still back there.

 

[SeekerWillie]

Thank you for sharing! It sounds like you’ve found a wonderful parish with supportive friends. I’ll keep you and the other person in your group in my prayers!

We’re a large-ish group, I guess–5 catechumens, 5 candidates, and 5 confirmands–but not the largest in our parish history, from what I’m told. I hope the weather is better for the rest of Lent. Our session was canceled last week due to snow and ice, and it was our session on confession! We’ll definitely have to re-schedule that one SOON!

 

[corsair]

When I became Catholic back in 1970, there wasn’t anything called RCIA. I took weekly lessons from the priest. I was Baptized one Sunday morning before Mass and Confirmed 4years later. I taught the Confirmation class and was Confirmed with them.

In my current parish, which is an FSSP parish, its still one on one instruction. And its taught by a priest.

 

[Brandall]

The weather here in the DC suburbs has been…uncooperative…the past two weekends. As a result, my RCIA group has missed two of our Rites. Last weekend, our Rite of Sending was canceled due to weather. Today, icy conditions kept our parish from going to the Basilica and Shrine of the Immaculate Conception for the Rite of Election and Continuing Conversion. I was especially disappointed about today, because Cardinal Weurl, our archbishop, was presiding. How often is the common parishioner going to be able to process into a Shrine to stand before a Cardinal?

Anyway, I’d love to hear from other folks in RCIA about their Rites, since I’ve missed a few of my own. The more detail, the better!

When I was in RCIA, last year, our Rite of Election and Continuing Education was on March 9, 2014. My son was Married on March 8 last year and I didn’t even get out of bed on March 9.

This year, I am an RCIA sponsor so I got to go to the rite. Ours is held in a convention center because of the large numbers. In our parish, among the adults, there are 6 Catechumen and 30 candidates. The kids are catechized separately and I have no idea of their numbers.

There was one parish at our Rite that had more than 30 Catechumen. I have no idea what their total is.

The best is still yet to come for you. The Holy Thursday mass was my favorite mass last year. There was only one mass that day and it was full and it was a large Jesus loving group. At a normal mass, there is a certain percentage, (probably around 40% in our parish) that doesn’t sing or do the recitations. The audience at the Holy Thursday mass was so into it that I felt like a slacker and I love to sing and do the recitations.

Then on Good Friday, there is a communion service at our church. That was a very solemn mass and you could feel the Holy Spirit there.

Then the big deal for you candidates and catechumen is the Easter Vigil. The mass would take a while regardless due to all the readings. When you add in the confirmations and pageantry, it runs about 3.5 hours at our church. This year will be my third Easter Vigil and I hope I can go every year. If you’ve never been to an Easter Vigil, here is a link to the bible readings.

 

[ArchAngeles]

I had my Rites of Sending Forth and Election last Sunday. The Rite of Sending Forth was mostly a regular Mass with the Sending Forth readings added. The Rite of Election was great; I got to meet the Archbishop (briefly!) and I signed the Book of the Elect. So I’ve moved from Catechumen to Elect.

I am looking forward to the 3 Rites of Scrutiny. Then it’s Holy Thursday, Good Friday and of course Easter Vigil. What a busy month it will be.

 

[Old_Sarum]

What are all these ‘rites’ of sending, election and scrutiny that you folks are talking about? I’ve never heard of them. Is it an American thing?

 

[Magdalen2013]

What are all these ‘rites’ of sending, election and scrutiny that you folks are talking about? I’ve never heard of them. Is it an American thing?

They’re part of the Rites of Christian Initiation for Adults. In the Rite of Sending, the parish “sends forth” the candidates (baptized) and the catechumens (unbaptized) to a ceremony with the Bishop of the diocese known as the “Rite of Election.” At this rite, the Bishop gives his permission and blessing of those seeking baptism (the elect) or to come into complete communion with the Church (candidates).

The “scrutinies” are held on the third, fourth and fifth Sundays of Lent. They are ceremonies that invite the elect and the candidates to examine their own souls and consciences thoroughly before they are accepted into the Church at the Easter Vigil.