Question RE: RCIA

  • Thread starter Thread starter myersdad
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
M

myersdad

Guest
I am a protestant…currently at least. Last year about Easter time I was compelled, called, led down the path to pursue the catholic faith. that was where I learned that sometime in september the Catholic church here starts RCIA classes. Well I had emailed the associate pastor at the catholic church and had been discussing small things with him. We ended up meeting in september and he told me that since I worked second shift, I would not be able to attend the RCIA classes, and for me to wait a year and then if I was on a different shift then I could take the classes and become catholic.

Now that seems a bit…odd. That pretty much told me that since I had a job that I work second shift on…that I can’t become catholic unless I change shifts. Is that normal?

It kinda put me off…but I realize that everyone is different and this may just be the priest… I stopped looking into the catholic faith at the time… but was wondering if I should wait and see if he stays(I remember one Mass he said something about staying on for 1 more year and then being moved), or go around him and to the senior priest? or attend a different catholic church in another town and go that route…or just not join the catholic church because i work second shift…
 
myersdad said:
I am a protestant…currently at least. Last year about Easter time I was compelled, called, led down the path to pursue the catholic faith. that was where I learned that sometime in september the Catholic church here starts RCIA classes. Well I had emailed the associate pastor at the catholic church and had been discussing small things with him. We ended up meeting in september and he told me that since I worked second shift, I would not be able to attend the RCIA classes, and for me to wait a year and then if I was on a different shift then I could take the classes and become catholic.

Now that seems a bit…odd. That pretty much told me that since I had a job that I work second shift on…that I can’t become catholic unless I change shifts. Is that normal?

It kinda put me off…but I realize that everyone is different and this may just be the priest… I stopped looking into the catholic faith at the time… but was wondering if I should wait and see if he stays(I remember one Mass he said something about staying on for 1 more year and then being moved), or go around him and to the senior priest? or attend a different catholic church in another town and go that route…or just not join the catholic church because i work second shift…
Click to expand...
RCIA is held at different parishes at different times and usually it’s only one class time(which is probably why he said you couldn’t attend because of your shift, no other sinister reason other than they likely only have one class time and it clashed with your work). Luckily for myself the nearest church holds it immediately after the Sunday service.

My advice, simply contact the next closest catholic parish and see when they do theirs. Or better yet send an email or ring your local diocese’s official contact details and ask them for alternative RCIA course times in parishes near to you. Once you complete RCIA you could return to the local parish.
 
I think this is odd and my hope is it is not common. We have ‘problems’ in my parish but I can’t imagine my priest or RCIA director saying such a thing. I know they have set up private times before to meet with people who, because of family situations, work, etc. could not make the RCIA classes.

I would do as the other poster suggests - if you can’t find a class that fits your time-frame, then ask the priest if you and he can set up a weekly or bi-weekly meeting. Perhaps he hasn’t thought of it. If he says no, find a priest who will and join that parish. You’ll be in my prayers.
 
When I converted, over 35 years ago, I too worked 2nd shift. The priest at our parish gave me insturction because I was unable to attend the regular RCIA classes. I hope this is an isolated case and that we are not turning people away because of the shift they work.
 
Myersdad,
Please don’t take this the wrong way but how hard did you push it? Things worth having are worth fighting for. My husband worked 2nd shift when he went to RCIA. At first they told him that it met on Wed nights at 7pm and he said, “Well, I could make it every other week. Is there something I could do not to miss half the classes?” Then, once he showed that he was that interested they made arrangements for the classes he could not attend. He got the course notes for that week emailed to him and met with the DRE monthly to make sure he understood. He also had meetings with our pastor when he had questions that needed to be answered.

As a result, I think he actually got it more than most of his classmates. There is always a way if you want it bad enough.

just my 2 cents…
 
Elzee said:
I would do as the other poster suggests - if you can’t find a class that fits your time-frame, then ask the priest if you and he can set up a weekly or bi-weekly meeting. Perhaps he hasn’t thought of it. If he says no, find a priest who will and join that parish. You’ll be in my prayers.
Click to expand...
To be honest, I was a bit put off by him. He seemed like he was disinterested in my inquiries. But also in his defense, he is only 1 of 2 priests that serve a weekly attendance of a little over 1,000 attendees. So i can understand his being busy.

I guess I feel a bit odd going to another church and priest in another town to join the catholic church…
 
BlestOne said:
Myersdad,
Please don’t take this the wrong way but how hard did you push it? Things worth having are worth fighting for. My husband worked 2nd shift when he went to RCIA. At first they told him that it met on Wed nights at 7pm and he said, “Well, I could make it every other week. Is there something I could do not to miss half the classes?” Then, once he showed that he was that interested they made arrangements for the classes he could not attend. He got the course notes for that week emailed to him and met with the DRE monthly to make sure he understood. He also had meetings with our pastor when he had questions that needed to be answered.

