RCIA class question

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MotherofMany

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hi!
I have attended the Catholic church for a long time, but i have never officially joined…mainly because it seems like every time i try to go through the classes, some sort of crisis occurs! we are fortunate now because the church here in town is only 2 blocks from us, so there is nothing that can possibly keep me from attending.
i am wondering about something. i was told that there is some sort of retreat during the last couple of months and i am wanting to learn what it is exactly and how long it might be? im sure it could vary from church to church so even just a general idea would be great!
🙂
 
MotherofMany said:
hi!
I have attended the Catholic church for a long time, but i have never officially joined…mainly because it seems like every time i try to go through the classes, some sort of crisis occurs! we are fortunate now because the church here in town is only 2 blocks from us, so there is nothing that can possibly keep me from attending.
i am wondering about something. i was told that there is some sort of retreat during the last couple of months and i am wanting to learn what it is exactly and how long it might be? im sure it could vary from church to church so even just a general idea would be great!
🙂
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welcome home!
this time, if something does come up, illness, job schedule or anything else that interferes be sure to speak with your director so something can be worked out. Also when you go to this new parish, share what you have already experienced in the way of RCIA classes or rites, hopefully you won’t have to go back to square 1.

in this parish we have a retreat either the weekend before, or the morning of the Easter Vigil (Holy Saturday) when you will be received into the Church. If you are already baptized, and will be confirmed at Easter or another time set by the bishop, there will probably be a retreat, usually one day, shortly before hand. This is a time of intense prayer, recollection and spiritual preparation for the sacraments and is a graced moment.
 
ok, thats not too bad then. i am thinking ahead because of all the kids and my husbands job etc etc. this parish is so tiny, i almost wonder if there will be anyone else! 😃
 
your screen name indicates you have a lot of people needing your attention, but bear in mind, if you do not demonstrate to your family that getting right with God, and where he wants you to be, is not a priority for you, then they will have trouble feeling they have permission themselves to give God his due when there are competing claims from family etc. If they see you making Mass attendance, studying the faith, the rites, retreats, and prayer in general a top priority, you give them permission and good example to do the same.
 
My wife and I usually help teach RCIA at our parish, although we took a break last year.

We usually have a very short retreat on a Sunday afternoon not long before Easter for the candidates. (usually like from 1pm to 6pm, with supper at the end.) It’s not a big deal. Just some meditative talks and quiet time. 🙂
 
Our retreat is scheduled 8am - 4pm a speaker is brought in to speak usual related to internal thought and internal searching. We usually schedule this on a Saturday during Lent and away from the church. This year’s retreat was February 20. RCIA team members, sponsors, catechumens, candidates are all strongly encouraged to attend.
 
We never had a retreat. I suspect some RCIA classes don’t.

Welcome home!
 
If you’ve previously had practical problems attending RCIA and these present themselves again, I’m sure you could talk to your priest and work something out. Whilst you do need to go through some sort of preparation to make sure you are properly informed and guided, it is most important to help you act on your desire to join the Church.

Try, of course, to go through RCIA classes as your parish normally does them, but talk it over with your priest if another crisis occurs this time around and see what can be done. I was received into the Church at Easter even though I’m had a serious health crisis a month before and missed some very important RCIA stuff - my priest and I worked it out, and it ended up going (almost!) as planned.
 
thanks for the advice everyone!
can anyone recommend any books or websites or anything that would be useful?
 
Hi MotherofMany! I pray you will be able to find your way home into the Catholic Church very soon!

There is another great forum for people who have questions about the faith and to share their conversion stories, it is through the Coming Home Network: chnetwork.org/forum/

I would recommend listening to EWTN radio/TV if you get it – it is also available online at ewtn.com Especially Catholic Answers Live and The Journey Home Program (convert stories) I would think would be helpful for you. Catholic Answers also archives all their programs, so you can listen to them through their website as well at www.catholic.com

Any books by Scott Hahn are great for learning about the faith, and he also has online bible study courses at www.salvationhistory.com
 
I was confirmed in February (previously ELCA Lutheran). We didn’t have any retreat here.

As far as resources, I really recommend reading the Catechism of the Catholic Church - the white universal catechism. (FWIW - I wrote some things on resources here).

I am really inspired by convert stories so I made a simple database of them. They are at:

convertjournal.com/p/convert-stories.html

Two are of ex-Lutheran pastors, BTW.
 
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