RCIA Class Size?

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adawgj

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In RCIA at your parish is the class big or small? What’s it like in RCIA, and can Catholics attend RCIA to learn more or help others learn about the faith?
 
For us it depends on the year and who has shown interest in coming into communion with the Church.

We have not had a RCIA class in about 3 years.
Any member of the parish is welcome to be part of the group if they so chose. Though I have never seen that happen our parish.
 
Ours is pretty big. About 30 or so candidates and catechumens. Parish members are asked to volunteer as sponsors, or Godparents, for us candidates and catechumens. It’s quite a wonderful community.
 
adawgj said:
In RCIA at your parish is the class big or small? What’s it like in RCIA, and can Catholics attend RCIA to learn more or help others learn about the faith?
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That really depends on the parish and the particular group. There are times we’ve had one person and times we’ve had about eight, and everything in between. We’re a small parish so everything is small.

RCIA isn’t really intended as a class for those who are already Catholic; it’s a process for those who are becoming Catholic. Even with that, however, sponsors who come with their candidate or catechumen report learning a lot they didn’t already know.
 
My class last year had only 2 Candidates and 1 Catechumen. We had about 10 volunteers from the parish to serve as sponsors and teachers for the classes.

I guess it all depends on how large your parish is and how big the RCIA program is. At my parish anyways, you can only volunteer as a Leader or Sponsor, and nothing else. I’ve never heard of just anyone going to the RCIA classes to help the others learn, at my parish RCIA is kind of “exclusive” to the candidates and the leaders.
 
It completely depends on the year and parish. When my wife was a catechumen the RCIA class had something like 20 catechumen and 60 (?) candidates [that included those in RCIC and RCIT - they split children and teens into separate groups]. The parish received everyone on Easter vigil and it took a loooooong time. Two years later there were 40 - 50 in RCIA at that parish. In contrast the parish I was received at had no catechumen and between 6 and 10 candidates at any time (varied since it was year round). My wife and I were sponsors last year and we had 3 catechumen and maybe 12 - 15 candidates.

Technically there is no reason why Catholics can’t attend the classes. In some cases I think it would be helpful. Not necessarily to those being received, but to those that received poor catechisis or have forgotten what the Church teaches. That being said I think it would be better for the parish to offer “refresher” catechesis classes.
 
Our class has 4 for conversion and 4 or 5 Catholics just in there to learn more about their faith. Personally (and i dont want to sound mean) those in there wanting to learn more are keeping the class sidetracked. we havent completed a lessen plan on time yet. no offense intended to anyone wanting to learn more about their faith.
 
adawgj said:
In RCIA at your parish is the class big or small? What’s it like in RCIA, and can Catholics attend RCIA to learn more or help others learn about the faith?
Click to expand...
My RCIA class is what I would consider small. Maybe about 10 people. Anyone is welcome to attend, including those already Catholic and just want to learn/refresh foundational teachings. In fact, I took my daughter with me last week and she isn’t even really interested. She just wanted to hang out with dad. The priest had no problem with her being there. We also have a young lady who attended last years RCIA, but was unable to complete it, so she is going through the entire thing again this year.
 
We have about 15 to 20 catechumen and candidates. In our parish current Catholics are invited to update and grow in their faith. We have about 10 doing that along with sponsors and volunteers in attendance. Our pastor is generally there as well.
 
Large parish in a major metropolitan Archdiocese. About 10 of us attending since Sept.
 
We only have 3 attending and about 15 members of the parish helping in different capacities. Last year, it was only my wife and I and perhaps a total of 10 members of the parish. I think there are pluses and minuses to a small class but, I think the one on one time is invaluable for formation.
 
I am finally in a class that I feel comfortable with, about 30 people, all ages and needing one or more of the sacraments, mostly adults needing confirmation. One deacon teaching who really knows the faith and how to teach. He keeps us all active participants, reading, answering and asking questions and he challenges us each week. We have a Bible and a CCC. Its a medium parish that is growing.
 
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