T
Thadd1
Guest
I can give you a general idea of what the rite entails (at my parish, at least), as my wife is in RCIA now (I am her sponsor) and her class just did it a few weeks ago.
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F
firestar
Guest
Thank you for the link, but maybe I’m not getting my point across. I am familiar with all of the Rites from the research I’ve done online, I’m also aware that each parish does the Rites a little differently. All I wanted to know was how this particular parish does it.
I didn’t think that it would be a huge secret or surprise or whatever you want to call it, but that’s how it’s being treated and that’s what set off the “alarm bells” in my head.
I didn’t think that it would be a huge secret or surprise or whatever you want to call it, but that’s how it’s being treated and that’s what set off the “alarm bells” in my head.
S
sires6
Guest
Well, as always and ever, in the human race there are good teachers and bad. It seems like you have gotten a not so good teacher. So, you have to the right place for answers. Don’t let this little hiccup change the fact that you are about to enter the Pillar and the Foundation of the Truth. We’ll happily answer any questions you might have.
As for the Rite you are about to attend, depending upon whether they ask you to go to a “bible study” after the Liturgy of the Word or not, really, it’s basically an introduction to the body of the faithful at the Church.
As for the sponsor, we have a particularly difficult time getting sponsors where we are (overseas and American) and therefore, the Catechumenates have to wait weeks for a sponsor. We use “surrogates” to stand up during various Rites before the “big one” at Easter. I would suggest talking to the priest, the leader of the local Knights of columbus or Your Parish woman’s group or something along those lines if your leader is not helping you find a sponsor. Or even someone from the prayer chain or Rosary group.
Be of good cheer! The Catholic Church is not a cult where we hide information to get you to believe!!! Remember, we’re here to help! the hiding of stuff and skulking is for Hollywood and other faiths… remember, we’re so open we tell you, in detail, what we believe, in a big published book! Nobody else does it quite the way we do!
God bless you on your journey crossing the Tiber!
As for the Rite you are about to attend, depending upon whether they ask you to go to a “bible study” after the Liturgy of the Word or not, really, it’s basically an introduction to the body of the faithful at the Church.
As for the sponsor, we have a particularly difficult time getting sponsors where we are (overseas and American) and therefore, the Catechumenates have to wait weeks for a sponsor. We use “surrogates” to stand up during various Rites before the “big one” at Easter. I would suggest talking to the priest, the leader of the local Knights of columbus or Your Parish woman’s group or something along those lines if your leader is not helping you find a sponsor. Or even someone from the prayer chain or Rosary group.
Be of good cheer! The Catholic Church is not a cult where we hide information to get you to believe!!! Remember, we’re here to help! the hiding of stuff and skulking is for Hollywood and other faiths… remember, we’re so open we tell you, in detail, what we believe, in a big published book! Nobody else does it quite the way we do!
God bless you on your journey crossing the Tiber!
K
kage_ar
Guest
The variance by Parish would be slight, unless your Parish is plagued by “liturgical abuse”…
Remember, the boss of the Parish is the Priest - not the RCIA director. Email or call the Priest and ask your questions, if he is unable to answer, or sends you back to the non-helpful RCIA coordinator - call your Diocesean office of Faith Formation. Someone will be helpful, somewhere along the line.
Last resort, move here
Remember, the boss of the Parish is the Priest - not the RCIA director. Email or call the Priest and ask your questions, if he is unable to answer, or sends you back to the non-helpful RCIA coordinator - call your Diocesean office of Faith Formation. Someone will be helpful, somewhere along the line.
Last resort, move here
S
Sr_Sally
Guest
It is probably not that the RCIA leader is trying to keep things a secret. There are a few options of exactly how the Rite is celebrated and she/he may not know exactly what the priest has planned. The Rite is important, but which specific options are used is not important so he/she may not want to bother Fr with detailed questions.Thank you for the link, but maybe I’m not getting my point across. I am familiar with all of the Rites from the research I’ve done online, I’m also aware that each parish does the Rites a little differently. All I wanted to know was how this particular parish does it.
