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Glorfindel
Guest
OK, this is interesting, given that I will start Sunday, where should that “throw” me in terms of a proper Liturgical Year?
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jfoges
Guest
I don’t think the RCIA period of formation is a “trial period”. No one is trying to find out if you are good enough to be a Catholic. It is just an appriopriate length of time for you to figure out if its right for you.
M
Mrs_Mac
Guest
I am a former Episcopalian received into full communion with the Church at Easter vigil 2007. This was my experience.
In early 2007 I approached my pastor about becoming Catholic. A meeting was scheduled at the rectory with the director of RCIA. When she learned that I had been baptized and confirmed as an Episcopalian, and that I had been attending Mass regularly for 4 years, she put me in an “accelerated” program. Basically I met on a one-to-one basis with a catechist for about 6 sessions to discuss the doctrinal differences between Anglicanism and Catholicism (Eucharist, the Mass, Marian doctrines, etc.)
Following my first Reconciliation, I was received into full Communion by profession of faith at the Easter vigil mass
along with the catechumens and candidates who had gone through the full RCIA program.
I was very happy that my parish had an individualized and discreet path that was sensitive to my needs.
In early 2007 I approached my pastor about becoming Catholic. A meeting was scheduled at the rectory with the director of RCIA. When she learned that I had been baptized and confirmed as an Episcopalian, and that I had been attending Mass regularly for 4 years, she put me in an “accelerated” program. Basically I met on a one-to-one basis with a catechist for about 6 sessions to discuss the doctrinal differences between Anglicanism and Catholicism (Eucharist, the Mass, Marian doctrines, etc.)
Following my first Reconciliation, I was received into full Communion by profession of faith at the Easter vigil mass
along with the catechumens and candidates who had gone through the full RCIA program.
I was very happy that my parish had an individualized and discreet path that was sensitive to my needs.
P
Phemie
Guest
That is what the process should be like for the well-catechized baptized and you were lucky that the parish functioned that way.
For a the non-catechized baptized the process would take longer because there is much to absorb.
For the non-baptized it should be at least a year in the catechumenate.
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Phemie
Guest
The liturgical year starts with the First Sunday of Advent. If you are a catechumen (not baptized) and starting this Sunday, ideally you wouldn’t be baptized until Easter 2010. Odd are good though that in the average parish you would be baptized next Easter ('09). But the catechumen should enter the catechumenate with no ‘graduation date’ in mind.
If you are baptized, you “could” be received into full Communion before Christmas but it depends on your level of catechesis and how your parish deals with the baptized.
We just received someone into full communion on Sept. 7. An Anglican by baptism, she’d been attending Mass with her husband for several years. She’d been preparing for about 3 1/2 months.
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jmcrae
Guest
In my case, it took about 17 years. (I came in by myself from a very strong Protestant family that was very involved in the United Church of Canada.)OK, I have seen numbers going from about a year, to a year or more, to the very vague “it depends”, just from those who have done it from “Canterbury”, how long does it take to make Catholics out of us?
The RCIA process itself comes in two flavours: the “year round” liturgical version which is designed for a process of about two years in total, and assumes that you will learn what you need to know by participating at Mass, other liturgies, and in community events at your parish (although there is also a certain amount of lecture-style catechesis, as well), and the “school” version which assumes you can go from finding out “What is Faith?” on September 15th, to making your Profession of Faith by Easter, in a series of weekly two-hour lectures. (This model assumes that you are attending Mass every Sunday either on your own or with your sponsor.)
The strength of the year-round version is that it makes sure you go to Mass every Sunday and that you are participating in your parish community. It also provides you with lots of opportunities to socialize with others - not only the members of your own RCIA group, but also the many guests who come to your meetings and share with you in an informal manner the things that are closest to their hearts, with regard to their Catholic faith. Those who go through this process may not know very much about Doctrine at the end, but they will know how to go to Mass, and how to participate actively in their parish community.
The strengths of the school version are that it’s (relatively) quick, it’s very structured, and it gives you at least a taste of every Doctrine of the Church that is required for belief. Those who go through this process will have a strong grasp of Doctrine at the end of it, but may or may not know how to go to Mass, and may or may not have developed the social skills they need to participate fully in their parish community, depending on how good their sponsor is at including them in things and making sure they get to Mass on Sundays.
