Normally the RCIA group is dismissed in some manner. Our group is called to come up and stand in front of the altar, the priest says a few appropriate words, and we then proceed out to a separate room, which we call the Spirituality Center, where the RCIA sessions take place. I’m on our parish’s RCIA Core team these last four years.
The RCIA candidate or catechumen is always welcome to attend any other Mass as well, in which he or she may stay for the entire time without having to walk out. In our diocese, and I imagine in many other dioceses as well, the RCIA candidate or catechumen is also welcome to stand in the communion line and receive a blessing from a priest or deacon with their arms crossing their chests to indicate they are not yet eligible to receive communion.
“40 years later I have decided to get baptised, I know I shouldn’t have waited but that is another long story. The 2 questions I have have to do with the mass. 1. When you go into your pew, the first thing you do is kneel and pray, my question is, What do you pray? Is there a certain prayer? Also, after taking communion, what do you pray?”
Lisa, don’t feel too bad - it took me almost 50 years to get baptized. When I first kneel I am just thankful to the Lord for what is about to take place, the Holy Mass, and for his unending love for what he did for us on the cross, that kind of thing.
After receiving, I start praying for all those who need prayers, starting with my family, our parish, our RCIA group, my Dominican Laity group, our priests and deacons, for those in the seminaries, the religious (sisters and nuns), our bishop, all other bishops, for our pope, for peace in the world, for those who risk their lives for us, policemen, firemen, doctors, nurses and caregivers, for those in combat zones and for their safe return home, for the unborn. My prayers begin with those closest to me and extend outwards. They say that with Christ within you for a few minutes following Communion is an especially good time for prayers of intention.
Jeff
