RCIA exception?

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cardonius

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Hi everyone.

I’ve been studying the Catholic Church for about 9 years. I used to be anti-Catholic, or at least had a negative impression of the church. Most of my negative feelings came from studying Jehovah’s Witnesses material. The more I’ve studied it, however, the more logical it seems. I feel like I’m being called to the Catholic Church. I’ve never been baptized, and I’ve actually attended about four Masses in my life.

I would really like to be Catholic. And I would love to be baptized and confirmed at the parish in my home town. I know RCIA is starting up next month, but I plan to move out of my hometown before RCIA starts. I could start RCIA in the town I am moving to, but I only plan on living there for about a year. I know part of RCIA is becoming part of the local parish. But since I have already studied the Church for so many years, do you think it would be impolite to ask the local priest if he could perform the sacraments of initiation for me individually, before I move away. I feel no connection to the town or parish where I will be spending a year. I have only met the priest once before. What do you think the chances are of him approving my request?

Thanks for any advice you can give.
 
Attending RCIA at a parish is not making a lifetime commitment to that particular parish, it is making a lifetime commitment to the Catholic Church. During my RCIA class neither the teachers nor the priest said anything about me being committed to staying at that parish. The focus was on making sure that I understood what the Church teaches and what becoming Catholic meant. It is a lifetime commitment to Christ and His church. It means attending mass every Sunday and holy day, believing in the true presence, believing in and receiving absolution(confessing) regularly. You will learn more in RCIA than you may think and I suggest taking it at the parish in the town you move to. Priests care more about your soul than what parish you belong to.

I do think it would be kind of rude to ask him to let you skip RCIA and just receive your sacraments. It is like you are saying you know better than the curriculum that the Church gives and you know all you need to in order to become Catholic. Go to class! You should love it, I did. I am going to go again this year!! Being confirmed and receiving your sacraments at Easter Vigil is beautiful and the anticipation makes it very special. My birthday was on Easter this year so it was even more special coming into the Church!
 
Hi and welcome. RCIA is extremely important, and if you are unbaptised and have only attended four Masses in your lifetime then RCIA would be extremely beneficial for you. This is the time that you will really learn about the Catholic faith and how to grow in it. In many parishes you would be Confirmed, Baptised and receive the Eucharist at the Easter Vigil once you have completed your RCIA classes. I would suggest that you speak to the parish priest in the town in which you are moving and most of your questions will be answered and he will guide you, or if you are more comfortable then speak to the parish priest where you live now. In my humble opinion you will be required to complete RCIA before receiving the Sacraments, but I can assure you that you will be so thankful that you did, and you will grow exponentially in your faith and love of God and His Church. Also, I noticed that you posted this in 3 or 4 different areas, you should only make your post once and you will find that you receive the best answers and most information within that one post. Blessings and prayers as you start your journey.
 
It is probably a good idea to talk to the priest at the onset about your transitory status. The priest may have resources to help your transition to the new parish and show that you are serious about joining the faith despite your transitory status. I think it would be up to the bishop to decide whether you may receive the sacraments at a parish different from where you received instruction.
 
Hi,
after years of thinking about converting, sitting at the back of mass, saying catholic prayers and using devotions and some time as a novice in an anglican ( episcopalian) convent I reached a time when I knew I had to come into the Church.
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 I spoke to my local priest and we chatted a few times, he gave me a book on Catholicism to read and suggested I come back with questions. Then one day about a month later he said we could set a date - to start RCIA I thought and asked how many would be in it. He said no, it was to be recieved into the church, that he and the Bishop had spoken and that they felt that I didnot need to do RCIA because I had done the study etc and would not get anything from it. I was told that in their experience most people asking to be recieved were ready by the time they knocked on the door.

 I was overjoyed. I was more than happy to do RCIA and had just said to Christ in prayer that however long it took to become a Catholic was fine by me, I would wait and do as He asked, I had finally reached the point of answering this particular call and giving myself wholeheartedly.

 I was taken to meet some of those and the Bishop who were doing RCIA one Sunday after Mass which was great and very interesting.

I was recieved only six weeks after approaching the priest and it was amazing, I felt I had finally come home and fitting in. I took the name Ruth as it is so symbolic of this.

