Questions re. RCIA / Need Advice re. RCIA / Probable Opposition from Family

[suzee]

Re: RCIA, joining the Church, relatives: Good thing you’re taking this seriously–and you will be guided as to what to do. I can say this from experience. I married a Catholic when I was 20 and very Protestant! I came from a family of staunch Protestants (Baptists, Church of Christ) and never considered joining the Catholic church until many years later, after really studying what Catholics BELIEVE (not what Protestants believe about Catholics! ) and at the age of 53, I went through RCIA. I thought perhaps this final step would finally convince me that the Protestants were right–I was sure that in RCIA I would find many things I disagreed with–things which conflicted with my own Protestant faith; however, I found that not only were the teachings of the Catholic church absolutely Biblical, there was nothing I could find fault with, so I happily was confirmed into the Catholic Church at the ripe old age of 53! (Oh, there were other people who were joining in their 60s, 70s and 80s, so I wasn’t even OLD! LOL!)

I finally have the peace I always sought, and I’m in a church family I truly love. I know the Catholic Church teaches the truth–the eucharist IS Christ, which comforts me greatly. If you could only get one of your relatives to go to RCIA WITH you–(tell them you’d love for them to come with you to tell you what is wrong with the teaching there–they’ll get converted too! )

As one of the previous posters told you, your RCIA staff will find you a sponsor who will be a friend and mentor by the end of your journey–my husband and I have sponsored RCIA candidates/catechumens for four years now and we really enjoy it. Seeing people come into the fold, the original fold, established by our Lord Jesus, is wonderful.

Keep us informed and may God bless you as you decide what to do. I had to pray for years–hopefully, it won’t take you quite as long!

Blessings,

suzee

 

[Disciple96]

Hi,

I’ve been a de facto Catholic for some years now.
Recently, I have been going to Eucharistic Adoration on Fridays and I’m hoping this week to start going to 1pm Mass each day.

After having actually been in a few Catholic Churches recently for services, I feel more and more compelled to actually convert formally.

If I am correct, RCIA is from September - Easter.
The thing is, my parents are very strong Protestants and so is the rest of my family. Although no-one is in any way anti-Catholic vis-a-vis Catholics, they basically do not believe the Catholic Church is very good and in accordance with what Christ wills.

I can go to Mass each day during the week and Adoration on Fridays because there is a Church near where I work and my parents therefore do not know.

So, I’m quite fearful what to expect if I started RCIA and told them I was converting? Does anyone have any advice / experience of family opposition?

The Church I have been going to is about 20 miles from home. It’s convenient because it is near work. They run an RCIA Class. Could I go to this RCIA class or do I need to go to an RCIA class in the Church nearest where I live?

I have heard something about you needing a sponsor for RCIA? I don’t actually known any Catholics!

Greetings, European, glad to meet you!

First, let me say how glad I am that you are hearing and answering the call of the Lord to come home to the Church! I’m a convert myself and there are no other Catholics in any of the branches of my family. None of the others have followed me into the Church and I doubt that any of them will, though, of course, I would love for them to and pray for their conversions every day. But God will call them in His own way in His own good time.

Please do not allow anyone to become an obstacle to you. You are ultimately answerable only to the Lord. Period. But pray for your friends and family, just don’t let them stop you.

Choose the RCIA class where the instructors are faithful and the teaching is authentic Catholic teaching.

Most parishes will find a sponsor for you if you don’t have one already. Just let the instructor know. (They’ll probably ask you because you do have to have one by the time you are going to be received formally into full communion.)

I’ll keep you in my prayers. May God bless you on your journey. Oh, and if you can, watch or listen to the episodes of Marcus Grodi’s The Journey Home on EWTN. Very helpful interviews with converts on that show. You’ll learn a lot and will discover how many people have made the journey and faced situations similar to yours and how they dealt with it. And how the Lord blessed them through it all.

Peace be with you, European. Welcome home!

 

[lesliejean]

I am wondering if the online RCIA course would be suitable for me? I went through RCIA in 1999, and it was very poorly organized and didn’t teach enough about what it really means to be a Catholic, and ‘how’ to be a Catholic.
I had enquired about joining the RCIA program again this year, since I feel that I am lacking in so many areas, but the pastor said, according to the secretary, ‘that’s not what RCIA is for’.
I had drifted away from the Catholic Church for a while about a year after my confirmation, and do not feel secure in my knowledge. I am still trying to learn the Confiteor. I was ‘called back’ to church about a year ago, and still want to know what I am doing.
What other opportunities are there for those of us in my position?
Thanks for any help!
Leslie

 

[jmcrae]

Hi,

I’ve been a de facto Catholic for some years now.
Recently, I have been going to Eucharistic Adoration on Fridays and I’m hoping this week to start going to 1pm Mass each day.

After having actually been in a few Catholic Churches recently for services, I feel more and more compelled to actually convert formally.

If I am correct, RCIA is from September - Easter.

This is quite typical, yes. There are (or should) also be year-round RCIAs that you can join at any time. Start times for the Period of Catechesis would be set, but you could join the Inquiry period as soon as you wanted to, and then just stay in it until the next start of a Catechesis period - or until you were ready.

