RCIA & Confirmation

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Marie85

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I was baptized Catholic and received my First Communion, I was raised Catholic up until I was about 13 and my family stopped attending Mass so I didn’t receive my Confirmation. I went back to the Church as an adult and now I’m taking steps to recieve my Confirmation. I am placed in the RCIA class, is that typical for all parishes?
Also, will I go through the Rite of Acceptance? I thought I was already accepted into the Church at my Baptism?
My entire life I have felt Catholic, but that I just needed my Confirmation, but now I feel like I’m having to start over. Anyone else who has been in my position? In the eyes of the Church, am I not truly a Catholic yet?
 
You’re right to feel something a bit out of place.

I think you should be in Confirmation Sacrament prep classes, not RCIA … maybe called Confirmation for Adults in your parish bulletin.

Yeah, no need to reinvent the wheel, but is good to sharpen the pencil to review and prep for Confirmation.

Congratulations and welcome back, by the way =)
 
Marie85 said:
I am placed in the RCIA class, is that typical for all parishes?
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It is common, but not typical of all parishes.

My old parish had an adult confirmation class with proximate preparation for the sacrament of Confirmation approximately 6 weeks prior to adult confirmation with the bishop.

Dioceses and parishes handle it differently. You are a Catholic. You do not go through the rites for candidates for full communion.

I would encourage you to make an appointment with the pastor (not the RCIA director or anyone else) and express to him that you don’t believe RCIA is the right place for you and that you would like to consider another option for preparation for the sacrament of confirmation.
Marie85 said:
In the eyes of the Church, am I not truly a Catholic yet?
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You are 100% Catholic and I am sorry that you are being led to feel you are not.

Remember that in many parishes they do not have adequate staff to run multiple programs so for the catechesis portion you may be included in with RCIA inquirers and candidates. It is not appropriate for you to be “lumped” in to RCIA as if you are not Catholic. You would not participate in rites meant for non-Catholics. Even if you attend the RCIA catechesis lectures, it should always be firmly in the RCIA team’s mind that you ARE a Catholic.

You should be going to confession regularly and receiving the Eucharist at Mass.

Please discuss these concerns with your pastor.
 
Welcome home.

As someone has already said, it varies between parishes and dioceses. I was thrilled when they opened up RCIA to reverts (about 5 years after I reverted) and introduced adult confirmation classes (about 3 or 4 years after I sat awkwardly in the children’s class).

Before I was confirmed, I knew I was Catholic and after time, I realised something was missing, and not just my great ignorance of even the basics. I am not really sure I fully grasped confirmation, but sometimes it is about matching heart, soul and head knowledge and accepting the pace and timing of the Holy Spirit. I want to run fast, but the Holy Spirit knows that this person needs a slow pace and to grow roots.

It is up to you, but you could treat this as a blessing - an opportunity to build upon your first step of baptism and discover more about the faith or simply confirm your understanding and knowledge. I hope it is a blessing for you.
 
You are a true Catholic. Perhaps the parish didn’t know what to do with you, or more likely it just has limited resources and programs.

I was fully confirmed though lapsed when my wife started RCIA, and the director invited spouses, even Catholic spouses, to join for the Catechesis parts of the course. I took him up on that offer and went through parts of the program. I found it very helpful. Even not necessarily in learning new things, but in refreshing my education and in engaging the faith. I say this in the hopes that it gives you a brighter outlook on the program.
 
Marie85 said:
I am placed in the RCIA class, is that typical for all parishes?

Also, will I go through the Rite of Acceptance? I thought I was already accepted into the Church at my Baptism?
Click to expand...
Many parishes use RCIA to prepare adult confirmation candidates. In my opinion it is not ideal – there should be separate classes to prepare adults, either in the parish or in the diocese. But parishes don’t necessarily have the human resources to offer separate adult confirmation classes and RCIA is already in place.

No, you do not go through the Rite of Acceptance for which the full title is Rite of Acceptance into the Order of Catechumens. Since you’re already baptized you can’t be a catechumen preparing for baptism.
 
Our parish does the same, mainly from a lack of resources to have a separate class for adult confirmation only. Basically they are categorized along with those with valid baptisms, candidates. It has been my experience that most often, not always though, the need for catechesis is there for those who are Catholic but not fully initiated.
 
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