As a result, I think he actually got it more than most of his classmates. There is always a way if you want it bad enough.

just my 2 cents…
Click to expand...
I believe I understand what you are saying. I guess my thinking stems from my protestant background, where if someone was interested, there was always someone there to meet and talk and befriend the person regardless of schedule or time constraints. Granted, the learning curve is not as steep. My desire to learn and possibly join the catholic faith is still there, but my time that I can attend class is not the same as others. And the priest told me to wait until I got on first shift. anyways…
 
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I thought that RCIA was only required for people who aren’t validly baptized. I thought that if one is already a Christian, they can work with a priest when the priest deems them ready. Or is that just in ultra-rare cases.
 
Here is how we would normally have handled a similar scenario. An experienced “sponsor” would be found to sponsor you. If you could not attend class they would basically be your catechist (teacher) each week they would review with you ( in person, by phone, computer) what the regular class contained and would attend Mass with you. Normally you would request a excused absence for the Saturday Night Vigil(night before Easter). If the company refused the Priest would then meet you at a time scheduled between you and the priest. Typically for a Baptized person about 20 classes (not a fixed number). You could request similar from any reasonably local parish. We currently have two candidates driving in from another Parish, and we do not ask why.
Hope that helps
 
Jabronie said:
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I thought that RCIA was only required for people who aren’t validly baptized. I thought that if one is already a Christian, they can work with a priest when the priest deems them ready. Or is that just in ultra-rare cases.
Click to expand...
Non-baptized are catechumens attend inquiry before catechism. Baptized are candidates and are to receive catechism. The priest is entrusted to determine the local program or person is sufficient. Yes, the Priest may deem them of sufficient knowledge, but that is the Priest’s decision.
Hope that helps
 
myersdad said:
I believe I understand what you are saying. I guess my thinking stems from my protestant background, where if someone was interested, there was always someone there to meet and talk and befriend the person regardless of schedule or time constraints. Granted, the learning curve is not as steep. My desire to learn and possibly join the catholic faith is still there, but my time that I can attend class is not the same as others. And the priest told me to wait until I got on first shift. anyways…
Click to expand...
The reason could simply be there is NO ONE that can meet with you on “your” time.

A Deacon teaches the RCIA program, in our parish. This Deacon also is a Dentist and cannot teach or instruct those during the daytime, because of his job.

Also, our priests do care for the parish, i.e. funerals, wedding, masses, meetings, counseling, visiting the sick, etc; but in many cases they are also doing things outside the parish, like teaching perhaps at the local Catholic High School, or maybe the Bishop has assigned them to do things for the diocese, which eats up their actual physical time.

Fall-Spring (School Time) is the toughest for the priest. That is when there is so much more to do…. The priest you talked to may actually not have the physical time to instruct you outside the set time already set aside for RCIA. This is may have been why he told you to wait until your work schedule changes

Also you made mention that he maybe moving to a new parish…. If that is the case then maybe his time is more strapped… he may not want to be taking more on, especially if he’s leaving. (Maybe he has added responsibilities because of the pending move)

In the mean time, go to Mass when you can (without taking communion).
In the mean time, learn what you can about Catholicism.

I suggest these web-pages:
www.catholic.com
biblechristiansociety.com/
ewtn.com/

I highly suggest the book “Catholicism for Dummies” as a beginner’s book to Catholicism.
I highly suggest getting a copy of the CCC and reading it.
I also suggest reading any of the materials here or here. (My sister-in-law is a similar situation; she has found many of the books at our local library. Which saves on money :))

One thing I tell myself and others when things don’t go the way I (they) want:
“God’s way doesn’t always mean my way” or “God’s timings isn’t always my timing”

God Bless.
 
Are you near any colleges or universities? Sometimes they have weird hours for RCIA that caters to college students.
 
I agree with many of the others… seek another parish (or a Catholic Information Center if your city has one) if arrangements can’t be made at your regular parish.

One more thing… stop calling yourself a “Protestant.” You ceased being a Protestant when you gave up the protest.👍 Through your baptism and your belief in Christ’s Church you are already Catholic in the truest sense. Now, find a way to get into a RCIA program in order to receive the Sacraments and grow in grace!

God bless you.
 
AELondon said:
I agree with many of the others… seek another parish (or a Catholic Information Center if your city has one) if arrangements can’t be made at your regular parish.

One more thing… stop calling yourself a “Protestant.” You ceased being a Protestant when you gave up the protest.👍 Through your baptism and your belief in Christ’s Church you are already Catholic in the truest sense. Now, find a way to get into a RCIA program in order to receive the Sacraments and grow in grace!

God bless you.
Click to expand...
Funny you say this. When I decided to be Catholic I called myself a Cathodist, because I was formerly a Methodist but not a full-fleged Catholic yet.
 
I agree with the others, ask about one on one or other personal instruction and if the priest is unwilling, find another parish. It happens all the time. Sure he can’t accomodate every person’s crazy schedule but it seems wrong to just tell someone “Come back later!”

When I went through, tapes were recorded of each class that we could check out if we’d missed. I missed a month b/c of Katrina/Rita.
 
StratusRose said:
Funny you say this. When I decided to be Catholic I called myself a Cathodist, because I was formerly a Methodist but not a full-fleged Catholic yet.
Click to expand...
I guess I’m Cathocostal? or Pentalic?

I prefer the first one.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top