RCIA for Baptized Catholic - Getting Married

[Al_Masetti]

I have been involved in RCIA as catechist and sponsor for 20 yrs and as director for 8, no not a lot of priests are named annie. I am a layperson, and as many people here can attest, I do have problems with the role of laity in the process, but that is not your question.

as I said, If you are well–catechized and know the elements of the Creed and practice of the faith–and that would be determined through personal interviews and the same type of evaluation we give to all confirmation candidates–there is no need to go thru a full-blown RCIA program or doctrinal class. You would receive immediate prep for the sacrament–in this diocese, 11 lessons on the sacraments of initiation, the Holy Spirit, review of the creed, and a retreat. However you would still wait until the date set by the bishop for adult confirmations, I can’t do anything about that.

Most people want to participate in the full 9 month catechism class because they are hungry for a comprehensive presentation of the doctrine, and for the scripture portion of the session, which focuses on the Sunday readings. The class offered for newly confirmed is a 20 week Salvation History comprehensive bible study.

Neither I nor Bro nor anyone else is criticizing how you personally are dealing w/your own situation. You asked, and we answered, based on our experience in our own parishes and dioceses. Bro in addition is the resident expert w/best grounding in RCIA in general and most experience, so he is our best authority here. We both pointed out that RCIA is not primarily intended for baptized Catholics, but does make provision for those who are uncatechized to be included w/non-Catholic candidates. The RCIA process is rather flexible and over its 30 years existence has been adapted to meet needs of those in various parishes.

in over 20 yrs of parish work I can honestly say I can’t think of a priest who has the time, even if he has the inclination, to give private instruction. That would be ideal, but we have to be realistic.

I have a question: prior to RCIA, there were hundreds of conversions per year per parish. Many more than after RCIA came into being.

How were those handled, if not done personally by the pastor?

 

[puzzleannie]

My mother was a Methodist, converted after I was born, they were married in the rectory, because at that time they could not be married in the church itself. She was instructed in several meetings with their new parish priest, and received into the church in 1953 through first communion. I never asked if she was confirmed. This was in a parish with 5 resident priests assigned. I have not seen a parish with more than one priest permanently assigned in 20 years.

There were perhaps half a dozen non-Catholic adults received into the parish that year (not hundreds). It would be a rare parish today to bring in “hundreds” of converts each year, outside a mission field.

RCIA was envisioned primarily for mission territory, but has been adapted for parish use in most if not all countries, and each national conference of bishops has made adaptations to meet their situation. But it contains a clear expectation that catechesis be carried out by either religious or lay people, although it expects an ordained man to be leading the team.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Oh, and I forgot to respond to Bro. Rich…

We actually didn’t set a date independently. We set it with the church and in conjunction with our pastor. That being said, are you saying that we should have never done this given my situation?

Generally speaking it sounds like the cart before the horse. I would always recomend putting your spiritual life first, completing your Sacraments of Initiation, THEN looking towards preparation for the Sacrament of Marriage. Remembering that this preparation will also help you decide IF you should get married and IF you should marry this specific person.

 

[jmcrae]

I have a question: prior to RCIA, there were hundreds of conversions per year per parish.

No, there weren’t. The materials I have, which were written in 1957, anticipate a maximum of 20 people a year, in a Cathedral parish.

How were those handled, if not done personally by the pastor?

When his load got to 5 or more, he was instructed to set up a class of instructions that met on a set night of the week, once every two weeks, for 20 sessions, culminating in conditional Baptism (this was for everyone, regardless of background), Confession (also for everyone, regardless of background), and First Holy Communion, with Confirmation to take place at the Cathedral with the Bishop (by appointment - the priest was to arrange the appointment) approximately one year later. New converts were expected to join an organization called the Guild of St. Paul, whose function was to build on the instructions they had received in the 20 pre-Baptismal sessions, in preparation for their Confirmation. The Guild of St. Paul was run by lay people, typically converts who had already received the Sacrament of Confirmation, and the format was a discussion group/coffee house type of arrangement.

 

[Claire_from_DE]

To the OP,

If you were baptized Catholic, have been attending mass for the last 10 years, and are well informed about the faith, why not just talk to the priest and ask if you are already prepared enough to receive the sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist. He could probably determine that after talking to you for an hour or so.

Of course, you should go through a Confirmation preparation course when one is available. Some parishes do this through RCIA.