  I guess I am saying to pray about it, be open and just offer yourself totally to God and doing His will. If you do, however long it may take - the rewards will be huge and you will find peace in the results. Speak to priests of both areas and let it go, you will be answered.

 Each of us has a journey that is unique to us,

  Go well with God,

           Adele.
 
You guys are making good points. The reason I have not asked the priest yet is probably because in my heart I know it would be better for me to go through the entire RCIA process. Although I would like to be initiated at my hometown parish, ultimately it is not important where I become Catholic, but that I do become Catholic.

Even though I believe I have studied the Catholic faith and know it well, there is probably much I could learn from the classes and from going to Mass regularly.

Also, ProspectCard, I am little confused. I believe I only posted this question in one place. Thanks for the advice though.

Thanks.
 
AdeleStacy, thank you for sharing your story. It was great that the priest just decided on his own that you were ready to be initiated into the church early.
Unfortunately, I don’t that I will have that opportunity.
 
Welcome to the journey…

I’m a member of our local parish’s RCIA team.

Your best course is to discuss your situation with your local parish priest. As others have indicated, he will likely be less concerned with whether you plan to stay in his parish than on the state of your knowledge of, and comittment to, Catholic doctrine. Only he can determine whether bypassing RCIA is appropriate for you. When you are confirmed you will be making a solemn comittment and agreement that you unreservably accept all Catholic doctrines and beliefs. This must be done voluntarily and with full knowledge of what it means. That is why we spend a lot of time on these points in RCIA.

RCIA is the normal path into the Church for adults. It provides a firm foundation for, and explanation of, Catholic doctrine and gives the participants many opportunities to ask questions and make up their minds whether they can truly assent to all that the Church asks. Another benefit to RCIA is that you will have an opportunity to make new friends in the Church and begin to develop a sense of community with your fellow parishioners. You will learn about Church history and many other things that you might otherwise miss if you were to be quickly confirmed.

I speak from experience as I am a relatively new convert. I came initially into RCIA with the idea that I would sit through a few classes then make an appointment with our pastor and try to talk him into letting me exempt out of RCIA. I was already well catechized in Catholic doctrine from extensive reading and I had no qualms about agreeing to any of these doctrines. I was really eager to “join up” and couldn’t see why I should wait and go through the complete RCIA program. However, a voice in my head told me to wait, and soon afterwards I came to realize how important attending RCIA was. In retrospect, it was a wise decision because I am much better connected now with the other members of our parish than I would have been if I had short-circuited the process.

I wish you all the best regardless of which path you ultimately take.

Yours in Christ,
 
cardonius said:
I’ve never been baptized, and I’ve actually attended about four Masses in my life.

I would really like to be Catholic. And I would love to be baptized and confirmed at the parish in my home town. I know RCIA is starting up next month, but I plan to move out of my hometown before RCIA starts. I could start RCIA in the town I am moving to, but I only plan on living there for about a year. I know part of RCIA is becoming part of the local parish. But since I have already studied the Church for so many years, do you think it would be impolite to ask the local priest if he could perform the sacraments of initiation for me individually, before I move away. I feel no connection to the town or parish where I will be spending a year. I have only met the priest once before. What do you think the chances are of him approving my request?
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Because you are not baptized and assuming you aren’t in danger of death, there isn’t a whole lot of wiggle room for an early baptism. Adult baptisms are really only supposed to happen at the Easter Vigil.

That said, I do think you should sign up for RCIA in the town you will be moving to. Yes, part of RCIA is connecting you to the local parish, but it also connects you to the universal Church, that is a big plus about being Catholic.

I also think RCIA would be good for you. You said you have been studying Catholicism for awhile now, but have only attended mass a couple of times. A lot can be learned from books and the internet and such, but there is also a lot of the cultural stuff that can only be experienced. For me, that was much of what I got out of RCIA.

I would go ahead and contact the parish close to where you are moving. RCIA starts at different times in different places, so it might be good to ahead and start communicating you interest at the parish where you will end up.
 
you may certainly speak to your pastor, here or in your new parish, and ask him to instruct you and prepare you for the sacraments. That is not RCIA, but that is not the only route to Christian Initiation. There is no guarantee he will be willing and/or able to do it that way, nor that he will decide that it is in your best interest, but by all means ask–talk to the priest, not a secretar or another staff member.