I didn’t think that it would be a huge secret or surprise or whatever you want to call it, but that’s how it’s being treated and that’s what set off the “alarm bells” in my head.
At our parish not every Catechumenate already has a sponsor. We will also be using ‘surragates’ from the RCIA team at this Rite. Ours is also this Sunday, I will be praying for you also.
H
historybrat
Guest
From my experience this sounds about right. My priest led the RCIA but he’s not so good on planning things in advance. With the exception of Easter, when I went through we just kind of winged it and did whatever the priest indicated. This was frustrating because one time he wanted us to give a short speech about our conversion and I hate public speaking (weird cause I’m a teacher, but true). I am one of those people that likes to know everything, what are we gonna do, why are we doing it, etc. Like I said in a previous post, the whole process taught me patience, and to let go. You can’t control everything. If God is calling you home than you will have to find a way to adapt, the only thing i know of is to pray.
Historybrat
L
LindaS
Guest
Part of the role of the sponsor is to help to discern if the candidate/catechumen is ready to be received into the Church. A family member may not be able to be objective enough to do this.
Peace,
Linda
Peace,
Linda
P
Petergee
Guest
May I ask how many catechumens and candidates are in the class and how many Catholic leaders and helpers? It sounds like the problem might be that the leader might be trying on his/her own to teach a large class of people of very diverse backgrounds and widely varying levels of previous knowledge and levels of faith. Ideally the number of candidates/catechumens in each session should be no more than the number of Catholics.
B
Br.Rich_SFO
Guest
In some instances I might agree, but they cannot be prohibited if they qualify and are selected by the Catechumen or Candidate.
L
LeahInancsi
Guest
Although I missed the Rite of Acceptance, I had no idea what was going to happen in any of the rites, blessings, processes, etc. during RCIA and didn’t even worry about it. I had faith that God would take care of me.
The only thing I was concerned with was baptism. I’d heard that Catholics were moving to full immersion. Since I was being baptized, that worried me. I’d seen Baptist baptisms and didn’t look forward to that scene. In the end, all went beautifully and I was first in line to be baptized.
As to the issue of a sponsor, I’d never laid eyes on my sponsor until she was introduced to me as a potential sponsor. She was a cradle Catholic and when she heard that Catholicism had only skipped a generation in my family, she felt comfortable that I knew what I was doing.
The only thing I was concerned with was baptism. I’d heard that Catholics were moving to full immersion. Since I was being baptized, that worried me. I’d seen Baptist baptisms and didn’t look forward to that scene. In the end, all went beautifully and I was first in line to be baptized.
As to the issue of a sponsor, I’d never laid eyes on my sponsor until she was introduced to me as a potential sponsor. She was a cradle Catholic and when she heard that Catholicism had only skipped a generation in my family, she felt comfortable that I knew what I was doing.
B
Br.Rich_SFO
Guest
The Rite of Acceptance is NOT optional for the RCIA. If you didn’t participate in the Rite of Acceptance then you were never technically a member of the order of Catechumens, nor did you have the right to participate in the Rite of Election.Although I missed the Rite of Acceptance, I had no idea what was going to happen in any of the rites, blessings, processes, etc. during RCIA and didn’t even worry about it. I had faith that God would take care of me.
The only thing I was concerned with was baptism. I’d heard that Catholics were moving to full immersion. Since I was being baptized, that worried me. I’d seen Baptist baptisms and didn’t look forward to that scene. In the end, all went beautifully and I was first in line to be baptized.
As to the issue of a sponsor, I’d never laid eyes on my sponsor until she was introduced to me as a potential sponsor. She was a cradle Catholic and when she heard that Catholicism had only skipped a generation in my family, she felt comfortable that I knew what I was doing.
P
puzzleannie
Guest
this is my situation, I always discuss it with Father, he always surprises me. we do not “rehearse” because it will only confuse the children when everything does not go exactly as we rehearsed, but we do walk through it, explain the purpose for each action, what is happening, why we do it, what the priest says, what the candidate says, where the catechumens stand, where the sponsors stand (for this purpose, parents can do the signing for children), and the responses.
