RCIA, can it be done quickly?

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Forgive me if this is the wrong forum.

I will be back in the States for a couple months and was wondering, is there any way to get a “quick” version of a RCIA? I live in Finland but don’t speak Finnish so I have no idea about classes here.

I’m in Protestant country over here so not alot of info lol. 🙂 How long did your RCIA class take?

Thanks!

Kat
 
katpants said:
Forgive me if this is the wrong forum.

I will be back in the States for a couple months and was wondering, is there any way to get a “quick” version of a RCIA? I live in Finland but don’t speak Finnish so I have no idea about classes here.

I’m in Protestant country over here so not alot of info lol. 🙂 How long did your RCIA class take?

Thanks!

Kat
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For me, now, good things take time. I had been used to Evangelical instant, just say this prayer, and my coffee was instant too. The shortest I saw was a 1 week commitment. Christian today, gone by next week.

RCIA for me was also initially questioned by me as to why it took so long, but during that time I was able to deepen my prayer, deepen my understanding of faith, and deepen my commitment to what I had been drawn to do. In short looking back I would not have made it shorter, and every moment was more learning for me. Catholic as of Easter 2014.
 
katpants said:
Forgive me if this is the wrong forum.

I will be back in the States for a couple months and was wondering, is there any way to get a “quick” version of a RCIA? I live in Finland but don’t speak Finnish so I have no idea about classes here.

I’m in Protestant country over here so not alot of info lol. 🙂 How long did your RCIA class take?

Thanks!

Kat
Click to expand...
In general it usually take about from fall to the Easter vigil, but that is in general.
Often times, when one discusses the reasons for a swifter time frame with the priest or the DRE of a parish, it can be more tailed to one’s more unusual circumstances.
When you come back to the states, go talked the priest of the parish you are planning to joined (if only briefly) and lay out your circumstances.

God’s blessings!
 
I would suggest that you contact a parish in the area you will be staying and see if there is anything that can be worked out. In addition, if there is a US military post near you in Finland you mar be able to do it there. And, lastly, when we visited Finland we had no trouble communicating as virtually everyone spoke English. So perhaps you could find a Church near you that would be helpful in this process.
 
Marie5890 said:
In general it usually take about from fall to the Easter vigil, but that is in general.
Often times, when one discusses the reasons for a swifter time frame with the priest or the DRE of a parish, it can be more tailed to one’s more unusual circumstances.
When you come back to the states, go talked the priest of the parish you are planning to joined (if only briefly) and lay out your circumstances.

God’s blessings!
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This!

If you demonstrate knowledge and belief, RCIA can be moved up.
I’m not a fan of parish hopping but if you and the DRE don’t see eye to eye (and you’ve demonstrated that you know the basics), try another parish.
 
Yes, for the right reasons and in the correct circumstances, it can be done more quickly. However, it can take just as long to find someone to make that happen if you are going on a blind search. Would help if you had someone who was close to Catholic life where you are going to be located to give you advise as to which parishes, priests, or religious communities may be most likely to help.
 
Its all about the effectiveness and personal readiness/acceptance of catechesis, and not length.

I know 3 people in our parish who had very different lengths of involvement in RCIA catechesis.

One attended two complete years, holding up not because of lack of knowledge of church teachings, but she was still not spiritually certain that she should give up her strong and devout Protestant tradition.

One started 3 times, and I remember on his third attempt, he felt ready…Up to that point, he would always say, “I don’t get it!” Fortunately, the Holy Spirit finally gave him the understanding he needed.

An one, walked into our RCIA the week following Thanksgiving, and was confirmed and received the Eucharist the last Saturday before Lent (less than 3 months).

All three are very active in Parish Life, and two of them on the RCIA team.
 
Thanks very much all for the help! It’s good to know for the future too. I don’t think I’m particularly ready for it at this point but if I’m home and the spirit moves me, I can do it. If I’m supposed to do it in Finland (I don’t have a car and am uber isolated) I know the opportunity will open up.

I appreciate this, thanks! 🙂

Kat
 
Your best bet is to find a priest to teach you one on one. He can discern where you’re at, and what you need to learn.
As Neo said…it’s not about the length of time…however, there IS a lot to cover…
Personal instruction from a priest who is willing would be a great option for you. I hope it works out!
 
The best way to learn the Catholic faith, although perhaps not the fastest, is to read and study the “Catechism of the Catholic Church”, or the “Compendium of the Catechism”, in question and answer format. Both are available free online.

It may be possible for you to eventually join the Church in quicker order if you can demonstrate that you are already familiar with the Catholic faith.
 
katpants said:
Forgive me if this is the wrong forum.

I will be back in the States for a couple months and was wondering, is there any way to get a “quick” version of a RCIA? I live in Finland but don’t speak Finnish so I have no idea about classes here.

I’m in Protestant country over here so not alot of info lol. 🙂 How long did your RCIA class take?

Thanks!

Kat
Click to expand...
Done correctly, it takes as long as it takes. It’s a conversion after all.

A baptized non-Catholic should be received into full communion as soon as he/she is ready. For some already well catechised individuals, that could be 6 weeks.

Someone asking for Baptism should spend at least a full year as a catechumen before being baptized. But not everyone is ready in a year; some take much longer. Nobody should start inquiry in the fall and know that they will be baptized at Easter. Sadly, that’s the norm in too many parishes.

I know of a parish where a refugee of the Yugoslavian wars wanted to become Catholic. She was not baptized until she was able to offer the Sign of Peace to a fellow parishioner who was of the ethnicity that had been on the opposite side during that conflict. Until she could do that she was deemed not ready.
 
Not all RCIA programs are the same length. The one I took part in was 8 months, I know of another program in a different diocese that takes two years! But I had an unusual circumstance and I did the 8 month program in 4, by going to the weekly sessions with the rest of my class and also taking private classes with a lady in the parish who agreed to help, and I also met with the priest a few times to make sure everything was going smoothly.

I’d encourage you to contact a priest in the parish in the USA you will be going to and explain your situation. You can start studying now, start a regular prayer life now if you haven’t. The priest may give you some suggested reading and then when you are back in the states maybe you can have some private sessions with him or someone in the parish. I don’t see why you couldn’t do that.
 
katpants said:
Thanks! I am just going to study more and take my time. 🙂

Kat
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That’s the best course to take, but it can be a difficult thing to do!

I started RCIA in December of last year (2013). Even though I’d previously done a lot of reading, research and study on the CC and did well in the classes, I was not confirmed last Easter. I looked at the timing of things recently. By starting in December it meant I’d missed 12 or 13 weeks of classes at that point, so I think I was just not in RCIA “long enough” for my parish to feel comfortable confirming me last Easter.

At first it was a disappointment but after attending a weekend retreat last March I realized everything was OK and I stopped worrying about the timetable. I plan to stay with the RCIA team after confirmation BTW!

The only thing I really am anxious to do NOW is the Eucharist! But that too is coming and will be here before I know it.

So, hang in there! 👍
 
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