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puzzleannie
Guest
it takes as long as it takes
some people may be ready in a year, some may need 20 years
very individual
however the Rites clearly intend that the process, after an intial period of pre-evangelization or inquiry, take at least one calendar year, from right after Easter through Lent to Easter of the following year. People being what they are, and the monumental difficulty in the average parish of keeping everyone together in class through the summer, reality is more of a school year program.
Those who quit after Easter and do not continue for mystagogy are like the orthodontics patient who gets her braces off but refuses to wear her retainer–teeth will be crooked 5 yrs later, and they are apt to have fallen away from the faith 5 yrs later.
some people may be ready in a year, some may need 20 years
very individual
however the Rites clearly intend that the process, after an intial period of pre-evangelization or inquiry, take at least one calendar year, from right after Easter through Lent to Easter of the following year. People being what they are, and the monumental difficulty in the average parish of keeping everyone together in class through the summer, reality is more of a school year program.
Those who quit after Easter and do not continue for mystagogy are like the orthodontics patient who gets her braces off but refuses to wear her retainer–teeth will be crooked 5 yrs later, and they are apt to have fallen away from the faith 5 yrs later.
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Glorfindel
Guest
LOL! love the retainer illustration!
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VivienneJ
Guest
As a former Anglican who was received into the Catholic Church in November last year, Glorfindel, I can tell you that waiting to receive the Eucharist was one of the best parts of being in RCIA. I don’t mean to trivialise the Eucharist, but the excited anticipation was like waiting for a special treat, or a birthday.We travel a lot…if I am gone at some point while in RCIA and play catch-up when I get back, is a year still possible? The reason it is important is the idea of a whole year without the Holy Communion, seems a VERY long time!
Someone suggested speaking to your priest about your time frame, do that.
All the best as you follow through on your decision.
M
marybethf
Guest
I have read the responses and understand that the length of time for this process varies. However, I have some concerns that I am not sure if anyone can assist me with. My fiancee and I are engaged to be married on May 15th, 2010. We are being married in a Catholic church and they are aware that I am not Catholic so it is not necessary that I convert in order to marry there. My fiancee is not a practicing Catholic. I start my RCIA classes tonight actually. I am just wondering if anyone thinks that I could be done in time for our wedding? I am also wondering if the classes are generally every week for the entire peroiod? I realize that this isn’t important when compared but I work 2 jobs at 65 hours per week and really am scared that I am not going to be able to guarantee to make each and every class. The second job is part-time and if I ask for a particular day off weekly, I know it will hinder their scheduling and I will lose the job. I am wondering what happens when you miss a week? Are these things you can learn on your own? What happens? This is clearly a source of stress for me and I am hoping someone can assist me with answers.
Thank you very much for your time.
Thank you very much for your time.
J
jmcrae
Guest
Assuming you don’t run into any show-stopping issues, you will be “finished” RCIA by Pentecost Sunday. Assuming all goes well, you will receive your Sacraments of Initiation on the Easter Vigil.
Typically, it’s organized on an “Adult Education” model, which means that the class is once a week on a weekday evening except for regular holidays.
If it’s organized on a “Church” model, then the classes will be held every Sunday and Holy Day. This is relatively rare, though.
One or two missed classes would not be a problem, but if you were away all the time, the coordinators would wonder how serious you are about becoming a Catholic.
Some things are (fact based material) and some things aren’t (relationship- building between you and the other members of your group, your sponsors, your priest, and so on).
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Br.Rich_SFO
Guest
The important discussion takes place between you and your Sponsor between the RCIA sessions. The relationship between you and your Sponsor is the important one especially when you must miss sessions. Not knowing your background It’s hard to judge. A person who has already been Baptized, and may have bee participating in Catholic life to the extent possible. Could participate in a 6 week Inquiry period while paperwork and Baptism and Marriage status is look into, and then a 6 to 8 week Catechesis before being received. So 3-4 months would be the fast track. You have 6 1/2 months, it could be possible if you have done some study yourself and have been essentially living the Catholic life, and have a good solid Sponsor to work with.
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Texas_Roofer
Guest
Most programs are fairly flexable so consider asking the RCIA director ( or Priest if turned down) to let you write a couple of paragraphs each week you miss class on the scheduled topic. This shows intent and education, often priests will accept this as substitue classes.
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