Questions about rcia? started 4 weeks late

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okay, so i come from a Hindu family, and i’m 19 and in college. yesterday i went to RCIA for the first time (barely know about Catholicism etc) and i started the classes 4 weeks late. i was wondering what usually happens in the first few weeks of classes (which i missed.) b/c everyone was discussing something from this one book, and it seemed like people were going into deep discussions which i didn’t know much about (did they cover that much in just 4 weeks?) or are the classes not only for converts but also Catholics (b/c everyone seemed to know everything etc). also i heard something online about sponsors, who are they? i don’t even know anyone at my university parish :confused: also anything else i need to know about RCIA?
 
I suggest you talk to your local RCIA coordinator. Classes at the local level vary from place to place as far as format, what books they might use, etc.
 
I am starting RCIA classes next week. I was baptized Catholic and received the Sacraments up to but not including Confirmation. So you are correct, there could be some Catholics in your RCIA classes.

I fell away from the Church for years and feel a strong calling to return. Going to Mass is fulfilling that to a certain degree but I feel like I really need to commit and say Yes, this is where I want/need to be so RCIA fills that need.

Sponsors are kind of like Godparents for adults. They are your guides in this journey of faith you are embarking on. I believe the RCIA director will find you a sponsor if you do not have one (at least that is what mine offered to me). Please talk to the director about any questions or concerns you have - they are there to help you.

I say just go into RCIA with and open heart and a thirst to know more about the Catholic Church. I am very excited to start my journey next Wednesday!

Good luck and feel free to PM if you have any quesitons or just need to talk to a fellow RCIA student.
 
RCIA classes vary widely from parish to parish. I imagine there are materials available that may be used by many classes, but certainly nothing uniform. Mine used the Bible and a basic little book written by a Franciscan, and also we were given a Catechism to read on our own if we so desired. Mostly though material was presented verbally by the priest and other instructors.

Like someone else said I would ask the instructor(s) what you missed.

There were some Catholics who had not been confirmed in my RCIA class too, and actually one who had been confirmed but who was so badly uneducated in his faith (he had grown up in rural Columbia I think, and had received basically no catechesis) that he was welcomed to participate in the classes. It is my understanding that RCIA was originally envisioned as being for non-Christian/entirely unchurched people who are converting, but the fact is that in most places there are few if any of these in any given year and it is more efficient to combine everyone who needs adult formation into one group and just call it RCIA. Also, if these people were highly knowledgeable it seems more likely to me that they were Protestants converting to Catholicism rather than Catholics who have not been practicing their faith as teenagers/adults.
 
You will catch up as quickly as you would like to.

Being part of a good RCIA process entails developing some relationships with the candidates and the RCIA team and pastor. A big part of RCIA is Christian witness. Learning together, eating together, talking to one another, helping with various things together. Jump in and offer to help. Don’t worry if you don’t know what to do or say, just be there. You have as much to offer as do the catechists and team members. Everyone grows together. RCIA is an opportunity to learn a tremendous amount together about the faith, and to become part of the Catholic community.
 
I just joined this forum, and I could have asked this same question. I just started an adult confirmation class 3 weeks late. They are using a book called, US Catholic Catechism for Adults, which I assume is an expanded? version of a book I have called Catechism of the Catholic Church (more of a reference book). You can find both online.
 
Casilda said:
I just joined this forum, and I could have asked this same question. I just started an adult confirmation class 3 weeks late. They are using a book called, US Catholic Catechism for Adults, which I assume is an expanded? version of a book I have called Catechism of the Catholic Church (more of a reference book). You can find both online.
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Casilda,

The US Catholic Catechism for Adults is supposed to be a more “user friendly” catechism. It is definitely **not **an *expanded *version of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, to me it is a much watered-down version of the original. OK for beginners, I guess, but I don’t like the way the editors did their work.

I have the CCC, the USCCA, and the Compendium and hands-down prefer the CCC.
 
Blessed be God!

I have had a few experiences with RCIA, the first time going through it and the second helping to teach it. The first few weeks of RCIA are hardly '‘tough’ where you are required to learn something (a criticism of the whole RCIA process in my opinion). Of course it varies from place to place, but there will likely be some sort of ‘faith journey’ discussion and some introduction to what being a Catholic means. The later point will probably be reduced to ‘a personal relationship with Jesus’. You are often better doing your own study with your own books and internet searches alongside the RCIA ‘classes’.
 
stuart12 said:
Blessed be God!

I have had a few experiences with RCIA, the first time going through it and the second helping to teach it. The first few weeks of RCIA are hardly '‘tough’ where you are required to learn something (a criticism of the whole RCIA process in my opinion). Of course it varies from place to place, but there will likely be some sort of ‘faith journey’ discussion and some introduction to what being a Catholic means. The later point will probably be reduced to ‘a personal relationship with Jesus’. You are often better doing your own study with your own books and internet searches alongside the RCIA ‘classes’.
Click to expand...
Yes, I have been studying on my own since I bought the catechism book back in 1995. Its just that I have never been ‘officially’ confirmed. I have to go through this ‘formality’. I have several Catholic friends who have helped me on my journey back home.
 
thatdude said:
okay, so i come from a Hindu family, and i’m 19 and in college. yesterday i went to RCIA for the first time (barely know about Catholicism etc) and i started the classes 4 weeks late. i was wondering what usually happens in the first few weeks of classes (which i missed.) b/c everyone was discussing something from this one book, and it seemed like people were going into deep discussions which i didn’t know much about (did they cover that much in just 4 weeks?) or are the classes not only for converts but also Catholics (b/c everyone seemed to know everything etc). also i heard something online about sponsors, who are they? i don’t even know anyone at my university parish :confused: also anything else i need to know about RCIA?
Click to expand...
Hi there. I went through Rcia last year. I remember the first week all we really did was introductions and why we are going through Rcia. We read some Bible verses and talked about them. I don’t remember if that was also the first week or the next week. We talked about The Bible. The difference between the New and Old Testament. How Abraham is the Father of our faith and how he was so different because he believed that there is only one God, which was very unusual at the time. It was all very basic the first couple weeks. Even arguably, the whole process can be a little too basic for someone who already knows the faith well. So if it is too “elementary” continue learning on your own too. If you know very little about the Christianity, Rcia is a good basic introduction.

Ask questions! Don’t be afraid to. If you don’t want to ask a specific question in front of everyone else, wait until after the class and pull one of the teachers aside. Learn up on Christianity on your own too. Go to Mass even though technically, you are still not obligated to. Pray a lot. It has been said (seems true too) that a lot of people get spiritually attacked while going through RCIA because the devil does not want anyone getting Baptized and entering The Church. Don’t be afraid though.

As for a “Sponsor” This is a tradition that originally began for safety reasons, back in the old days, if my understanding is correct. The Church was being persecuted heavily and a sponsor kind of “vouched” for you that you were serious about becoming a Christian and not just a spy or something. who is pretending to want to become a Christian, to really hurt The Church. If you don’t know any practicing Catholics who can be your sponsor, tell your RCIA teacher and they will get you one. I had to do that. God bless on your journey!
 
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