For the kids they learn there are 3 basic responses:
“Faith” “Yes” and “And also with you”. and of course “Amen” and I cue them on the responses. oddly it is much easier for kids to go with the flow than the adults, who want to know exactly what will happen at every moment, which I just can’t predict.
G
Greg72
Guest
Limbo was a theory that could either be accepted or not. It was the product of human reasoning and I believe that the Holy Father has just recently put an end to it.
As you may know, it was a place for the unbaptized, good people who didn’t deserve hell, but who couldn’t behold the face of God either - a place of eternal happiness, but not in God’s presence.
The Church now teaches explicitly that though we are encouraged to use the means of salvation that God gave us, that God can save anyone He wants to. This includes unbaptized infants and even suicides (He really wants to save us all, but doesn’t force salvation on anyone - hell exists for a reason).
Your Priest was correct in that the Church’s teachings are always true. Limbo was a product of a different age and was never Church teaching. It should be noted, however, that the Church is guided by the Holy Spirit and is continually moving towards a more perfect understanding of God. That is why She is fit to lead us in any age; She will never teach error (though many of her members may), but She is a living body and will change in certain external ways over time.
I converted in 2006, and my RCIA experience was a mixed bag. I was fortunate to be assigned an older gentleman as a sponsor. He guided me well, spending all the time that was needed to address my questions / concerns and we prayed the rosary together very early on after meetings (long before it was taught in class). We also had extensive, very heated discussions on sexual morality (a topic that was hardly discussed in class - there was actually a guy in our group who was shocked to learn that pre-marital sex was forbidden - and this was within a month or so before Easter!). Also, the RCIA director suggested in our initial interview that I should speak with the sacristan. He was a former Anglican and Benedictine monk and he recommended spiritual reading for me (he made sure that I had a Catechism to start with - something else that was lacking in the classes) as well as answering hundreds of my questions.
Although there were some truly great lectures in the RCIA classes (2 of them were given by the sacristan who was helping me), I don’t feel that it was nearly enough to prepare me for entrance into the Church.
I pray that you are assigned a good sponsor, but whatever happens and whatever you experience remember that you are joining Christ’s Church. In the end, that is all that really matters.
The Church in the west is mostly in crisis, but there are always places that you can turn to for inspiration and guidance.
Firstly, pray. Without prayer, nothing works out well.
Read the Gospels.
The Catechism.
The Holy Father.
The Saints.
The apologists on this site (and the “Catholic Answers Live” radio show).
EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network).
Lastly, but CERTAINLY not leastly - spending time before the Blessed Sacrament is always time well-spent and can clear up all sorts of problems.
Once you become Catholic, there are Church Groups that you can join (The “Evenings of Recollection” offered by Opus Dei are good if you have access to them, but most parishes will have Knight of Columbus, Legion of Mary, Secular Orders, prayer groups, bible-study groups etc… where you will be more likely to find Catholics who know and live their Faith).
I wish you well on your journey. A Deacon at our parish told me that he was jealous that he was born Catholic and couldn’t come into the Faith as an adult. I know what he means, because reading of your experience (negative though it may be), I am jealous and wish that I could go through it all again. Even though you may not be getting answers to all of your questions, they are out there. Unlike man-made institutions, The Church has the answers to your questions.
Peace be with you,
-Greg
P.S. Your question on Limbo was excellent, since it was so widely-accepted that it seemed to be Church teaching (I sure thought it was).
If you really want to stir things up in class, ask about indulgences
B
Br.Rich_SFO
Guest
Just so no one is mislead. The Theory of Limbo of the Infants IS not was a theory that can be accepted or not. The Holy Father did not “reciently put and end to it”! Read the Theological Commissions document.Limbo was a theory that could either be accepted or not. It was the product of human reasoning and I believe that the Holy Father has just recently put an end to it.
As you may know, it was a place for the unbaptized, good people who didn’t deserve hell, but who couldn’t behold the face of God either - a place of eternal happiness, but not in God’s presence.
The Church now teaches explicitly that though we are encouraged to use the means of salvation that God gave us, that God can save anyone He wants to. This includes unbaptized infants and even suicides (He really wants to save us all, but doesn’t force salvation on anyone - hell exists for a reason).