The thing is, my parents are very strong Protestants and so is the rest of my family. Although no-one is in any way anti-Catholic vis-a-vis Catholics, they basically do not believe the Catholic Church is very good and in accordance with what Christ wills.

If you convert, it would only be fair to tell them, rather than have them find out by accident. It’s not like you can live the Catholic life in secret - you have to go to Mass on Sundays, there are days of fasting and abstinence, and they will probably notice and wonder about your prayer corner. Even if you are away from home, they will notice things when they come to visit you.

So, I’m quite fearful what to expect if I started RCIA and told them I was converting? Does anyone have any advice / experience of family opposition?

My family was surprised to be told, but they enjoyed being part of the journey - they did not convert, but they now think that they are “experts” on Catholicism, which makes them feel good.

The Church I have been going to is about 20 miles from home. It’s convenient because it is near work. They run an RCIA Class. Could I go to this RCIA class or do I need to go to an RCIA class in the Church nearest where I live?

Pick whichever one will be easiest to get to if your car breaks down, or if there is a blizzard.

I have heard something about you needing a sponsor for RCIA? I don’t actually known any Catholics!

Simply mention this to the RCIA coordinator, and they will help you find someone from the parish to do this for you.

 

[Disciple96]

I am wondering if the online RCIA course would be suitable for me? I went through RCIA in 1999, and it was very poorly organized and didn’t teach enough about what it really means to be a Catholic, and ‘how’ to be a Catholic.
I had enquired about joining the RCIA program again this year, since I feel that I am lacking in so many areas, but the pastor said, according to the secretary, ‘that’s not what RCIA is for’.
I had drifted away from the Catholic Church for a while about a year after my confirmation, and do not feel secure in my knowledge. I am still trying to learn the Confiteor. I was ‘called back’ to church about a year ago, and still want to know what I am doing.
What other opportunities are there for those of us in my position?
Thanks for any help!
Leslie

I haven’t had good experiences with the RCIA but I had a wonderful experience with my instruction class, taught by an older and very faithful Irish priest. Four people in the class, which he called the “Know Your Faith” class so as not to discourage anyone wanting to learn more who was already Catholic. If you don’t have a good solid priest like that where you live or don’t know one and can’t find one, there are tons of free talks on the web to help you know more about Catholicism, the Bible, the Sacraments, etc.

Scott Hahn has great books, CD’s, free online lessons and free MP3’s @ www.salvationhistory.com.
Sonitus Sanctus has loads of free Catholic audio @ catholicaudio.blogspot.com.
EWTN has a lot of resources in their online libraries: audio (search, click the index link, subscribe to podcast on the audio page), documents, multimedia (archived or live streaming), EWTN’s YouTube channel.

There’s so much on the web now, you can explore and learn and ponder and meditate for years and not exhaust it all. Grab a copy of the Catechism, Hahn’s Reasons to Believe, the Imitation of Christ, the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius, your iPod and go on retreat wherever you are. God bless you! Enjoy your journey!

 

[lesliejean]

Thanks so much for your reply, and for all the resources you have referred me to! My Catholic education will not be lacking now.
We only have two priests for a very large parish, which includes 6 ‘mission’ churches, so the priests do not have the time to organize a class for any of us. Apparently, I was not the only Catholic who had requested to go through RCIA again.
I appreciate the time you took to write it all out for me.
Leslie

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

I am wondering if the online RCIA course would be suitable for me? I went through RCIA in 1999, and it was very poorly organized and didn’t teach enough about what it really means to be a Catholic, and ‘how’ to be a Catholic.
I had enquired about joining the RCIA program again this year, since I feel that I am lacking in so many areas, but the pastor said, according to the secretary, ‘that’s not what RCIA is for’.
I had drifted away from the Catholic Church for a while about a year after my confirmation, and do not feel secure in my knowledge. I am still trying to learn the Confiteor. I was ‘called back’ to church about a year ago, and still want to know what I am doing.
What other opportunities are there for those of us in my position?
Thanks for any help!
Leslie

Rather than going through RCIA again, why don’t you consider volunteering to be a sponsor for someone in RCIA now? Attending the sessions with your candidate or catechumen would be a good way to review what’s being taught and go over everything again. Plus you’d be helping someone else come into the Church.

 

[lesliejean]

What a wonderful idea!! Thank you. I will call the church and let it be known that I am available for such a role.
Leslie

 

[Disciple96]

Thanks so much for your reply, and for all the resources you have referred me to! My Catholic education will not be lacking now.
We only have two priests for a very large parish, which includes 6 ‘mission’ churches, so the priests do not have the time to organize a class for any of us. Apparently, I was not the only Catholic who had requested to go through RCIA again.
I appreciate the time you took to write it all out for me.
Leslie

You’re welcome! I love to share what I can about our beautiful Church whenever I can! You can take the girl outta the Catholic bookstore, but you can’t take the Catholic bookstore outta the girl, apparently. I miss that store!