RCIA - How much longer?

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I was baptized, confirmed, and received communion on Saturday.

I recognize that catholicism is a lifepath, not a program that ends. However, I feel singled out as a “non-catholic” or a lesser person throughout this period and I spend hours each week attending “classes” that aren’t helpful to me developing a closer relationship with God.

If you were Baptized, Confirmed, and received Holy Communion. Then you are a fully initiated Catholic! Welcome! The RCIA people are speaking of the 8 weks of Mystogogy. Technically you are a neophite or “New Christian” until Easter of next year. But never the less you are Catholic and are free to attend or register at any parish you wish. What most new Catholics fail to understand is that after the Easter Vigil and the reception of the Sacraments of Initiation they are not automatically registered in the parish. You need to fill out a registration form at a parish of your choice. Do it next week. Don’t fail to register at a parish.

 

[PetersKeys]

Once you are baptized you are considered a Catholic. The certicicate I got from my parish says I was received into the Catholic Church on ____.

Neophyte means newly baptized Catholics. But it says in the Cathechism that right after baptism you become a full Catholic.

 

[McGilvra]

I guess part of my issue is that I work full time, have a busy life, and attend classes and church events mandated through RCIA that it has PRECLUDED my ability to reflect on things and the process. I think faith and faith formation is a highly personal thing and yet through RCIA it’s so public. There is a difference between publicly committed your life to Christ and being public in your personal journey.

Another thing that gets me is the attitude that I need time away from service work to reflect on the process. First, the fact that I am continually told that demonstrates once again that I am not “catholic” enough to understand my own faith. Secondly, a major part of my conversion to catholicism was based upon the church’s committment to service and philanthrophy. That is a huge part of my life outside of the church, and so to be told that I need to wait to serve hot dogs to homeless people until I’m “ready” is insulting.

 

[Lepanto]

However, I feel singled out as a “non-catholic” or a lesser person throughout this period and I spend hours each week attending “classes” that aren’t helpful to me developing a closer relationship with God.

Many of the saints spent their entire lives trying to be “lesser” than others. Patience and humility are virtues!