Question about RCIA/Annulment/Easter Vigil

[kettle]

I’m currently in RCIA (Inquiry session) and will be continuing on as a Candidate after the Inquiry Session ends. I’m also in the beginning stages of the annulment process, so that my marriage may be a Sacrament as well. Sister has told me that the annulment process could take as long as one year, and if you do the math, that puts us well past the Easter Vigil. Of course I’m very hopeful that it will all be done in time for the Easter Vigil, so that I may be initiated into the Church with my husband, but I digress…

In the event that it does NOT all come together in time for the Easter Vigil, and I cannot officially join the Church at that time, when would that happen for me? Would I have to wait until the next Easter Vigil (2009)? Or would I be able to join as soon as the annulment was completed?

Please understand that I’m actually ok with whatever happens, because I know it’s in God’s hands. (I admit that I will be disappointed, but I’m praying about that.) I’m just curious as to how this sort of thing usually happens, and I’d be grateful for any insight you could share with me.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I’m currently in RCIA (Inquiry session) and will be continuing on as a Candidate after the Inquiry Session ends. I’m also in the beginning stages of the annulment process, so that my marriage may be a Sacrament as well. Sister has told me that the annulment process could take as long as one year, and if you do the math, that puts us well past the Easter Vigil. Of course I’m very hopeful that it will all be done in time for the Easter Vigil, so that I may be initiated into the Church with my husband, but I digress…

In the event that it does NOT all come together in time for the Easter Vigil, and I cannot officially join the Church at that time, when would that happen for me? Would I have to wait until the next Easter Vigil (2009)? Or would I be able to join as soon as the annulment was completed?

Please understand that I’m actually ok with whatever happens, because I know it’s in God’s hands. (I admit that I will be disappointed, but I’m praying about that.) I’m just curious as to how this sort of thing usually happens, and I’d be grateful for any insight you could share with me.

Well because you mention you are a Candidate, I assume that you have been validly Baptized. Because of this fact, the Easter has no specific bearing on your reception into the Catholic Church. As a Candidate you should be received into the Church as soon as you are ready and the Annulment is complete. Even if that is before Easter Vigil or after it. So if you are ready as determined by you, your sponsor, and the Pastor and the Marriage was found Null on May 1st. 2008, you can be received into the Church anytime after May 1st. You DO NOT need to wait until next Easter Vigil!!! Let me make that point clear.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

Of course I’m very hopeful that it will all be done in time for the Easter Vigil, so that I may be initiated into the Church with my husband, but I digress…

Are both you and your husband entering the Church? If so, you both need to wait for your annulment to come through.

 

[kettle]

Br. Rich, yes, my husband and I are both validly Baptized (both as infants; he in the Lutheran church, and I in the Episcopalian church). It is good news that we’ll not have to wait! Thank you.

Are both you and your husband entering the Church? If so, you both need to wait for your annulment to come through.

Yes, he and I are both entering the Church. I hadn’t even thought about him having to wait because of me. Of course, now that you’ve mentioned it, it does make sense.

Thank you both very much!

 

[1ke]

kettle,

What Bro Rich says is true. HOWEVER, in individual parishes implementation varies. For practical reasons, your pastor may not let you branch down a different path-- entering at any point in time-- and may require you to go with the next group to get confirmed.

This is entirely for practical reasons, as priests are in short supply and many parishes are very large. You can imagine the chaos and huge amount of hassle if people just showed up and wanted to get instruction/get confirmed individually and on no set schedule. Exceptions for one person could lead to a huge snowball effect of many people wanting special treatment.

So, while you could be received at any time, keep in mind that your pastor may not choose to do that. He may choose to have you wait until the next group gets confirmed, whenever that is.

Hopefully, your pastor will be willing to work with you. Good luck!

 

[OneAugustKnight]

Pray for a speedy annulment as well. It took us four months to find my husband’s baptismal certificate, but the annulment was complete 2 weeks after we turned in the paperwork.

 

[baltobetsy]

I hope you realize that you are not guaranteed to receive a decree of nullity as a result of going through the process. The tribunal could decide either way.

Betsy

 

[kage_ar]

Pray that it happens in a year! That would be speedy. Some people wait for years - and during that time they pray and come to Mass and pray and pray!

 

[woodyww]

It is my understanding that should your annulment not be complete or even if it were to be denied, you could still renew your baptism vows and be confirmed at the Easter Vigil. You would not be able to partake of the Eucharist because you would be in a state of continuing grave sin until your annulment is approved. Should it be denied then you would have the option of living as brother and sister in order to receive the sacraments or partcipate in a spiritual communion with your Catholic brothers and sisters.
Whatever you do don’t worry about it as you go through RCIA. God is in control and knows your heart.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

kettle,

What Bro Rich says is true. HOWEVER, in individual parishes implementation varies. For practical reasons, your pastor may not let you branch down a different path-- entering at any point in time-- and may require you to go with the next group to get confirmed.

