RCIA meeting, what to talk about?

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Ilkka

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Hi!

This is my first topic posted on this forum.

Few months back I got drawn to the Catholic faith. I talked to the local parish pastor about meeting up and so we did. The RCIA is arranged in the form of individual meetings with the pastor. On our first meeting we agreed that I would contact him a month or two months later. So I did and we set a date.

My problem is that I don’t know what to talk about. He told me to study the faith and come back to him with topics that I would wish to get more in depth to. I have studied a lot and the faith of the Church seems very reasonable and I believe whatever the Magisterium teaches is true. So now I don’t know what to ask him about because anything that could’ve been a topic to get further into has already been made clear by the many Catholic apology ministries online. Besides, the pastor is not from my country and although he speaks my language, there is a bit of a language barrier there. It feels a bit awkward.

What should I talk to him about? Or should I tell him that I have studied a lot and don’t really have that many questions?

Thanks in advance,
Ilkka
 
Are these one-on-one meetings the initial interview process, or the actual RCIA class?
 
RCIA is the Rites through which a non-baptized adult becomes a Christian.

There are instruction classes if a parish has a large number of non-Christians.

Private instruction with a priest is another way that people come into the Church, it is the method through which those who are already Christians ought to be brought into communion.
Ilkka said:
Or should I tell him that I have studied a lot and don’t really have that many questions?
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Or say “I have studied a lot, what more ought I study?”
 
How are other aspects of your spiritual life going? Do you pray? Are you happy with your prayer life or perhaps looking for something more or something different? Are you getting to know people n the parish? Are you involved in any parish activities. Perhaps these questions would give you something to talk about
 
Now that you asked about it, I’m not sure. To my understanding they are the RCIA classes themselves as this parish is very small and there are people attending from far away. The closest other parish is a 2-hour drive away from my town 😅
 
Thanks for clearing this up for me. I have indeed received a trinitarian baptism in the evangelican-lutheran church as an infant. So yes, I am a Christian.

I will do as you suggested. ☺️
 
Thanks! Maybe I’ve concentrated a bit too much on the theology and not so much on the practical Catholicism. I will ask questions about that and have my Rosary beads blessed at the same time! 😁
 
Since this is your first meeting, I’m sure he will lead the conversation. You may find that as you go along, you will have questions. When I was in RCIA, is kept a journal of sorts and would write down any questions I had and then bring them up during our meeting. Maybe you won’t have questions. Trust him to lead you through the process.
 
Ok, while I think the priest should have some sort of curriculum since he’s to be the instructor and certain basic knowledge should be imparted, there isn’t any such official format to follow for RCIA. His question can be a valid and useful one, but probably better asked during the “mystagogia” phase at the end of the program. Anyway, I’d ask Him what the most important and basic aspects of the Catholic faith are. What essentials do we need to know and believe in order to be Catholic? Maybe he’ll surprise you!
 
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Our OP told us he is a baptized Christian. As such, he will not be undergoing the Right of Christian Initiation of Adults, but, will be received into full communion when Father determines he is ready.
 
Yes, I see. I forgot that catechumens and candidates are lumped together in our program, which is probably common. In any case as a teacher I’d want to make very sure the candidate had the basics down first.
 
Ilkka said:
The RCIA is arranged in the form of individual meetings with the pastor.
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Your RCIA is evidently going to be pretty much what mine was, back in the nineties: a series of one-on-one meetings with the priest, each lasting, from memory, about half an hour to an hour. But he was the teacher, he led the way, he decided what we were going to talk about at each meeting. At the end of each meeting he gave me a passage to read from the NT, which would then be the starting point for our next talk. Here’s a suggestion for you, based on my recollections of my own RCIA: Read Chapter 6 of John, paying particular attention to the “bread of life” passages. It’s a long chapter, 71 verses. That ought to give you plenty to talk about.
 
The Eucharist is actually the main reason I want to join. It’s funny how when I was a pentecostal (I joined them at one point) John 6 would seem like Jesus just asks us to believe that he is flesh and blood. But while that is also the case, the whole chapter has got a new, much deeper meaning since I am also to use the concrete method of consuming His flesh and blood = the Eucharist.

The Bible is a very boring book when you’re a protestant.
 
Our Bishop, and other Bishops, are encouraging that parishes drop the “lump em all together” model because someone who is already a Christian needs a more specific, customized to where they are, path. It is a refreshing change in our parish.
 
The “lump em all together” 8 month model is a hurdle (not a super big one) that if I were to convert I’d have a problem with. I believe I’m pretty well cathecized (from knowing my own knowledge and being a “table leader” for parent night trivia at family formation). I have a hard time wrapping my arms around 8 months of “refresher” courses with individuals that may not be Christian at all and need to learn the basics.
 
My parish lumps everyone together as well. But in an average year we have less than 5 catechumens and around 20 candidates, so they prefer everyone come into the church at the Easter Vigil rather than individually. We have a very good RCIA program that is very interesting and educational, even if you are already a non-catholic Christian, and that may be why as well.
 
Gingersnaps4 said:
they prefer everyone come into the church at the Easter Vigil
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Personally, that’s another thing. I wouldn’t want to come in at the Vigil.

If you don’t mind me asking, what would be interesting and educational to non-Christian catechumens that would be the same to say non-Catholic Christians who have been practicing for 40+ years?
 
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Our RCIA didn’t just cover the basics of Christianity that any Christian would/should know. We learned a lot about the early church and the theology behind Catholic teachings, etc. things that if the average Christian knew, would make them want to be Catholic. In the past couple of years the parish has started a program called catholic boot camp, it’s an apologetics class that’s like an RCIA class for Catholics, so obviously they decided that existing Catholics could benefit from education on the faith, too!

We personally had the option to be confirmed during a mass a little sooner than Easter, around Mother’s Day, since we had been debating on becoming catholic for years and already knew our stuff…but I’m a person that’s generally NOT ok being the center of attention for very long so I didn’t want the focus to just be on my husband and I…and I’m so glad I decided to wait as the Vigil was beautiful (and yes, I wasn’t the center of attention I was just one of a large group 😌)
 
Gingersnaps4 said:
so they prefer everyone come into the church at the Easter Vigil r
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That is another part of “getting back to the basics” of what RCIA is and is not. The Vigil, in our Diocese, is now when unbaptized adults are baptized/Confirmed/1st Communion.

Those who are already Christians seeking to come into the Church will be brought in when they are prepared at any other time of the year.
TC3033 said:
Personally, that’s another thing. I wouldn’t want to come in at the Vigil.
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I know a parish you’d like 🙂
 
Ilkka -

This doesn’t seem correct for RCIA. You should be attending classes where a catechist teaches you about Christianity and the Catholic faith. I am on the RCIA team for my parish and we attend 2 hour classes every Sunday from September to Easter. This is what you need to be correctly educated about our faith. Self study is fine - but you need spiritual guidance. If you are unable to get this at your Parish - maybe attending RCIA class at another parish is an option. I could also share our classes since we record the session every week and post on the web.
 
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