RCIA etiquette

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Miss_Echo

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Hi y’all,

Well we’re all counting down the last few days here till our big day in entering the church, and I’ve begun to wonder - is it appropriate to give something (a gift or a card) to our catechists and/or sponsors?

I stopped in my local Catholic bookstore today and was surprised - wait, scratch that; I was flat-out stunned - when the proprietor asked if I’d like to “register” in case people wanted to buy me gifts - I’d had no idea, really! But I have been wondering about getting something for these special people who have been helping me along my journey.

Ideas and advice welcome! 😃
 
Miss_Echo said:
Hi y’all,

Well we’re all counting down the last few days here till our big day in entering the church, and I’ve begun to wonder - is it appropriate to give something (a gift or a card) to our catechists and/or sponsors?

I stopped in my local Catholic bookstore today and was surprised - wait, scratch that; I was flat-out stunned - when the proprietor asked if I’d like to “register” in case people wanted to buy me gifts - I’d had no idea, really! But I have been wondering about getting something for these special people who have been helping me along my journey.

Ideas and advice welcome! 😃
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I often get a little gift from our newly baptized. Usually they chip in and buy one gift for each of us on the team. One year we received a boxed set of a small journal and pen. Another year it was a gift certificate to a book store. Another year a beautiful cross depicting the three sacraments of Initiation. Another year one of those popular wooden angel statues. We give each of them a gift as well, usually a crucifix and a book.
 
Hello and Welcome to the Catholic Church. We own 3 catholic stores and we often have people buy gifts for their sponsors as well as the sponsors buying gifts for the ones they are sponsoring, we don’t have a registry, though. God Bless.
 
I bought my Grandma (my sponsor) something. A little glass plaque of the Holy Family, if I remember right. I had it blessed in secret and gave it to her, she loved it. She bought me a crucifix.

Seems appropriate to me.
 
Miss Echo,

I have received gifts from ladies I sponsered and also given them. A card with a heartfelt thank you is wonderful. If your sponsor likes to read, a Catholic book that they don’t have would be nice. I like everything by Scott Hahn. A cd with Catholic music (contemporary or traditional) is something that can be enjoyed for many years.

BTW, enjoy your Easter vigil mass. It is a once in a lifetime experience. I think the readings and music are the most beautiful of the whole year. I still remember receiving my sacraments on that day with great joy. I’ll be singing this year instead of standing with a candidate as their sponsor, but it will be equally wonderful.
 
Thank you all for your replies. 🙂 I just really wasn’t sure what was proper in this situation.

Blessings to all!
 
I am helping with RCIA and I gave the candidates each a copy of the CCC. Thought it would help them continue in their faith journey.

Stillkickin 👍
 
I suggest you write a meaningful note, on nice stationary. A young man wrote me (an RCIA catechist) a heartfelt note of thanks a couple of years ago and it’s still in my bible.
 
I have decided to stop RCIA at our local parish and start up at another church I have been attending the past couple of weeks. It took me a while to make the decision, a few months to be exact.

I did try to speak with the priest about my concerns before I made the final decision. After three weeks of making several attempts to get in contact wtih him for a meeting he never made the effort to call me back. That was sort of the last straw in my decision to move on.

When I started going to Mass at the “new” church I immediately felt a sense of finally being at home. Not sure if that makes sense, but it was quite an overwhelming feeling. I never felt that from the other church ever. In my heart I knew I made the right decision.

My big question is what is the etiquette when you quit one RCIA for another? Do I send a polite letter to the church telling them I have moved on and thank them for their time or do I just forget about it?

Thanks!
 
God Bless you for being pro-active on your own behalf and finding a parish that meets your needs … Welcome to the journey of faith …😉

I would write a note letting the know you have joined another parishes’ RCIA. That way they will know that you are not planning on attending any further formation sessions, etc …

You may want to provide feed back on your experience … what you found beneficial on your journey and what was not only not beneficial but hindered your faith walk. This will assist that parish in how they attempt to meet the needs of future inquirers …

I have worked with RCIA for over a decade … I feel sad that you had a ‘bad’ experience but also ‘glad’ that you appear to have found a better fit your yourself in this new parish … It is always hard to meet the spriritual and physical needs of such a diverse pool of individuals … getting the feed back [honest, reasoned and specific] helps any organization to grow and improve … too often we get generalities [even if positive] that don’t let us know what really works and what does not … 🤷
 
Yes, thank them and ask them to send your attndence record to the new group. Tell them you just feel the other group fits you better, and you enjoyed your tme with them.
 
As a member of an RCIA team, I know I would appreciate the feedback part - both the positive AND the negative. I think that is a good idea to include in your ‘thank you’ letter.
 
Thank you for all the wonderful feedback.
I will definitely put a letter together thanking everyone and letting them know why I made the decision.
 
I gave my sponsor something last year. I got her Mother Angelica’s book and a bookmark with the mysteries of the rosary on it and also a necklace of St. Anne & Mary as a child (St. Anne was her confirmation name & she told me that waayyy at the beginning of the RCIA process and I thought of getting something like that then so she was REALLY surprised at that). I wrote a note on the inside of the book and she told me how much that mean to her. So I think its appropriate to get them something.

I’m sponsoring someone this year and she actually gave me a Yankee candle and a $25 gift card to Chik-fil-a for Christmas. I was surprised at that! (I think I liked the gift card more than the candle because I always go there after Saturday Morning Mass to get breakfast!)

I’ve also gotten her something for Easter, a rosary & prayer book.
 
As a RCIA/RCIC core team member I am happy that you were able to find another parish closeby to complete the process. I work mainly with the kids and when they don’t show up we often wonder what did we do wrong or do they need a ride etc.? So please do let them know I am sure you will still be welcomed in that parish as well.
 
I think a small gift is just fine. But please do not give cash. Not that it is not appreciated but I would rather you put that in the offering basket. Last year we had a 3 sisters and a brother go through with the parents and grandparents at every session. At the end of the year grandpa put together a nice thank you note with photos etc and a nice size check – I tore it up. that’s my 2cents.
 
We are going thru the exact same thing. Not because of displeasure, but because we are moving. I found out it is up to the recieving parish on if they will accept your teaching up until that point. They usually ask for a letter from the “old” parish RE teacher/directors asking about what you have learned, where you are at in your journey, and your attendance. Make sure you ask the parish you are moving to what needs to be taken care of so you don’t have to wait even longer in your journey home.
 
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