This is entirely for practical reasons, as priests are in short supply and many parishes are very large. You can imagine the chaos and huge amount of hassle if people just showed up and wanted to get instruction/get confirmed individually and on no set schedule. Exceptions for one person could lead to a huge snowball effect of many people wanting special treatment.

So, while you could be received at any time, keep in mind that your pastor may not choose to do that. He may choose to have you wait until the next group gets confirmed, whenever that is.

Hopefully, your pastor will be willing to work with you. Good luck!

There is NO set schedule for Candidates and that is very clear in the Rite. The unacceptable is to require of the Candidates more than is required in the Rite and the Law.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

It is my understanding that should your annulment not be complete or even if it were to be denied, you could still renew your baptism vows and be confirmed at the Easter Vigil. You would not be able to partake of the Eucharist because you would be in a state of continuing grave sin until your annulment is approved. Should it be denied then you would have the option of living as brother and sister in order to receive the sacraments or partcipate in a spiritual communion with your Catholic brothers and sisters.
Whatever you do don’t worry about it as you go through RCIA. God is in control and knows your heart.

you cannot be Confirmed if you cannot receive Holy Communion they are both Sacraments. That is until the Annulment process is complete and the Marriage(s) are declared null. (if the is the case) I agree totally with the last line!

 

[kettle]

Thank you all very much for your (name removed by moderator)ut and clarifications. I really do appreciate it. Please pray for us.

 

[quiet52]

Hi Kettle,
I hope you and your husband are enjoying the RCIA process. What a gift that you’re doing this together.

According to the Code of Canon Law, the ordinary minister of the sacrament of Confirmation is the bishop. He can provide special permission, or “faculty” to a priest (presbyter). Pastors are usually given permission to confirm at least during Easter Vigil mass, because the bishop can’t be in every parish at once.

Please talk with your pastor more about this issue. In the event your petition for nullity is approved after the Easter Vigil, he may (or may not) be given the faculty to approve you before the following Easter Vigil.

Can. 882 The ordinary minister of confir-mation is a bishop; a presbyter provided with this faculty in virtue of universal law or the special grant of the competent authority also confers this sacrament validly.

Can. 883 The following possess the faculty of administering confirmation by the law itself:

1/ within the boundaries of their jurisdiction, those who are equivalent in law to a diocesan bishop;

2/ as regards the person in question, the presbyter who by virtue of office or mandate of the diocesan bishop baptizes one who is no longer an infant or admits one already baptized into the full communion of the Catholic Church;

3/ as regards those who are in danger of death, the pastor or indeed any presbyter.

Can. 884 §1. The diocesan bishop is to administer confirmation personally or is to take care that another bishop administers it. If necessity requires it, he can grant the faculty to one or more specific presbyters, who are to administer this sacrament.

§2. For a grave cause the bishop and even the presbyter endowed with the faculty of confirming in virtue of the law or the special grant of the competent authority can in single cases also associate presbyters with themselves to administer the sacrament.

 

[kettle]

Thank you, quiet52.

 

[Inman]

FWIW, our parish confirms people that were baptisted in another faith, twice a year, on Pentacost and a feast in late november, the one that ends the liturgical year. I am a recent convert so forgive me for not remembering. They do the unbaptized in a completely seperate clase. Although I understand many parishes combine them.

 

[Lischou]

Hi kettle!

There is an option that no one has mentioned yet. It is not easy but it will allow you and your husband to receive the sacraments at the upcoming Easter Vigil with your RCIA class. The two of you will need to ‘live as brother and sister’ until your annulment comes through and you can be married in the Catholic church.

It’s something to pray about.

With love,
Lisa

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Hi kettle!

There is an option that no one has mentioned yet. It is not easy but it will allow you and your husband to receive the sacraments at the upcoming Easter Vigil with your RCIA class. The two of you will need to ‘live as brother and sister’ until your annulment comes through and you can be married in the Catholic church.

It’s something to pray about.

With love,
Lisa

That is really NOT an option and should not even be brought up.

 

[rwoehmke]

That is really NOT an option and should not even be brought up.

Might depend on the diocese. We have had several couples that lived as brother and sister (they both had children) for quite some time. It took about three years for annulments to take place and there were no guarantees.No annulment meant brother and sister till kids grew up and then separation.

Lately I have been getting an impression that some matters in our diocese are pretty loose. Our new Bishop takes over in September and it will be interesting to watch.