Preparing for Confirmation

[Ora_et_Labora_1]

Let me pose a hypothetical question. Say that you want to be confirmed, thus enrole in RCIA, but are not comfortable with the “service” provided by your parish. Is it possible to enrole [in RCIA] in another parish without belonging to it? If not, does one have to ask permission at the parish they wish to attend for RCIA? Or is this ad hoc?

 

[PhilotheaZ]

Are you (hypothetically) already Catholic and just need to be confirmed, or are you (hypothetically) a non-Catholic Christian looking to be received into the Catholic Church?

If you are already Catholic, RCIA may not be the best place for you. It is meant primarily for non-Catholics.

And what “service” are you referring to? The way Mass is celebrated? The way Confirmation is conferred? The way RCIA is taught?

If you have concerns, perhaps you should bring them up to the pastor. That way, if there are serious issues that need to be addressed, he can make changes so that everyone can benefit, rather than you just leaving the program, which solves nothing.

Your pastor is the one who is responsible to see that you are properly prepared for Confirmation. If you choose to be prepared in some way other than what is the norm for his parish, you would need to get his permission.

 

[Ora_et_Labora_1]

Well, I’m a Catholic that needs to be confirmed. I was away from the Church for many years, until about a little over a year ago I returned to the flock. Since then I have been “catching up”, learning what Catholicism is really about.

Since I have only recently returned to the US, I thought that it was necessary to attend RCIA. And by “service”, I meant the way RCIA is taught.

 

[SomeCatholicGuy]

Well, I’m a Catholic that needs to be confirmed. I was away from the Church for many years, until about a little over a year ago I returned to the flock. Since then I have been “catching up”, learning what Catholicism is really about.

Since I have only recently returned to the US, I thought that it was necessary to attend RCIA. And by “service”, I meant the way RCIA is taught.

Yes, I believe RCIA is the best course of action in this case. It is possible to work with your parish priest individually to get confirmed, with the bishop’s approval; however, in my opinion, it is more prudent to go through the RCIA process, just in case you miss anything, because you want to be properly catechized.

I also wanted to say that many people who attend RCIA have been baptized, and just need to be confirmed. That said, it should not take away from your RCIA experience, because everyone receives the same instruction.

I do not have a ready answer for your original question, but I would think that it should be fine.

Anyway, I hope this helps. God bless you and welcome home!

 

[Ora_et_Labora_1]

Guess I should have taken my Opus Dei priest-friend’s advice to go around all the “bureaucracy” so as not have to wait so long to get confirmed (for some reason he said that I was well catechised; I always think I don’t know enough)

 

[Jsmith17]

I too am in your position Ora; I am a baptized catholic wishing to be confirmed who was thrown into the RCIA. And the “service” provided isn’t quite what I expected. As an example of legalism our instructor told us of how his son was taunting his daughter while he was driving them to school, so he turned around and said “G.D. it stop, beating up your sister or I’ll break your G.D. neck!”(he said the actual word in class) to which his son responded “you’ve just broken one of the 10 commandments” (this was legalistic???)

I was raised in a very religious home and can count the number of times I’ve heard that word on my hands, never did I expect to hear it at Church while being taught, it struck something deep in my soul, it was almost painful to listen to this man teach the rest of the class. I was actually thinking of dropping out and just being confirmed when I go back to the Philippines, I’d rather do that than be subjected to this “teaching”.

 

[PhilotheaZ]

Guess I should have taken my Opus Dei priest-friend’s advice to go around all the “bureaucracy” so as not have to wait so long to get confirmed (for some reason he said that I was well catechised; I always think I don’t know enough)

If you have been well catechized, speak with the pastor. Often a priest will forego the RCIA requirements for someone who can demonstrate solid knowledge of the faith and genuine commitment to persevere in the practice of the faith.

On the other hand, RCIA or other faith formation can have value, in giving you the opportunity to discuss things you are unsure of, and in building community. If you have observed serious problems in the way RCIA is taught, please discuss this with the pastor (even if you and he decide not to continue with it), for the benefit of the others who are in the RCIA process.

May God bless you and lead you by the path He desires for you.

 

[PhilotheaZ]

I too am in your position Ora; I am a baptized catholic wishing to be confirmed who was thrown into the RCIA. And the “service” provided isn’t quite what I expected. As an example of legalism our instructor told us of how his son was taunting his daughter while he was driving them to school, so he turned around and said “G.D. it stop, beating up your sister or I’ll break your G.D. neck!”(he said the actual word in class) to which his son responded “you’ve just broken one of the 10 commandments” (this was legalistic???)

I was raised in a very religious home and can count the number of times I’ve heard that word on my hands, never did I expect to hear it at Church while being taught, it struck something deep in my soul, it was almost painful to listen to this man teach the rest of the class. I was actually thinking of dropping out and just being confirmed when I go back to the Philippines, I’d rather do that than be subjected to this “teaching”.

I hope you reported this to the pastor. You are right, it is very inappropriate.