However, my experience with RCIA leads me to suggest that you still reconsider skipping RCIA, and I say this because those who seem to have the greatest difficulty completing this journey are those with ties to the Witnesses. After them those who have the hardest time overcoming doubts and issues are Mormons. For this reason along the support you will get through RCIA may be invaluable to you.

welcome home!
 
Can you do both years at once? I know of at least one person, who after his interview with his parish priest was allowed to do both classes the same year. It was rough, but well worth the effort. It would only work out if the classes were offered at different times, of course.
 
familyof4 said:
Can you do both years at once? I know of at least one person, who after his interview with his parish priest was allowed to do both classes the same year. It was rough, but well worth the effort. It would only work out if the classes were offered at different times, of course.
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the questions asked here are about specific persons, in specific situations, with specific needs, in specific parishes, with their own resources and their own pastors who asses these things and make these decisions. Most priest, parishes, dioceses and RCIA directors will bend over backwards–including offering several meeting times per week and running on-line programs as we do–to meet the needs of every prospective Catholic. the answer to every question on this thread is: call the parish, make an appointment with the priest, and discuss your situation.

welcome home bienvenidos

it is not about a class that you try to fit into your schedule, it is about a process of conversion and complete transformation of your life. The RCIA process was implemented and has been refined through the collective experience of the last 30 years to facilitate that experience, and by and large has proven its worth. Do not discount it because of hearsay about someone whose experience was less than stellar, or still less because of any lack of humility.
 
=cardonius;8296301]Hi everyone.
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I’ve been studying the Catholic Church for about 9 years. I used to be anti-Catholic, or at least had a negative impression of the church. Most of my negative feelings came from studying Jehovah’s Witnesses material. The more I’ve studied it, however, the more logical it seems. I feel like I’m being called to the Catholic Church. I’ve never been baptized, and I’ve actually attended about four Masses in my life.
Click to expand...
I would really like to be Catholic. And I would love to be baptized and confirmed at the parish in my home town. I know RCIA is starting up next month, but I plan to move out of my hometown before RCIA starts. I could start RCIA in the town I am moving to, but I only plan on living there for about a year. I know part of RCIA is becoming part of the local parish. But since I have already studied the Church for so many years, do you think it would be impolite to ask the local priest if he could perform the sacraments of initiation for me individually, before I move away. I feel no connection to the town or parish where I will be spending a year. I have only met the priest once before. What do you think the chances are of him approving my request?
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Thanks for any advice you can give.
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Welcome HOME!

Call NOW ahead to make arrangements. A Year is usually sufficient. Then make an appointment with that Pastor and HE WILL determine if there is a NEED for you to attend RCIA> Expect a yes it is. And that dear friend is a VERY GOOD thing:)

May God guide and gurd your path home:thumbsup:

God Bless, and your in my prayers,
Pat
 
You should take the RCIA classes. That way you can be knowledgeable about your new religion.
 
I agree that RCIA is not a commitment to the parish but to the worldwide Catholic church.

When i was in RCIA my home parish sent me to another parish for the RCIA but i recieved the sacraments of initiation at my home parish.

I do remember that the Priest of my home parish had to send a letter to our Bishop requesting permittance to conduct my baptism.

Correct me if i am wrong but i think the bishop has the last say in this matter to let someone in without RCIA, isnt that a matter which would need the permission of the bishop?

I mean isnt that what is taking place at the admission before the bishop at the first Sunday of lent?
 
puzzleannie said:
it is not about a class that you try to fit into your schedule, it is about a process of conversion and complete transformation of your life. The RCIA process was implemented and has been refined through the collective experience of the last 30 years to facilitate that experience, and by and large has proven its worth. Do not discount it because of hearsay about someone whose experience was less than stellar, or still less because of any lack of humility.
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Yes, exactly. There are habits to be broken and habits to be acquired. You don’t change all these things over-night. One of the hardest things, if you have never been in the habit of going to Mass, is to remember that it’s Sunday, and you have to get up early to go to Mass. Breaking the weekend sleeping-in habit is one of the hardest parts of RCIA.

(Although I hear that learning to describe Transubstantiation in plain language comes a close second. 😉 )
 
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