Your Priest was correct in that the Church’s teachings are always true. Limbo was a product of a different age and was never Church teaching. It should be noted, however, that the Church is guided by the Holy Spirit and is continually moving towards a more perfect understanding of God. That is why She is fit to lead us in any age; She will never teach error (though many of her members may), but She is a living body and will change in certain external ways over time.
I converted in 2006, and my RCIA experience was a mixed bag. I was fortunate to be assigned an older gentleman as a sponsor. He guided me well, spending all the time that was needed to address my questions / concerns and we prayed the rosary together very early on after meetings (long before it was taught in class). We also had extensive, very heated discussions on sexual morality (a topic that was hardly discussed in class - there was actually a guy in our group who was shocked to learn that pre-marital sex was forbidden - and this was within a month or so before Easter!). Also, the RCIA director suggested in our initial interview that I should speak with the sacristan. He was a former Anglican and Benedictine monk and he recommended spiritual reading for me (he made sure that I had a Catechism to start with - something else that was lacking in the classes) as well as answering hundreds of my questions.
Although there were some truly great lectures in the RCIA classes (2 of them were given by the sacristan who was helping me), I don’t feel that it was nearly enough to prepare me for entrance into the Church.
I pray that you are assigned a good sponsor, but whatever happens and whatever you experience remember that you are joining Christ’s Church. In the end, that is all that really matters.
The Church in the west is mostly in crisis, but there are always places that you can turn to for inspiration and guidance.
Firstly, pray. Without prayer, nothing works out well.
Read the Gospels.
The Catechism.
The Holy Father.
The Saints.
The apologists on this site (and the “Catholic Answers Live” radio show).
EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network).
Lastly, but CERTAINLY not leastly - spending time before the Blessed Sacrament is always time well-spent and can clear up all sorts of problems.
Once you become Catholic, there are Church Groups that you can join (The “Evenings of Recollection” offered by Opus Dei are good if you have access to them, but most parishes will have Knight of Columbus, Legion of Mary, Secular Orders, prayer groups, bible-study groups etc… where you will be more likely to find Catholics who know and live their Faith).
I wish you well on your journey. A Deacon at our parish told me that he was jealous that he was born Catholic and couldn’t come into the Faith as an adult. I know what he means, because reading of your experience (negative though it may be), I am jealous and wish that I could go through it all again. Even though you may not be getting answers to all of your questions, they are out there. Unlike man-made institutions, The Church has the answers to your questions.
Peace be with you,
-Greg
P.S. Your question on Limbo was excellent, since it was so widely-accepted that it seemed to be Church teaching (I sure thought it was).
If you really want to stir things up in class, ask about indulgences
G
Greg72
Guest
I’m sorry.
Would you be so kind as to spell it out for me?
B
Br.Rich_SFO
Guest
IT’s simple everyone seems to follow the newspaper leads that “Limbo is gone!!”, “Limbo done away with!!” When the lengthly document itself does not say that at all. In fact it specifically says that the Theory of Limbo of the Infants is still a possible theory and that those who wish to accept it as a possibility may do so.
G
Greg72
Guest
Thanks for the clarification, Brother Rich.
L
LeahInancsi
Guest
I knew you have something to say about my post.
I trust the judgement of my pastor and bishop far beyond anything you have to say. I don’t have a clue what your background is or who you are, but I am very comfortable with my pastor and bishop’s background and source of knowledge and procedures, etc…
If PuzzleAnnie has any objection to my situation, I would have reason to ask questions.
P
puzzleannie
Guest
I don’t have any objection to your situation, I make no comment on your situation. I am not in charge of your situation, I am in charge of preparing candidates in my own parish, and under the direction of my pastor. BroSFO has the longest and most in depth experience with RCIA of anyone participating on the forums currently, and the best knowledge of the ritual book, what is mandatory, what is optional and what variations are permitted. With that in mind recall that bishops in each country issue norms on how the RCIA is to be implemented in their own territory, and individual bishops do have latitude as well in how things will be done in their diocese, so that may explain some differences in the experience of various participants.
L
LeahInancsi
Guest
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