Questions about RCIA

[Matthew125]

I have just felt a bit strange about the whole thing given their delay in contacting me back. I thought maybe they weren’t interested, or had too many people already. I honestly felt a little bit brushed off.

I wouldn’t feel that way or take it personally. Parishes are busy places and priests are very busy men. In my parish we have a lay Coordinators for Adult Faith Formation and RCIA who manage these programs day-to-day. That is why I suggested that as an option.

Matt

 

[Carolyn_Lee]

Hi. I am new to this forum and my name is Carolyn Lee. I am thinking of joining the Catholic Church. My question is about my first confession. I am 69 years old and not sure how much time I should take in making my confession and at what level of detail it needs to be done. 69 years is a lot of time and, thinking about it, I feel that I have a lot to confess.

Thanks,

Carolyn Lee

 

[Magdalen2013]

Hi. I am new to this forum and my name is Carolyn Lee. I am thinking of joining the Catholic Church. My question is about my first confession. I am 69 years old and not sure how much time I should take in making my confession and at what level of detail it needs to be done. 69 years is a lot of time and, thinking about it, I feel that I have a lot to confess.

Don’t worry about Confession – first things first: Have you ever been baptized? If you haven’t and you want to join the Church, you’ll have to go through the Rites of Christian Initiation. If you haven’t been baptized, you won’t need to confess, as baptism removes all sins.

 

[maryjk]

Hi. I am new to this forum and my name is Carolyn Lee. I am thinking of joining the Catholic Church. My question is about my first confession. I am 69 years old and not sure how much time I should take in making my confession and at what level of detail it needs to be done. 69 years is a lot of time and, thinking about it, I feel that I have a lot to confess.

Thanks,

Carolyn Lee

This is something that is best addressed by your pastor or your confessor.

 

[Horton]

Hi. I am new to this forum and my name is Carolyn Lee. I am thinking of joining the Catholic Church. My question is about my first confession. I am 69 years old and not sure how much time I should take in making my confession and at what level of detail it needs to be done. 69 years is a lot of time and, thinking about it, I feel that I have a lot to confess.

Thanks,

Carolyn Lee

Don’t worry about Confession – first things first: Have you ever been baptized? If you haven’t and you want to join the Church, you’ll have to go through the Rites of Christian Initiation. If you haven’t been baptized, you won’t need to confess, as baptism removes all sins.

A slightly better question is if one has a valid baptism. Not all baptisms are valid. The RCIA director in the parish you wish to attend RCIA will be able to tell you if you have a valid baptism. If you do, then yes 69 years of confession however, the priest will help you through it. If you do not have a valid baptism, then no confession is needed as baptism in the Catholic Church will remove all prior sins.

 

[Carolyn_Lee]

This is Carolyn Lee again. I was told to track down my baptism and the Congregational Church organization in Oakland California is attempting to help me as the particular church appears to have closed. What happens if I cannot establish that I have been baptized, although I had been told I was. We were not active after I was a little girl.

The priest up here in Astoria Oregon is to be announced.

 

[Horton]

If your baptismal documents can’t be found the priest may do what’s called a conditional baptism. This is a baptism that acknowledges there may be a prior baptism but it cannot be verified. I may be wrong but I believe you would not have to go to confession until after you are brought into the Church. In other words, that baptism removes all sin to prior to that baptism.

Welcome home

 

[Andreas_Hofer]

A clarification:
Everyone who is not yet Catholic must undergo RCIA in order to become Catholic. That’s because the acronym stands for the *Rite *of Christian Initiation of Adults. In other words, the RCIA is the bundle of *liturgical *actions by which we turn adult non-Catholics into Catholics. There’s no getting around it, even if due to exigent circumstances one winds up using an abbreviated form of the rite(s).

In the case of someone who is already baptized, there are several rites that could be performed before one is finally received into the Church, but the only one necessary is the “Rite of Reception” wherein one professes the Catholic faith and (ordinarily) receives Confirmation and Eucharist.

Suitable instruction in the faith is certainly required, but the RCIA does not dictate any one form of instruction or timeline for its completion (beyond the extent to which particular - i.e. local - law might impose these). Thus while the OP unequivocally needs to participate in RCIA in order to become Catholic, the type and extent of group coursework needed before the ritual reception may be determined by the prudence of those overseeing formation in the parish.

 

[steve_b]

Hi, I am new to this forum, so I hope I am putting this in the right place.

:tiphat: welcome to the forum
S:

Basically, the parishes in my area are next to impossible to get in contact with. I found a church that is near me, which I would like to start attending. The reason I have held off is because I am not a Catholic yet. I know that is not a great reason, but I feel I should at least be embarking on that voyage before I become a regular there.

Go to that parish office. Inquire there about your desire.

Prayers ascending for your journey
S:

Anyway, I am confused if I actually need RCIA or not. I have talked to a friend who says that all I probably need is first communion and confirmation.

For a non Catholic, those sacraments still require instruction and being received into the Church first, THEN those sacraments are received. Your friend missed one very important post baptism sacrament. I assume you’ve been validly baptized? Before receiving any other sacrament, the sacrament of reconciliation is required first.

That sacrament requires one is 1st already a Catholic. catholic.com/quickquestions/as-a-protestant-who-wishes-to-stay-focused-on-the-lord-may-i-confess-my-sins-to-a-pri
S:

I have been basically reading my way into the ways of the Church for almost a year now. I feel like RCIA is focused on convincing people that Catholicism is the truth, whereas I have already crossed that bridge!

That’s great!
S:

I feel that I already know most of what these classes will probably cover. What do the rest of you know about this?

Here’s some general, often asked questions and answered.

Am I a Catholic if I received private instruction instead of going through RCIA?

Must I go through RCIA to join the Church if I am already baptized?

How to Become a Catholic

**the following is only If you’re married, and if this applies

Can someone who wants to become a Catholic join the Church even though his invalid marriage causes an impediment to receiving Holy Communion?**

Can we have our marriage convalidated immediately?
S:

I would ask my local priest about this, if he were easier to get ahold of. I am at college and at work in the day time, and I study nights and weekends. RCIA is on a Tuesday PM at 7. This will not fit my schedule anyway. I am not opposed to RCIA, if it would fit my busy schedule…

What do I do?

See if private instruction is possible for you at that parish

 

[steve_b]

Don’t worry about Confession – first things first: Have you ever been baptized? If you haven’t and you want to join the Church, you’ll have to go through the Rites of Christian Initiation. If you haven’t been baptized, you won’t need to confess, as baptism removes all sins.

For clarification with a new person to the Catholic faith in mind, if one is receiving baptism for the first time, yes that removes all past sins, but not future sins post baptism. THEN the sacrament of reconciliation, is there to return one’s soul to that sanctifying grace they received at their baptism.

 

[steve_b]

Hi. I am new to this forum and my name is Carolyn Lee. I am thinking of joining the Catholic Church.

Welcome to the forum :tiphat:
Prayers ascending for your journey into the Catholic Church
C:

My question is about my first confession. I am 69 years old and not sure how much time I should take in making my confession and at what level of detail it needs to be done. 69 years is a lot of time and, thinking about it, I feel that I have a lot to confess.

Thanks,

One’s first confession, usually comes after one’s instruction in the faith has taken place and just prior to being received into the Church.

Having said that, a good examination of conscience is what you’re referring to

Examination of Conscience

Examining Your Conscience (radio show)

Common Catholic Prayers