Problem with being able to attend RCIA

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CJsmommy

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I would like to return to my Catholic roots - according to my sister’s priest I’ve got Catholic DNA since I was baptized as a young infant.
That was the extent of my Catholic upbringing though, and because of that I still have to attend a full RCIA class rather than an abbreviated version. My problem is that I work a full time retail job, and while I have two days off every week, they aren’t the same days every week. I can’t ask for certain days off/times off for an extended time or my hours, which I really need, get cut. Is there a way to do RCIA on a flexible schedule, or should I wait while looking for another job?
 
Talk to the priest and tell him about the problem you’ve got with getting to RCIA. He ought to be flexible enough to work with you to find a way to get around the problem with your job.

Maybe night time classes, or one on one sessions with him, or someone he trusts.

There’s got to be some way around it without you risking your job.
 
CJ(name removed by moderator)my said:
I would like to return to my Catholic roots - according to my sister’s priest I’ve got Catholic DNA since I was baptized as a young infant.
That was the extent of my Catholic upbringing though, and because of that I still have to attend a full RCIA class rather than an abbreviated version. My problem is that I work a full time retail job, and while I have two days off every week, they aren’t the same days every week. I can’t ask for certain days off/times off for an extended time or my hours, which I really need, get cut. Is there a way to do RCIA on a flexible schedule, or should I wait while looking for another job?
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Talk to the RCIA director and see how much they are able to accommodate your schedule. Depending on what you learn, you may want to check at other nearby parishes.
 
Definitely just go speak with either the director of religious education or the parish priest. I was just received into the church last night and while I attended the normal evening classes there were several people that came into the church that had odd schedules that could not make it.

The DRE (director of religious ed) worked with them individually throughout the year to make sure they were up to speed and comfortable. Our DRE was even educating a protestant pastor in secret for 8 months while he still worked at his church. So they will (or should) work with you, just go speak to someone.
 
agentlank said:
Definitely just go speak with either the director of religious education or the parish priest. I was just received into the church last night and while I attended the normal evening classes there were several people that came into the church that had odd schedules that could not make it.
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Welcome Home 👍:clapping::extrahappy:
 
Put in emails to both my parish’s director and my sister’s parish’s priest, who is helping me with preparing my daughter’s baptism, so pray for me on the road home.
 
I worked evenings (48 to 56 hours/week), attended Nursing school during the day (5 days a week).

My priest was wonderful! God rest your soul, Fr. Watson!

Whenever I had a couple of hours free, he’d instruct me on varying days. During semester breaks, we’d meet twice a week.

God bless you. Welcome home!
 
Great advice above.

I’ll be praying for you.

Welcome home!!! :hug1:
 
Update time! Met with the sister that runs the RCIA classes. They start in a couple of weeks but only Wednesday nights until December. I have to talk to my boss and get back to her. According to the sister I do have a leg up having already been baptized though.
 
CJ(name removed by moderator)my said:
Update time! Met with the sister that runs the RCIA classes. They start in a couple of weeks but only Wednesday nights until December. I have to talk to my boss and get back to her. According to the sister I do have a leg up having already been baptized though.
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Yes since you are already baptized, you can be brought into the Church when ever you are ready! Most of the unbaptized are usually brought into the Church during the Easter Vigil Mass, which even if they were ready a month or two after the last Easter Vigil, they would most often have to wait for the next Easter Vigil. But a Pastor of a parish can work around this on individual cases if he desires.
 
CalCatholic said:
Yes since you are already baptized, you can be brought into the Church when ever you are ready!
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I think that, in the majority of cases, “whenever you are ready” will be the Easter Vigil after RCIA classes.

While it’s true that some priests may permit folks to come into the Church sooner, a lot of that has to do with how well-formed such individuals already are. I think a classic case of this might be the Protestant minister who’s clearly been studying Catholicism in great depth, and who’s already, for some years, been living a genuinely Christian life.

Someone who was baptized as an infant, and who hasn’t been to Church for several decades, is in a different boat entirely.
 
InNomineDomini said:
I think that, in the majority of cases, “whenever you are ready” will be the Easter Vigil after RCIA classes.

While it’s true that some priests may permit folks to come into the Church sooner, a lot of that has to do with how well-formed such individuals already are. I think a classic case of this might be the Protestant minister who’s clearly been studying Catholicism in great depth, and who’s already, for some years, been living a genuinely Christian life.

Someone who was baptized as an infant, and who hasn’t been to Church for several decades, is in a different boat entirely.
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We don’t run our RCIA on the school schedule (Sept.- Easter). Our RCIA runs on the year round program, so if a baptized person starts RCIA in June and spend a year in the process then they will be confirmed in the following June (if they are ready).
 
InNomineDomini said:
I think that, in the majority of cases, “whenever you are ready” will be the Easter Vigil after RCIA classes.
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RCIA for those who are already baptized is intended to be as long as the person needs and no longer. Unfortunately, many parishes treat RCIA as convert classes with a few rites thrown in and the Easter Vigil becomes their default.
 
CJ(name removed by moderator)my said:
I would like to return to my Catholic roots - according to my sister’s priest I’ve got Catholic DNA since I was baptized as a young infant.
That was the extent of my Catholic upbringing though, and because of that I still have to attend a full RCIA class rather than an abbreviated version. My problem is that I work a full time retail job, and while I have two days off every week, they aren’t the same days every week. I can’t ask for certain days off/times off for an extended time or my hours, which I really need, get cut. Is there a way to do RCIA on a flexible schedule, or should I wait while looking for another job?
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Depending on how busy the volunteers are or the staff, it can be made to work. I ran a morning class for University students one year, when we had a number of students who couldn’t attend RCIA in the evening because of their school and work schedule - early morning classes worked for them, and they became their own little community, as well.

It can’t hurt to ask. There may be others in a similar situation, and perhaps you can form an RCIA group that meets at odd times to accommodate a retail schedule.
 
And it turns out my boss just happens to be a RCIA convert herself, so not only is she cool with it she helped me put it in the system so I wouldn’t lose my hours. And as far as timing, in my parish the classes just started. I may have missed a couple of classes at most. They end mid-December officially although the sister said arrangements could be made until February (Lent. I’m assuming). Maybe the bishop comes around during Advent.🤷
 
It’s wonderful how well that worked out. I just went through the RCIA process and was baptized at the Easter Vigil while my wife was confirmed.

Expect a lot of things like this to pop up and freak you out. The Devil wants you very much to not be Catholic, and he’s going to do everything he can to put enough “what ifs” in your head to scare you away. When conflicts and such like this come up, remember that God wants you to be home with His people, and that He always provides a way to get to where He wants us to be whether or not we can see it.
 
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